Median house price
—
No data available
SA · Light Council
Fords, 5373
Est. population · Jun 2025
72
Growth (1 yr)
+1.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+9.1%
Median age
39
Median income
$2,083/wk
Employment rate
88.7%
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Fords is a welcoming smaller community in Light Council, with a settled community character. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Shops and services are limited locally: a short trip to a nearby centre covers the fuller weekly shop. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.
Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market. Reported crime has been rising recently.
At a glance
Fords snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
72
+1.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
0.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
58th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
83rd
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
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
Population
Estimated resident population
72(June 2025)
+1.4% annual · +9.1% over 5 years · 83th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.4%
- 5-year growth
- +9.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- +6
- Growth rank in SA
- 83th 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 (~100), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 81
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $2,083
- Dwelling vacancy
- 0%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 28
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,700
- Employment rate
- 88.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 29 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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 (2024–25)
- 3
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 2
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 41.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 81 residents
- State safety percentile
- 58.1th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 24
- Increase (daily rate)
- +50.4%
Most common offence types
- Obtain Benefit By Deception1
- Other Homicide And Related Offences1
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent1
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated · Financial-year releases
Family & Lifestyle
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Kapunda Hospital (8.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 3
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 41.7
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.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
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
- 29° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 69 mm · ~9 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 80 mm · ~10 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 142 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 125 mm · ~16 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 2 proposals
May 2026
- Construction of a domestic outbuilding ancillary to existing dwelling.74 THE GAP RD FORDS SA 5373Under Assessment
- Boundary realignment two (2) into two (2) Allotments74 THE GAP RD FORDS SA 5373;LOT 289 THIELE HWY FORDS SA 5373Decision Made
2025· 2 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition of existing outbuilding; Fibreglass swimming pool & associated safety barrier220 WENDT RD FORDS SA 5373Decision Made
July 2025
- Horse keeping for up to two (2) horses and construction of a carport24 BOTTOM OLD HOUSE RD FORDS SA 5373Decision Made
2024· 3 proposals
November 2024
- Variation to 23034764 - Construction of agricultural building for the storage of agricultural implements only. Variation comprising change of orientation of the agricultural building.129 THE GAP RD FORDS SA 5373Decision Made
March 2024
- Construction of agricultural building for the storage of agricultural implements only129 THE GAP RD FORDS SA 5373Decision Made
February 2024
- Small scale meat processing and packaging facility in association with existing primary production farming and residential land uses2633 THIELE HWY FORDS SA 5373Decision Made
2022· 1 proposal
December 2022
- Alterations and additions to existing dwelling2091 THIELE HWY FORDS SA 5373Decision Made
Other· 1 proposal
- BORAL RESOURCES (SA) LIMITEDMaterials Handling and TransportationEPA licence
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · 2026 · Updated
Heritage
3 heritage places
- FarmhouseThe Gap Road FORDSLocal heritage
- Former Farm ComplexThe Gap Road FORDSLocal heritage
- Former Railway ShedRailway Reserve, (Cnr Fords and The Gap Roads) FORDSLocal heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Bushfire & hazard overlays (SA) — Government of South Australia · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Barker
- Member of Parliament
- Tony PASIN (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,045
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.6%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.6 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 23.6 km away).
Coalition 54.5%Labor 45.5%
8.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- KapundaLabor 45.8% · Coalition 54.2% TPP (2025)7.3 km away
- FreelingLabor 46.3% · Coalition 53.7% TPP (2025)9.1 km away
- GreenockLabor 43.4% · Coalition 56.6% TPP (2025)9.1 km away
- NuriootpaLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)14.6 km away
- TanundaLabor 48.2% · Coalition 51.8% TPP (2025)17.0 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Light Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in South Australia or interstate.