Heathfield
At a median age of 46, Heathfield's residents are 6 years older than the national average, a profile that matches the suburb's ownership structure: 41.7% own their homes outright with no mortgage, well above the national norm. The suburb is almost entirely detached housing at 95.1%, renter share is just 6.7%, and turnover is low with 87.9% of residents staying put. University qualifications reach 49.4%, which is 19.3 percentage points above the national figure.
Local council: Adelaide Hills
Population
1,062
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,298/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$1.5M
First quarter 2026
Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.1%, and 45.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting larger family-sized homes rather than starter stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,075, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite prices above the SA median. That affordability buffer exists because household income sits in the 88th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 41.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 51.5%, signalling that a large share of residents have held their properties long enough to clear the debt.
For Buyers
Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.1%, and 45.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, reflecting larger family-sized homes rather than starter stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,075, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite prices above the SA median. That affordability buffer exists because household income sits in the 88th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 41.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 51.5%, signalling that a large share of residents have held their properties long enough to clear the debt.
For Investors
With only 6.7% of dwellings rented, Heathfield has one of the thinnest rental markets in the Adelaide Hills, meaning tenant demand is low and vacancy at 7.1% is elevated. Price growth of 9.3% over the past year is the main investment argument, driven by constrained supply in a suburb where 87.9% of residents stay long-term. Development activity ran at 22 applications in the past 12 months, mostly performance-assessed works such as outbuildings and ancillary accommodation conversions rather than new dwellings, so supply is unlikely to expand materially. Investors should weigh the strong capital growth record against the low yield and thin rental pool.
Development Activity
Total DAs
112
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+43.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Heathfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Heathfield Primary School
Heathfield High School
Demographics
Heathfield's median age of 46 is 6 years above the national average, reflecting an established owner-occupier base that is aging in place. Overseas-born residents make up 16.7% of the population, which is 4.9 percentage points below the national share, indicating a locally-born resident majority. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (551), Scottish (162), German (105) and Irish (103). University qualifications at 49.4% are 19.3 percentage points above the national figure, consistent with the professional and managerial occupational base. Volunteering reaches 29.3% of residents, well above national norms, and average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national. Couples with children account for 346 of 845 families, while couples without children represent 221 families at 26.2%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.1%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
4.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-dominated: 41.7% own outright, 51.5% carry a mortgage, and only 6.7% rent, a ratio that sits far below the national renter share. Separate detached houses account for 95.1% of the stock, with 45.4% having 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage-to-income at 20.9% and rent-to-income at 19.6% are both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to the 88th-percentile income base. The low renter share and high outright ownership signal long-term stability rather than speculative churn.
Mortgage / mo
$2,075
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$450
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$863
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
27
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.9%
Couples with children
40.5%
Couples, no children
10.6%
Single parent
284
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 19.3% (75 workers), followed by Education at 17.5% (68 workers) and Professional/Technical at 13.9% (54 workers), with Construction at 9.8% and Public Administration at 5.7%. By occupation, Professionals (173) and Managers (89) dominate, which aligns with the 88th-percentile household income nationally. The unemployment rate is 4.3% and the full-time employment rate reaches 57.7%, but the participation rate of 58.5% is tempered by 296 residents not in the labour force, consistent with the aging population at a median age of 46. Household income of $2,298 per week places Heathfield comfortably above the SA state average. The relatively small workforce of around 500 employed residents reflects a population of just 1,062.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
553
Unemployed
22
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.5%
Part-time
39.2%
Participation
62.9%
Employed
531
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.4%
Postgraduate
14.5%
Born Overseas
16.7%
Dwellings
350
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 89.1% of residents driving to work, with just 3.4% using public transport, which is typical for an Adelaide Hills suburb at this density of 199 residents per square kilometre. Crime is low at 15.1 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 16 total recorded crimes, a rate that compares favourably against higher-density urban areas. The need-for-assistance rate of 5.8% covers 59 residents, and the volunteering rate of 29.3% is high relative to national benchmarks. Mortgage and rent stress are both absent, with mortgage-to-income at 20.9% and rent-to-income at 19.6% below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
74.3%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
16.6%
Growth Outlook
The low turnover rate of 12.1%, meaning 87.9% of residents stayed put, suggests demand is driven by long-term holders rather than speculative activity. Development applications ran at 22 in the past 12 months, with recent examples including ancillary accommodation conversions and outbuilding works, indicating incremental densification rather than broad new supply. The small population of 1,062 across 5.32 square kilometres means even modest demand shifts can move prices. Compared to higher-density SA suburbs, Heathfield's constrained land release and low turnover create conditions where price appreciation tends to be sustained.
Population trend: Adelaide Hills council area
Heathfield sits in the Adelaide Hills council area. These are the council area's residents, not Heathfield's.
Residents 2025
42,875
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
16
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
15.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Heathfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heathfield a good suburb to live in?
Heathfield suits owner-occupiers seeking a quiet, low-density environment. The crime rate of 15.1 per 1,000 residents is low, housing costs remain below the stress threshold at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.9%, and household income sits in the 88th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Heathfield?
Families rely on schools in neighbouring Adelaide Hills suburbs. Despite this, 49.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 19.3 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting a highly educated adult population.
Is Heathfield safe?
Heathfield recorded 16 total crimes in the most recent period, giving a rate of 15.1 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is low compared to denser urban suburbs. Only 5.8% of the 1,062 residents need daily assistance, and the long-term stability of the community is reflected in an 87.9% stay-put rate.
How is Heathfield's population changing?
Heathfield's population is 1,062 with a low turnover rate of 12.1%, meaning 87.9% of residents stayed over the measured period. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national average, suggesting a gradually aging resident base rather than a growing one driven by younger in-migration.
How much development is happening in Heathfield?
There were 22 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including outbuilding works and ancillary accommodation conversions assessed under performance pathways. Activity is modest relative to the 1,062-person population, indicating incremental improvement of existing properties rather than significant new housing supply.
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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