Burnside
At $1,825,000, Burnside's median house price ranks it among Adelaide's most expensive suburbs, yet 43.9% of residents own their home outright, well above the national average, signalling entrenched, debt-free wealth rather than leveraged newcomers. Household income sits at the 87th percentile nationally, the suburb scores decile 9 on three of four SEIFA indexes, and university qualifications reach 61.8%, which is 31.7 percentage points above the national figure. On 1.69 sq km, 3,060 residents live at 1,813 per sq km, making it a compact, high-value footprint in Adelaide's eastern belt.
Population
3,060
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,257/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
44
Median House
$1.8M
Median 1Q 2026
The $1,825,000 median house price is up 6.7% from $1,710,000 in early 2025, reaching its peak in Q1 2026. Separate houses make up 70.9% of stock, with semi-detached properties at 25.7%, so the market is firmly detached-house dominated. Four-or-more bedroom homes account for 39.2% and three-bedroom dwellings for 40.4%, pointing to a family-sized housing base. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,400, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price because incomes are in the 87th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 43.9% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 38.4%, a pattern typical of established wealth suburbs where long-held properties trade hands infrequently.
For Buyers
The $1,825,000 median house price is up 6.7% from $1,710,000 in early 2025, reaching its peak in Q1 2026. Separate houses make up 70.9% of stock, with semi-detached properties at 25.7%, so the market is firmly detached-house dominated. Four-or-more bedroom homes account for 39.2% and three-bedroom dwellings for 40.4%, pointing to a family-sized housing base. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,400, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price because incomes are in the 87th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 43.9% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 38.4%, a pattern typical of established wealth suburbs where long-held properties trade hands infrequently.
For Investors
The investment case here is capital growth over yield. Weekly rent of $375 against a $1,825,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.1%, among the lowest in Adelaide, because tenant demand cannot keep pace with price appreciation. The renter share is just 17.7%, well below the national average, which limits the available tenant pool. Vacancy sits at 8.0%, elevated for the price point and signalling more supply than demand in the rental segment. On the positive side, 38 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, reflecting continued owner-occupier reinvestment. Net migration adds around 168 residents a year (94 internal, 74 overseas), supporting steady underlying demand. The investment case rests on long-term capital preservation in a decile 9 SEIFA suburb rather than rental income.
Development Activity
Total DAs
249
Last 12 Months
44
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+22.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Burnside iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Burnside Primary School
R-6 · 686 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the senior share has grown 2.1 percentage points over the decade as the working-age share fell 1.4 points. Overseas-born residents reach 33.0%, which is 11.4 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic led, with English (1,043), Scottish (284) and Irish (231) dominating, while Chinese ancestry (344) is the fourth largest group. Mandarin is the most common non-English language (102 speakers). University qualifications at 61.8% run 31.7 points above the national figure, among the highest anywhere in SA. Average household size of 2.7 is slightly above the national figure of 2.5, consistent with the family-dominant housing profile where couples with children (1,221) are the largest household type.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.9%
Houses
25.7%
Townhouse
3.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is distinctive: 43.9% own outright, 38.4% carry a mortgage and only 17.7% rent. Outright owners dominating by such a margin reflects long-held, debt-free assets, not a churning market. The stock is 70.9% separate houses, 25.7% semi-detached and only 3.3% apartments, making this one of Adelaide's most house-dominated suburbs. Three-bedroom (40.4%) and four-plus bedroom (39.2%) dwellings together account for nearly 80% of stock. Prices rose from $1,710,000 in Q1 2025 to $1,825,000 in Q1 2026, a 6.7% gain. Mortgage repayments of $2,400 a month sit at a 24.6% mortgage-to-income ratio, below the stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 16.6% is comfortable. Both figures are lower than expected given the price level, because household incomes here rank in the 87th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wk
$375
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,033
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
99
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.0%
Couples, no children
2,632
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 21.9% (259 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 17.6% (208) and Education at 12.0% (142), with Public Admin at 6.9% and Retail at 6.3%. This concentration in knowledge and care sectors explains the high earnings: weekly household income averages $2,257, in the 87th percentile nationally. By occupation, Professionals (585) and Managers (276) dominate, consistent with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation advantage. Unemployment is 4.4% and the full-time employment rate reaches 59.0%. The participation rate of 60.1% reflects the older median age of 43, with 890 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 7.8% over the decade, modest but above inflation. SEIFA decile 9 on IRSD, IRSAD and IEO confirms this is one of SA's most advantaged suburbs.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
3,540
Unemployed
197
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
60.1%
Employed
1,417
Occupations
Top Industries
University
61.8%
Postgraduate
20.5%
Born Overseas
33.0%
Dwellings
1,142
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 83.7% commuting as drivers, above the national average, and only 6.4% using public transport. This reflects the suburb's leafy residential character and limited transit infrastructure relative to the inner city. Crime is low at 21.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, with just 65 total recorded crimes, consistent with the decile 9 IRSD score for low disadvantage. Volunteering runs at 22.3%, higher than most suburbs, suggesting strong community engagement. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 16.6% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6% are both well within comfortable bounds. Only 3.0% (91 residents) need daily assistance. No schools appear within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby eastern suburbs institutions. The suburb's 80.1% residential stability rate (five-year residents) confirms strong attachment to the area.
