Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Mount Barker suburb profile
Mount Barker, SA · Postcode 5251
This Mount Barker suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Mount Barker, SA (postcode 5251). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Mount Barker with nearby suburbs.
Mount Barker at a glance
Population
18,330
Median rent
$350/wk
Household income
$1,624/wk
Median age
36
Mount Barker trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+55.2% over 10 years
Population
18,330
was 13,842 in 2016
+4,488 · +32.4%
Median rent
$350/wk
was $310/wk in 2016
+$40 · +12.9%
Household income
$1,624/wk
was $1,296/wk in 2016
+$328 · +25.3%
Median age
36
was 37 in 2016
-1 · -2.7%
Dig deeper: Mount Barker population growth · Mount Barker then and now
Mount Barker vs nearby & SA
Median Census 2021 figures for Mount Barker, nearby suburbs (8), and the SA state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+9.4% vs area
- Mount Barker$350/wk
- Nearby$272.5/wk
- SA$320/wk
Household income
+4.2% vs area
- Mount Barker$1,624/wk
- Nearby$1,427/wk
- SA$1,559/wk
Median age
-12.2% vs area
- Mount Barker36
- Nearby42
- SA41
Personal income
+4.4% vs area
- Mount Barker$815/wk
- Nearby$700/wk
- SA$781/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in SA.
Socio-economic profile
How Mount Barker compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Mount Barker sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 61,018.9
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6987.6
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 51,010
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 6991.6
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Mount Barker on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Mount Barker, SA.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Mount Barker people
- Population
- 18,330
- Median age
- 36
- Born overseas
- 16.9%
- Average household size
- 2.5
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Mount Barker income
- Median household income
- $1,624/wk
- Median personal income
- $815/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Mount Barker housing
- Median rent
- $350/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,603/mo
- Separate houses
- 85.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.5%
- Owned outright
- 21.9%
- Mortgaged
- 39.9%
- Rented
- 27.5%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 6.4%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Mount Barker work
- Employment to population
- 63%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.7%
- Year 12 or above
- 58.6%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 5251)
Compare Mount Barker with nearby suburbs
Mount Barker in numbers
Mount Barker had 18,330 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 4th most populous suburb or locality in SA out of 1,624. The median age is 36, 14% below the typical SA suburb. The average household has 2.5 people. 16.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 21.9% own their home outright, 39.9% are paying a mortgage, 27.5% rent. Separate houses make up 85.3% of dwellings, with 0.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $350/wk, 13% above the typical SA suburb.
Median household income was $1,624/wk, 6% above the typical SA suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.7%. 58.6% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 6 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 32.4% (from 13,842 to 18,330). Median rent moved from $310/wk to $350/wk (+12.9%).
Mount Barker suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Mount Barker, SA?
- The median weekly rent in Mount Barker was $350/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Mount Barker, SA?
- Mount Barker had 18,330 residents at the 2021 Census, up 32.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Mount Barker?
- Median household income in Mount Barker was $1,624/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Mount Barker?
- 27.5% of occupied homes in Mount Barker were rented, 21.9% were owned outright and 39.9% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Mount Barker suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Mount Barker (SA). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology