SA 5007 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

West Hindmarsh

At 0.6 km2 with 1,560 residents, West Hindmarsh packs 2,612 people per km2 into a compact inner-Adelaide footprint, yet nearly 69% of dwellings are separate houses rather than apartments. The suburb runs younger than the national average, with a median age of 37, which is 3 years below national. University qualifications reach 46.9% of residents, some 16.8 percentage points above the national figure, pointing to a professional base. A $1,250,000 recorded house price in early 2025 places this firmly in Adelaide's premium tier, while household income sits at the 56.7th percentile nationally, creating a meaningful gap between purchase costs and local earnings.

West Hindmarsh urban fabric map

Population

1,560

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,640/wk

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

8

0.6 km²· 2,612.2 people/km²· Family income $2,127/wk

The most recent recorded median house price of $1,250,000 from 1Q 2025 sets a high bar for buyers in a suburb where household income is at the 56.7th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting existing owners are not financially stretched. The dwelling mix is dominated by separate houses at 68.7% and three-bedroom homes account for 49.2% of stock, with two-bedroom dwellings at 36.3%. Semi-detached options at 16.7% provide a more accessible entry point compared to the detached market, and apartments are limited to 14.7% of stock. Outright owners make up 26.2%, while mortgage holders are 32.7%, indicating moderate debt levels relative to established-ownership peers in more expensive markets.

For Buyers

The most recent recorded median house price of $1,250,000 from 1Q 2025 sets a high bar for buyers in a suburb where household income is at the 56.7th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting existing owners are not financially stretched. The dwelling mix is dominated by separate houses at 68.7% and three-bedroom homes account for 49.2% of stock, with two-bedroom dwellings at 36.3%. Semi-detached options at 16.7% provide a more accessible entry point compared to the detached market, and apartments are limited to 14.7% of stock. Outright owners make up 26.2%, while mortgage holders are 32.7%, indicating moderate debt levels relative to established-ownership peers in more expensive markets.

For Investors

The 41.1% renter share is higher than typical for suburban Adelaide, creating a broad tenant base for landlords. Weekly rent of $320 is the current market rate, and rent-to-income at 19.5% is comfortably below stress levels, which supports tenant retention. The vacancy rate of 8.8% is elevated and warrants attention, as it signals more rental supply than typical for inner Adelaide. Development activity is low at just 9 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new dwelling supply, so additional rental stock is not the primary driver of vacancies. The household income at the 56.7th percentile nationally means the rental market draws from a middle-income professional pool given the 46.9% university qualification rate, which is 16.8 points above national. Yield prospects depend on continued demand from the healthcare and education workers who dominate local employment.

Development Activity

Total DAs

62

Last 12 Months

8

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-46.7%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
7
Garage / Carport / Shed
5
Tree Removal
2
Deck / Pergola / Patio
2
Swimming Pool / Spa
1
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
1
Demolition
1
Signage / Advertising
1

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

St Joseph's School

ICSEA 1063 Primary Catholic

R-6 · 223 students

Demographics

The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, indicating a younger-skewing resident base compared to most established suburbs. University qualifications stand at 46.9%, which is 16.8 percentage points above the national average, one of the strongest education signals in inner Adelaide. Overseas-born residents account for 30.9% of the population, running 9.3 points above national, with English (459), Italian (193) and Greek (132) as the leading ancestry groups, reflecting a long Mediterranean migration history. Greek (44 speakers) and Italian (31) remain active community languages, alongside Punjabi (22), which represents newer arrivals. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below national, and 38.9% of families are couples with children, compared to 32.0% as couples without children.

Age Distribution

0-14
14.8%
15-24
11.3%
25-44
35.3%
45-64
25.3%
65+
13.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.5%
2 bed
36.3%
3 bed
49.2%
4+ bed
14.0%

Dwelling Structure

68.7%

Houses

16.7%

Townhouse

14.7%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 26.2% Mortgage 32.7% Rent 41.1%

Separate houses dominate at 68.7%, well above typical inner-suburban shares, with semi-detached at 16.7% and apartments at 14.7%. The most recent recorded median house price is $1,250,000 from 1Q 2025, placing West Hindmarsh at a premium level compared to Adelaide's metropolitan median. Tenure splits into 26.2% outright owners, 32.7% with a mortgage and 41.1% renters, which is a high renter share for a suburb with a $1,250,000 price point. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 49.2%, followed by two-bedroom homes at 36.3%, meaning the stock suits small families and couples rather than large households. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% and rent-to-income of 19.5% both sit below stress thresholds, so current occupants are not financially pressured by housing costs relative to income.

