Athelstone
Athelstone's most striking feature is its combination of size, age and owner occupation: 9,601 residents, a median age of 43, and 84.7% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income sits at $1,941 a week, in the 73rd percentile, while 43.3% of residents have university qualifications, 13.2 percentage points above the national comparison. Compared with nearby Newton and Paradise, Athelstone presents a more settled, family-house profile, supported by 50.8% three-bedroom and 42.1% four-bedroom-plus homes. Growth is measured at only 0.3% annually, so the appeal is established amenity and stability rather than rapid change.
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
124
Median House
$1.1M
First quarter 2026
Detached homes make up 84.7% of stock, far higher than the 2.2% apartment share, while 50.8% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 42.1% have 4 or more. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,733 a month, and mortgage costs equal 20.6% of household income, with the mortgage stress flag marked false. With 44.4% owned outright and 41.5% mortgaged, the suburb suits buyers seeking established family housing, provided they test renovation, insurance and school-zone costs before bidding.
For Buyers
Detached homes make up 84.7% of stock, far higher than the 2.2% apartment share, while 50.8% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 42.1% have 4 or more. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,733 a month, and mortgage costs equal 20.6% of household income, with the mortgage stress flag marked false. With 44.4% owned outright and 41.5% mortgaged, the suburb suits buyers seeking established family housing, provided they test renovation, insurance and school-zone costs before bidding.
For Investors
Athelstone suits investors seeking an established owner-occupier base rather than a high-turnover rental market. Rent is $360 a week, vacancy is 3.7%, and only 12.9% of households rent, a lower share than the 44.4% owning outright and 41.5% paying a mortgage. That tenure mix can support stable demand because many properties are held by long-term residents, but it also narrows the tenant pool. There were 126 development applications in 12 months, spanning property alterations and dwelling proposals. Forecast growth is 0.3% a year, with overseas migration the primary driver, while rent growth is 20.0%. The gentrification stage is Not gentrifying, so investors should prioritise asset quality, tenant appeal and holding costs over a rapid transformation thesis.
Development Activity
Total DAs
649
Last 12 Months
124
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+44.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Athelstone
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Athelstone School
Thorndon Park Primary School
Demographics
Athelstone has an older age profile than Australia, with a median age of 43, or 3 years above the national figure. University attainment is 43.3%, 13.2 percentage points above national levels, and 28.6% of residents were born overseas, 7.0 points higher than the national comparison. Italian and English are the leading ancestries, at 2,649 and 2,643 people, while Italian is the most reported non-English language with 336 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 97. Households average 2.7 people, 0.2 above national size, and couples with children represent 49.5% of families. An 84.1% stay rate points to a settled population, which helps explain the suburb's aging trajectory and its mix of family and established owner households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
13.0%
Townhouse
2.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Athelstone is strongly detached and owner occupied. Separate houses account for 84.7% of dwellings, versus 13.0% semi-detached homes and 2.2% apartments. Three-bedroom homes form 50.8% of stock and four-bedroom-plus homes 42.1%, matching the suburb's family orientation. Ownership is split between 44.4% outright owners, 41.5% mortgagors and 12.9% renters. Mortgage costs equal 20.6% of household income and rent equals 18.5%, with both housing stress flags marked false. Compared with nearby Newton and Paradise, the housing choice here is more concentrated in conventional family houses than apartments.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
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
49.5%
Couples with children
37.4%
Couples, no children
12.1%
Single parent
2,885
Total families
Economy & Employment
Athelstone's employment base leans toward essential and knowledge services. Healthcare accounts for 17.3% of industry employment, followed by Education at 15.1%, Professional/Tech at 11.4%, Construction at 9.9% and Public Administration at 8.9%. The largest occupations are Professionals with 1,349 people, Clerical/Admin with 769, Trades with 660 and Managers with 650. Labour-force participation is 66.6%, unemployment is 4.3%, and 57.7% of employed residents work full time. Household income is $1,941 a week, placing the suburb in the 73rd percentile. SEIFA results are above the midpoint: IEO decile 7, IER decile 8, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 7. The IRSD decile 9 is notably higher than the IRSAD decile 7, suggesting low disadvantage but a less elevated overall advantage position than the strongest suburbs.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
5,361
Unemployed
231
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
38.1%
Participation
66.6%
Employed
5,130
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.3%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
28.6%
Dwellings
3,534
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical but car dependent. About 75.2% of residents drive to work, compared with 6.1% using public transport, 1.1% walking or cycling and 12.5% working from home, so access to a private vehicle matters for commuting. Two local primary schools, Athelstone School and Thorndon Park Primary School, are both government schools, giving families nearby primary options; enrolment zones should still be checked against the exact address. Reported crime is 17.4 incidents per 1,000 people, with 167 total incidents, a relatively low rate compared with higher-crime settings. IRSAD is in decile 7, while volunteering is 18.1%, supporting an engaged daily environment. With density at 1,547.5 people per square kilometre, the suburb provides a suburban setting without being sparsely settled.
Drive
75.2%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
12.5%
Population Forecast
+0.3%/yr
(+30 people/yr)
EstablishedAthelstone is an established, slow-growth suburb: the forecast annual trend is 0.3%, and population change across the wider area is 3.7% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, yet the demographic trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 6.1 percentage points and the young share down 1.7 points. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so the outlook is more about gradual renewal than wholesale change. Rent growth is 20.0%, while the affordability trend is labelled Improving from 50.2 in 2011 to 43.4 in 2021. Compared with a high-growth corridor, Athelstone's 0.3% pace points to limited expansion pressure and a stronger role for existing households.
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 suits households wanting established streets, larger homes and a settled population. The median age is 43, 84.7% of dwellings are separate houses and crime is 17.4 incidents per 1,000 people. Car dependence is high at 75.2%, so lifestyle fit depends on commuting needs.
What schools are in Athelstone?
Athelstone has 2 government primary schools listed locally: Athelstone School and Thorndon Park Primary School. Both are primary education providers. School zones can change by address, so families should confirm eligibility and current enrolment arrangements before signing a contract.
Is Athelstone safe?
Recorded crime is 17.4 incidents per 1,000 people, with 167 total incidents. That is a relatively low rate compared with higher-crime areas, although conditions can vary by street, time and offence type. Buyers should inspect the immediate surroundings and review current local advice.
Is Athelstone good for property investment?
Athelstone can suit a long-term investor seeking an established owner-occupier base. Rent is $360 a week, vacancy is 3.7% and renters make up 12.9% of households, lower than the owner-occupied share. Forecast growth is 0.3% annually, so the strategy is steadier than a rapid-growth play.
How is Athelstone's population changing?
Population change across the wider area runs at 3.7% over 10 years, while annual growth is 0.3%. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.1 percentage points and the young share down 1.7 points. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but overall change remains gradual.
Are there many developments in Athelstone?
There were 126 development applications in 12 months, covering property alterations and dwelling proposals. This indicates ongoing activity, but buyers should assess each application individually because the count includes more than new homes. Recent examples include 2 detached dwellings and smaller residential works.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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