Surrey Downs
A median house price of $867,500 and a 24.8% price gain in a single year mark Surrey Downs as one of Adelaide's faster-moving mortgage-belt suburbs. The 1.63 sq km suburb holds 3,358 residents, almost entirely in detached houses, which make up 95.6% of the dwelling stock. Household income sits at the 58.1st percentile nationally, and median age is 38, two years below the national figure, pointing to a younger owner-occupier base still building equity. At 49.7%, mortgage holders outnumber outright owners (30.5%) by a wide margin, reflecting how recently much of this stock was purchased.
Population
3,358
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,674/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
41
Median House
$868K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $867,500 in 1Q 2026, up 24.8% from $695,000 in 1Q 2025. That pace significantly outpaces typical SA growth benchmarks, though buyers should note this is based on two data points rather than a longer trend. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means the median buyer carries a manageable load relative to income. Bedrooms skew toward family sizes: 72.1% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 21.6% have 4 or more. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.6%, so buyers seeking an apartment here will find almost no options. Semi-detached homes account for the remaining 4.4%.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $867,500 in 1Q 2026, up 24.8% from $695,000 in 1Q 2025. That pace significantly outpaces typical SA growth benchmarks, though buyers should note this is based on two data points rather than a longer trend. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means the median buyer carries a manageable load relative to income. Bedrooms skew toward family sizes: 72.1% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 21.6% have 4 or more. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.6%, so buyers seeking an apartment here will find almost no options. Semi-detached homes account for the remaining 4.4%.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed picture. Weekly rent of $330 against an $867,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.0%, low relative to SA regional averages. The vacancy rate of 4.3% is elevated, suggesting rental supply is adequate and tenants have choice. The renter share is 19.8%, below the national average, meaning this is primarily an owner-occupier suburb rather than a tenant-driven rental market. Development activity is moderate at 39 applications in the past 12 months, with recent samples including multi-dwelling Performance Assessed applications and dwelling alterations, indicating ongoing infill activity. The 24.8% annual price appreciation signals strong capital growth, which is where the investment case rests rather than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
172
Last 12 Months
41
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+64.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Surrey Downs iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Surrey Downs Primary School
U, R-6 · 148 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, consistent with a suburb attracting younger families rather than retirees. Overseas-born residents account for 19.3%, which is 2.3 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic: English ancestry is recorded for 1,628 residents, followed by Scottish (324) and German (294). University qualifications reach 22.1%, which is 8 percentage points below the national rate of approximately 30%, reflecting a workforce concentrated in trades, healthcare and community services rather than professional-sector roles. The household composition confirms the family orientation: 1,174 couples with children compared to 733 couples without, and average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.6%
Houses
4.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Surrey Downs is defined by detached houses, which account for 95.6% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 4.4% and no recorded apartment stock. Tenure splits across three groups: 49.7% hold mortgages, 30.5% own outright, and 19.8% rent, a distribution that places mortgage holders as the dominant tenure type by a wide margin compared to suburbs with higher outright ownership. The 3-bedroom configuration dominates at 72.1%, and 4-plus bedroom homes represent 21.6%, so family-sized housing is the clear majority. Rent-to-income sits at 19.7%, below the 30% stress benchmark, and mortgage-to-income at 20.3% likewise stays comfortable. The rapid price move from $695,000 to $867,500 over 12 months means recent buyers have seen immediate equity gains, though it also increases entry costs for new purchasers.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,473
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$828
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
58
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.9%
Couples, no children
2,830
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is led by Healthcare at 18.9% (213 workers), the highest single sector, followed by Education at 12.9% (145) and Construction at 12.5% (141). Public Administration contributes 8.9% and Retail 7.8%. By occupation, Clerical and Admin (291) and Professionals (282) are the two largest groups, with Community and Personal services (250) reflecting the healthcare and education sector concentration. Unemployment stands at 3.6% and the full-time employment rate is 62.9%, with 63.5% labour force participation. Household income is at the 58.1st percentile nationally, above the median but not at the top, consistent with a workforce mix of service-sector and trades employment rather than high-earning professional roles. SEIFA data is unavailable for this suburb in the current dataset.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
63.5%
Employed
1,661
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.1%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
1,303
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high: 86.9% of residents drive to work, and only 6.8% use public transport, pointing to limited transit access relative to inner Adelaide suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 1.6%. No schools are recorded inside the Surrey Downs boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in adjacent suburbs. The crime rate is 140 recorded offences for a population of 3,358, producing a rate of 41.7 per 1,000 residents. Rent stress affects 19.7% of household income, and mortgage stress at 20.3% keeps both tenure groups below the 30% threshold. The volunteering rate of 13.9% and 5.1% of residents requiring assistance (165 people) suggest a relatively self-sufficient community compared to higher-disadvantage areas.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
6.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
140
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
41.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Surrey Downs compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surrey Downs a good suburb to live in?
Surrey Downs suits younger families buying detached houses, with a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national figure. Mortgage stress at 20.3% of income and rent stress at 19.7% both sit below the 30% threshold, so housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. The suburb is car-dependent, with 86.9% of residents driving to work and only 6.8% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Surrey Downs?
The median house price is $867,500 as of 1Q 2026, up 24.8% from $695,000 in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473 and weekly rent is $330. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% indicates housing costs are within manageable bounds for local income levels.
What schools are in Surrey Downs?
No schools are recorded inside the Surrey Downs boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Locally, 22.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 8 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting a workforce oriented toward trades, healthcare and community services.
Is Surrey Downs safe?
Surrey Downs recorded 140 offences for a population of 3,358, giving a crime rate of 41.7 per 1,000 residents. Detailed crime category breakdowns are not available in the current dataset. The suburb's stable population, with 83.8% of residents remaining over the survey period, is consistent with a settled, low-turnover community.
Is Surrey Downs good for property investment?
The 24.8% price gain from $695,000 to $867,500 in 12 months is strong for capital growth. However, weekly rent of $330 against an $867,500 median produces a gross yield around 2.0%, low by SA standards, and a 4.3% vacancy rate indicates tenants have options. The 19.8% renter share is below the national average, so rental demand here is thinner than in higher-density suburbs.
How is Surrey Downs's population changing?
Surrey Downs has a population of 3,358 across 1.63 sq km, giving a density of 2,064 residents per sq km. The mobility data shows 83.8% of residents stayed in the suburb over the survey period, a turnover rate of 16.2%, suggesting a stable base. No detailed population forecast is available in the current dataset.
How much development is happening in Surrey Downs?
There were 39 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including Performance Assessed multi-dwelling applications and dwelling alterations. This level of activity is moderate for a 1.63 sq km suburb and indicates ongoing infill rather than large-scale subdivision, consistent with a mostly established housing stock where 95.6% of homes are detached houses.
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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