Hahndorf
At a median age of 51, Hahndorf sits 11 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest resident bases among established Adelaide Hills suburbs. Despite that demographic skew, the suburb scores IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8 on the SEIFA indexes, placing it firmly in the top tier for advantage across South Australia. Only 16.7% of dwellings are rented, far below the national average, and 46.9% are owned outright, a pattern that reflects long-term, debt-free residents rather than a transient population. The crime rate of 16.0 per 1,000 residents is low, and 82.8% of households did not move in the five years prior to the census, signalling genuine community stability.
Population
2,814
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,735/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
59
The brief does not record a current median sale price for Hahndorf, which reflects thin transaction volume across this 21.6 km2 rural-residential area rather than a data gap. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting buyers who do commit carry manageable debt loads compared to metropolitan norms. Separate houses dominate at 86.9% of dwellings, with four-plus bedroom homes making up 36.9% of stock and three-bedroom homes 44.4%, so the market skews toward larger family-sized properties. Outright owners at 46.9% outnumber mortgage holders at 36.4%, a ratio that is higher than state and national averages and reflects the older, established ownership base.
For Buyers
The brief does not record a current median sale price for Hahndorf, which reflects thin transaction volume across this 21.6 km2 rural-residential area rather than a data gap. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting buyers who do commit carry manageable debt loads compared to metropolitan norms. Separate houses dominate at 86.9% of dwellings, with four-plus bedroom homes making up 36.9% of stock and three-bedroom homes 44.4%, so the market skews toward larger family-sized properties. Outright owners at 46.9% outnumber mortgage holders at 36.4%, a ratio that is higher than state and national averages and reflects the older, established ownership base.
For Investors
Hahndorf presents a low-yield, low-churn profile that suits investors prioritising capital stability over rental income. Weekly rent averages $350 and vacancy sits at 5.6%, a figure above typical sub-3% metro benchmarks and partly explained by the thin 16.7% renter base in a predominantly owner-occupier suburb. Development activity is moderate at 55 applications in the past 12 months, with recent lodgements including ancillary accommodation and carport additions, indicating incremental densification rather than large-scale supply. Annual population growth is forecast at 0.55%, adding roughly 26 persons per year, supported by net overseas migration of 23 per year. The gentrification score of 23 and stage classified as early signs suggests some upward pricing pressure, though the aging trajectory and low turnover rate of 17.2% mean demand drivers are gradual rather than sharp.
Development Activity
Total DAs
298
Last 12 Months
59
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hahndorf iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Michael's Lutheran School, Hahndorf Inc
R-6 · 192 students
Hahndorf Primary School
R-6 · 166 students
Demographics
The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, the most distinctive demographic signal in the brief. The aging trajectory is confirmed by a senior share that rose 8.0 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.7 points. University qualifications reach 34.9%, which is 4.8 percentage points above the national average, aligning with the professional and managerial occupation base. Overseas-born residents make up 20.0%, which is 1.6 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,267), Scottish (302) and Irish (255) lead, with German ancestry (427) reflecting the suburb's 1839 Lutheran settlement heritage. Volunteering reaches 25.3% of residents, well above typical suburban rates, consistent with the older, civic-minded resident profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.9%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
2.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 86.9% of Hahndorf's dwelling stock, higher than both the SA state and national averages, and semi-detached dwellings add a further 7.1%, leaving apartments at just 2.2%. The bedroom profile skews large: 36.9% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 44.4% have three, indicating a market built around family-sized and lifestyle properties rather than compact urban stock. Tenure splits clearly toward ownership: 46.9% own outright, 36.4% hold a mortgage and only 16.7% rent, a pattern that is more owner-dominant than the national average and consistent with long-settled, low-turnover suburban character. Rent-to-income at 20.2% keeps tenants well below stress thresholds, and mortgage-to-income at 26.0% sits comfortably under the 30% benchmark.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$767
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.9%
Couples, no children
2,155
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.0% of the workforce (145 workers), followed by Education at 12.3% (112) and Construction at 9.9% (90), with Professional/Tech at 9.2% (84) and Public Admin at 8.1% (74). By occupation, Professionals (296) and Managers (252) together account for the largest share, consistent with the suburb's IRSAD decile 8 advantage score. The unemployment rate is low at 3.6% and the full-time employment rate is 56.2%, though participation is 52.2%, partly because 964 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the older age structure. Household income sits at the 60.8th percentile nationally, above the median but not in the top quartile, and real income grew 6.8% over the decade.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
2,648
Unemployed
73
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
40.2%
Participation
52.2%
Employed
1,204
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.9%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
20.0%
Dwellings
1,004
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 85.3% of residents driving to work, a figure above the national average, consistent with the suburb's rural-residential setting about 28 km from Adelaide CBD. Only 4.7% use public transport and 5.3% walk or cycle. The crime rate of 16.0 incidents per 1,000 residents is low and reflects the suburb's IRSD decile 9 ranking for low disadvantage nationally. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in nearby Hills townships. The IRSAD decile 8 score indicates above-average advantage on both relative socioeconomic conditions and opportunity, and 10.6% of residents (284 people) need some form of daily assistance, higher than the state average and attributable to the older median age of 51.
