SA 5159 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Flagstaff Hill

An established suburb of 10,184 people, Flagstaff Hill combines a median age of 43, household income at the 78.3rd percentile and a strongly detached housing base. Its median age is 3 years above the national figure, while 96.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 50.2% are owned with a mortgage. Compared with nearby Aberfoyle Park, its clearest signature is an established, owner-occupier-oriented market with 38.7% of homes owned outright. The 9.3 crimes per 1,000 residents and 13.0% work-from-home share also shape its appeal for households seeking space and a quieter routine.

Flagstaff Hill urban fabric map

Population

10,184

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,080/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

98

Median House

$1.1M

First quarter 2026

7.91 km²· 1,287.8 people/km²· Family income $2,302/wk

The listed mortgage cost is $1,733 per month, while mortgage payments account for 19.2% of household income, below the level usually associated with mortgage stress. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, the 96.5% separate-house share gives buyers more access to traditional family housing. More than half of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, at 50.3%, because the suburb was shaped around larger established dwellings rather than compact units.

For Buyers

The listed mortgage cost is $1,733 per month, while mortgage payments account for 19.2% of household income, below the level usually associated with mortgage stress. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, the 96.5% separate-house share gives buyers more access to traditional family housing. More than half of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, at 50.3%, because the suburb was shaped around larger established dwellings rather than compact units.

For Investors

Flagstaff Hill has a small rental pool, with 10.4% of households renting, a weekly rent of $385 and a vacancy rate of 3.4%. Compared with high-renter suburbs, this owner-heavy tenure mix can reduce the depth of tenant demand, although it may also limit competing rental supply. Rent represents 18.5% of household income, below the mortgage share of 19.2%, and the forecast records rent growth of 17.2%. Development activity reached 98 applications over 12 months, with sampled projects including residential pool upgrades rather than clearly identified new dwelling supply. Growth is forecast at 0.46% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration.

Development Activity

Total DAs

564

Last 12 Months

98

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+19.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Deck / Pergola / Patio
53
Garage / Carport / Shed
34
Renovation / Extension
26
New Dwelling
15
Swimming Pool / Spa
12
Fencing
9
Subdivision
8
Tree Removal
6

Schools in Flagstaff Hill

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Craigburn Primary School

Primary Education Government

Flagstaff Hill Primary School

Primary Education Government

Demographics

Flagstaff Hill has a median age of 43, which is 3 years above the national average, and its household size of 2.7 is 0.2 people higher than the national figure. University attainment is 38.6%, or 8.5 percentage points above the national comparison, while 28.4% of residents were born overseas, 6.8 points above the national share. Compared with nearby Aberfoyle Park, the suburb presents an older established-household pattern, reflected in 47.6% of couples having children and 41.2% being couples without children. English ancestry counts 4,625 people, followed by Scottish at 993 and Irish at 879. No religion is recorded for 5,153 residents, compared with 4,206 identifying with Christianity.

Age Distribution

0-14
17.4%
15-24
12.1%
25-44
22.7%
45-64
28.0%
65+
19.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.6%
2 bed
2.6%
3 bed
45.5%
4+ bed
50.3%

Dwelling Structure

96.5%

Houses

1.6%

Townhouse

0.3%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 38.7% Mortgage 50.2% Rent 10.4% Other 0.7%

Flagstaff Hill is overwhelmingly a detached-home market: 96.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 1.6% have 1 or no bedrooms, 45.5% have 3 bedrooms and 50.3% have 4 or more. Compared with more compact suburbs, its housing stock is more strongly weighted to larger family properties. Tenure is also distinctive, with 38.7% owned outright, 50.2% under mortgage and only 10.4% rented. The 19.2% mortgage-to-income share and 18.5% rent-to-income share are both below common stress thresholds.

Mortgage / mo

$1,733

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$385

Census 2021

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$844

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

3.4%

Unoccupied

127

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.5%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.2%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
106
Greek
47
Persian ED
35
Punjabi
31
Afrikaans
24
Polish
23

Ancestry

English
4,625
Other
1,005
Scottish
993
Irish
879
German
820
Italian
361

Household Composition

47.6%

Couples with children

41.2%

Couples, no children

10.1%

Single parent

3,061

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is Flagstaff Hill's largest industry at 22.9%, representing 862 workers, followed by Education at 14.3% and 538 workers. Construction accounts for 8.5%, Public Administration another 8.5% and Professional and Technical services 8.1%. The occupational mix is led by 1,408 Professionals, 770 Managers and 746 Clerical and Administrative workers, indicating a skilled employment base. Participation is 66.5%, full-time employment is 58.0% and unemployment is 4.2%. Compared with the national midpoint, SEIFA results are higher across economic resources and low disadvantage: IEO is decile 7, IER decile 9, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 7. The lower IRSAD result than IER suggests strong resources without a top-decile overall advantage profile.

