Athelstone
Italian ancestry at 2,649 narrowly outnumbers English (2,643) in a suburb where 44.9% own outright, the highest outright ownership rate in this batch, reflecting deep embedded equity rather than recent purchases. The median house price of $1,092,500 rose 15.2% from $948,000 in 1Q 2025, yet the mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6% stays well below stress because many residents bought decades ago. Growth is nearly flat at 0.3% per year (30 persons), the slowest in this batch, and the aging trajectory is pronounced: the senior share expanded by 6.1 percentage points over the decade, the steepest aging signal here. The crime rate of 17.4 per 1,000 is low.
Population
9,601
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,941/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
123
Median House
$1.1M
Median 1Q 2026
Detached houses at 84.7% with three-bedrooms at 50.8% and four-bedroom-plus at 42.1% deliver generous family-scale housing. The $1,092,500 median (1Q 2026) rose 15.2% from $948,000 in 1Q 2025, strong growth that reflects Adelaide's broader price surge. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.6%, well below stress, because many current holders locked in at lower historical prices. New buyers face a different calculus: at 73rd-percentile incomes, the $1,092,500 entry price creates a higher effective ratio. Ownership at 86.9% (44.9% outright + 42.0% mortgage) is among the highest in this batch.
For Buyers
Detached houses at 84.7% with three-bedrooms at 50.8% and four-bedroom-plus at 42.1% deliver generous family-scale housing. The $1,092,500 median (1Q 2026) rose 15.2% from $948,000 in 1Q 2025, strong growth that reflects Adelaide's broader price surge. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.6%, well below stress, because many current holders locked in at lower historical prices. New buyers face a different calculus: at 73rd-percentile incomes, the $1,092,500 entry price creates a higher effective ratio. Ownership at 86.9% (44.9% outright + 42.0% mortgage) is among the highest in this batch.
For Investors
With only 13.1% renting, Athelstone has one of the thinnest tenant pools in this batch, well below the national average. Median weekly rent of $360 against a $1,092,500 median produces gross yield of roughly 1.7%, very low and typical of Adelaide's established eastern suburbs. The tight 3.7% vacancy rate compensates with minimal supply risk. Capital growth of 15.2% in one year is strong. With 117 DAs in 12 months, the pipeline is active for a suburb this size, mainly residential alterations and outbuildings. Net overseas migration of 80 per year and internal outflow of 45 produce minimal net growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
623
Last 12 Months
123
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+53.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Athelstone iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Saint Ignatius' College
R-12 · 1421 students
Athelstone School
R-6 · 368 students
Thorndon Park Primary School
R-6 · 266 students
Demographics
Italian ancestry at 2,649 and English at 2,643 run virtually equal, a dual heritage profile unusual in Adelaide's foothills. Italian language speakers (336) lead non-English languages, followed by Mandarin (97) and Greek (86), reflecting the southern European settlement pattern. University qualifications at 43.3% sit 13.2 points above national. The 28.6% born overseas is 7.0 points above the national average. The median age of 43 runs 3 years above national. Residential stability at 84.1% is the highest in this batch, and 18.1% volunteering sits well above the national average, consistent with an established, community-oriented suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
13.0%
Townhouse
2.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is dominant: 44.9% outright (highest in this batch) and 42.0% mortgage, with renters at just 13.1%. The median rose from $948,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,092,500 in 1Q 2026, a 15.2% increase. Detached houses at 84.7% and semi-detached at 13.0% define the market, with apartments at just 2.2%. Three-bedrooms (50.8%) and four-bedroom-plus (42.1%) make up 92.9% of stock, meaning smaller format housing barely exists. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6% and rent-to-income of 18.5% are both low. Affordability improved over the decade from 50.2% to 43.4%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$829
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.7%
Unoccupied
138
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.6%
Couples, no children
8,448
