Christies Beach is a coastal outer metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Onkaparinga Council. It is close to the Christies Beach and the Witton Bluff.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Open-space access is better than in most comparable places, well above typical levels for outer metropolitan suburbs. Green cover is an exceptional strength, and university qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 24% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher housing costs and higher crime, with median house prices 20% above the peer median.
Christies Beach is a better fit for people who value daily services and open space more than lower housing costs.
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
Green cover is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
University qualifications are a relative strength
Weaknesses
Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group
Reported crime is elevated relative to comparable places
What stands out
Christies Beach
Witton Bluff
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 Christies Beach compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$924k
+17% change
Median rent
$600/wk
Houses $610 · Units $530
Population (ERP)
6,343
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.7%
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
#3
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Crime rate
88th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
55th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
44%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
21st
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
44.5/100 — Average
State standing
Top 41% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
3247th in Australia
State rank
287th in SA
Peer rank
#3 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#30 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
97%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$530
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$610
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$600
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
60
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$923,500
Median price change
+16.5%
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
6,343(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +6.6% over 5 years · 55th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.6%
5-year growth
+6.6%
Change in 1 year
+35
Change in 5 years
+394
Growth rank in SA
55th 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 (~6,700), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
5,962
Median age
39
Median household income / week
$1,194
Dwelling vacancy
8.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
244 of 2,789
Median monthly mortgage
$1,395
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$325
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
26.5% / 29.2% / 44.4%
Employment rate
53.3%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
8.5% / 3.4% / 70%
Walked or cycled to work
2.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,966 / 486 / 68 (+ 16 other)
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.
15% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified15% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified8.6% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational22.5% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below53.9% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Society and culture18.5%
Management and commerce17.2%
Engineering and related technologies15.6%
Health12.8%
Food, hospitality and personal services8.3%
Education8.2%
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)
$53,970
48th percentile in SA · -8% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$58,931
54th percentile in SA · -9% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
9.0%
12th percentile in SA · -35% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$54,746
21st percentile in SA · -14% vs Australia
Residents with business income
11.0%
49th percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5165 — 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
3,489
Taxpayers reporting net rent
303
Median net rent
-$80
Taxpayers reporting business income
376
Taxable income vs state median
-1%
Salary / wages vs state median
+2%
Rental investment vs state median
-25%
Super vs state median
-30%
Business income vs state median
0%
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
7.3% speak a language other than English at home; 25.4% born overseas
Language at home
5,264 English only · 416 other
Non-English at home
7.3%
Born overseas
1,435 (25.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
198 (3.3%)
Australian citizens
5,217
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
18
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Italian18 · 13.4%
French13 · 9.7%
Portuguese13 · 9.7%
Afrikaans12 · 9%
Greek12 · 9%
Punjabi9 · 6.7%
Arabic8 · 6%
Mandarin7 · 5.2%
Religion
57.3%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 57.3%, while Christianity accounts for 32.2%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
57.3%
45.2%
Christianity
32.2%
40%
Other / not stated
10.5%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
10.8%
15.5%
Anglican
7.5%
7.2%
Christian (not further defined)
3.5%
2.6%
Uniting Church
3.1%
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
727
Against the person
136
Against property
591
Rate per 1,000 residents
114.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 44 residents
State crime-rate percentile
87.6th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
69
Increase (daily rate)
+15%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
141
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
22.23
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property120
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences47
Serious Assault80
Theft From A Person77
Theft From Retail Premises251
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Christies Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 889 · 9th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
St John The Apostle Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1021 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
FAME - Flexible Accredited Meaningful EngagementSpecial · Catholic · ICSEA 952 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 137 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
O'Sullivan Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 926 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 84 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Port Noarlunga Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 999 · 46th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 370 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Southern Montessori SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1095 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 230 students · Top SEA quarter 35% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Christie Downs Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 925 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 31% · 205 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Christies Beach High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 905 · 12th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 789 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Christies North Kindergarten27 Shepherd RoadPreschools
Taikurrendi Children and Family Centre8 Price StreetIntegrated Centres
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
St Francis of Assisi Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
26 O'Halloran Road, Christies Beach
Shelter (11)
Shower (3)
Telephone
TelstraTelephone
Waste Basket (7)
Beach Road LaundromatYes
Brains and GamesYes
Centenary Carports & VerandahsYes
Christies Fresh Fruit MartYes
Unit 2 76 Beach Road, Christies Beach
Green Pritchard & Co Accountants Pty LtdYes
Jacko's SeafoodsYes
Ray White Christies BeachYes
Southern PalaceYes
The Magickal Crystal ForestYes
Unit 2b 55 Beach Road, Christies Beach
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
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Christies Beach Baptist Church
13 Saltash Avenue, Christies Beach
Noarlunga Uniting Church
23 Ramsgate Avenue, Christies Beach
St Francis of Assisi Anglican Church
26 O'Halloran Road, Christies Beach
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· 120 proposals
September 2026
Addition to upper-level existing balcony in the front of the dwelling.
