Cowandilla, SA: suburb profile

The population of Cowandilla SA is 1,455 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Cowandilla is $589 per week ($30,628 per year). Median rent in Cowandilla is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Cowandilla has a median age of 41 years, older than the national median of 38. Cowandilla has a population density of 2,769 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Cowandilla is India. The most common religion is No religion (33.5% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Greek. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cowandilla is $1,733.

There were 29 recorded offences in Cowandilla in 2025-26, a rate of 20 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (12 offences).

Population
1,455
Census 2021
Median income
$589/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$300/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
41years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

Cowandilla vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Cowandilla is $589 a week, 22% below the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 575th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $300 a week, the same as the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 22.9% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 41, 2 years younger than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureCowandillaTypical SADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$589/wk$759/wk −22%$766/wk
Household income$1,310/wk$1,494/wk −12%$1,637/wk
Rent$300/wk$300/wk 0%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$1,534/mo +13%$1,733/mo
Median age4143 −2 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.9%19.5% +3.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Cowandilla, the typical SA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Cowandilla Population

1,455 residents at the 2021 Census.

Cowandilla Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$589/wk
$30,628 per year
Ranked 7,241 of 14,663
Median Rent
$300/wk
$1,300 per month
Ranked 4,529 of 14,663
Median Age
41years
3 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Cowandilla Rent Prices & Affordability

23% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,310/wk
Median rent $300/wk
Rent to income 22.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Cowandilla against your income

About $5,677 a month
Median rent $300/wk
Left after rent $1,010/wk
Rent share 22.9%

Cowandilla Schools

28
schools nearby
13
government
1046
avg ICSEA score
12,046
total students
Richmond Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 362 students
1122
ICSEA
Black Forest Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 410 students
1108
ICSEA
Torrensville Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 380 students
1099
ICSEA
Adelaide High School Government
Secondary · U, 7-12 · 1,821 students
1094
ICSEA
Tenison Woods Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 262 students
1084
ICSEA
Aspect Treetop School Independent
Combined · U · 75 students
1080
ICSEA
St Dominic's Priory College Catholic
Combined · R-12 · 658 students
1080
ICSEA
Plympton Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 272 students
1071
ICSEA
Lockleys North Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 422 students
1069
ICSEA
Our Lady of La Vang School Catholic
Combined · U · 70 students
1066
ICSEA
Brooklyn Park Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 118 students
1066
ICSEA
St Joseph's School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 223 students
1063
ICSEA
St John Bosco School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 252 students
1054
ICSEA
Cowandilla Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 341 students
1051
ICSEA
Nazareth Catholic College Catholic
Secondary · R-12 · 2,576 students
1049
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 28 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Cowandilla, with a map

Cowandilla Map

Cowandilla, South Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Cowandilla, South Australia: 34.9325°S, 138.5569°E

Cowandilla Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (28)

People in Cowandilla

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.0% (696) Female 52.0% (755)

Population Density

2,769
people per km²
1,455 people · 0.5 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$1,976
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

India
5.6%
Greece
4.2%
England
2.6%
Vietnam
2.0%
Italy
1.9%
Egypt
1.5%
China
1.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Greek
9.4%
Punjabi
3.4%
Arabic
2.5%
Vietnamese
1.9%
Italian
1.6%
Urdu
1.5%
Mandarin
1.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
23.9%
Australian
23.8%
Greek
11.7%
Irish
8.3%
Scottish
6.8%
Italian
6.7%
German
5.4%
Indian
4.7%
Chinese
3.7%
Dutch
2.1%
Filipino
1.8%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
33.5%
Catholic
19.5%
Eastern Orthodox
11.3%
Not stated
5.6%
Islam
5.5%
Anglican
4.1%
Hinduism
3.6%
Uniting Church
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
34.0% 434
Separated
3.3% 42
Divorced
9.0% 115
Widowed
11.0% 141
Never married
42.7% 545

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
40.3%
Couple: no children
26.4%
Couple: no children under 15
17.2%
One parent: no children under 15
10.6%
One parent: children under 15
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
32.7%
2 persons
30.3%
3 persons
17.8%
4 persons
13.5%
5 persons
4.9%
6+ persons
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Cowandilla

Housing Tenure

Of the 535 occupied private dwellings in Cowandilla at the 2021 Census, 40.6% were rented, 27.5% owned outright and 28.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.9% 10 dwellings
Owned outright
27.5% 147 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
28.4% 152 dwellings
Rented
40.6% 217 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.6% 3 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
87.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
12.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
7.5%
2 bedrooms
31.0%
3 bedrooms
49.3%
4 bedrooms
10.7%
5 bedrooms
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.7%
$300-$449/mo
3.6%
$600-$799/mo
5.0%
$800-$999/mo
4.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
14.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
23.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
27.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
16.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
11.8%
1 vehicle
42.6%
2 vehicles
31.0%
3 vehicles
9.3%
4+ vehicles
5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Cowandilla