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 17.3% (602 workers), closely followed by Education at 15.1% (528), reflecting Adelaide's eastern corridor employment patterns. Professional/Tech at 11.4%, Construction at 9.9% and Public Admin at 8.9% round out the top five. Professionals (1,349) lead occupations, with Clerical/Admin (769) and Managers (650) following. Unemployment at 4.5% is near the national average, and participation at 63.9% is moderate. The full-time rate of 60.2% is slightly below average, possibly reflecting the aging population's shift toward part-time work. IRSAD decile 7 and IER decile 8 confirm above-average economic resources.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
5,951
Unemployed
153
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.2%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
63.9%
Employed
4,916
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.3%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
28.6%
Dwellings
3,534
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 86.0%, with public transport at 7.0% and walking/cycling at just 1.2%. The crime rate of 17.4 per 1,000 is low, well below the national median. Three schools serve the suburb: Saint Ignatius' College (ICSEA 1,151, 1,421 students, Catholic, Combined) ranks in the top tier, with Athelstone School (ICSEA 1,100, 368 students, Government) and Thorndon Park Primary (ICSEA 1,069, 266 students, Government) also above the national benchmark. IRSAD decile 7, IRSD decile 9 and IER decile 8 confirm strong socio-economic conditions.
Drive
86.0%
Public Transport
7.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.3%/yr
(+30 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth averages just 0.3% per year (30 persons), the slowest in this batch, with only 3.7% increase over the decade, well below the national average. Net overseas migration of 80 per year is the primary driver, offset by internal outflow of 45. The medium forecast projects 10,029 by 2031, essentially flat from 9,877 in 2026. The aging trajectory is the dominant signal: the senior share expanded by 6.1 points (steepest in this batch), the young share contracted by 1.7 points, and the working-age share shrank by 2.0 points. The gentrification score of 0 confirms no gentrification.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
-45
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
167
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
17.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Athelstone compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athelstone a good suburb to live in?
Athelstone offers low crime (17.4 per 1,000), strong schools (all 3 above ICSEA 1,000, led by Saint Ignatius' at 1,151), and 84.1% residential stability, the highest in this batch. The $1,092,500 median requires significant capital, but 44.9% own outright, suggesting deep embedded equity. IRSAD decile 7 confirms above-average conditions.
What is the median house price in Athelstone?
The median is $1,092,500 (1Q 2026), rising 15.2% from $948,000 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent is $360 and monthly mortgage repayments sit at $1,733. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6% is low, though this reflects existing holders. At the 73rd household income percentile, new buyers face higher effective costs.
What schools are in Athelstone?
Athelstone has 3 schools, all above the national ICSEA benchmark. Saint Ignatius' College (ICSEA 1,151, 1,421 students, Catholic, Combined K-12) leads. Athelstone School (ICSEA 1,100, 368 students, Government) and Thorndon Park Primary (ICSEA 1,069, 266 students, Government) add primary options.
Is Athelstone safe?
Athelstone's crime rate of 17.4 per 1,000 residents is low compared to the national median. The IRSD decile 9 indicates very low disadvantage, and IER decile 8 confirms strong economic resources. The 4.5% unemployment rate sits near the national average, and 84.1% residential stability and 18.1% volunteering support community cohesion.
Is Athelstone good for property investment?
Capital growth of 15.2% in one year ($948,000 to $1,092,500) is strong. However, gross yield is very low at roughly 1.7% ($360/week on $1,092,500), and only 13.1% rent, providing one of the thinnest tenant pools in this batch. The 3.7% vacancy rate signals tight supply. Population growth of just 0.3% per year limits demand-driven upside.
How is Athelstone's population changing?
Growth is near-flat at 0.3% per year (30 people), the slowest in this batch, with only 3.7% increase over the decade. The aging trajectory is pronounced: the senior share expanded by 6.1 points (steepest here) while the young share contracted by 1.7 points. The medium forecast projects essentially flat population at 10,029 by 2031.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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