68 ESPLANADE CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Removal of a 1 X significant tree (Agonis flexuosa)
29 -29A MATURIN AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land division one into five allotments in accordance with approved build form DA - 25005316
30 SALTASH AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Residential land division one -into -two
34 ACKLAND AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Change of use to consulting room
88 BEACH RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Verandah
69B WITTON RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Community title land division - 4 allotments from 1
16 CLOVELLY AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Four (4) two storey dwellings in terrace arrangement
16 CLOVELLY AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Land Division - 1 into 2
65 ELGIN AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Four (4) two-storey group dwellings with associated garages and Community title land division - 4 allotments from 1
29 CLEMENT TCE CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Variation of DA 24032505 - Amended Balcony Privacy Screening (Retrospective)
33A TAUNTON PDE CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
August 2026
Outbuilding- Garage
23 CLEMENT TCE CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Three single storey detached dwelling in terrace arrangement with removal of 1 X council street tree
10 FOX AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Two storey residential flat buildings comprising five (5) dwellings for the purpose of affordable housing, fences, retaining walls and removal of one (1) regulated tree -Prunus domestica (Common Plum)
3 BEATTY AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling and retaining wall up to maximum height of 1m.
57 FENTON AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Torrens title land division - 2 allotments from 1 in association with 25038379
26 COCKING RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Torrens title land division 1 into 2 allotments (as per built form approval DA 25038389)
25 CASTLE RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Addition to existing outbuilding - shed (Retrospective).
9 MARTIN PL CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Demolition of internal walls and fit-out including internal alterations, change of use to consulting room
75 BEACH RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Attached Verandah
8 SHORT ST CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Construct two-storey detached dwelling, retaining walls and fencing
27 DEEMSTER AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Retrospective* Variation to Development Authorisation (24008906) - Change in retaining wall heights and location.
LOT 1 ESPLANADE CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165;LOT 2 ESPLANADE CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165;LOT 3 ESPLANADE CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Retrospective 2.8m high screening fence.
1A FERRIS ST CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Building alteration
39 SYDNEY CR CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Five (5) group dwellings and removal of two (2) regulated trees
6 OLDFIELD AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
July 2026
Three (3) x two-storey dwellings, one with detached carport and one (1) single storey dwelling with associated retaining walls and fencing atop
24 CLARING-BOULD RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Community title land division (one into five) in accordance with built form DA 25035941
59 DAVIS AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Torrens title Land division- 1 allotment into 3. In Accordance with built form DA 24035679
19 WOOTOONA AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Verandah
5 BARRY ST CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Deck
43A FENTON AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling with associated retaining wall and fence with combined maximum height of 2.6m
LOT 102 KENNEY ST CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Temporary shop within a shipping container and associated signage
BEACH RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Community title land division (1 into 5) as per built form DA 26022760
6 OLDFIELD AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Three (3) two storey dwellings with associated garaging
3 WILLIAM RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Construction of two (2) single level dwellings and two (2) two (2) level dwellings, detached carport and associated fencing and retaining walls
6 SISMEY RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Double storey 5 x Dwellings in Terrace arrangement for the purpose of affordable housing associated with 1 X street tree removal.
33 WOOTOONA AV CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Land Division - 1 into 3 lots
3 SMYTH ST CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Decision Made
Three (3 )x single storey row dwellings. fences, retaining walls and removal of 4 regulated trees
5 GUTHRIE RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Dwelling Addition to consist of a Master Bedroom suite with an accompanying walk-in robe and en-suite.
7 OLD CREEK RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling with associated fencing and retaining (Lot 202)
29 CARMICHAEL RD CHRISTIES BEACH SA 5165Under 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.
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%)