Salisbury Heights
A 97.2% detached-house rate and a median house price that jumped 27.2% in a single year to $947,500 make Salisbury Heights stand out from its northern Adelaide neighbours. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 1 on all four indexes, ranking it in the lowest advantage tier nationally, yet household income lands at the 63.9th percentile, above average for its socioeconomic tier. Population sits at 4,488 across 3.5 km2, giving a density of 1,283 people per km2. Mortgage holders are unusually active, at 51.7% of dwellings, compared to just 13.5% renting, which is low for outer suburban Adelaide and reflects strong owner-occupier demand in this largely detached housing market.
Population
4,488
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,795/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
67
Median House
$948K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $947,500 in Q1 2026, up from $745,000 in Q1 2025, a 27.2% rise in 12 months. That pace outperforms most comparable northern Adelaide suburbs and puts buyers under real pressure to move quickly. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 97.2%, with 50.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 46.6% having 4 or more bedrooms, so Salisbury Heights suits families needing space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,514, which sits at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability buffer, relative to the price level, reflects the strong household income at the 63.9th percentile nationally. The vacancy rate of 3.9% means available properties clear quickly.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $947,500 in Q1 2026, up from $745,000 in Q1 2025, a 27.2% rise in 12 months. That pace outperforms most comparable northern Adelaide suburbs and puts buyers under real pressure to move quickly. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 97.2%, with 50.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 46.6% having 4 or more bedrooms, so Salisbury Heights suits families needing space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,514, which sits at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability buffer, relative to the price level, reflects the strong household income at the 63.9th percentile nationally. The vacancy rate of 3.9% means available properties clear quickly.
For Investors
The 13.5% renter share is low compared to the outer-Adelaide average, which reduces the available tenant pool but also signals strong owner-occupier demand that supports capital values. Weekly rent of $330 against a $947,500 median gives a gross yield near 1.8%, modest but consistent with a market driven more by capital growth than income return. The 27.2% price gain from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026 is the headline case for investors. Vacancy at 3.9% is tight, supporting rent stability. Development activity logged 57 applications in the past 12 months, mostly additions and outbuildings on existing lots rather than new supply, so housing stock is not being diluted. Overseas migration adds 331 residents a year to the broader SA area, providing steady underlying demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
361
Last 12 Months
67
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-2.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Salisbury Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Salisbury Heights Primary School
U, R-6 · 338 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, making Salisbury Heights a relatively younger suburb by national standards. Couples with children (1,555 households) form the dominant family type, consistent with the large 3-4 bedroom housing stock. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national average, reinforcing the family-oriented profile. Overseas-born residents account for 21.3%, near the national average and 0.3 points below it. English ancestry dominates at 1,938 residents, followed by Italian (383) and Scottish (339). The volunteering rate of 13.8% is reasonable, and 25.0% of families are couples with no children, suggesting a mix of established and growing families across the suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.2%
Houses
2.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers dominate tenure at 34.9% owning outright and 51.7% with a mortgage, combined reaching 86.6%. The 13.5% renting share is well below the outer-Adelaide norm and points to a settled, ownership-oriented community. The stock is 97.2% separate houses with only 2.8% semi-detached and negligible apartments. Bedrooms skew large: 50.4% three-bedroom and 46.6% four-plus, with only 2.6% two-bedroom dwellings. The median house price climbed from $745,000 in Q1 2025 to $947,500 in Q1 2026, a 27.2% gain in one year and the peak price on record. Monthly mortgage repayment averages $1,514 with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, below stress levels, and rent-to-income sits at 18.4%, both well within comfortable bounds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,514
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$816
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
65
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.0%
Couples, no children
3,934
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 18.2% of workers (255 people), followed by Construction and Education, both at 11.2% (157 each), and Public Administration at 10.4% (146). Manufacturing rounds out the top five at 9.1% (128 workers). By occupation, Clerical/Admin leads at 379, followed by Professionals (342) and Community/Personal service workers (292). The unemployment rate is 4.3% and the participation rate is 62.9%, consistent with a workforce supporting families. Despite SEIFA decile 1 rankings on all four indexes, household income at the 63.9th percentile nationally sits above what the disadvantage scores imply, likely because the working-age population is predominantly employed full-time (62.9% full-time rate) and the suburb's low renter share excludes transient low-income households.
