Kapunda is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Light Council, characterised by heritage streetscapes. The Light River is part of the surrounding geography.
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable, well above typical levels for semi-rural and lifestyle localities. Local amenities is an exceptional strength. School access is strong, with school access 50% above the peer median. Rents are relatively affordable, with median rents 18% below the peer median. The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings. Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median.
Overall, Kapunda suits people prioritising heritage character and lower rents over socio-economic advantage.
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
Semi-rural locality · compared with semi-rural and lifestyle localities in South Australia (227)
Strengths
The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings
Rents are relatively affordable
School access is strong
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
Local amenity access is stronger than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median
What stands out
Heritage streetscapes
Light River
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 Kapunda compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
—
No data available
Median rent
$475/wk
Houses $488 · Units $440
Population (ERP)
2,604
+0.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.8%
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
#94
among Country & regional · Mature
Crime rate
61st
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
64th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
19%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
38th
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
5025th in Australia
State rank
449th in SA
Peer rank
#94 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#144 among Country & regional 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)
$440
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$487.5
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$475
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
15
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 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
2,604(June 2025)
+0.8% annual · +8.1% over 5 years · 64th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.8%
5-year growth
+8.1%
Change in 1 year
+20
Change in 5 years
+196
Growth rank in SA
64th 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 (~2,850), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
2,947
Median age
49
Median household income / week
$1,140
Dwelling vacancy
8.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
119 of 1,353
Median monthly mortgage
$1,127
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$246
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
41.3% / 39.3% / 19.3%
Employment rate
51.5%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
7.1% / 0.6% / 74.7%
Walked or cycled to work
3.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,161 / 53 / 0 (+ 15 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.
11% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 23.9% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified11% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified7.9% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational23.9% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below57.2% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies22.5%
Society and culture14.7%
Management and commerce14.5%
Health13%
Education10.8%
Food, hospitality and personal services6.8%
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)
$52,483
41st percentile in SA · -11% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$57,770
51st percentile in SA · -11% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
11.0%
38th percentile in SA · -20% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$84,593
59th percentile in SA · +34% vs Australia
Residents with business income
10.0%
45th percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5373 — 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
2,079
Taxpayers reporting net rent
236
Median net rent
$259
Taxpayers reporting business income
200
Taxable income vs state median
-3%
Salary / wages vs state median
0%
Rental investment vs state median
-8%
Super vs state median
+9%
Business income vs state median
-9%
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
Seasonal & agricultural work
6.3% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 2.7× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 3.8% across South Australia.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
6.3%
44th percentile in SA · +174% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
80
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 5373
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Managers24
Labourers22
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 5373 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.
Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)
Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for Barossa - Yorke - Mid North (SA4 405), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12142,701
Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12131,420
Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,021
Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8415393
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8416368
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211305
Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412140
Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 841957
Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110
Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 841310
Barossa - Yorke - Mid North is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.
Census employed residents counted in G54: 1,274 · AFF share +66% vs the state.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0
Community & culture
2% speak a language other than English at home; 13.5% born overseas
Language at home
2,765 English only · 56 other
Non-English at home
2%
Born overseas
381 (13.5%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
34 (1.2%)
Australian citizens
2,736
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
4
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
German5 · 31.2%
Russian5 · 31.2%
Serbian3 · 18.8%
Vietnamese3 · 18.8%
Religion
50.8%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 50.8%, while Christianity accounts for 40.9%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
50.8%
45.2%
Christianity
40.9%
40%
Other / not stated
8.3%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
11.3%
15.5%
Anglican
8.5%
7.2%
Lutheran
8.2%
2.4%
Uniting Church
6.9%
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)
118
Against the person
30
Against property
88
Rate per 1,000 residents
45.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 98 residents
State crime-rate percentile
60.9th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
24
Decrease (daily rate)
-1.7%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
65
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
24.96
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property20
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences18
Sct - Residence11
Serious Assault11
Theft From A Person16
