Walkley Heights
Median house prices in Walkley Heights jumped 34.5% in a single year, from $936,500 in Q1 2025 to $1,260,000 in Q1 2026, a move that puts the suburb in a different tier than most of Adelaide. At 3,513 residents across 1.63 km2, this is a compact, owner-occupier suburb where 85.7% of households own or are paying off their home, well above the state average. Household income sits at the 62.5th percentile nationally, and the workforce leans toward Professionals, Managers and Clerical roles. Crime rates are low at 23.1 incidents per 1,000 residents. The overseas-born share of 32.8% runs 11.2 percentage points above the national figure, driven notably by Indian and South Asian communities.
Population
3,513
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,773/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$1.3M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $1,260,000 in Q1 2026, up from $936,500 a year earlier, a 34.5% annual gain. That kind of movement compresses the window for buyers, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting households are managing serviceability. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 81.0%, with semi-detached at 17.7% and apartments at just 1.3%, so buyers get largely what the suburb advertises. Bedrooms skew large: 44.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 39.7% have 3, meaning the typical purchase is a family-sized home. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, low relative to the price because many existing owners carry smaller outstanding balances. With 50.5% of households on a mortgage compared to 35.2% owning outright, most of the suburb is still in active ownership mode rather than debt-free.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,260,000 in Q1 2026, up from $936,500 a year earlier, a 34.5% annual gain. That kind of movement compresses the window for buyers, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting households are managing serviceability. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 81.0%, with semi-detached at 17.7% and apartments at just 1.3%, so buyers get largely what the suburb advertises. Bedrooms skew large: 44.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 39.7% have 3, meaning the typical purchase is a family-sized home. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, low relative to the price because many existing owners carry smaller outstanding balances. With 50.5% of households on a mortgage compared to 35.2% owning outright, most of the suburb is still in active ownership mode rather than debt-free.
For Investors
A 14.3% renter share is thin compared to most Adelaide suburbs, and weekly rent of $370 against a $1,260,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.5%, which is low for the risk profile. The vacancy rate sits at 4.1%, modestly elevated, meaning landlords face some competition to attract tenants. Development activity is light at 11 applications in the past 12 months, mostly sheds and verandahs rather than new dwellings, so supply pressure is not the issue. The investment case rests almost entirely on capital growth, which the 34.5% one-year price move illustrates, though that pace is unlikely to sustain. Household income at the 62.5th percentile nationally supports tenant quality, and the 85.2% resident retention rate signals low churn. This is a buy-and-hold market rather than a yield story.
Development Activity
Total DAs
63
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+44.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, which signals a maturing population skewed toward established families and empty-nesters. Overseas-born residents account for 32.8% of the population, 11.2 percentage points above the national average, with Indian ancestry (255 residents) and Punjabi the leading non-English language (91 speakers), pointing to a meaningful South Asian community alongside the dominant English and German heritage groups. University qualifications reach 36.0%, which is 5.9 percentage points above the national rate, consistent with the Professionals-heavy occupation mix. Average household size is 2.7, 0.2 above the national figure, and 44.4% of families are couples with children, reflecting the suburb's family orientation. Volunteering at 17.1% is above typical urban norms.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.0%
Houses
17.7%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Walkley Heights is owner-occupier territory: 35.2% own outright, 50.5% are on a mortgage and only 14.3% rent, a renter share that ranks well below state norms. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 81.0%, with 17.7% semi-detached and barely 1.3% apartments. Bedroom sizes lean large, with 44.1% of dwellings at 4 or more bedrooms and 39.7% at 3, consistent with family households. The median house price rose from $936,500 in Q1 2025 to $1,260,000 in Q1 2026, a 34.5% increase over one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700 and mortgage-to-income at 22.1% stays below the 30% stress line. Rent-to-income at 20.9% is similarly comfortable, meaning neither tenants nor mortgagees face financial stress by standard measures.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$715
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
53
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.4%
Couples, no children
2,985
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 21.4% (231 workers), followed by Education at 14.6% (158) and Public Administration at 11.1% (120), a public-sector services tilt that is common in Adelaide's northern suburbs. Professional/Technical services account for 7.9% and Manufacturing for 7.1%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 376 workers, Clerical and Admin follow at 270, and Managers at 202, which together explain the household income sitting at the 62.5th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, in line with national averages, and the full-time employment rate is 62.1%. Participation at 57.5% is moderate, partly because 1,070 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 42 and significant retirement-age cohort.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
57.5%
Employed
1,576
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.0%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
32.8%
Dwellings
1,246
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 87.8% driving to work, above national norms, with only 5.7% using public transport and 0.8% walking or cycling, typical for a low-density suburban setting without a train station. Crime sits at 23.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, low enough to flag Walkley Heights as a low-crime suburb relative to Adelaide averages. The 8.2% needing daily assistance (280 residents) is notable for a suburb of 3,513 and likely reflects the aging profile at a median age of 42. Rent stress is absent at 20.9% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress is absent at 22.1%, meaning residents across both tenure types are well within affordability bounds. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on neighbouring schools, typical for a 1.63 km2 footprint.
Drive
87.8%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
81
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
23.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Walkley Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Walkley Heights a good suburb to live in?
Walkley Heights has a low crime rate of 23.1 incidents per 1,000 residents and 85.7% of households own or are buying their home. Household income sits at the 62.5th percentile nationally. The main trade-off is the $1,260,000 median house price, which rose 34.5% in one year, making entry expensive for new buyers.
What is the median house price in Walkley Heights?
The median house price is $1,260,000 as of Q1 2026, up from $936,500 in Q1 2025, a 34.5% increase in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.1%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Walkley Heights?
No schools are recorded inside the Walkley Heights suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well-educated, with 36.0% holding university qualifications, which is 5.9 percentage points above the national average.
Is Walkley Heights safe?
Walkley Heights records 81 total crimes in the dataset, giving a rate of 23.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, low compared to broader Adelaide. The suburb is flagged as low-crime in its identity profile, and housing stress indicators are also well below national thresholds.
Is Walkley Heights good for property investment?
The median house price rose 34.5% in one year to $1,260,000, showing strong capital growth momentum. However, weekly rent of $370 against that median implies a gross yield of around 1.5%, which is low. The 4.1% vacancy rate and 14.3% renter share mean the tenant pool is thin. Returns depend on continued capital appreciation rather than yield.
How is Walkley Heights's population changing?
Walkley Heights has 3,513 residents across 1.63 km2, with a density of 2,159.9 per km2. The resident retention rate is 85.2%, meaning only 14.8% of residents moved in the past year, indicating a stable, low-turnover community. The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national figure.
What languages are spoken in Walkley Heights?
About 32.8% of residents were born overseas, 11.2 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English language is Punjabi with 91 speakers, followed by Gujarati (24), Hindi (23), Mandarin (21) and Malayalam (20), reflecting a notable South Asian community.
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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