Athlone has a safety index of 30 out of 100 (Higher reported crime). This is a relative measure comparing reported crime across Cape Town suburbs, not an absolute safety guarantee. The Athlone precinct recorded approximately 4,444 crimes in the most recent annual period. Absolute crime volume is near the city average.

Is Athlone affordable?

Athlone sits in the mid-range for Cape Town property values. The median is R1.4M, placing it in the 38th percentile, broadly in line with the city median. Note that these figures are based on the City of Cape Town General Valuation 2022 and reflect municipal valuations, not necessarily current market prices.

What are utility costs in Athlone?

The median monthly water cost per account in Athlone is R595, 10% below the city median of R658. The median monthly electricity cost per account in Athlone is R1,970, 4% above the median of CoCT-billed suburbs of R1,900.

What is the municipal debt in Athlone?

As of May 2026, the average outstanding municipal debt per account in Athlone is R17,395, 97% above the city median of R8,815. Figures include all account types, so may overstate household debt in areas with commercial activity.

Athlone

A suburb with higher reported crime, below-average property values, and strong school performance relative to Cape Town.

Safety30/100Safer than 17% of Cape Town suburbs (relative) · ↓ Improving Property1-1.5MTop 62%Schools786% matric pass rate Healthcare27 facilitiesmore access than most suburbs CouncilNear avg complaints1d median resolution TransportMinibus taxi coveragewell-connected area

Data current as of June 2026

The neighbourhood

What's it like to live here?

Athlone is a neighbourhood in Southern Suburbs, Cape Town, where property values are moderate by Cape Town standards. The area's safety profile is below the city average for reported safety. There is a strong presence of places of worship serving the community. The dominant commuter mode is private vehicle.

How is the area changing?

In Athlone, crime is declining based on the most recent quarterly comparison. Property values have broadly tracked inflation between valuation rolls. The suburb is within a City-designated Development Focus Area, signalling future investment and infrastructure priorities.

What should buyers know?

Athlone is well-served by schools, and matric results sit slightly below the city average. In this area, the City typically resolves service complaints promptly. The suburb is well-served by nearby healthcare facilities.

Neighbourhood summary generated from StreetSignal data and reviewed by our team.

These statistics describe the suburb as a whole. Conditions vary between streets and neighbourhoods within any suburb.

For home buyers & families

Is Athlone safe?

Higher reported crime

Higher crimeModerateLower crime

85th percentile among 744 suburbs · based on precinct-level data shared with 9 suburbs · Data: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026) · relative index, not an absolute safety measure

ModerateAbsolute crime volume

4 444 reported crimes per year · city median: 4 280

↓ 9.0% vs Q3 2024

Crime is higher than most of Cape Town but has been decreasing over the past year. Contact crime (assault, robbery) dominates the reported crime profile. Check the breakdown below for specifics.

Detailed data

Safety index (resident-adjusted) How is this calculated?: 30 / 100
Contact crime rate: 566,986 per 100k residents
Station population: 80 519
Harm rate (per resident): 22/100
Harm volume (absolute): 40/100
Data period: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026)
Source: SAPS via DataFirst · CC-BY 4.0

This data reflects crimes reported to SAPS Athlone precinct, which covers Athlone and surrounding suburbs. Reported crime may differ from actual crime levels.Full methodology

Disagree with this score? Challenge the methodology ›

Source: SAPS via DataFirst · Q4 2025/2026

FOR BUYERS & INVESTORS

What do properties cost in Athlone?

38th percentile

City of Cape Town Development Focus Area

Athlone is within the Athlone development focus area. The City of Cape Town has designated this area as a development priority, signalling committed public investment in infrastructure, services, and economic opportunity.

Source: CCT District Spatial Development Framework (January 2023). Development focus areas indicate City planning intent, not guaranteed timelines.

Planned development

4 hectares of land in Athlone are earmarked for new development across 1 parcel, primarily Mixed Use (4ha).

Source: CCT District Spatial Development Framework (January 2023). Development areas indicate planning designation, not construction timelines.

The median property value in Athlone is R1.4M. Property values have grown by 4.6% per year since 2018.

A 4.6% annual growth rate (CAGR) over the valuation period.

Value band distribution – Athlone properties (GV2022)

4-600k

6-800k

800k-1M

1-1.5M ◀

1.5-2M

2-2.5M

2.5-3M

Property values are based on the City of Cape Town's 2022 General Valuation roll. GV is an assessed value for municipal rating purposes; transaction prices frequently exceed GV. Recent sales transaction data and rental market data are not available as open data in South Africa.

