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. Household income sits in the 88th percentile nationally, yet the median house price has reached $1,495,000, making this one of SA's more expensive residential addresses. 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.
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
24
Median House
$1.5M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price of $1,495,000 as of 1Q 2026 rose 9.3% from $1,367,500 in 1Q 2025, a strong one-year gain. 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
The median house price of $1,495,000 as of 1Q 2026 rose 9.3% from $1,367,500 in 1Q 2025, a strong one-year gain. 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. Weekly rent of $450 against a $1,495,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 1.6%, below what most investors target. 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
108
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Heathfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Heathfield High School
7-12 · 970 students
Heathfield Primary School
R-6 · 102 students
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
N/A
Townhouse
4.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The median house price reached $1,495,000 in 1Q 2026, up from $1,367,500 in 1Q 2025, a one-year gain of 9.3%. 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.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,075
Rent / wk
$450
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
26.2%
Couples, no children
845
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.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
38.0%
Participation
58.5%
Employed
492
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. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs for education, a practical consideration given the suburb's 5.32 square kilometre footprint. 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
89.1%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
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. The trade-off is high car dependency at 89.1% and no schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Heathfield?
The median house price is $1,495,000 as of 1Q 2026, up 9.3% from $1,367,500 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,075, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.9%.
What schools are in Heathfield?
No schools are recorded within the Heathfield suburb boundary in this dataset. 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.
Is Heathfield good for property investment?
Capital growth is the main case: prices rose 9.3% to $1,495,000 over the year to 1Q 2026. However, only 6.7% of dwellings are rented, vacancy sits at 7.1%, and weekly rent of $450 implies a gross yield of about 1.6%. Low supply turnover supports price growth but limits rental income opportunities.
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), 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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