Christie Downs is an outer metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Onkaparinga Council. It is mainly residential, with little in the way of a distinct commercial centre or landmark identity.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. School access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked outer metropolitan suburbs, and open-space access is exceptionally strong. Green cover is an exceptional strength. Trade-offs centre on household incomes and more mapped flood cover, with household incomes 40% below the peer median.
Christie Downs's appeal is better explained by housing, access and location than by a strong standalone precinct or destination.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (64)
Strengths
School access is exceptionally strong
Open-space access is exceptionally strong
Green cover is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Household incomes are a relative weakness
Mapped flood cover is a relative weakness
What stands out
Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★☆☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Christie Downs compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$771k
+18% change
Median rent
$540/wk
Houses $560 · Units $380
Population (ERP)
5,229
+0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#110
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Crime rate
90th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
48th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
48%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
25th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
37.6/100 — Below average
National rank
5027th in Australia
State rank
448th in SA
Peer rank
#110 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#255 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
98%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$380
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$560
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$540
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
50
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$771,000
Median price change
+17.5%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
5,229(June 2025)
+0.1% annual · +1.5% over 5 years · 48th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.1%
5-year growth
+1.5%
Change in 1 year
+6
Change in 5 years
+79
Growth rank in SA
48th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~5,400), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
5,239
Median age
41
Median household income / week
$889
Dwelling vacancy
8.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
195 of 2,327
Median monthly mortgage
$1,148
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$250
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
23.9% / 28.2% / 47.9%
Employment rate
38%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
4.9% / 5% / 72.3%
Walked or cycled to work
2.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,637 / 473 / 25
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
7.6% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 20.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified7.6% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified5.7% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational20.1% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below66.6% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Society and culture19.7%
Engineering and related technologies19.4%
Management and commerce17.5%
Health10.4%
Food, hospitality and personal services8.1%
Architecture and building7%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$50,142
32nd percentile in SA · -15% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$54,397
38th percentile in SA · -16% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
4.0%
1st percentile in SA · -71% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$41,913
8th percentile in SA · -34% vs Australia
Residents with business income
7.0%
10th percentile in SA · -33% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5164 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
2,356
Taxpayers reporting net rent
103
Median net rent
-$822
Taxpayers reporting business income
173
Taxable income vs state median
-8%
Salary / wages vs state median
-5%
Rental investment vs state median
-67%
Super vs state median
-46%
Business income vs state median
-36%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in SA, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
7.9% speak a language other than English at home; 21% born overseas
Language at home
4,284 English only · 367 other
Non-English at home
7.9%
Born overseas
962 (21%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
296 (5.6%)
Australian citizens
4,382
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
23
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Mandarin10 · 7.7%
Russian10 · 7.7%
Arabic9 · 6.9%
Polish9 · 6.9%
Punjabi9 · 6.9%
German8 · 6.2%
Malayalam8 · 6.2%
Greek7 · 5.4%
Religion
52.6%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 52.6%, while Christianity accounts for 30.5%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
52.6%
45.2%
Christianity
30.5%
40%
Other / not stated
16.9%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
10.4%
15.5%
Anglican
7.2%
7.2%
Christian (not further defined)
3%
2.6%
Uniting Church
2.3%
4.8%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
679
Against the person
257
Against property
422
Rate per 1,000 residents
129.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 20 residents
State crime-rate percentile
89.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
140
Decrease (daily rate)
-1.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
137
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
26.2
Most common offence types
Common Assault54
Damage Or Destroy Property193
Sct - Residence55
Serious Assault151
Theft From A Person61
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Christie Downs Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 925 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 31% · 205 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
Christies Beach High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 905 · 12th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 789 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
Lonsdale Heights Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 949 · 24th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 71 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
FAME - Flexible Accredited Meaningful EngagementSpecial · Catholic · ICSEA 952 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 137 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Calvary Lutheran Primary SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 971 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 191 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
O'Sullivan Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 926 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 84 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
St John The Apostle Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1021 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Cardijn CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1019 · 55th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 2,247 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Southern Montessori SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1095 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 230 students · Top SEA quarter 35% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Christies Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 889 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Great for outdoor family life — 22 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 36 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 41 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
74/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.38
Parks per 1,000 residents
4.2
Food & drink(2)
Pizza at ChristiesFast food
9 Midhurst Avenue, Christie Downs
The Chook ShedFast food
Shopping(3)
Flaxmill Shopping CentreShopping centre
Midhurst Avenue
Flaxmill Road SupermarketSupermarket
Community(6)
Christie Downs Community HouseCommunity centre
Morton Road, Christie Downs
Kindergarten
Christie Downs Primary SchoolSchool
Elizabeth Road, Christie Downs
Christies Beach High SchoolSchool
185 Beach Road, Christie Downs
Lonsdale Heights Primary SchoolSchool
Marcellin Technical CollegeSchool
Health & services(2)
Klaveniek T G & Birdsey P HMedical clinic
Flaxmill Road PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(70)
BBQ
Beach Road TrailCycling route
Christie Creek Linear TrailCycling route
Glenhelen PathCycling route
Patrick Jonker VelowayCycling route
Drinking water
Glasgow Street ReservePark
Helen Ellis ReservePark
Niipu-niipu Wama Morton ParkPark
Park (19)
Playground (3)
Public toilets
Christie Downs SkateparkSports field
Morton Road, Christie Downs
Sports field
Swimming pool (36)
Transport(34)
33 bus stops · 1 train stations
Other(15)
Bench
Bicycle Parking
Christies Beach Magistrates' CourtCourthouse
Christie CreekInformation
Parking (45)
Greek Orthodox Parish of Saint AndrewPlace of worship
Noarlunga Centre Church of ChristPlace of worship
Christies Beach Police StationPolice
Post Box (2)
Shelter (3)
Eureka Care Community Christie DownsSocial Facility
Social Facility
St. Basil's Aegean Village Aged Care ComplexSocial Facility
10 Morton Road, Christie Downs
Telephone
Waste Basket (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Greek Orthodox Parish of Saint Andrew
Noarlunga Centre Church of Christ
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
27° / 16°
Rainfall
49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 8°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 11°
Rainfall
95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 116 proposals
September 2026
Community Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 12 (Being over allotment 211 within DA 26023700)
LOT 21 HYACINTH CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Community Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 8 (Being over allotment 212 in DA 26023700)
LOT 21 HYACINTH CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 2
LOT 21 HYACINTH CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Torrens Title land division (one into two) as per built form DA 25040897
15 HYACINTH CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Land Division 1 into 3 allotments in accordance with DA 26017073.