Median GV2022: R1,350,000
Value growth (CAGR 2018–2022): +4.6% per year↑ Growing
City-wide value percentile: 38th percentile
Dominant value band: 1-1.5M
Source: CCT GV 2022 · Open Data Policy 27781
Vintage: General Valuation 2022 (municipal valuation, not current market price)

Source: City of Cape Town GV2022

FOR RESIDENTS

What do utilities cost in Athlone?

Computed from City of Cape Town billing data

Water

R595 / month

10% below city median

Electricity

R1 970 / month

4% above median of CoCT-billed suburbs

Water trend:Dec 2025: R590Jan 2026: R599Feb 2026: R595

Electricity trend:Dec 2025: R2 201Jan 2026: R1 815Feb 2026: R1 970

Monthly cost per account from City of Cape Town billing data. Water coverage: 647 suburbs. Electricity coverage: 384 suburbs.

INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

Development activity in Athlone

↑ Increasing

Athlone had 105 building plans approved in the last three financial years (FY22/23 to FY24/25), averaging 35 per year. Most were renovations and extensions.

3-year approvals: 105
Annual average: 35/yr
Avg project value: R983K

Building plans approved by the City of Cape Town (2014-2025). Approvals indicate planned investment, not completed construction. This data reflects formal building activity only and does not capture informal construction, backyard dwellings, or building work undertaken without a formal plan submission. In areas with high informality, actual construction activity may be substantially higher than these figures suggest. Source: CoCT Building Development Management (DAMS).

FOR PARENTS

How are schools in Athlone?

7 schools nearby

Athlone has 7 schools within reach. The area matric pass rate is 85.8%, below the city median of 90.0%. Schools include Al-Azhar High School.

Adjusted pass rate: 85.8%; City median: 90.0%
Schools contributing: 3; 312 candidates
Median quintile: Q5; Q4-Q5

IND
Al-Azhar High School
Independent · Grades 8–12 · 496 learners · 16:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateFavourable class size
IND
Little Greenies Preparatory
Independent · Grades R–7 · 35 learners · 11.7:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateFavourable class size
Q5
Alicedale Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 570 learners · 31.7:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees apply
Q5
Garlandale Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 341 learners · 26.2:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees applyFavourable class size
Q5
Garlandale Sekondêr
Public · Grades 8–12 · 782 learners · 30.1:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees apply
Q4
Ned Doman High School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 620 learners · 31:1 learner-educator ratio
Q5
St. Raphael'S Rc Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 671 learners · 35.3:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees apply

Quintile 5 is the highest government-funding category - fees apply, but these are the best-resourced public schools in South Africa. Rankings set by the WCED against community socioeconomic index. Learner-educator ratio (LER) is from EMIS Q2 2025; under 30:1 is favourable by WCED standards, over 40:1 indicates strained capacity. What quintile means ›

Source: DBE EMIS · Q2 2025

FOR COMMUTERS

How connected is Athlone?

Private vehicle dominant

Athlone has 34 minibus taxi routes, including routes to the CBD. The most common way people get to work is by private vehicle (83%).

Taxi connectivity

Well connected

34 routes

82nd percentile · 19 destinations · CBD-connected

Athlone, Athlone (via klip rd, plantation, wetton, lansdowne & jan smuts dr), Athlone (via m5 & klipfontein rd), Athlone (via m5, ottery rd, rosmead, milner & klipfontein), Bonteheuwel, Bridgetown +13 more

Based on CCT minibus taxi route data. Routes matched by name and spatial proximity (500m). Methodology ›

Commute mode share

Anyone relocating to Athlone needs a car. The 83% private vehicle share is a socioeconomic profile signal, not a walkability score – in working-class Cape Town suburbs the same walking rate indicates structural necessity. Here it is lifestyle choice.

Private vehicle

83%

Walking

12%

Minibus taxi

Cape Town transport context: In South African cities, transport mode is a socioeconomic proxy – high private vehicle = affluent, high minibus taxi = working class, high walking = structural necessity not preference. StreetSignal reports modal share rather than a walkability index, which would misrepresent SA urban mobility. Methodology ›

Dominant mode: Private vehicle (83%)
Source: CCT Household Survey 2024

Source: City of Cape Town Open Data · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

What are living conditions in Athlone?

Full municipal services

Athlone has a service delivery index of 97 out of 100, above the city median of 84.5. 91% of dwellings are formal structures.

Computed from the City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey, Athlone survey group (84 households). direct.

› High digital connectivity: 87% of households have home internet access.

