Pasadena
A 41.5% jump in median house price, from $1,145,000 to $1,620,000 in a single year, makes Pasadena one of Adelaide's fastest-moving premium markets despite a population of only 3,073 across 2.17 km2. The median age of 49 sits 9 years above the national figure, reflecting a long-established owner base, with 42.7% owning outright. University qualifications reach 45.3%, which is 15.2 percentage points above national, and 30.9% of residents were born overseas, pointing to an educated, internationally connected community. Turnover is low: 79.6% of residents did not move in the five years prior to the census, which partly explains the compressed supply that is driving price acceleration.
Population
3,073
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,381/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$1.6M
Median 1Q 2026
The $1,620,000 median house price as of 1Q 2026 reflects a sharp 41.5% rise from $1,145,000 just one year earlier, so buyers entering now are paying near a recent peak. Separate houses account for 67% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 29.1% and apartments a minor 3.9%, giving most buyers genuine detached stock to choose from. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 43.2% and four-plus bedroom at 30.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.0%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 42.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 34.9%, which is characteristic of long-held, low-debt wealth rather than a market driven by new leveraged buyers.
For Buyers
The $1,620,000 median house price as of 1Q 2026 reflects a sharp 41.5% rise from $1,145,000 just one year earlier, so buyers entering now are paying near a recent peak. Separate houses account for 67% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 29.1% and apartments a minor 3.9%, giving most buyers genuine detached stock to choose from. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 43.2% and four-plus bedroom at 30.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.0%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 42.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 34.9%, which is characteristic of long-held, low-debt wealth rather than a market driven by new leveraged buyers.
For Investors
The investment arithmetic is tight. Weekly rent of $333 against a $1,620,000 median implies a gross yield well below 1.1%, lower than most Adelaide benchmarks. The 6.6% vacancy rate is above typical investment comfort zones and reinforces subdued rental demand. The renter share of only 22.4% means the market is owner-dominated, limiting the tenant pool. Development activity logged 24 applications in the past 12 months, mostly improvement works rather than new supply, so stock additions are slow. The 41.5% price rise in one year is striking, but household income sits at only the 39.2nd percentile nationally, so rental growth headroom is constrained. The case for investment rests on capital momentum rather than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
170
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-25.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Pasadena iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Springbank Secondary College
U, 7-12 · 249 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national average, and the high outright-ownership rate of 42.7% confirms a predominantly long-term, aging resident base. Overseas-born residents account for 30.9%, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national figure, and leading non-English languages include Greek (90 speakers), Mandarin (51) and Arabic (32). Ancestry is led by English (1,014), German (257) and Greek (245), an Anglo-European mix with South Australian historic roots. University qualifications reach 45.3%, which is 15.2 percentage points above national, and the top occupations are Professionals (414) and Managers (165), consistent with a knowledge-economy workforce. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below the national figure, reflecting the older couples-without-children profile, where 35.1% of families are couples with no children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
67.0%
Houses
29.1%
Townhouse
3.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits strongly toward ownership: 42.7% own outright, 34.9% carry a mortgage and only 22.4% rent, compared with national renter shares well above 30%. This concentration of debt-free ownership reflects long-held properties in a suburb where 79.6% of residents stayed put over five years. The stock is 67% separate houses, with semi-detached homes unusually high at 29.1%, and apartments just 3.9%. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 43.2% and four-plus bedroom at 30.2%. The median house price climbed from $1,145,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,620,000 in 1Q 2026, a 41.5% one-year gain that pushed the mortgage-to-income ratio to 29.0%, approaching but not yet crossing the 30% stress boundary. Rent-to-income at 24.1% remains manageable for tenants.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$333
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$701
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
89
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.1%
Couples, no children
2,379
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.8% of the local workforce (215 workers), nearly double the second-ranked Education at 12.2% (115 workers). Professional/Tech follows at 9.9% (93 workers), then Public Admin at 8.4% and Retail at 7.3%. By occupation, Professionals account for 414 workers and Managers 165, consistent with a suburb where 45.3% hold university qualifications. The full-time employment rate is 57.4% and the unemployment rate is 4.9%, broadly in line with national figures. Participation is 47.8%, below average because 1,209 residents are not in the labour force, a consequence of the older median age of 49. Household income sits at the 39.2nd percentile nationally, below the median, which creates a divergence between the high-education, high-ownership profile and relatively modest current earnings.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
37.7%
Participation
47.8%
Employed
1,216
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.3%
Postgraduate
12.1%
Born Overseas
30.9%
Dwellings
1,258
Transport to Work
Pasadena is strongly car-dependent: 82.3% of residents drive to work, and public transport accounts for only 6.5%, with walking and cycling at 5.5%. The crime rate of 59.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is a reference point for safety comparison, though no breakdown by crime category is available in this dataset. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the current data, so families draw on surrounding suburbs. Rent-to-income at 24.1% is below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing costs manageable for the 22.4% who rent. Volunteering reaches 21.5% of residents, above the national average, and 8.4% of the population needs daily assistance, partly reflecting the older median age of 49. The 2.17 km2 area at a density of 1,417 residents per km2 gives Pasadena a mid-density suburban character.
Drive
82.3%
Public Transport
6.5%
Walk / Cycle
5.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
182
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
59.2
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Pasadena compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pasadena a good suburb to live in?
Pasadena suits owner-occupiers who value stability. The suburb has a median age of 49, a 79.6% five-year stay rate, and 42.7% of residents own their home outright, indicating a settled community. University qualifications reach 45.3%, which is 15.2 percentage points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are a high $1,620,000 median house price and limited public transport at 6.5%.
What is the median house price in Pasadena?
The median house price is $1,620,000 as of 1Q 2026, up 41.5% from $1,145,000 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $333 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.0%. The suburb is 67% separate houses.
What schools are in Pasadena?
No schools are recorded within the Pasadena suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 45.3% holding university qualifications, which is 15.2 percentage points above the national average, suggesting strong demand for quality nearby schools.
Is Pasadena safe?
The recorded crime rate is 59.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 182 total incidents. No breakdown by crime category is available in this dataset. As context, the suburb has a low residential turnover of 20.4% and 42.7% of residents own their homes outright, factors associated with stable, established neighbourhoods.
Is Pasadena good for property investment?
The 41.5% price rise from $1,145,000 to $1,620,000 in one year shows capital momentum, but rental yields are under pressure. Weekly rent of $333 against the $1,620,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.1%. The 6.6% vacancy rate is above typical comfort zones, and household income at the 39.2nd percentile nationally limits rent growth. The investment case depends on continued capital appreciation.
How is Pasadena's population changing?
Population forecast data is not available for Pasadena in this dataset. The current population is 3,073 across 2.17 km2. The suburb shows low mobility, with 79.6% of residents not moving over five years, and a median age of 49 that is 9 years above national, indicating an aging, stable community rather than a growth-driven market.
What languages are spoken in Pasadena?
About 30.9% of Pasadena residents were born overseas, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national figure. The leading non-English languages are Greek (90 speakers), Mandarin (51), Arabic (32), Cantonese (20) and Hindi (19). Ancestry is led by English (1,014 residents), German (257) and Greek (245), reflecting a multi-generational European and Asian mix.
How much development is happening in Pasadena?
There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a swimming pool installation, a verandah and tree removal works, consistent with incremental improvement of existing properties rather than new dwelling supply. This low level of new supply in a market of 3,073 residents supports the price pressure seen in the 41.5% one-year gain.
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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