Drive
85.3%
Public Transport
4.7%
Walk / Cycle
5.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.55%/yr
(+26 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is modest at 0.55% per year, adding about 26 residents annually, and the 10-year change is 10.4%. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population rising from around 4,698 in 2025 to 4,943 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with overseas arrivals averaging 23 per year and internal net migration at 6, suggesting steady rather than speculative demand. The gentrification score is 23 with a stage of early signs, meaning income growth and professional in-migration are present but have not yet produced rapid property turnover. Affordability has held relatively stable, shifting from 44.1% to 42.9% between 2011 and 2021. Rent has grown 27.8% over the measurement period, a stronger gain than real income growth of 6.8%, pointing to tightening rental conditions despite thin rental stock.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+23
Net Internal / yr
+6
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
45
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
16.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hahndorf compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hahndorf a good suburb to live in?
Hahndorf ranks in IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8, placing it in the top advantage tier in SA. The crime rate is low at 16.0 per 1,000 residents, 82.8% of households have stayed put for at least 5 years, and volunteering reaches 25.3%, indicators of a stable, engaged community. The main trade-off is high car dependency at 85.3% and limited public transport at 4.7%.
What is the median house price in Hahndorf?
A current median sale price is not recorded in this dataset due to thin transaction volumes for this rural-residential suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950 and weekly rent averages $350. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting affordable debt levels relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Hahndorf?
No schools are recorded within the Hahndorf suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically use schools in nearby Adelaide Hills towns. University qualifications among residents reach 34.9%, which is 4.8 percentage points above the national average, reflecting a well-educated adult population.
Is Hahndorf safe?
Hahndorf records a crime rate of 16.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, a low figure that aligns with its IRSD decile 9 ranking for relative advantage nationally. Only 45 total incidents were recorded, consistent with a small, stable population where 82.8% of households have not moved in the past 5 years.
Is Hahndorf good for property investment?
The investment profile suits patient, capital-focused buyers. Rent is $350 per week and vacancy sits at 5.6%, above typical metro benchmarks, because only 16.7% of dwellings are rented. Population is forecast to grow 0.55% per year reaching about 4,943 by 2031. Rent has grown 27.8% over the measurement period, outpacing real income growth of 6.8%, signalling tightening conditions in the thin rental market.
How is Hahndorf's population changing?
The SA2 population is growing slowly, from about 4,743 in 2023 to a forecast of 4,943 by 2031, an annual rate of 0.55% or roughly 26 people per year. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 8.0 points and the working-age share down 4.7 points over the decade. Net overseas migration of 23 per year is the primary growth driver.
How much development is happening in Hahndorf?
There were 55 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include ancillary accommodation additions and carport or verandah structures, reflecting incremental upgrades to existing properties rather than large-scale new supply. Development activity is moderate for a rural-residential suburb of 2,814 residents across 21.6 km2.
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.
Explore Hahndorf on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map