Para Hills
A 97.5% detached-home share is the clearest Para Hills marker, while 32.9% of residents were born overseas. Prices rose 11.9% from 1Q 2025, even as forecast growth is only 0.26% annually. Compared with nearby Salisbury, Para Hills reads as a compact mortgage suburb with a strong three-bedroom base rather than an apartment-led market.
Population
6,793
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,420/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
156
Median House
$828K
First quarter 2026
Housing choice is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes, which account for 72.5% of stock, while 4-bedroom-plus homes represent 21.5%. A 97.5% separate-house share suits buyers seeking conventional suburban land and parking. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,300, and mortgage costs equal 21.1% of household income, while rent equals 22.9%, with neither stress flag triggered. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, Para Hills provides less variety but more consistency in detached housing.
For Buyers
Housing choice is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes, which account for 72.5% of stock, while 4-bedroom-plus homes represent 21.5%. A 97.5% separate-house share suits buyers seeking conventional suburban land and parking. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,300, and mortgage costs equal 21.1% of household income, while rent equals 22.9%, with neither stress flag triggered. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, Para Hills provides less variety but more consistency in detached housing.
For Investors
Para Hills has a 21.8% renting share, a weekly median rent of $325 and a 6.1% vacancy rate, giving investors an established tenant market without the very low vacancy conditions seen in tighter locations. Rent growth of 24.0% is higher than the 0.26% annual population trend, which may reflect renewed demand and limited rental turnover rather than rapid resident growth. Development activity is substantial, with 153 applications recorded over 12 months, including land division and new terrace-style dwellings. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, supporting rental demand, while the suburb's aging trajectory may favour stable 3-bedroom accommodation over speculative apartment development.
Development Activity
Total DAs
572
Last 12 Months
156
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+73.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Para Hills
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
East Para Primary School
Para Hills School
Demographics
Para Hills has a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national comparison, but its trajectory is aging as the senior share has increased by 3.4 percentage points. Overseas-born residents account for 32.9%, or 11.3 percentage points above the national comparison, with Arabic recorded for 112 people and Punjabi for 91. University attendance is 25.1%, 5 percentage points below the national comparison, while the average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above the national figure. Couples with children represent 40.1% of families, compared with 35.4% for couples without children, and one-parent families account for 22.1%. An 80.0% stay rate suggests more residential continuity than a highly transient suburb. Compared with nearby Salisbury, the profile combines established family households with substantial overseas-born representation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.5%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Para Hills is one of Adelaide's more detached housing markets, with separate houses making up 97.5% of dwellings compared with only 1.2% apartments and 1.2% semi-detached homes. Ownership is split between 32.1% outright owners, 45.4% mortgage holders and 21.8% renters. The stock is heavily weighted to 3-bedroom homes at 72.5%, followed by 4-bedroom-plus properties at 21.5%, which helps explain its family-oriented housing pattern. Mortgage-to-income costs are 21.1% and rent-to-income costs are 22.9%, while the IRSAD score sits in decile 3. Compared with higher-density suburbs, Para Hills offers less apartment choice but a much stronger detached-house base.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$325
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$686
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
164
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.1%
Couples with children
35.4%
Couples, no children
22.1%
Single parent
1,897
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Para Hills' largest industry at 22.2%, representing 433 workers, followed by construction at 10.3% and 202 workers, education at 9.5% and 185 workers, manufacturing at 8.2% and 160 workers, and retail at 7.4% and 144 workers. The occupational mix is led by trades with 554 people, community and personal services with 465, clerical and administration with 438, labourers with 429 and professionals with 418. This balance supports practical local employment because healthcare, construction and service roles are all prominent. The participation rate is 62.0%, full-time employment is 57.6% and unemployment is 7.4%. Personal weekly income is $686 and household weekly income is $1,420, with household income at the 41.7th percentile. Compared with a professional-led profile, Para Hills has a stronger trades and service orientation, consistent with its IRSAD decile 3 position.
Unemployment
7.4%
Labour Force
3,383
Unemployed
251
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.6%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
62.0%
Employed
3,132
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.1%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
32.9%
Dwellings
2,502
Transport to Work
Para Hills is strongly car dependent, with 81.5% of residents travelling as car drivers compared with 5.5% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling. Work from home accounts for 7.2%, so daily access to employment and services remains more vehicle-oriented than transit-led. There are 2 nearby primary schools, both government schools, providing local primary access, while families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 389 incidents, equivalent to 57.3 per 1,000 residents, so street-level conditions and household security remain relevant. The IRSAD and IRSD measures are both in decile 3, indicating lower socioeconomic positioning than higher-decile suburbs, while 12.2% volunteering provides a useful community participation base. Compared with transit-oriented areas, Para Hills offers easier detached-house living for drivers but fewer transport alternatives.
Drive
81.5%
Public Transport
5.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
7.2%
Population Forecast
+0.26%/yr
(+41 people/yr)
EstablishedPara Hills has a slow-growth forecast of 0.26% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 4.4% over 10 years, lower than the suburb's 11.9% one-year house-price increase, so housing momentum is currently stronger than resident growth. The trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen by 3.4 percentage points, while the working share has fallen by 1.5 points and the young share by 0.4 points. Gentrification is not identified, with a score of 0 and a stage of Not gentrifying. Rent growth of 24.0%, real income growth of 5.7% and an Improving affordability trend indicate change without a major transformation of the suburb's established identity. Compared with faster-growth corridors, Para Hills is more likely to evolve through gradual household change and infill activity.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+138
Net Internal / yr
-140
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -140/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
389
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
57.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Para Hills compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Para Hills?
Para Hills has 2 nearby primary schools: East Para Primary School and Para Hills School. Both are government schools, so families should check the exact enrolment zone and current intake arrangements before choosing an address. The local school mix is primary rather than a broad secondary campus offer.
Is Para Hills safe?
Recorded crime in Para Hills totals 389 incidents, equivalent to 57.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure should be considered alongside the suburb's population of 6,793 and the exact street or housing complex being assessed. Buyers and renters should review current local conditions, lighting, parking and household security before making a decision.
Is Para Hills good for property investment?
Para Hills has 21.8% renters, a weekly median rent of $325 and a 6.1% vacancy rate. Rent growth is recorded at 24.0%, while 153 development applications were lodged over 12 months. These figures support further investigation, but the 0.26% annual growth forecast and aging trajectory favour a measured, long-term strategy over a rapid-growth assumption.
How is Para Hills's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 4.4% over 10 years, with annual growth of 0.26%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is labelled Aging. The senior share has increased by 3.4 percentage points, and the working share has fallen by 1.5 points, indicating gradual household change rather than rapid expansion.
What languages are spoken in Para Hills?
English remains the leading ancestry response, with 2,454 people, while 32.9% of residents were born overseas. Arabic is recorded for 112 people, Punjabi for 91, Gujarati for 37, Hindi for 36 and Greek for 26. These figures indicate a suburb with established English-speaking roots and meaningful multilingual representation.
Is there development in Para Hills?
Yes. Para Hills recorded 153 development applications over 12 months. Recent examples include a land division from 1 allotment into 2, removal of 1 regulated verge tree and a proposal for 3 single-storey terrace-style dwellings. Activity points to ongoing infill and property renewal rather than a large apartment-led redevelopment pattern.
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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