Mortgage / mo

$1,733

Rent / wk

$320

HH Size

2.3

Personal Income / wk

$851

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

8.8%

Unoccupied

62

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

19.5%

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

24.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
44
Italian
31
Punjabi
22

Ancestry

English
459
Other
236
Italian
193
Greek
132
Scottish
127
Irish
126

Household Composition

32.0%

Couples, no children

1,157

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant industry at 21.5% of employed residents (134 workers), followed by Education at 15.2% (95) and Professional/Tech at 11.2% (70). These three sectors together account for nearly half the workforce, which explains why Professionals (259) are the largest occupation group, ahead of Clerical/Admin (120) and Managers (108). Full-time employment runs at 64.2% of employed workers, and the unemployment rate of 6.4% is slightly elevated compared to national benchmarks. Participation rate of 65.5% is moderate, with 373 residents not in the labour force. Household income sits at the 56.7th percentile nationally, lower than the high university qualification rate of 46.9% would typically predict, suggesting many residents are in mid-career public sector or healthcare roles rather than high-earning professional services.

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

Full-time

64.2%

Part-time

29.4%

Participation

65.5%

Employed

815

Occupations

Professionals 259
Clerical/Admin 120
Managers 108
Community/Personal 91
Labourers 68
Sales 60
Machinery/Drivers 47

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.5%
Education 15.2%
Professional/Tech 11.2%
Public Admin 9.6%
Construction 7.9%

University

46.9%

Postgraduate

13.7%

Born Overseas

30.9%

Dwellings

648

Transport to Work

Transport mode data shows strong private car reliance at 80.0%, while 8.3% of residents walk or cycle, above the national average for active transport. Public transport use reaches 6.3%. No schools are recorded within the West Hindmarsh boundary, so families depend on institutions in adjacent suburbs. Crime totals 83 recorded incidents, producing a rate of 53.2 per 1,000 residents. Volunteering runs at 15.3% and rent-to-income of 19.5% keeps housing costs manageable for renters, below national stress benchmarks. The suburb's 0.6 km2 footprint and density of 2,612 per km2 are above typical Adelaide suburban density, making it comparable to inner-ring suburbs rather than middle or outer metropolitan areas. Around 7.1% of residents need assistance with daily activities, consistent with the younger median age of 37.

Drive

80.0%

Public Transport

6.3%

Walk / Cycle

8.3%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

83

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

53.2

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How West Hindmarsh compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 24%
Household Income
Top 43%
Rent Level
Top 34%
Apartments
Top 23%
Renters
Top 15%
Uni Educated
Top 12%
Public Transport
Top 26%
Born Overseas
Top 13%
Density
Top 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is West Hindmarsh a good suburb to live in?

West Hindmarsh offers an inner-Adelaide location with 46.9% university qualification rates, some 16.8 points above the national average. The median age of 37 skews younger than national, and housing costs are below stress thresholds, with mortgage-to-income at 24.4% and rent-to-income at 19.5%. The trade-off is a $1,250,000 median house price and no schools within the suburb boundary.

What is the median house price in West Hindmarsh?

The most recent recorded median house price is $1,250,000 from 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% sits below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent is $320.

What schools are in West Hindmarsh?

No schools are recorded within the West Hindmarsh boundary in this dataset. Families in the suburb's 1,560 residents rely on schools in neighbouring Adelaide inner-western suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 46.9% holding university qualifications, which is 16.8 percentage points above the national average.

Is West Hindmarsh safe?

West Hindmarsh recorded 83 crimes in the reference period, giving a rate of 53.2 incidents per 1,000 residents. Category-level breakdowns are not available in the current dataset. As contextual indicators, rent stress is absent at 19.5% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress is below the 30% threshold at 24.4%.

Is West Hindmarsh good for property investment?

The rental market is supported by a 41.1% renter share and weekly rent of $320. The vacancy rate of 8.8% is higher than ideal and should be monitored. Low development activity at 9 applications in the last 12 months limits new supply pressure. The $1,250,000 median house price means gross yield is modest, so returns depend more on capital growth than rental income.

How is West Hindmarsh's population changing?

No population forecast is published for West Hindmarsh in the current dataset. However, 74.9% of residents stayed over the measurement period, suggesting strong retention. The younger median age of 37 (3 years below national) and high qualification rates of 46.9% indicate the suburb continues to attract and retain working-age professionals.

What languages are spoken in West Hindmarsh?

Around 30.9% of residents were born overseas, some 9.3 percentage points above the national average. Greek (44 speakers) and Italian (31) reflect a longstanding Mediterranean community, while Punjabi (22 speakers) represents newer migration patterns. English-ancestry residents number 459, the largest single ancestry group.

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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