SA 5158 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Sheidow Park

A median house price that jumped 26.4% in a single year, from $800,000 in early 2025 to $1,011,500 in early 2026, makes Sheidow Park one of the faster-moving markets in Adelaide's south. The stock is almost entirely detached: 99.4% of dwellings are separate houses and only 0.1% are apartments, which concentrates demand on a single product type. Household income sits in the 75.7th percentile nationally at $2,024 a week, and the suburb scores decile 8 on both the IRSD and IER SEIFA indexes, above the South Australian midpoint. The crime rate of 18.1 per 1,000 residents and a median age of 38, two years below national, round out a settled, owner-occupier profile.

Sheidow Park urban fabric map

Population

6,731

Median Age

38.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,024/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

66

Median House

$1.0M

Median 1Q 2026

3.59 km²· 1,874.4 people/km²· Family income $2,218/wk

Buyers face a $1,011,500 median that rose 26.4% from $800,000 a year earlier, so timing matters more here than in flatter markets. The housing is overwhelmingly family-scaled: 52.1% of dwellings have three bedrooms and 45.6% have four or more, while two-bedroom homes are just 2.2%, so smaller buyers have almost no entry point. Separate houses make up 99.4% of stock, leaving apartment seekers without options. The trade-off for the high price is genuine affordability for those who qualify, because mortgage-to-income runs at only 17.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, helped by an average mortgage repayment of $1,560 a month. With 60.0% of households carrying a mortgage versus 28.4% owning outright, this is a working owner-occupier market rather than a landlord one.

For Buyers

Buyers face a $1,011,500 median that rose 26.4% from $800,000 a year earlier, so timing matters more here than in flatter markets. The housing is overwhelmingly family-scaled: 52.1% of dwellings have three bedrooms and 45.6% have four or more, while two-bedroom homes are just 2.2%, so smaller buyers have almost no entry point. Separate houses make up 99.4% of stock, leaving apartment seekers without options. The trade-off for the high price is genuine affordability for those who qualify, because mortgage-to-income runs at only 17.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, helped by an average mortgage repayment of $1,560 a month. With 60.0% of households carrying a mortgage versus 28.4% owning outright, this is a working owner-occupier market rather than a landlord one.

For Investors

Only 11.6% of dwellings are rented, one of the lower renter shares you will find, which limits the tenant pool and signals an owner-occupier suburb rather than an investor one. Weekly rent of $380 against the $1,011,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.0%, low because the price ran 26.4% higher in a year while rents lagged. The 3.0% vacancy rate is balanced rather than tight, and net overseas migration of 77 a year is the only positive demand driver, partly offset by net internal outflow of 71. Development activity is modest at 62 applications in 12 months, mostly decks, tree works and small infill rather than large supply, including one application for 21 townhouses. The case here rests on capital growth and the scarcity of detached stock, not on yield, which sits below most Adelaide benchmarks.

Development Activity

Total DAs

335

Last 12 Months

66

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+24.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Deck / Pergola / Patio
39
Garage / Carport / Shed
18
Swimming Pool / Spa
14
Renovation / Extension
14
New Dwelling
9
Fencing
7
Tree Removal
6
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
5

Schools in Sheidow Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

St Martin de Porres School

ICSEA 1060 Primary Catholic

R-6 · 530 students

Woodend Primary School

ICSEA 1050 Primary Government

R-6 · 631 students

Sheidow Park Primary School

ICSEA 1020 Primary Government

R-6 · 290 students

Demographics

The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below national, and 23.9% of residents were born overseas, 2.3 points above the national figure, a modest migrant presence led by Polish, Hindi and Punjabi speakers. Ancestry is strongly Anglo, with English (2,978), Scottish (669) and Irish (580) the largest groups, which is why the suburb tags as anglo-leaning. University qualifications reach 32.4%, 2.3 points above national, a small but real education premium. Average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above national, consistent with the family profile where couples with children (2,827) far outnumber couples without (1,267). Despite the younger median, the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 7.3 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.7 points, a structural shift worth watching.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.5%
15-24
11.9%
25-44
27.6%
45-64
27.6%
65+
11.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.2%
2 bed
2.2%
3 bed
52.1%
4+ bed
45.6%

Dwelling Structure

99.4%

Houses

0.5%

Townhouse

0.1%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 28.4% Mortgage 60.0% Rent 11.6%

Tenure tilts heavily toward recent buyers: 60.0% of households carry a mortgage, far above the 28.4% who own outright, with renters at just 11.6%. That mortgage dominance reflects a suburb of working families rather than long-held wealth. The stock is 99.4% separate houses, almost no apartments, and skews large, with 52.1% three-bedroom and 45.6% four-plus-bedroom homes. The median house price climbed from $800,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,011,500 in 1Q 2026, a 26.4% one-year move, yet housing stress stays low because mortgage-to-income holds at 17.8% and rent-to-income at 18.8%, both well below national stress thresholds. Affordability actually improved over the decade, from 44.6% in 2011 to 42.4% in 2021, because incomes kept pace despite the recent price surge.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,560