Access to basic services

97City median: 85

Piped water: 94.6%
Flush toilet: 94.3%
Weekly refuse: 99.0%
Grid electricity: 99.4%

Housing & tenure – Mixed tenure community

91City median: 68

Formal dwellings: 91.0%
Owner-occupied: 62.4%
Rented: 12.3%

Environmental risk – Low risk exposure

7risk index · higher = greater risk · City median: 26

Flooding risk: 1.7%
Fire risk: 1.2%
Violent crime: 2.9%
Non-violent crime: 0.1%

Economic structure – Moderate material pressure

Food spending share: 33.1%; Share of income spent on food
City median: 35.3%
Comfortable, moderate discretionary income · 65th percentile
Hardship dimensions: 0; Areas of material need (out of 8)
Grant income share: 24.0%; of households receiving grants
Monthly savings: R629; Weighted mean per household

Digital inclusion – Fibre-connected suburb

Home fibre: 87.1%; City median: 46.5%
Mobile only: 10.4%
No access: 2.6%

Food security

Adult food insecurity: 1.2%; City median: 18.3%
Child food insecurity: 1.4%; City median: 13.0%
Food insecurity prevalence: 4.0%; City median: 22.3%

Demographics & community

Avg household size: 3.4 people
Avg children per household: 0.6

Asset ownership

Computer access: 77.5%
Fridge ownership: 98.6%
Property ownership: 1.4%
Geyser ownership: 82.8%
Borehole access: 12.2%

Home-based economy

Home-based business: 9.2%; of households operate a home-based business
WFH full-time: 5.5%
WFH part-time: 0.2%

Source: City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey. Survey group: Athlone. direct.

Energy access

20%

Free basic electricity

5.6%

City median

20% of electricity connections in Athlone receive free basic electricity under the City's indigent support programme. Free basic electricity is a constitutional entitlement providing a monthly allocation to qualifying households. The proportion reflects the reach of the City's indigent support in this suburb, not a measure of poverty.

Source: CCT prepaid electricity data (2025/11/30 to 2026/01/31). Covers prepaid connections only. Credit-metered households are not included. 9,239 connections.

Source: City of Cape Town household survey · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

How responsive are municipal services in Athlone?

Highly responsive

The City of Cape Town resolves service requests in Athlone in a median of 1 day, compared to the city-wide median of 1 day. This is based on 16,071 service requests to the City of Cape Town.

Computed from City of Cape Town service request data

Infrastructure problems get fixed fast. The median resolution under one day means Athlone residents experience responsive municipal service – a signal of well-maintained infrastructure and efficient complaint routing.

Median days to resolve
City median: 1

49th

Percentile
across Cape Town

39%

Resolved
same day

Power outage (22%)Sewerage overflow (7%)Street lights out (6%)Suspect Tampering (4%)Duplicate (3%)

Service requests logged: 16 071
Requests resolved: 80% (12 936 of 16 071)
75% resolved within: 5 days
90% resolved within: 14 days
Source: CCT service request database

Community & faith

Places of worship

20 registered

Christian

Islamic

Other

Places of worship per suburb from City of Cape Town open data, supplemented with OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Coverage: 373 of 744 suburbs.

Municipal complaints

Complaints & top issues

Near city average

Complaint rate How is this calculated?: 1650.5 per 1,000 households
Total complaints: 16 004
Unresolved: 20.0%

Top issues: Power outage (3 584), Sewerage overflow (1 156), Street lights out (1 017)

Source: City of Cape Town C3 service requests

MUNICIPAL FINANCE

Municipal debt in Athlone

97% above city median

Computed from City of Cape Town financial data

Municipal debt in Athlone averages R17 395 per account, compared to the city median of R8 815.

R17 395

per account

97% above city median

Trend:Mar 2026: R16 823Apr 2026: R17 617May 2026: R17 395

Breakdown as of May 2026

Property rates: R8 296 492
Electricity: R13 985 890
Water: R10 146 766
Refuse: R2 253 892
Sewerage: R5 979 032
City-wide cleaning: R198 560
Improvement district: R0

Outstanding municipal arrears from City of Cape Town financial records. Coverage: 741 suburbs. Per-account figures available for 582 suburbs.

FOR FAMILIES

What services are near Athlone?

Well served

Healthcare access

27 within 5km

Nearest public: Hazendal Satellite · Community Day Centre · 0.9 km
Nearest private: Rondebosch Medical Centre · Private Hospital · 1.9 km
Public facilities: 20
Private facilities: 7

This suburb has access to both public and private healthcare within 5 km.

The nearest fire station to Athlone is Wynberg, 4.8 km away. The nearest public pool is Athlone Swimming Pool, 1.4 km away. The nearest clinic is Hazendal Satellite, 0.9 km away.

Nearest clinic: Hazendal Satellite · 0.9 km
Nearest library: Athlone · 0.6 km
Nearest park / open space: Grassmere Street Park · 0.07 km