Cheltenham is an inner metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Charles Sturt Council, where heritage streetscapes sit alongside mixed commercial and residential development. Notable landmarks include Cheltenham Community Centre, former Cheltenham Congregational Church.
Housing is relatively affordable. Median house prices have risen 48% year on year. The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings, placing it among the highest-ranked inner metropolitan suburbs, and recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 60% below the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The clearer weaknesses are lower school ICSEA scores and thinner dining and café options, with dining and cafés 100% below the peer median.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising heritage character and more affordable housing over school quality.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Inner metropolitan suburb · compared with inner metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (188)
Strengths
The suburb has an unusually high concentration of heritage listings
Housing is relatively affordable
Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places
Weaknesses
School ICSEA scores are a relative weakness
Dining and cafés are a relative weakness
What stands out
Heritage streetscapes
Cheltenham Community Centre, former Cheltenham Congregational Church
Space is a strength, but car dependence is high
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★☆☆☆
Professionals★★☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★☆☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Cheltenham compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.13M
+48% change
Median rent
$630/wk
Houses $630 · Units $203
Population (ERP)
2,403
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.9%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#108
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Crime rate
61st
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
62nd
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
21%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
43rd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
38.4/100 — Below average
National rank
4815th in Australia
State rank
426th in SA
Peer rank
#108 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#250 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
93%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$202.6
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$630
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$630
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
10
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$1,125,000
Median price change
+48%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
2,403(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +6.1% over 5 years · 62th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+6.1%
Change in 1 year
+17
Change in 5 years
+138
Growth rank in SA
62th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~2,650), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
2,236
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,534
Dwelling vacancy
4.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
48 of 974
Median monthly mortgage
$1,602
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$290
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
36.7% / 42% / 21.3%
Employment rate
59.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
8.4% / 6% / 68.5%
Walked or cycled to work
1.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
744 / 161 / 12
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
21.7% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 19.3% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified21.7% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified8.4% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational19.3% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below50.6% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies20.6%
Management and commerce18.8%
Society and culture15.1%
Health12.7%
Education9.4%
Architecture and building6.3%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$59,875
76th percentile in SA · +2% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$64,188
78th percentile in SA · -1% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
11.0%
32nd percentile in SA · -20% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$70,351
38th percentile in SA · +11% vs Australia
Residents with business income
11.0%
52nd percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5014 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
7,757
Taxpayers reporting net rent
830
Median net rent
-$890
Taxpayers reporting business income
827
Taxable income vs state median
+10%
Salary / wages vs state median
+12%
Rental investment vs state median
-8%
Super vs state median
-10%
Business income vs state median
0%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in SA, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
16.7% speak a language other than English at home; 20.4% born overseas
Language at home
1,816 English only · 364 other
Non-English at home
16.7%
Born overseas
444 (20.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
45 (2%)
Australian citizens
2,058
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
19
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Greek38 · 23.3%
Italian11 · 6.7%
Punjabi11 · 6.7%
Russian11 · 6.7%
Urdu11 · 6.7%
Mandarin10 · 6.1%
Serbian9 · 5.5%
Vietnamese9 · 5.5%
Religion
47.9%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 47.9%, while 42.6% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
42.6%
45.2%
Christianity
47.9%
40%
Other / not stated
9.5%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
22%
15.5%
Eastern Orthodox
6.5%
2.4%
Anglican
6.4%
7.2%
Uniting Church
2.9%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
2.6%
2.6%
Baptist
2.1%
1.5%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
107
Against the person
19
Against property
88
Rate per 1,000 residents
44.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 118 residents
State crime-rate percentile
60.5th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
154
Increase (daily rate)
+21.6%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
37
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
15.4
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property22
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences23
Receive Or Handle Proceeds Of Crime7
Sct - Residence11
Serious Assault13
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Alberton Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1002 · 48th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 262 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
Mount Carmel CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1008 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 34% · 1,204 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Ngutu CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 909 · 13th percentile · LBOTE 31% · 260 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Pennington School R-6Primary · Government · ICSEA 934 · 19th percentile · LBOTE 69% · 262 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
Our Lady Queen of Peace SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1043 · 66th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 278 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Woodville High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 973 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 49% · 1,170 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Woodville Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1020 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 38% · 204 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Hendon Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 965 · 31th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 270 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
The Grove Education CentreSpecial · Government · ICSEA 992 · 43th percentile · LBOTE 44% · 63 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 12 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 57 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
18/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.45
Shopping(1)
NNQ EpressConvenience store
Sport & outdoors(62)
Grange GreenwayCycling route
Outer Harbour GreenwayCycling route
Drinking water
Park
Playground
Public toilets
Sports field
Swimming pool (55)
Transport(7)
6 bus stops · 1 train stations
Other(10)
Bench (3)
Car
CMI ToyotaCar
Maughan Thiem FordCar
1103 Port Road
TRAN Massage TherapyMassage
Parking (18)
Parking Space
Picnic Table
Cheltenham Community Center Inc.Public Building
Telephone
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Health access
Nearest hospital
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (2.0 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
27° / 16°
Rainfall
49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 8°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 11°
Rainfall
95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 31 proposals
September 2026
Outbuilding to the rear of the existing dwelling
22 SECOND AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Ancillary accomodation to the rear of the existing dwelling
5 SEVENTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Outbuilding (domestic storage shed)
2 BULLER TCE CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
August 2026
Outbuilding to the rear of the existing dwelling
10 SEVENTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Demolition of representative dwelling and construction of a replacement single storey dwelling (supported accommodation) with carport to the rear
51 STROUD ST N CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Outbuilding (domestic storage and personal workshop)
10 HIGH ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
July 2026
Outbuilding to the rear of the existing dwelling
9 BERKELEY ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
June 2026
Outbuilding to the rear of the existing dwelling (replacement)
55 STROUD ST N CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Partial demolition to the existing Representative building, additions and alterations sited to the side, outbuilding and alfresco to the existing dwelling, single storey detached dwelling to the rear
46 FIRST AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Removal of two (2) Regulated tree (Palm tree) located to the front of the property.