Drive
83.7%
Public Transport
6.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.32%/yr
(+154 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has grown strongly: 32.4% over the past decade and 48% since 2011, well above the national average for established suburbs. The suburb rose from 6,199 residents in 2023 to 6,635 in 2025 at an annual rate of 2.32%, adding about 154 residents each year, with medium forecasts projecting continued growth to 7,457 by 2031. Net internal migration of 94 per year and net overseas migration of 74 per year together drive a balanced inflow. The gentrification stage reads Active with a score of 43, driven by the 48% population gain since 2011 and accelerating internal migration. Rent growth of 31.6% over the period reflects this demand pressure. The affordability ratio has held steady at roughly 59%, suggesting price appreciation and income growth have moved in tandem. Population trajectory is Mixed overall, with slight aging and modest working-age decline.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+74
Net Internal / yr
+94
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +48% since 2011, Net internal migration +94/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 34%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
65
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
21.2
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burnside compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burnside a good suburb to live in?
Burnside ranks decile 9 on IRSD, IRSAD and IEO, placing it among SA's most advantaged suburbs. Household income sits in the 87th percentile nationally, university qualifications reach 61.8% (31.7 points above national), and crime is low at 21.2 per 1,000 residents. The main trade-off is a $1,825,000 median house price.
What is the median house price in Burnside?
The median house price is $1,825,000 as of Q1 2026, up 6.7% from $1,710,000 in Q1 2025. Weekly rent averages $375 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,400, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Burnside?
No schools are recorded inside the Burnside boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring eastern suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 61.8%, which is 31.7 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Burnside safe?
Burnside recorded 65 total crimes at a rate of 21.2 per 1,000 residents, which is low for an Adelaide suburb. As a broader indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the second-highest tier nationally, and only 3.0% of residents need daily assistance.
Is Burnside good for property investment?
At $375 weekly rent against a $1,825,000 median, gross yield is below 1.1%, very low, and the 8.0% vacancy rate signals rental supply exceeds demand. The investment case is capital growth: prices rose 6.7% in one year and population has grown 32.4% over the decade, driven by balanced migration of about 168 residents per year.
How is Burnside's population changing?
Population grew 2.32% annually, rising from 6,199 in 2023 to 6,635 in 2025, and is forecast to reach 7,457 by 2031. Growth of 32.4% over the decade outpaces most established Adelaide suburbs. Net internal migration adds 94 residents per year and overseas migration adds 74, together driving steady demand.
What languages are spoken in Burnside?
About 33.0% of residents were born overseas, 11.4 percentage points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (102 speakers), Arabic (32), Greek (18) and Italian (18) the most common non-English languages. Chinese ancestry (344) is the fourth largest ancestry group in the suburb.
How much development is happening in Burnside?
There were 38 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent applications include two-storey detached dwelling rebuilds and heritage tree removals, consistent with an established suburb where knock-down-rebuild activity replaces older stock rather than greenfield development.
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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