Hillcrest
At 42.9% overseas-born, Hillcrest runs 21.3 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Adelaide's more internationally sourced suburbs. That migration profile arrives alongside a 50% university qualification rate, which sits 19.9 points above national, yet SEIFA places the suburb in decile 3 on IEO, meaning education advantage has not fully converted into economic standing. The median house price reached $973,750 in 1Q 2026, up 20.8% in a single year from $806,300, a sharp lift for a suburb with household income only at the 52.5th percentile. Population grew 14% over the decade and gentrification signals are emerging, with internal migration running at a net 123 per year.
Population
3,659
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,599/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$974K
Median 1Q 2026
The $973,750 median house price recorded in 1Q 2026 represents a 20.8% rise from $806,300 in 1Q 2025, well above the typical SA state pace. Separate houses dominate at 80.8% of dwellings, well above the national apartment-heavy norm, with semi-detached at 16.1% and apartments at just 3.1%. Three-bedroom homes make up 64.8% of the housing mix and 4-plus bedroom homes 19.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,602, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners account for 23.7%, mortgage holders 41.5% and renters 34.8%.
For Buyers
The $973,750 median house price recorded in 1Q 2026 represents a 20.8% rise from $806,300 in 1Q 2025, well above the typical SA state pace. Separate houses dominate at 80.8% of dwellings, well above the national apartment-heavy norm, with semi-detached at 16.1% and apartments at just 3.1%. Three-bedroom homes make up 64.8% of the housing mix and 4-plus bedroom homes 19.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,602, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners account for 23.7%, mortgage holders 41.5% and renters 34.8%.
For Investors
A 34.8% renter share and weekly rent of $319 give landlords a solid tenant base. The 4.8% vacancy rate sits above the typical tight-market threshold of 3%, suggesting some softness. Against the $973,750 median, the gross yield is near 1.7%, below the national average for yield-focused markets. Rent grew 7.7% over the measured period and net internal migration of 123 per year plus overseas migration of 80 sustain demand. Development recorded 18 applications in 12 months including 3-dwelling terrace proposals, signalling incremental densification rather than oversupply. The investment case rests more on capital growth than income, given the 20.8% price rise in a single year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
151
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-35.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hillcrest iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hillcrest Primary School
U, R-6 · 395 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, reflecting inflows of working-age families and skilled migrants. Overseas-born residents make up 42.9%, which is 21.3 points above national, led by Indian (572) and Chinese (322) ancestry groups alongside English (929). Gujarati is the top non-English language (157 speakers), ahead of Punjabi (115) and Mandarin (87). Hinduism is the second religion at 505 residents behind Christianity (1,169). University qualifications of 50.0% run 19.9 points above national, yet the IEO decile sits at 3, below the median nationally, suggesting qualified residents are concentrated in occupations that do not yet match their education level.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.8%
Houses
16.1%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into 41.5% mortgaged, 34.8% renting and 23.7% owning outright. The high mortgage share relative to outright owners reflects a suburb still being actively purchased rather than one of long-held, debt-free holdings. Stock is strongly detached-house weighted at 80.8%, well above the national average where apartments and units carry more weight. Three-bedroom homes account for 64.8% and 4-plus bedroom for 19.2%, a family-oriented mix. The price run from $806,300 to $973,750 in one year is a 20.8% gain. Mortgage stress at 23.1% and rent stress at 19.9% both sit below the 30% threshold, which supports market stability.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,602
Rent / wk
$319
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$759
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
69
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.6%
Couples, no children
2,956
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 21.8% of employed residents (283 workers), above its typical national share, followed by Education at 10.1% (131) and Professional and Technical services at 8.8% (114). Professionals (452) are the top occupation, ahead of Clerical and Admin (233). The unemployment rate of 5.7% is somewhat above the national average, and the IEO decile of 3 sits below the national median despite 50% university qualifications, a mismatch common in high-migration suburbs where overseas credentials are not fully recognised. Real income growth was negative at minus 1.8% over the decade, meaning wages lost ground to inflation.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
5,557
Unemployed
171
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.9%
Part-time
32.4%
Participation
60.5%
Employed
1,662
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.0%
Postgraduate
14.9%
Born Overseas
42.9%
Dwellings
1,371
Transport to Work
Transport is car-dominant: 83.8% of residents drive while only 10.0% use public transport, typical for middle-ring Adelaide suburbs compared to inner-city areas with higher transit shares. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Hillcrest below the national median in relative advantage, and the IRSD decile of 4 reflects moderate disadvantage nationally. The crime rate of 74.3 per 1,000 residents covers 272 total incidents across 3,659 people. No schools are recorded inside the 1.15 km2 boundary. Housing stress is low: rent at 19.9% and mortgage at 23.1% of income both sit well below the 30% threshold, supporting resident stability despite the decile 4 socioeconomic standing.
Drive
83.8%
Public Transport
10.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.34%/yr
(+135 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 14.0% over the past decade, above the national average for established suburbs, and annual growth continues at 1.34%, adding roughly 135 residents a year. Medium projections reach 10,596 by 2031. Internal migration contributes 123 net residents per year and overseas migration adds 80, a balanced base that differs from suburbs reliant on a single driver. The gentrification score of 39 sits at early-signs stage, backed by 25% population growth since 2011 and an accelerating internal migration trend from 5% to 19%. The senior share rose 5.0 points over the decade, flagging an aging trajectory. Affordability improved from 49.4% in 2011 to 44.0% in 2021, meaning housing consumed a smaller share of median income than a decade prior.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
+123
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +25% since 2011, Net internal migration +123/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 19%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
272
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
74.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hillcrest compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hillcrest a good suburb to live in?
Hillcrest offers an affordable mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1% and a younger median age of 35, which is 5 years below the national figure. University qualifications reach 50% of residents, well above national norms. The trade-offs are a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4, a crime rate of 74.3 per 1,000 and no schools recorded within the 1.15 km2 boundary.
What is the median house price in Hillcrest?
The median house price reached $973,750 in 1Q 2026, up 20.8% from $806,300 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $319 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,602. Separate houses make up 80.8% of the stock, so most buyers are competing for detached homes.
What schools are in Hillcrest?
No schools are recorded inside the Hillcrest boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the northern Adelaide corridor. Despite the absence of local schools, 50% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 19.9 points above the national figure.
Is Hillcrest safe?
The recorded crime rate is 74.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, covering 272 total incidents. Hillcrest sits at SEIFA IRSD decile 4, which places it in the lower-middle tier for relative disadvantage nationally. Buyers should review SA Police suburb crime data directly for a full breakdown by offence category.
Is Hillcrest good for property investment?
House prices rose 20.8% in a single year to $973,750, and rent grew 7.7% over the measured period. Net internal migration adds 123 residents annually and overseas migration adds 80, supporting ongoing demand. The 4.8% vacancy rate is above the tight-market threshold of 3%, and gross yield near 1.7% is low, so returns lean on capital growth rather than income.
How is Hillcrest's population changing?
Population grew 14.0% over the past decade, reaching approximately 10,043 in 2025. Annual growth runs at 1.34%, or roughly 135 residents per year. Medium projections reach 10,596 by 2031. The profile shows early gentrification signals, with population up 25% since 2011 and a combined migration intake of around 203 net residents per year.
What languages are spoken in Hillcrest?
About 42.9% of Hillcrest residents were born overseas, which is 21.3 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Gujarati (157 speakers), Punjabi (115), Mandarin (87) and Hindi (60), reflecting a sizeable South Asian and Chinese community. Indian ancestry is the second largest group at 572 residents.
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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