Roxby Downs
Mining shapes almost everything about Roxby Downs. Nearly half the workforce, 49.4%, is employed in mining, which explains household incomes sitting in the 97.9th percentile nationally while the suburb remains in SEIFA decile 7 on disadvantage measures. Population has been declining, down 15.7% over the decade, and the medium forecast projects a further drop from roughly 4,088 to 4,023 by 2031. Yet the working population skews young, with a median age of 30 that is 10 years below the national figure, and the 70.4% renting rate is well above the national average, both byproducts of a transient workforce tied to the Olympic Dam mine.
Population
3,671
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,142/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
No median house price data is recorded for Roxby Downs, which reflects the limited private market in a company-influenced town. Weekly rent sits at $260, but the town's tenure structure tells the real story: 70.4% of households rent, compared with far lower national norms, and only 6.8% own outright. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 11.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 96.7% of dwellings and 37.7% have 4 or more bedrooms, larger than national averages. The vacancy rate of 22.1% is high, signalling that housing supply regularly exceeds active demand as the mining workforce cycles in and out.
For Buyers
No median house price data is recorded for Roxby Downs, which reflects the limited private market in a company-influenced town. Weekly rent sits at $260, but the town's tenure structure tells the real story: 70.4% of households rent, compared with far lower national norms, and only 6.8% own outright. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 11.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 96.7% of dwellings and 37.7% have 4 or more bedrooms, larger than national averages. The vacancy rate of 22.1% is high, signalling that housing supply regularly exceeds active demand as the mining workforce cycles in and out.
For Investors
Roxby Downs presents an unusual risk profile for investors. The 70.4% renter share is well above national levels, providing a large tenant pool, but the 22.1% vacancy rate reflects the town's single-industry dependence on Olympic Dam. Weekly rent of $260 is modest, and no median price data exists to calculate yield. Internal migration averages minus 108 residents per year while overseas migration contributes only 39, leaving a net outflow that has trimmed population by 15.7% over the decade. Development activity is low at 16 applications in 12 months. The investment case depends entirely on mining employment continuity, making Roxby Downs higher risk than comparable regional centres with more diversified economies.
Development Activity
Total DAs
113
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Roxby Downs iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Barbara's Parish School
R-9 · 201 students
Roxby Downs Area School
U, R-12 · 491 students
Demographics
At a median age of 30, Roxby Downs is 10 years below the national median, one of the most pronounced youth skews in regional SA. The male share of 52.1% reflects the mining workforce. The overseas-born share of 14.4% is 7.2 points below the national figure, and English-speaking ancestry dominates, with English (1,347), Scottish (307) and Irish (274) the leading groups. The average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, consistent with the high share of couples with children: 62.2% of families have children versus the town's 20.0% of couples without. University qualifications at 19.2% are 10.9 points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and machinery focus of the local workforce.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.7%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
2.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Roxby Downs is dominated by detached dwellings, with 96.7% classified as separate houses, a share far higher than most Australian suburbs. Bedroom counts lean large: 37.7% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 43.7% have 3, pointing to family-sized housing. Only 6.8% of residents own outright and 22.7% carry a mortgage, with the 70.4% renting rate making this one of the highest in regional SA. The median rent of $260 per week produces a rent-to-income ratio of just 8.3%, well below stress levels, because incomes are high rather than rents being low. The 22.1% vacancy rate reflects the ebb and flow of a workforce that relocates with mine project cycles rather than permanent settlement.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,747
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.1%
Unoccupied
340
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
8.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
11.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.0%
Couples, no children
2,674
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining accounts for 49.4% of local employment, the single most concentrated industry profile in the dataset. Construction follows at 11.1% and Education at 8.9%, the latter supporting the relatively large school-age cohort. By occupation, machinery and drivers lead with 448 workers, ahead of professionals at 242, clerical at 205 and labourers at 189, a profile consistent with heavy industrial operations. The unemployment rate is 2.3%, well below national averages, and the full-time employment rate of 81.4% is high. Despite those strong employment numbers, the SEIFA IEO decile of 3 ranks education and occupation below average nationally, because credentials here skew toward trades rather than university degrees. Household income at the 97.9th percentile nationally shows that high-demand mining roles are well-compensated.
