Located in South Australia within the Mount Barker local government area, Mount Barker is a well-established suburb (postcode 5251). It is home to about 18,330 residents, with a mix of families and early-career residents and a median age of 36. Households earn a median income of $84K per year, with an average household size of 2.5 people. Recent annual estimates show population movement into the broader catchment, with population growth running at +3.2% year-on-year at the LGA level. SA employment has moved +2.1% year-on-year in the official Jobs and Skills Australia NERO series, which provides the broader jobs backdrop for this suburb. SA also had 23 Commonwealth-backed major projects under construction, 2 underway, and 11 in planning as at 2 October 2024, which is useful as a broader delivery backdrop rather than a suburb-specific project count. The most common occupations are professionals, technicians & trades, community & personal service. Employment in the area leans toward healthcare and retail trade. The top ancestries reported are English, Australian, German.
The median house price in Mount Barker is $624,000, having risen steeply by 23.6% over the past year. Units have a median price of $535,000 (+15.1% YoY). The current median weekly rent is $540. This gives a gross rental yield of approximately 4.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,603.
Mount Barker is served by 7 schools, including 3 primary, 2 secondary, 2 combined. The average ICSEA score is 1049, which is around the national average of 1,000. Public transport access includes 57 bus stops. Healthcare facilities include 1 public hospital. The crime rate in the Mount Barker LGA is below average at 3,595 incidents per 100,000 population.
From an investment perspective, Mount Barker shows a gross rental yield of approximately 4.5%, rated as moderate yield. Property prices sit below the state median ($624K/$950K), which can point to relative value. The price-to-income ratio of 7.4x is considered moderate. House prices have moved +23.6% year-on-year. Population growth of +3.2% year-on-year points to strong growth demand fundamentals. Building approvals have changed +0% year-on-year, indicating steady development activity.