52 FOURTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Swimming Pool sited at the rear of the existing dwelling
25 FIFTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling
18 FIRST AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Alterations and addition to the rear of the existing dwelling and construction of a verandah and deck.
9 COLSTON ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
May 2026
Removal of a significant Lily Pily tree in the front yard
17 HIGH ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Removal of two regulated Palm Tree from the side of the existing property.
9 COLSTON ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Carport to side of existing dwelling
29 THIRD AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Outbuilding / mausoleum
933 PORT RD CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Alterations and additions to existing dwelling comprising ancillary accommodation
28 BROUGHAM PL CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
April 2026
Construction of ancillary accommodation featuring a 10m long, 2.7m high boundary wall located on the north-western boundary, outbuilding (shed/garage), verandah, deck and new pool fence.
7 RAILWAY TCE CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Verandah and Carport
8 SEVENTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
March 2026
Colorbond garage is located at the rear of the existing dwelling along the southern boundary with a wall height of 3.82 metres, length of 11.8 metres and an overall maximum height of 6 metres.
4 PERCY ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Swimming pool & safety fences
1 WHITNEY ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Dwelling alterations and additions
22 THIRD AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Dwelling alterations and additions to the rear of the existing Representative dwelling, carport, verandah and outbuilding to the rear of the site with built form on the northeastern and southwestern boundaries.
24 HERBERT ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
Swimming pool and associated saftey barrier to the rear of the existing dwelling
52 FIRST AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Alteration and addition to the side of the dwelling with a proposed wall height of 3.5 metres on the boundary and associated swimming pool with safety features to the rear.
41 FIRST AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Dwelling addition, garage and verandah to rear of existing dwelling
2 WOODSTOCK ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Alterations and additions to the rear of existing dwelling.
28 FIRST AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Outbuilding to the rear of the existing dwelling
23 FIRST AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
February 2026
Verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling
44 SECOND AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Alterations and additions sited to the rear of the existing dwelling
78 STROUD ST N CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
Installation of swimming pool and associated safety barriers to the rear of the existing dwelling
12 SEVENTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Removal of seven regulated trees and one significant tree
975 PORT RD CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Pergola forward of dwelling
30 SECOND AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
November 2025
Community Title Land Division 1 into 2 allotments with works undertaken on common land related to civil stormwater and soft landscaping
24 WHITNEY ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Torrens Title Land Division 1 into 2 allotments
24 WHITNEY ST CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling
3A ETNA AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Under Assessment
October 2025
Excavation & installation of fiberglass swimming pool and safety fence
9 SIXTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Removal of Significant Tree - Agonis flexuosa
42 FIFTH AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Verandah to the rear of the existing dwelling
41 FIRST AV CHELTENHAM SA 5014Decision Made
Privacy screen at the rear, with a height of 2.85m and a length of 10.9m
Grave of Isaac Dewson, Cheltenham CemeteryPort Road Section C, Drive A, Path 4(15) Site 22 CHELTENHAMLocal heritage
Grave of Japanese Seamen, Toraichi Shirahma and Chuhichi Ikeyama, Cheltenham CemeteryPort Road Section B, Drive A, Path 6(7), Site 171S, 171N CHELTENHAMLocal heritage
Grave of John Alexander Walker, Cheltenham CemeteryPort Road Section A, Drive B, Path 2(3), Site 43 CHELTENHAMLocal heritage
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Flood cover is the share of the suburb boundary overlapping current SA Planning flood overlays (flooding and evidence required). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 1.6 km away).
Coalition 27.1%Labor 72.9%
6.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
CheltenhamLabor 72.9% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
Albert ParkLabor 71.5% · Coalition 28.5% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
QueenstownLabor 73.5% · Coalition 26.5% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
Royal ParkLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.7% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
RosewaterLabor 74.8% · Coalition 25.1% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)