Employment

Employed full-time
29.0% 345 people
Employed part-time
23.5% 280 people
Unemployed
3.6% 43 people
Not in labour force
43.9% 522 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
35.2%
Technicians & Trade Workers
14.0%
Community & Personal Service
13.4%
Managers
10.3%
Clerical & Administrative
10.3%
Labourers
7.8%
Sales Workers
6.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
3.6%
$1-$149/wk
1.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
8.0%
$500-$649/wk
6.0%
$650-$799/wk
9.5%
$800-$999/wk
8.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.6%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.8%
$4,000+/wk
7.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.2%
$1-$149/wk
3.6%
$150-$299/wk
6.1%
$300-$399/wk
6.5%
$400-$499/wk
8.5%
$500-$649/wk
5.7%
$650-$799/wk
8.6%
$800-$999/wk
10.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.0%
$3,500+/wk
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
66.7%
Did not go to work
11.3%
Bus
9.5%
Car (passenger)
5.1%
Walked only
4.1%
Bicycle
1.7%
Taxi/Rideshare
1.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
67.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
15.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
12.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
40.5%
Certificate III/IV
23.6%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.3%
Postgraduate Degree
13.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.0%
Certificate I/II
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
21.9%
Health
18.5%
Engineering
12.9%
Society & Culture
11.5%
Architecture & Building
7.5%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.5%
Education
6.0%
Creative Arts
6.0%
Information Technology
4.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.5%
Agriculture & Environment
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
33.1%
Vocational Education
21.3%
Secondary: Government
14.6%
Pre-school
10.7%
Primary: Catholic
9.6%
Secondary: Catholic
9.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
78.9%
Has need for assistance
16.0%
Need for assistance not stated
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
153
Arthritis
57
Diabetes
54
Asthma
44
Heart disease
43
Stroke
35
Lung condition
33
Kidney disease
31
Cancer
28
Dementia
27

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.4% 164
Did not provide
86.6% 1,056

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
13.1% 159
Not a volunteer
86.9% 1,054

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.4% 5
Previously served
2.0% 24
Never served
97.6% 1,191

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
50.5%
1 child
11.9%
2 children
23.9%
3 children
11.1%
4 children
2.1%
5+ children
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
16
1951: 1960
48
1961: 1970
64
1971: 1980
38
1981: 1990
43
1991: 2000
37
2001: 2010
71
2011: 2015
75
2016
20
2017
22
2018
30
2019
29
2020
18

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

15.3%
moved in the last year
48.6%
moved in the last 5 years
5.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
54.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,161
Moved from SA
141
Moved: same area (SA2)
27
Moved from overseas
17
Moved from VIC
14
Moved from NSW
7
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.0%
5: 14 hours
24.1%
15: 29 hours
10.6%
30+ hours
7.2%
Did not do domestic work
38.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
93.2%
Step family: no other children
4.5%
Blended family: no other children
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cowandilla Crime Statistics

29 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
12
Assault
9
Property Damage
4
Fraud
2
Break & Enter
2

Total offences by year

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

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Income: $516/wk Rent: $199/wk $101/wk less rent
Salisbury Park
Income: $606/wk Rent: $275/wk $25/wk less rent
New Town (SA)
Income: $604/wk Rent: $242/wk $58/wk less rent
Hendon (SA)
Income: $681/wk Rent: $285/wk $15/wk less rent
Evanston
Income: $604/wk Rent: $264/wk $36/wk less rent
Queenstown (SA)
Income: $623/wk Rent: $270/wk $30/wk less rent
Solomontown
Income: $512/wk Rent: $195/wk $105/wk less rent
Sturt (SA)
Income: $635/wk Rent: $295/wk $5/wk less rent

Suburbs near Cowandilla

The closest suburb to Cowandilla is Richmond (SA), 0.8 km away.

Richmond (SA)
0.8 km away · income $771/wk · rent $300/wk
West Richmond
1.0 km away · income $724/wk · rent $320/wk
Brooklyn Park
1.2 km away · income $782/wk · rent $285/wk
Mile End
1.4 km away · income $820/wk · rent $345/wk
Torrensville
1.4 km away · income $799/wk · rent $360/wk
Marleston
1.5 km away · income $746/wk · rent $290/wk

Compare Cowandilla

Frequently Asked Questions About Cowandilla

What is the population of Cowandilla SA?

The population of Cowandilla SA is 1,455 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,769 people per km². Cowandilla is ranked #3,437 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Cowandilla?

The median personal income in Cowandilla SA is $589 per week, or $30,628 per year. The median household income is $1,310 per week. Family income is $1,976 per week. Cowandilla is ranked #7,241 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Cowandilla?

Median rent in Cowandilla SA is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Rent represents 22.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. Cowandilla ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Cowandilla?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cowandilla SA is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Cowandilla?

The median age in Cowandilla SA is 41 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Cowandilla a good suburb to live in?

Cowandilla is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 1,455. The median income is $589/wk, which is below the typical SA suburb ($759/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Adelaide Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 40318. All dollar figures in AUD.