Middleton is a coastal town in South Australia, in Alexandrina Council. The Fleurieu Peninsula is part of the surrounding geography.
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns, and university qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 83% above the peer median, and working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 35% above the peer median, and population has been growing faster than in comparable places, with population growth 32% above the peer median. The main trade-offs are higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population and thinner park access.
Middleton is a better fit for people who value socio-economic advantage and university qualifications more than open space.
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
Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in South Australia (35)
Strengths
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
Working from home is more common than in comparable places
Population has been growing faster than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated
Park access is a relative weakness
What stands out
Middleton Beach
Basham Beach
Fleurieu Peninsula
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 Middleton compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
—
No data available
Median rent
$555/wk
Population (ERP)
1,425
+1.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
58.2%
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
#46
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
23rd
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
88th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
18%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
34.7/100 — Below average
National rank
5675th in Australia
State rank
535th in SA
Peer rank
#46 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#61 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
83%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$555
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
10
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
1,425(June 2025)
+1.6% annual · +12.0% over 5 years · 88th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.6%
5-year growth
+12.0%
Change in 1 year
+23
Change in 5 years
+153
Growth rank in SA
88th 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 (~1,550), extrapolated at +1.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
1,298
Median age
49
Median household income / week
$1,330
Dwelling vacancy
58.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
723 of 1,243
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$283
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
46.6% / 35.4% / 18%
Employment rate
54.3%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
13.4% / 0% / 67.7%
Walked or cycled to work
4.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
509 / 7 / 0 (+ 3 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.
23.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified23.8% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified10.9% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational22.6% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below42.8% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies17.2%
Management and commerce15.7%
Health15.1%
Education14%
Society and culture13%
Food, hospitality and personal services7%
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)
$49,904
30th percentile in SA · -15% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$49,930
22nd percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
15.0%
75th percentile in SA · +9% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$112,605
81st percentile in SA · +78% vs Australia
Residents with business income
15.0%
91st percentile in SA · +44% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5213 — 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
864
Taxpayers reporting net rent
132
Median net rent
$1,025
Taxpayers reporting business income
126
Taxable income vs state median
-8%
Salary / wages vs state median
-13%
Rental investment vs state median
+25%
Super vs state median
+45%
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
Seasonal & agricultural work
3.0% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 1.3× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 3.8% across South Australia.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
3.0%
37th percentile in SA · +30% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
18
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 5213
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Managers15
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 5213 (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 South Australia - South East (SA4 407), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.
Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12134,568
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12143,627
Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 84151,363
Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,073
Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412992
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211833
Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413346
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8416308
Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419301
Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110
South Australia - South East 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: 595 · AFF share -21% 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
3.2% speak a language other than English at home; 15.7% born overseas
Language at home
1,209 English only · 40 other
Non-English at home
3.2%
Born overseas
195 (15.7%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
3 (0.2%)
Australian citizens
1,197
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
3
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Japanese5 · 45.5%
Cantonese3 · 27.3%
German3 · 27.3%
Religion
58.2%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 58.2%, while Christianity accounts for 33.7%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
58.2%
45.2%
Christianity
33.7%
40%
Other / not stated
8.2%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
9.4%
15.5%
Anglican
7.2%
7.2%
Uniting Church
6.4%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
3.6%
2.6%
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)
24
Against the person
9
Against property
15
Rate per 1,000 residents
16.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 144 residents
State crime-rate percentile
22.8th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
6
Decrease (daily rate)
-42.9%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
46
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
32.28
Most common offence types
Common Assault4
Damage Or Destroy Property5
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences2
Serious Assault5
Theft From A Person3
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Middleton Caravan Tourist and Mobile Home ParkCaravan park
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
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
Nearest hospital
South Coast District Hospital (12.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
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
25° / 15°
Rainfall
53 mm · ~7 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
21° / 12°
Rainfall
103 mm · ~13 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
15° / 8°
Rainfall
183 mm · ~23 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
20° / 10°
Rainfall
104 mm · ~13 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 51 proposals
September 2026
Internal alterations and addition to an existing dwelling
21 NEWELL AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of outbuilding (shed)
132 NEWELL AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Dwelling alteration - partial change of laundry to incorporate a lift.
9A SURFSIDE CT MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of an outbuilding (garage)
131 NEWELL AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of a partially enclosed carport
10 GLEN ALLEN RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
August 2026
Alterations and additions to the existing single storey dwelling including verandah
64 HARGREAVES RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of an attached verandah
166 NEWELL AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of a single-storey dwelling addition with associated building alterations and partial demolition
23 ELLENSFORD TCE MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Replacement of existing agricultural building (implement shed)
10 GLENFORD GULLY RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Verandah
33 OFFSHORE DR MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of a two-storey detached dwelling and freestanding carport including associated earthworks and infrastructure
25 MILL TCE MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Demolition of the existing dwelling and, construction of a new two-storey detached dwelling with retaining walls up to 2.25m in height including associated earthworks and infrastructure
39 HERO AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
July 2026
Construction of a two storey detached dwelling
110 NEWELL AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Proposed Verandah & Deck
78 HERO AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of a single storey detached dwelling and change of use of the existing dwelling to ancillary accommodation
59 HERO AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of a carport
6 CHAPMAN RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Outbuilding (Domestic storage shed)
7 CORMORANT CT MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
June 2026
Construction of a two-storey detached dwelling including alterations to the existing garage and construction of a retaining wall
17 SEAVIEW AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of an outbuilding
42 HERO AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of an outbuilding (garage) with associated verandah and decking, with a verandah attached to the existing dwelling.
18 SEAVIEW AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of a two storey detached dwelling
4 CHAPMAN RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Single storey dwelling extension
20 NEWELL AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
May 2026
Construction of a single storey detached dwelling with garage, detached outbuilding (studio), partial conversion of existing shed to ancillary accommodation with associated storage, studio and deck.
28 WILLIAM ST MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Installation of a swimming pool and associated swimming pool safety features
107 KELTYS RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Verandah
12 HAYNES RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of a single storey detached dwelling with deck and freestanding verandah
LOT 171 LINES RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Installation of an above-ground spa pool and associated safety features
518 GLENFORD GULLY RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
April 2026
Construction of an outbuilding (garage) to replace existing
2 HEWETT ST MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Outbuilding - Shipping Container Domestic Storage
7 MIAMI BVD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of a split level, single storey detached dwelling
64 OCEAN PDE MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Dwelling alteration and additions -new balcony and alteration to dwelling roof
2 HEWETT ST MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of an outbuilding (shed) and carport
107 KELTYS RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Outbuilding (garage)
12 HAYNES RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Verandah
26 MORRISON AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
March 2026
Construction of Outbuilding - garage and associated arbour and landscaping
15 SEAVIEW AV MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Swimming Pool & Safety Barrier
44 -46 PADMAN CR MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of a two-storey detached dwelling and associated retaining walls
9 PADMAN CR MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Tourist accommodation (trailer-based)
103 OLD TELEGRAPH RD W MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of an outbuilding (cladded shipping container) for domestic storage
130 SURFERS PDE MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Construction of an outbuilding (garage)
10 HAYNES RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
Variation to DA 25005376 - Construction of four (4) additional tourist accommodation cabins (total eight (8) cabins) including associated infrastructure and landscaping
LOT 7 GLENFORD GULLY RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Under Assessment
Construction of a two-storey detached dwelling
41 HARGREAVES RD MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
Variation of Development Application 23031142 (boundary realignment 2 into 2 lots)
2 SURF ST MIDDLETON SA 5213;46 OCEAN PDE MIDDLETON SA 5213Decision Made
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 12.4 km away).
Coalition 46.0%Labor 54.0%
1.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
MiddletonLabor 56.1% · Coalition 43.9% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
Port ElliotLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)5.2 km away
Currency CreekLabor 39.7% · Coalition 60.3% TPP (2025)6.2 km away
GoolwaLabor 52.9% · Coalition 47.1% TPP (2025)6.3 km away
Goolwa CentralLabor 52.0% · Coalition 48.0% TPP (2025)6.8 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%)