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Kapunda High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 972 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 594 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Kapunda Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 987 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 274 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Kapunda KindergartenBeck StreetPreschools
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Reasonable bus and transport access — 8 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
12/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.02
Community(2)
Resource CentreLibrary
Kapunda High SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(9)
Kapunda Rail TrailCycling route
Kapunda Rail Trail (proposed)Cycling route
Kapunda Golf ClubGolf course
Hancock Road, Kapunda
Dutton ParkPark
Staff ToiletsPublic toilets
Student ToiletsPublic toilets
Kapunda RacecourseSports centre
Hancock Road, Kapunda
Kapunda Skate ParkSports field
Sports field
Camping & holiday parks(1)
Kapunda Tourist ParkCaravan park
Entertainment(1)
Viewpoint
Other(2)
Fountain
Parking (3)
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
Health access
Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
1
Nearest hospital
Kapunda Hospital (2.0 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
On site
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1
Residential aged-care places
26
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Kapunda Hospital26 Nash StreetPublic Hospital
Aged-care services
Kapunda HomesKAPUNDAResidential
Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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
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 (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 67 proposals
September 2026
Land Division ( 1 into 2)
67 MILDRED ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Carport
27 LIGHT ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of combined fence and retaining walls
29 MARY ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of Carport in association with existing dwelling
32 KLEMM RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
shed and verandah
92 MILDRED ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of Single Storey Dwelling Addition and Outbuilding
87 HAWKERS CREEK RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
External painting of the existing local heritage listed dwelling
8 SOUTH TCE KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
freestanding pergola
110 BREWERY RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Torrens title Land Divison nine (9) allotments into ten (10)
7 ROWETT ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Variation to DA 24039490 comprising an increase in floor area and height of Store, amendment to materials and inclusion of verandah
LOT 200 HANCOCK RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
August 2026
Construction of a single story detached dwelling and associated fence and retaining wall
25B HANCOCK RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Installation of Water Tank (Max 195KL ) in association with Dwelling
LOT 114 MAXWELL ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Variation to Existing Development Approval ID 22026700 for the purposes of amending the approved colour schedule and retrospective demolition of the southern wall
14 CRASE ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
1 into 4 Community Title Land Division and common property
15 TOD ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Alterations to Local Heritage Place (Repair/Restoration of Heritage Head Stones)
208 TARLEE RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of an outbuilding for the parking of trucks in association with the existing dwelling
22 NORTH TCE KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of a single storey detached dwelling, and change in use from existing dwelling to ancillary accommodation
34 NORTH TCE KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of outbuilding ancillary to existing dwelling
42 KLEMM RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of a battery storage facility with associated fencing, stormwater detention basin and an agricultural building (implement shed) in association with the existing farming land use
54 TREVENA RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Solar panels (roof mounted) to the existing verandah in association with the existing dwelling
27 CHRISTCHURCH ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
July 2026
Construction of Single Storey Detached Dwelling and combined fence and retaining wall
15 SIR SIDNEY KIDMAN BVD KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Land division creating two (2) allotments from three (3).
6 JEFFS ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of a carport ancillary to the existing dwelling
13 BRUMBY CT KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of a verandah ancillary to the existing dwelling
33 WHEATLEY ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of a carport ancillary to the existing dwelling
19 TOD ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
June 2026
Partial demolition to existing Local Heritage Place, alterations and additions to the existing dwelling including retrospective reroofing, retaining wall, and conversion of existing underground tank to a cellar.
24 HAWKE ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of a Single Storey Detached Dwelling
29 OLD ADELAIDE RD KAPUNDA SA 5373;LOT 694 OLD ADELAIDE RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Alterations to Dwelling (Balcony Restoration)
45 HIGH ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Land Division (Torrens Title) - 1 Allotment into 3 Allotments include the retention of existing dwelling
21 TRUSCOTT ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Alterations to existing Clubrooms in association with Golf Course
LOT 17 HANCOCK RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of outbuilding ancillary to existing dwelling
57 MILDRED ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
May 2026
Partial Demolition and Alterations and Additions to Existing Dwelling and verandah
14 HARRIET ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Under Assessment
Construction of anoutbuilding ancillary to existing dwelling
17 SHANNON ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of an outbuilding ancillary to existing dwelling
51 HARRIS RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of outbuilding ancillary to existing dwelling
53A OLD ADELAIDE RD KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
April 2026
Alterations to existing dwelling comprising the erection of a wall to enclose carport under main roof
46A KAPUNDA ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Boundary Realignment – Two (2) Allotments into Two (2) Allotments
6 FRANCIS ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of a single storey detached dwelling
10B WHITE ST KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of a detached dwelling and associated fence and retaining walls
1 BRUMBY CT KAPUNDA SA 5373Decision Made
Construction of a verandah ancillary to the existing building
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.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 24.5 km away).
Coalition 54.3%Labor 45.7%
8.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
KapundaLabor 45.8% · Coalition 54.2% TPP (2025)2.9 km away
GreenockLabor 43.4% · Coalition 56.6% TPP (2025)15.7 km away
FreelingLabor 46.3% · Coalition 53.7% TPP (2025)17.1 km away
NuriootpaLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)19.1 km away
StockwellLabor 40.5% · Coalition 59.5% TPP (2025)19.4 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%)