Cheltenham
The suburb has 2,236 residents across 1.14 square kilometres, with a density of 1,955.2 people per square kilometre and an above-national median age by 4.0 years. Its 81.1% separate-house share and 41.6% mortgage tenure point to a settled mortgage-belt market. Buyers comparing Cheltenham with nearby Port Adelaide or St Clair should expect a compact, detached-home setting rather than a predominantly apartment-led choice.
Local council: Charles Sturt
Population
2,236
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,534/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Median House
$1.1M
First quarter 2026
The market is dominated by separate houses at 81.1%, while 50.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 19.9% have 4 or more, supporting family demand. The 24.1% mortgage-to-income share is below a common stress threshold, and the listed monthly mortgage figure is $1,602, although buyers should test repayments against their own loan size and interest rate. The 48.0% annual price increase also means recent sales may sit higher than older comparable purchases.
For Buyers
The market is dominated by separate houses at 81.1%, while 50.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 19.9% have 4 or more, supporting family demand. The 24.1% mortgage-to-income share is below a common stress threshold, and the listed monthly mortgage figure is $1,602, although buyers should test repayments against their own loan size and interest rate. The 48.0% annual price increase also means recent sales may sit higher than older comparable purchases.
For Investors
Cheltenham has a relatively small rental sector at 21.1%, lower than its combined outright and mortgaged ownership shares, which may support owner-occupier competition for well-presented homes. Rent growth of 39.6% indicates improving rental conditions, while 23 development applications in 12 months show ongoing property activity. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support demand, but the established housing stock and high 81.1% separate-house share mean redevelopment and maintenance costs need close checking.
Development Activity
Total DAs
102
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Cheltenham has an older profile than the national average, with a median age of 44, or 4.0 years above the national figure. University attainment is 34.6%, 4.5 percentage points above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 20.4%, 1.2 points below nationally. Average household size is 2.3, or 0.2 below the national comparison, consistent with 38.6% of families being couples without children. English ancestry is most common at 777 people, followed by Irish at 210 and Italian at 202. Residential stability is high, with 86.0% staying at the same address and turnover of 14.0%, helping explain the suburb's established character compared with faster-changing parts of Port Adelaide.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.1%
Houses
17.6%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Cheltenham's housing market is concentrated in established family-oriented stock. Separate houses account for 81.1%, semi-detached homes 17.6% and apartments just 1.3%, so the choice is narrower than in more unit-heavy areas. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.9% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 19.9%. Ownership is split between 36.3% outright and 41.6% with a mortgage, compared with 21.1% renting. The 24.1% mortgage-to-income ratio is lower than the combined ownership burden might suggest, but the sharp price movement warrants careful valuation checks.
Mortgage / mo
$1,602
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$290
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$766
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
48
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.2%
Couples with children
38.6%
Couples, no children
17.6%
Single parent
619
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Cheltenham's largest employment industry at 19.4%, followed by Education at 11.2%, Public Administration at 10.2%, Construction at 9.8% and Professional or Technical services at 8.1%. The occupational mix is led by 256 Professionals, 185 Clerical and Administrative workers, 168 Trades workers and 131 Managers. Labour-force participation is 62.7%, full-time employment is 59.9% and unemployment is 4.7%. Household income sits near the national midpoint at the 48.4th percentile. SEIFA results are uneven: education and occupation is at decile 5, but economic resources is at decile 2, while disadvantage is decile 3 and advantage and disadvantage decile 4. This gap suggests skills and employment capacity are stronger than household financial resilience.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
1,204
Unemployed
56
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.9%
Part-time
33.9%
Participation
62.7%
Employed
1,148
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.6%
Postgraduate
6.9%
Born Overseas
20.4%
Dwellings
917
Transport to Work
Cheltenham is compact at 1.14 square kilometres and has a density of 1,955.2 people per square kilometre. Daily mobility is strongly car-based: 76.4% travel as car drivers, compared with 7.2% using public transport, 1.7% walking or cycling and 10.1% working from home. The recorded crime rate is 39.4 per 1,000 residents across 88 offences, which should be considered alongside recent local conditions rather than treated as a guarantee. IRSAD is at decile 4, below the national midpoint, while volunteering is 13.6% and need for assistance is 8.0%. School planning requires an address-level catchment check because nearby options and travel times may extend beyond Cheltenham's boundaries.
Drive
76.4%
Public Transport
7.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
10.1%
Growth Outlook
Cheltenham is an established market with an annual growth trend of 1.5%, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 25.8% over 10 years, while the demographic trajectory is labelled Declining young: the young share is down 2.5 points and the senior share is up 1.2 points. Gentrification signals are mixed, with one measure recording a score of 58 and an Active stage, while the dedicated gentrification score is 20 and classified as Early signs. That combination points to gradual reinvestment rather than a completed transformation. Improving affordability is recorded alongside rent growth of 39.6%, so demand may continue to strengthen even as the suburb ages.
Population trend: Charles Sturt council area
Cheltenham sits in the Charles Sturt council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cheltenham's.
Residents 2025
130,841
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
88
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
39.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cheltenham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Cheltenham?
School access is best assessed by the exact address because enrolment zones can cross Cheltenham's 1.14 square kilometre boundary. Families should check nearby government and non-government options, current intake rules and travel times before buying or renting. Do not assume a Cheltenham address guarantees a place at a preferred school.
Is Cheltenham safe?
Cheltenham recorded 88 offences, equivalent to a rate of 39.4 per 1,000 residents. That figure is a useful local baseline, but safety can vary by street, time and offence type. Prospective residents should inspect the immediate area at different times and review the latest police information before making a decision.
How is Cheltenham's population changing?
The suburb has 2,236 residents today, while population change across the wider area is forecast at 25.8% over 10 years. Growth is expected to run at 1.5% annually and is primarily driven by overseas migration. The profile is ageing, with the young share down 2.5 points and the senior share up 1.2 points.
Is Cheltenham undergoing development?
Cheltenham recorded 23 development applications over 12 months. Recent examples include rear outbuildings, domestic workshops, additions and new verandah or deck work. This points to ongoing reinvestment in existing homes, but it should not be read as 23 new dwellings. Buyers should check approvals and plans for the individual property.
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).
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