Unemployment
9.6%
Labour Force
8,340
Unemployed
804
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
32.8%
Participation
62.9%
Employed
2,180
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.6%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
21.3%
Dwellings
1,582
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme: 90.5% of residents drive to work, compared to only 2.9% using public transport and 0.8% walking or cycling. This reflects the suburb's low-density detached-house configuration and limited rail connectivity. The IRSAD score of 827 places Salisbury Heights in decile 1 nationally, the lowest advantage tier. Crime totals 145 reported incidents, at a rate of 32.3 per 1,000 residents. The need-for-assistance rate is 5.6% (243 people), slightly elevated and consistent with the SEIFA profile. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families rely on surrounding Salisbury-area schools. Housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 19.5% and rent-to-income at 18.4% are both well below the 30% stress threshold, a genuine livability positive despite the low advantage scores.
Drive
90.5%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.91%/yr
(+175 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 16.2% over the past decade and currently tracks at 0.91% annual growth, adding about 175 persons per year. Medium forecasts project the broader SA population zone reaching 20,373 by 2031, up from 19,146 in 2025. The growth driver is overseas migration at a net 331 arrivals per year, offsetting a net internal outflow of 292 people annually. That internal exodus is typical of outer suburbs where residents move to closer-in areas, but the overseas inflow more than compensates. The gentrification score is 16 with a stage of not gentrifying, which differs from early signs noted in a secondary metric, because the SEIFA decile 1 base has not yet attracted the higher-income in-movers that would register a full shift. Rent grew 35.0% over the period, significantly above inflation, indicating real supply pressure despite the modest ownership dominance.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+331
Net Internal / yr
-292
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal outflow -292/yr, Strong overseas inflow +331/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
145
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
32.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Salisbury Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury Heights a good suburb to live in?
Salisbury Heights suits owner-occupier families well. The suburb has 97.2% detached houses, average household size of 2.8, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 19.5%. The main trade-off is SEIFA decile 1 on all four indexes nationally and high car dependency at 90.5%, meaning public transport is limited.
What is the median house price in Salisbury Heights?
The median house price reached $947,500 in Q1 2026, up 27.2% from $745,000 in Q1 2025. Weekly rent averages $330 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,514, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Salisbury Heights?
No schools are recorded inside the Salisbury Heights boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding suburbs within the Salisbury council area. The suburb has 19.6% university-qualified residents, which is 10.5 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Salisbury Heights safe?
Reported crime totals 145 incidents at a rate of 32.3 per 1,000 residents. No breakdown by category is available in the dataset. As context, housing stress is low (mortgage-to-income 19.5%, rent-to-income 18.4%), and 86.6% of dwellings are owner-occupied, both factors associated with community stability.
Is Salisbury Heights good for property investment?
The suburb recorded a 27.2% median price gain from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026, rising from $745,000 to $947,500. Gross rental yield is near 1.8% at $330 weekly rent. Vacancy is 3.9% and the renter share is low at 13.5%, meaning strong owner-occupier demand supports capital values but limits the rental income case.
How is Salisbury Heights's population changing?
Population stands at 4,488 and grew 16.2% over the past decade, with annual growth of 0.91%. The primary driver is overseas migration adding a net 331 residents per year, which offsets an internal outflow of 292 annually. Medium forecasts project the broader zone reaching 20,373 by 2031.
How much development is happening in Salisbury Heights?
There were 57 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly additions and outbuildings on existing lots such as pools, sheds and pergolas. New dwelling supply is limited, which explains why the 97.2% detached-house stock has remained largely unchanged while prices rose 27.2% in one year.
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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