Streaky Bay
At a median age of 48, Streaky Bay's population is 8 years older than the national figure, a gap that shapes everything from housing demand to community patterns. Spanning 511 square kilometres with only 1,436 residents, the town sits at a density of 2.8 people per square kilometre, far below national urban norms. Household income lands in the 17.9th percentile nationally, yet 47.9% of dwellings are owned outright, because long-term residents have simply paid off their homes over decades. The vacancy rate of 27.7% is unusually high, reflecting a property market where holiday or absentee ownership plays a meaningful role.
Population
1,436
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,111/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
43
No current median house price is recorded in the dataset, but the housing cost profile still tells a clear story. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,278, below most regional SA benchmarks, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Rent averages $250 per week, making Streaky Bay accessible compared to coastal SA averages. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.6%, with apartments at just 1.5%, so buyers face little choice of dwelling type but also little competition from higher-density supply. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.5% of the stock, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 23.3%, giving families reasonable options at accessible cost levels.
For Buyers
No current median house price is recorded in the dataset, but the housing cost profile still tells a clear story. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,278, below most regional SA benchmarks, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Rent averages $250 per week, making Streaky Bay accessible compared to coastal SA averages. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.6%, with apartments at just 1.5%, so buyers face little choice of dwelling type but also little competition from higher-density supply. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.5% of the stock, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 23.3%, giving families reasonable options at accessible cost levels.
For Investors
The 27.7% vacancy rate is the standout signal for investors: more than 1 in 4 dwellings sits vacant, which indicates significant holiday or seasonal use rather than a deep rental market. Only 22% of residents rent, paying a median of $250 per week, and the rental pool is limited in a town of 1,436 people. Against these constraints, 39 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, showing active construction activity relative to the small population. Demand drivers are thin: no population forecast data is available, but a mobility rate where 78.5% of residents have not moved in 5 years suggests stable rather than growing occupancy. Investors should weigh low entry cost against limited rental demand compared to larger regional centres.
Development Activity
Total DAs
281
Last 12 Months
43
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-17.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Streaky Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Streaky Bay Area School
U, R-12 · 276 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national average, placing Streaky Bay firmly in the aging end of the spectrum nationally. Only 6.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 15.5 percentage points below the national figure, giving the town one of the more locally-born profiles in regional SA. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (598), Irish (163), German (140) and Scottish (128) lead the count in a population of 1,436. University qualifications reach 19%, which is 11.1 points below the national rate, consistent with an economy weighted toward trade, agriculture and healthcare rather than professional services. The average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, shaped by the older demographic and high share of couples-without-children households at 42.3%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.6%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 95.6% of Streaky Bay's dwellings, one of the highest detached-house shares compared to most SA localities, and apartments represent just 1.5%. Tenure is heavily skewed toward outright ownership: 47.9% own without a mortgage, 30.1% are paying one off, and only 22% rent. The 47.9% outright ownership rate is substantially higher than national norms, reflecting a long-established, older resident base that has held properties for decades. The vacancy rate of 27.7% stands out, suggesting a large share of dwellings are holiday homes or investment properties not tenanted year-round. Bedrooms lean practical: 48.5% are 3-bedroom and 23.3% are 4-plus bedroom, so the stock suits families rather than singles or couples without children.
Mortgage / mo
$1,278
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$667
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
27.7%
Unoccupied
213
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.3%
Couples, no children
975
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.3% (61 workers), with Education at 13.3% (50 workers) and Agriculture at 12.8% (48 workers) close behind. This trio reflects the service and primary-production base typical of remote SA coastal towns, rather than the professional services mix found in state average figures. Construction follows at 12.0% and Retail at 8.0%. By occupation, Managers (113), Professionals (103) and Labourers (101) are almost evenly matched, showing a broad skills distribution. The unemployment rate is 4.5% and the participation rate is 52.5%, below the national average, partly because 418 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age. Volunteering at 36.1% is high, which is common in small remote communities where civic institutions depend on resident effort.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.7%
Part-time
40.8%
Participation
52.5%
Employed
596
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.0%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
6.1%
Dwellings
543
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 80.3% of commuters, as expected for a remote coastal town more than 700 kilometres from Adelaide, where no public transport network exists. Only 1.0% use public transport, against the national average. Walking and cycling account for 12.4%, which is reasonable given the low-density, small-town layout. The crime rate of 16.7 incidents per 1,000 residents is a low absolute number, consistent with the low-crime-rate identity signal in the data. Rent-to-income sits at 22.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 26.6% also stays under the stress line, making housing costs manageable relative to local incomes. No schools are recorded within the Streaky Bay boundary in this dataset. Volunteering at 36.1% indicates a high level of community participation relative to national norms.
Drive
80.3%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
12.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
24
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
16.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Streaky Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Streaky Bay a good suburb to live in?
Streaky Bay suits those who value low housing costs and a stable, established community. Mortgage-to-income sits at 26.6% and rent-to-income at 22.5%, both below stress thresholds. The crime rate is 16.7 per 1,000 residents and 78.5% of residents have stayed for 5 or more years, signalling a settled rather than transient population.
What is the median house price in Streaky Bay?
No current median house price is recorded in this dataset for Streaky Bay. Average monthly mortgage repayments are $1,278 and weekly rent averages $250, placing housing costs below most regional SA coastal markets. Mortgage-to-income at 26.6% remains under the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Streaky Bay?
No schools are recorded within the Streaky Bay boundary in this dataset. Local university qualification rates are 19%, which is 11.1 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with an economy based on healthcare, agriculture and trades rather than professional credentials.
Is Streaky Bay safe?
The recorded crime rate is 16.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, a low absolute figure for a town of 1,436 people. Total recorded incidents number 24. This is consistent with the low-crime-rate identity signal and the low population density of 2.8 people per square kilometre.
Is Streaky Bay good for property investment?
Investment fundamentals are mixed. The vacancy rate of 27.7% is high, indicating a large share of dwellings are not permanently tenanted. Only 22% of residents rent, paying $250 per week. Development activity of 39 applications in 12 months is active relative to the town's 1,436 residents, but the thin rental market limits yield-focused returns.
How is Streaky Bay's population changing?
No formal population forecast is available for Streaky Bay. Mobility data shows 78.5% of residents have not moved in 5 years, a turnover rate of 21.5% that signals population stability. The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national average, suggesting gradual aging rather than growth as the dominant demographic trend.
How much development is happening in Streaky Bay?
There were 39 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including new detached dwellings, outbuildings and verandah extensions. For a town of 1,436 residents, this level of activity suggests ongoing construction interest, particularly from owners improving or adding to existing separate-house stock, which makes up 95.6% of dwellings.
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.
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