Robe
Robe's most distinctive feature is its older, low-density housing pattern: 1,252 residents live across 140.12 sq km, with a median age of 54, or 14.0 years above the national comparison. Detached homes account for 96.0% of dwellings, while the 59.7% vacancy rate points to a substantial seasonal or non-permanent housing component. Compared with nearby Beachport and Kingston SE, Robe has a settled coastal-service character shaped by ageing residents, modest household sizes of 2.1 people and strong reliance on cars. Low recorded crime at 16.8 incidents per 1,000 residents adds to its appeal for people seeking a quieter regional setting.
Local council: Robe
Population
1,252
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,244/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
68
Homebuyers should approach Robe as a detached-house market rather than an apartment market. Separate houses make up 96.0% of dwellings, a much higher share than apartments at 0.8%, while the dominant layouts are 3 bedrooms at 50.4% and 4 or more bedrooms at 38.8%. A current median sale price is not available, so recent comparable sales are especially important. Mortgage-to-income is 22.9% and rent-to-income is 20.1%, suggesting reported housing costs are not at a high stress level. The main trade-off is that buyers have more choice in established houses than in attached dwellings.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should approach Robe as a detached-house market rather than an apartment market. Separate houses make up 96.0% of dwellings, a much higher share than apartments at 0.8%, while the dominant layouts are 3 bedrooms at 50.4% and 4 or more bedrooms at 38.8%. A current median sale price is not available, so recent comparable sales are especially important. Mortgage-to-income is 22.9% and rent-to-income is 20.1%, suggesting reported housing costs are not at a high stress level. The main trade-off is that buyers have more choice in established houses than in attached dwellings.
For Investors
Robe's investment case is income-sensitive rather than yield-led. Weekly rent is $250, but the vacancy rate is an unusually high 59.7%, so leasing conditions can be more variable than in tightly occupied markets. Renting households represent 22.0% of occupied dwellings, limiting the depth of the permanent tenant pool, while 69 development applications in 12 months indicate active local building activity. Forecast growth of 1.81% annually, driven by internal migration, may support demand, but investors should budget for vacancy and verify seasonal occupancy before relying on gross rent. The high vacancy rate is a greater caution than the headline growth figure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
596
Last 12 Months
68
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+7.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Robe
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Robe Primary School
Demographics
Robe has an older demographic profile than the national population. The median age is 54, sitting 14.0 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 20.8%, or 9.3 percentage points below the national figure. Only 10.5% of residents were born overseas, 11.1 points below nationally, and average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below the national comparison. English ancestry is reported by 583 residents, followed by Scottish at 186, Irish at 116 and German at 106. No religion accounts for 622 residents compared with 517 identifying with Christianity. This mix helps explain the suburb's stable, ageing trajectory.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.0%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Robe's tenure mix is weighted to established ownership: 48.4% of dwellings are owned outright and 27.0% are mortgaged, compared with 22.0% rented and 2.5% in other tenure categories. Outright and mortgage ownership together represent 75.4%, a much higher share than renting. Housing is also strongly detached, with 96.0% separate houses versus 0.8% apartments and 2.7% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 50.4% and four-bedroom-or-larger homes for 38.8%, reflecting family-sized stock despite an average household size of 2.1. The 59.7% vacancy rate means dwelling supply is much larger than permanent occupancy alone would suggest.
Mortgage / mo
$1,232
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$740
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
59.7%
Unoccupied
785
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.0%
Couples with children
62.7%
Couples, no children
7.6%
Single parent
357
Total families
Economy & Employment
Robe's economy is anchored in construction at 17.6% of employed industry, hospitality at 15.5%, retail at 10.3%, agriculture at 8.7% and healthcare at 7.6%. The occupational mix is led by managers at 136 people, trades at 100 and labourers at 73, followed by community and personal service workers at 71 and professionals at 64. Unemployment is low at 2.0%, but participation is 55.2% and 421 people are outside the labour force, a pattern consistent with a median age of 54. Weekly household income is $1,244, at the 27.5th percentile nationally. SEIFA results are uneven: education and occupation rank at decile 3, economic resources and IRSD at decile 5, and IRSAD at decile 4. This suggests basic employment resilience alongside lower formal education and professional representation.
Unemployment
2.0%
Labour Force
601
Unemployed
12
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.6%
Part-time
38.7%
Participation
55.2%
Employed
589
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.8%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
10.5%
Dwellings
528
Transport to Work
Robe is most convenient for residents with a car: 74.2% drive to work, a much higher share than the 7.0% who walk or cycle, while 14.5% work from home. The local education option is Robe Primary School, a government primary school, so families should check enrolment zones and secondary-school travel against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 21 incidents, equal to 16.8 per 1,000 residents, supporting a relatively low-crime profile, although conditions can vary by street and season. Robe's IRSAD score is at decile 4, below the midpoint decile of 5, so access to services, employment and transport should be considered alongside its quieter lifestyle. The 140.12 sq km area also makes location within the suburb important.
Drive
74.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.0%
Work from Home
14.5%
Growth Outlook
Robe has a positive but ageing growth outlook. The forecast annual trend is 1.81%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while the wider area's 10-year population change is 27.5%. The shift trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 6.5 percentage-point increase in the senior share and a 3.3-point decline in the young share. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage, with a score of 35, while rent growth of 38.9% is higher than real income growth of 13.8%. That gap may increase pressure on renters even as internal migration supports demand. Compared with a static regional market, Robe has clearer momentum, but the direction is shaped more by older and relocating households than by youth expansion.
Population trend: Robe council area
Robe sits in the Robe council area. These are the council area's residents, not Robe's.
Residents 2025
1,621
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
21
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
16.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Robe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Robe a good suburb to live in?
Robe can suit residents seeking a quiet coastal setting, established detached housing and a low-crime profile. The median age is 54, 96.0% of homes are separate houses and 74.2% of workers drive, so it is better suited to people comfortable with an older, car-oriented community than to those seeking dense urban convenience.
What is the median house price in Robe?
A current median house price is not available for Robe. For context, weekly rent is $250 and the reported monthly mortgage figure is $1,232, so buyers should compare recent local sales and property condition rather than rely on a single suburb average.
What schools are in Robe?
Robe Primary School is the local government primary school. Families should check enrolment zones and travel arrangements for older students, especially because Robe has 1,252 residents spread across 140.12 sq km and car travel is more common than walking or cycling.
Is Robe safe?
Robe recorded 21 crimes, equivalent to 16.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, which supports a relatively low-crime profile. Safety can still vary by street, property and season, so review current South Australian police information and inspect the exact area before making a decision.
Is Robe good for property investment?
Robe may suit investors who can manage variable tenant demand. Weekly rent is $250, but vacancy is 59.7% and only 22.0% of households rent. Forecast growth is 1.81% annually and is driven by internal migration, so investors should test seasonal demand and budget for extended vacancies.
How is Robe's population changing?
Robe has 1,252 residents today. Across the wider area, 10-year population change is 27.5% and the annual trend is 1.81%, driven by internal migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.5 percentage points and the young share down 3.3 points.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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