Northfield
Northfield's strongest signal is its international and family-oriented profile: 42.5% of residents were born overseas, 51.2% of families are couples with children, and the median age is 35, five years below the national figure. Housing is detached-led, with 80.8% separate houses and 67.8% three-bedroom dwellings. Compared with nearby Hillcrest and Clearview, Northfield's clearest identity is a high-growth, established suburb where overseas migration is the primary driver. Its population is 5,043 and density is 2,279.3 people per square kilometre, while household income sits at the 41.7 percentile. This points to strong cultural demand and family housing needs, but not a uniformly high-income buyer base.
Population
5,043
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,420/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
39
Median House
$885K
First quarter 2026
The market suits buyers seeking family stock because 80.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 67.8% have 3 bedrooms and 12.7% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, Northfield offers more land-based housing, but 41.6% renting and 7.5% vacancy matter when assessing competition and flexibility. The 37.3% mortgage tenure share signals a substantial owner-occupier base.
For Buyers
The market suits buyers seeking family stock because 80.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 67.8% have 3 bedrooms and 12.7% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, Northfield offers more land-based housing, but 41.6% renting and 7.5% vacancy matter when assessing competition and flexibility. The 37.3% mortgage tenure share signals a substantial owner-occupier base.
For Investors
Northfield's investor case rests on tenant depth rather than scarcity. Renting accounts for 41.6% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $307 and vacancy is 7.5%, a higher level than a tightly constrained rental market would imply. The annual growth trend is 2.73%, while 41 development applications in 12 months included a six-dwelling project and a three-allotment land division. That creates renewal potential but also competition from newer stock. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, and the shift profile records 50.0% rent growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
189
Last 12 Months
39
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+39.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Northfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Northfield Primary School
Demographics
Northfield is younger and more internationally connected than the national profile. Median age is 35, five years below national, while 44.6% have university qualifications, 14.5 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 42.5%, 20.9 points above national, helping explain Indian ancestry at 720 people and languages including Guj at 212, Punjabi at 171 and Hindi at 65. Couples with children account for 51.2% of families, while average household size is 2.6, 0.1 above national. Christianity counts 1,228 people, no religion 1,193 and Hinduism 663. Turnover is 22.3%, so the 77.7% who stayed in place points to residential continuity alongside cultural change.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.8%
Houses
16.8%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Northfield's housing profile is detached and three-bedroom led, but tenure is more mixed than the streetscape suggests. Separate houses account for 80.8%, semi-detached homes 16.8% and apartments 2.4%; 3-bedroom dwellings represent 67.8%, compared with 12.7% for 4 or more bedrooms. Ownership is split between 20.4% outright, 37.3% with a mortgage and 41.6% renting, making renter demand central to the housing cycle. Mortgage-to-income is 25.7% and rent-to-income 21.6%, both without stress flags. Compared with higher-density precincts, Northfield provides conventional family layouts, although its density is 2,279.3 people per square kilometre.
Mortgage / mo
$1,580
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$307
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$679
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
127
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.2%
Couples with children
27.6%
Couples, no children
17.5%
Single parent
1,083
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Northfield's employment base at 25.4%, or 343 workers, above Manufacturing at 8.2% and Public Admin at 7.9%. Professional/Tech contributes 7.2% and Retail 7.0%, giving the suburb service-heavy employment with industrial and public-sector depth. Occupations are led by Professionals at 348, Community/Personal at 301, Trades at 266, Labourers at 263 and Clerical/Admin at 249. Unemployment is 7.2%, participation 48.7% and full-time employment 59.0%, a less intense labour profile than a high-participation professional district. Household income is $1,420 weekly and the percentile is 41.7, below the higher-income end nationally. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 7, IER 4, IRSD 5 and IRSAD 6, suggesting qualifications outpace economic resources.
Unemployment
7.2%
Labour Force
2,033
Unemployed
146
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
35.5%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
1,887
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.6%
Postgraduate
15.0%
Born Overseas
42.5%
Dwellings
1,570
Transport to Work
Northfield has practical family access, but it is more car-oriented than transit-led. Car drivers account for 77.6% of journeys, compared with 7.5% using public transport, 1.7% walking or cycling and 7.6% working from home. Within Northfield, 1 local school is listed: Northfield Primary School, a government primary school. Check enrolment zones and nearby options across surrounding suburbs because access can change at the exact address. The crime rate is 87.2 incidents per 1,000 people, while 7.5% report needing assistance. SEIFA places the suburb at IRSAD decile 6 and IRSD decile 5, above the most disadvantaged settings but below top-decile advantage. With density of 2,279.3 people per square kilometre and 80.8% separate houses, it has established form without a low-density commute pattern.
Drive
77.6%
Public Transport
7.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
7.6%
Population Forecast
+2.73%/yr
(+540 people/yr)
EstablishedNorthfield's growth outlook is strong but not uniform. The forecast trend is 2.73% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 58.5% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Mixed, and gentrification is rated Not gentrifying with a score of 10, so momentum should not be confused with wholesale repositioning. A separate shift measure records gentrification score 40 and stage Early signs, alongside 50.0% rent growth and 16.7% real income growth, pointing to uneven transition signals. The young share fell 0.8 points and senior share rose 1.1 points. Compared with slower established suburbs, Northfield has stronger forecast expansion, but 41 applications in 12 months mean delivery will shape how growth is absorbed.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+305
Net Internal / yr
-86
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Strong overseas inflow +305/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
440
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
87.2
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Northfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northfield a good suburb to live in?
Northfield can suit households wanting detached housing and access to a government primary school, with 80.8% separate houses and 67.8% three-bedroom dwellings. Its median age of 35 is below national, while 7.5% public transport use shows a car-oriented routine. Compare the exact street, transport and enrolment zone before deciding.
What schools are in Northfield?
Northfield has 1 local government primary school, Northfield Primary School. Families should check the enrolment zone for the exact address and compare nearby options across surrounding suburbs. School choice should be assessed by sector, year level and travel time rather than assuming that 1 local listing covers every need.
Is Northfield safe?
Northfield recorded 440 offences, equal to a crime rate of 87.2 incidents per 1,000 people. That figure should be read alongside the specific street, time and offence type, since suburb-wide rates can vary across small areas. The suburb's IRSAD decile is 6, above the most disadvantaged deciles but below top-decile advantage, so safety and social conditions should be assessed together rather than from 1 number.
How is Northfield's population changing?
Northfield's population is 5,043 today, and the wider area's forecast population change is 58.5% over 10 years. Growth is forecast at 2.73% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration. The shift trajectory is Mixed: the young share is down 0.8 points and the senior share is up 1.1 points. That suggests growth with changing age composition rather than a simple youth surge.
What languages are spoken in Northfield?
Northfield's main recorded languages after English include Guj at 212 people, Punjabi at 171, Hindi at 65, Mandarin at 57 and Arabic at 32. The 42.5% overseas-born share is above national by 20.9 percentage points, so multilingual services and clear written communication may be useful for local businesses and community organisations.
What development is happening in Northfield?
Development activity is noticeable, with 41 applications in the past 12 months. Examples include 6 new dwellings across a two-storey and single-storey project and a 3-allotment land division. That level of activity can add housing choice, but it may also create construction disruption and future competition for established properties. Compare each proposal's location, scale and timing before buying.
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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