25 RADCLIFFE GR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Attached verandah and Carport.
6 BERESFORD AV CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Detached Steel Framed Shed
20 EUGENE CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Torrens title land division 1 allotment into 3
4 JASON ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Torrens title land division - 3 allotments from 1
12 ELIZABETH RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Ancillary structure with habitable area.
8 GLASGOW ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Two (2) residential flat buildings comprising 12 dwellings for the purposes of affordable housing including a common driveway and landscaping, retaining wall, fencing
25 WOODSTOCK AV CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164;27 WOODSTOCK AV CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Four detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement (for the purposes of affordable housing) and associated fencing
4 COPERNICUS RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Three (3) X single storey row dwellings associated with retaining walls and fencing.
18 FINIAN RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Torrens title land division (one into three) in accordance with DA 26006095
25 ANSELM ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Verandah
7 HASELDENE DR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Three (3) single storey dwelling in terrace arrangement, retaining wall with associated fencing with a total combined height of more than 2.1m. Removal of (1) significant tree- Agonis flexuosa (Western Australian Peppermint)
22 EUGENE CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Variation to development authorisation (25024349) - Four (4) single storey dwellings in a terrace arrangement with associated retaining walls and removal of a regulated tree (Pittosporum undulatum).
10 COPERNICUS RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
August 2026
Three (3) single-storey dwellings with retaining walls and fencing and removal of two council trees.
38 CHRISTINA RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Community Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 5
2 OSMUND CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Decision Made
Three (3) x two storey dwellings in terrace arrangement associated with walls and fencing
4 ADRIAN ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Two storey residential flat buildings comprising five (5) dwellings for the purpose of affordable housing, fences and retaining walls
23 ANSELM ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
29 ADRIAN ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Decision Made
Three (3) x Row dwellings associated with retaining walls and fencing
6 ANTONY ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Three single storey detached dwelling in terrace arrangement with associated retaining wall and fence of combined maximum height of 2.4m
66 ELIZABETH RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Community title land division - 6 allotments from 1
2 DAVID CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Decision Made
Land Division of 1 into 3 allotments for the purpose of 3 X Dwellings in terrace arrangement
66 ELIZABETH RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Torrens title land division - 4 allotments from 1 in association with 26013150
20 ELIZABETH RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Decision Made
Ancillary Accommodation
13 HOLMAN RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Three (3)X single storey dwellings in terrace arrangement, fences, retaining walls and removal of four(4) regulated trees
4 JASON ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Land Division (1 into 5) allotments in accordance with DA 26016792
20 MARILYN AV CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Construction of a residential flat building, comprising 5 dwellings for the purposes of affordable housing and associated landscaping, retaining walls and fencing.
1 BLAISE ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Retrospective application for spa pool with associated decking and fencing of maximum height 2.7m.
17 COPERNICUS RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Four (4) X detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement, retaining walls, fences and removal of two (2) street trees
18 OSMUND CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
July 2026
Circus (temporary between 12 - 30 August 2026)
179 BEACH RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Construction of three (3) single-storey dwellings in a terrace arrangement and removal of one Regulated Willow Myrtle (Agonis flexuosa) and one Significant Bracelet Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca armillaris)
10 JASON ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Three (3) Single Storey Detached Dwellings, with associated retaining walls and fencing and detached carport
4 BRIGID ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Three two-storey and one single-storey dwellings and associated retaining walls/fencing
27 BRENDAN ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Community title land division 1 allotment into 3
24 FINIAN RD CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Decision Made
Construction of a single storey detached dwelling and retaining wall and fencing (max height of 2.55m)
29 ANSELM ST CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Community Title 1 into 3 Land Division and Construction of two double storey group dwellings at the rear by retaining the existing house at the front. Alterations to the existing dwelling to create a new living room and carport.
24 EUSTACE CR CHRISTIE DOWNS SA 5164Under Assessment
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Flood cover is the share of the suburb boundary overlapping current SA Planning flood overlays (flooding and evidence required). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Christie DownsLabor 77.6% · Coalition 22.4% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
O'Sullivan BeachLabor 76.8% · Coalition 23.2% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
Morphett ValeLabor 73.4% · Coalition 26.6% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
Christies BeachLabor 73.9% · Coalition 26.1% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)