Unemployment
1.4%
Labour Force
2,719
Unemployed
38
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
81.4%
Part-time
16.3%
Participation
72.7%
Employed
1,880
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.2%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
14.4%
Dwellings
1,196
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total in Roxby Downs: 88.5% of residents drive to work, above the national average, and public transport use is just 0.8%, consistent with a remote inland location. The crime rate of 32.1 offences per 1,000 residents provides a baseline safety measure, though comparison with SA state benchmarks is not available in this data. The IRSAD decile of 6 puts the suburb around average nationally on socioeconomic advantage, a somewhat misleading figure given that incomes sit at the 97.9th percentile, reflecting the SEIFA methodology which penalises areas with low educational attainment. The housing stress is minimal: rent-to-income is 8.3% and mortgage-to-income 11.2%, both well below thresholds. The volunteering rate of 16.6% and the 5.4% who walk or cycle to work indicate a functionally active community for a remote town.
Drive
88.5%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
5.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.32%/yr
(-13 people/yr)
EstablishedRoxby Downs has been losing residents steadily, with a 10-year population decline of 15.7% and an annual rate of minus 0.32%, equal to about 13 fewer people each year. The medium forecast projects the population falling from around 4,088 in 2026 to 4,023 by 2031. Internal migration runs at a net minus 108 residents per year, only partially offset by overseas arrivals averaging plus 39. The gentrification score is 0, rated not gentrifying, and the affordability ratio has remained broadly stable at 14.0% in 2011 versus 14.5% in 2021. Rent has grown 26.8% over the period despite the population decline, suggesting that the remaining residents who do rent are paying more as the affordable housing stock adjusts to a shrinking, higher-paid workforce.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+39
Net Internal / yr
-108
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -108/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
118
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
32.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Roxby Downs compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roxby Downs a good suburb to live in?
Roxby Downs suits residents connected to the mining industry. Household income is at the 97.9th percentile nationally, housing stress is low with rent-to-income at just 8.3%, and the crime rate of 32.1 per 1,000 is a moderate baseline. The trade-off is isolation, a high 22.1% vacancy rate, and a shrinking population down 15.7% over the decade.
What is the median house price in Roxby Downs?
No median house price data is available for Roxby Downs, reflecting the limited private sales market in a mining town where 70.4% of residents rent. Weekly rent averages $260, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 8.3%, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 for the minority who do carry a mortgage.
What schools are in Roxby Downs?
No schools are recorded within the Roxby Downs boundary in this dataset. The local population has a below-average university qualification rate of 19.2%, which is 10.9 points below the national figure, reflecting the trades and machinery focus of a workforce tied to the Olympic Dam mine.
Is Roxby Downs safe?
The recorded crime rate in Roxby Downs is 32.1 offences per 1,000 residents across 118 total incidents. Socioeconomic data suggests low financial stress: rent-to-income sits at 8.3% and mortgage-to-income at 11.2%, both well below stress thresholds, and the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSAD advantage index.
Is Roxby Downs good for property investment?
The 70.4% renting rate is well above national norms, but the 22.1% vacancy rate and population decline of 15.7% over the decade signal structural demand risk. There is no median house price to anchor yield calculations, and internal migration runs at minus 108 residents per year. Investment here is single-industry dependent on Olympic Dam's continuity.
How is Roxby Downs's population changing?
Population has declined 15.7% over the past decade and is trending downward at minus 0.32% per year, roughly 13 fewer residents annually. The medium forecast projects a fall from about 4,088 in 2026 to 4,023 by 2031. Net internal outflow averages minus 108 per year, only partially offset by overseas arrivals of plus 39 annually.
What industries drive employment in Roxby Downs?
Mining employs 49.4% of the local workforce, a share far higher than almost any other Australian suburb. Construction accounts for a further 11.1% and Education 8.9%. The unemployment rate is low at 2.3% and the full-time employment rate of 81.4% is above the national average, both reflecting strong demand for mine-related roles.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Roxby Downs on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map