Rent / wk

$380

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$905

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

3.0%

Unoccupied

73

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.8%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Polish
37
Hindi
32
Punjabi
28
Arabic
26
Persian ED
22
Mandarin
20

Ancestry

English
2,978
Scottish
669
Other
600
Irish
580
German
445
Italian
271

Household Composition

21.1%

Couples, no children

5,993

Total families

Economy & Employment

The workforce leans toward services: Healthcare leads at 23.2% (601 workers), followed by Education at 11.6% (299), Construction at 10.4% (268), Public Administration at 9.0% (232) and Professional/Tech at 6.9% (179). By occupation, Professionals (754), Clerical and Admin (607) and Community and Personal Service workers (531) dominate, a profile that matches the decile 5 IEO score, mid-range for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.9% and the participation rate is 71.2%, with a full-time employment rate of 60.2%. The IER score reaches decile 8, above the IEO decile 5, because high mortgage-holding and household incomes in the 75.7th percentile lift economic-resources measures even where formal qualifications sit nearer the middle. Real incomes grew 4.0% over the decade.

Unemployment

2.0%

Labour Force

6,449

Unemployed

132

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
6
Disadvantage
8
Economic resources
8
Education & occupation
5

Full-time

60.2%

Part-time

35.9%

Participation

71.2%

Employed

3,613

Occupations

Professionals 754
Clerical/Admin 607
Community/Personal 531
Managers 405
Sales 340
Labourers 317
Machinery/Drivers 185

Top Industries

Healthcare 23.2%
Education 11.6%
Construction 10.4%
Public Admin 9.0%
Professional/Tech 6.9%

University

32.4%

Postgraduate

6.4%

Born Overseas

23.9%

Dwellings

2,347

Transport to Work

Daily life is car-dependent: 91.3% of residents drive to work while only 3.2% use public transport and 0.4% walk or cycle, well below national active-transport rates and a function of the suburb's outer-southern location. Safety is a clear strength, with 122 recorded offences and a crime rate of 18.1 per 1,000 residents, low enough to earn the suburb a low-crime-rate tag, reinforced by a decile 8 IRSD score for relative disadvantage, above the state midpoint. Only 3.7% of residents (244 people) need daily assistance and volunteering runs at 15.1%, both consistent with a stable family community where 87.7% of residents stayed put over the period. No schools are recorded inside the 3.59 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for the quiet, low-density setting.

Drive

91.3%

Public Transport

3.2%

Walk / Cycle

0.4%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.59%/yr

(+62 people/yr)

Established

Sheidow Park is an established, slow-growth suburb, with population rising at 0.59% a year, or about 62 residents, and a 6.8% increase over the past decade. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding a net 77 residents a year, while internal migration removes 71, leaving thin natural expansion. The profile is aging on a clear trajectory: the senior share climbed 7.3 points and the working-age share fell 3.7 points over ten years, with the young share down 1.2 points. Gentrification reads as not yet underway, scoring early signs at most, which fits a settled detached-house market at decile 6 on IRSAD rather than a transforming one. Affordability improved from 44.6% in 2011 to 42.4% in 2021, a sign incomes held up against price pressure better than the headline 26.4% one-year jump suggests.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+77

Net Internal / yr

-71

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

122

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

18.1

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Sheidow Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 8%
Household Income
Top 24%
Rent Level
Top 21%
Apartments
Bottom 0%
Renters
Bottom 21%
Uni Educated
Top 30%
Public Transport
Bottom 49%
Born Overseas
Top 22%
Density
Top 9%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sheidow Park a good suburb to live in?

Sheidow Park scores decile 8 on both the IRSD and IER SEIFA indexes, above the South Australian midpoint, with household income in the 75.7th percentile nationally. The crime rate of 18.1 per 1,000 is low and 87.7% of residents stayed put over the period, signalling a stable, owner-occupier family suburb.

What is the median house price in Sheidow Park?

The median house price is $1,011,500 as of early 2026, up 26.4% from $800,000 a year earlier. Weekly rent averages $380 and the average mortgage repayment is about $1,560 a month, giving a low mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.8%, below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Sheidow Park?

No schools are recorded inside the 3.59 km2 Sheidow Park boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is reasonably educated, with university qualifications at 32.4%, which is 2.3 points above the national figure.

Is Sheidow Park safe?

Sheidow Park recorded 122 offences, a crime rate of 18.1 per 1,000 residents, low by metropolitan standards. The suburb also scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the state midpoint, and only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-risk area.

Is Sheidow Park good for property investment?

Rent of $380 a week against the $1,011,500 median gives a gross yield near 2.0%, low because prices rose 26.4% in a year while rents lagged. Only 11.6% of dwellings are rented and vacancy is 3.0%, so the case rests on capital growth rather than yield or a deep tenant pool.

How is Sheidow Park's population changing?

Population is growing about 0.59% a year, roughly 62 residents, and rose 6.8% over the decade. Net overseas migration of 77 a year is the main driver, offset by 71 leaving for other areas. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 7.3 points and the working-age share down 3.7 points.

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.

Explore Sheidow Park on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in SA