Unemployment

4.2%

Labour Force

5,600

Unemployed

237

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
7
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
9
Education & occupation
7

Full-time

58.0%

Part-time

36.5%

Participation

66.5%

Employed

5,363

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 1,408
Managers 770
Clerical/Admin 746
Community/Personal 709
Trades 670
Sales 438
Labourers 347
Machinery/Drivers 188

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.9%
Education 14.3%
Construction 8.5%
Public Admin 8.5%
Professional/Tech 8.1%

University

38.6%

Postgraduate

9.4%

Born Overseas

28.4%

Dwellings

3,619

Transport to Work

Daily life is strongly car-dependent: 78.5% of residents drive to work, compared with 3.6% using public transport, 0.9% walking or cycling and 13.0% working from home. Compared with transit-oriented areas, that pattern makes private vehicle access more important for commuting and errands. Families have access to 2 local schools, both government primary schools, while exact enrolment zones and secondary options should be checked against the address. Recorded crime totalled 95 incidents, or 9.3 per 1,000 residents. The IRSAD decile is 7, above the national midpoint, and 19.0% of residents volunteer, supporting local participation. The low apartment share of 0.3% also reinforces a quieter, low-density setting.

Drive

78.5%

Public Transport

3.6%

Walk / Cycle

0.9%

Work from Home

13.0%

Population Forecast

+0.46%/yr

(+52 people/yr)

Established

Flagstaff Hill follows an established, slow-growth path, with forecast annual growth of 0.46% and population change across the wider area of 3.3% over 10 years. The primary migration driver is overseas migration, while the shift trajectory is labelled Aging. That direction is supported by an 8.0 percentage-point increase in the senior share, alongside a 1.4-point decline in the young share and a 5.1-point decline in the working share. Compared with faster-growth corridors, the suburb is not gentrifying: the forecast gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying. Its established housing base and ageing population help explain why growth is measured rather than rapid.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+110

Net Internal / yr

-20

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

95

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

9.3

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Flagstaff Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 4%
Household Income
Top 22%
Rent Level
Top 19%
Apartments
Top 25%
Renters
Bottom 36%
Uni Educated
Top 20%
Public Transport
Top 37%
Born Overseas
Top 16%
Density
Top 13%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Flagstaff Hill a good suburb to live in?

Flagstaff Hill suits households seeking established detached housing, larger blocks and a quieter routine. The suburb has 10,184 residents, a median age of 43 and 96.5% separate houses. Its age is 3 years above the national figure, while 9.3 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents provides a useful safety reference.

What schools are in Flagstaff Hill?

Flagstaff Hill has 2 listed local schools, both government primary schools: Craigburn Primary School and Flagstaff Hill Primary School. School access depends on the exact address and enrolment zone, so families should confirm eligibility and investigate secondary options before purchasing. The suburb's 50.3% share of homes with 4 or more bedrooms reflects its family-oriented housing base.

Is Flagstaff Hill safe?

There were 95 recorded crimes, equal to a rate of 9.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure is a useful suburb-level reference, but conditions can vary by street, property type and time. Buyers and renters should inspect the immediate area at different hours and check current local advice before making a decision.

Is Flagstaff Hill good for property investment?

Flagstaff Hill offers an established rental market with a weekly rent of $385, a 3.4% vacancy rate and only 10.4% of households renting. Those conditions may support rental scarcity, but the owner-occupier share is high. Forecast growth is 0.46% annually, and 98 development applications were recorded over 12 months, so investors should assess supply and tenant demand carefully.

How is Flagstaff Hill's population changing?

Population change across the wider area is forecast at 3.3% over 10 years, with annual growth of 0.46%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased by 8.0 percentage points while the young share has fallen by 1.4 points. This points to measured growth rather than a rapid expansion cycle.

What development is happening in Flagstaff Hill?

There were 98 development applications in the 12 months covered. Sampled projects include an in-ground swimming pool, an above-ground spa and replacement of an existing pool, all linked to established residential properties. This indicates ongoing household upgrades, while the available examples do not establish a specific number of new dwellings. The suburb remains classified as Not gentrifying.

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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