Median house price
$2.6M
+57% change
SA · Unley Council
Highgate, 5063
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,616
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.4%
Median age
41
Median income
$2,192/wk
Employment rate
63.6%
Median house price · Q1 2026
$2,600,000
Languages at home
21.8%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, French, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Heritage area
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
Suburb profile
In Unley Council, Highgate is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street. Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips.
Open space is thinner than in many metro suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Reported crime has been falling recently. Older homes and historic streetscapes give the suburb a character that is hard to manufacture anew.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Highgate snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$605/wk
Houses $630 · Units $580
Population (ERP)
1,616
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.3%
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
#43
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Safety
20th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
61st
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
92nd
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
- 50.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 26% of South Australia's suburbs
- National rank
- 2135th in Australia
- State rank
- 179th in SA
- Peer rank
- #43 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #135 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
- Data confidence
- 86%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $580
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $630
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $605
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 10
- Median house price (Q1 2026)
- $2,600,000
- Median price change
- +56.9%
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.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
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
1,616(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +3.4% over 5 years · 61th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +3.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +11
- Change in 5 years
- +53
- Growth rank in SA
- 61th 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 (~1,650), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,504
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,192
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 32 of 604
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,009
- Employment rate
- 63.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 398 / 102 / 79
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 26
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 26
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 16.1
- State safety percentile
- 20.3th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 66
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -45.7%
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental3
- Other Theft7
- Sct - Non Residence6
- Sct - Residence3
- Theft From Motor Vehicle4
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated · Financial-year releases
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2 (2 schools, 1 preschools)
- Median school ICSEA (16 schools)
- 1,133
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 92th
School list
- Highgate SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1150 · 95th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 616 students · Top SEA quarter 63% · 0.1 km awayView on My School →
- Concordia CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1140 · 93th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 1,312 students · Top SEA quarter 56% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Urrbrae Agricultural High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1074 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 1,102 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Sunrise Christian School FullartonPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1133 · 92th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 175 students · Top SEA quarter 50% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Unley High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1084 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 1,547 students · Top SEA quarter 34% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Mitcham Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1121 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 629 students · Top SEA quarter 48% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- St Joseph's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1135 · 92th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 256 students · Top SEA quarter 55% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Walford Anglican School for GirlsCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1162 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 32% · 400 students · Top SEA quarter 65% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Mitcham Girls High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1083 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 754 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Unley Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1154 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 470 students · Top SEA quarter 63% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- Government education sites register — Government of South Australia · current · Updated
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
7 public transport stops in this suburb
- Stop 12 Fullarton Rd - West side
- Stop 165 Cross Rd - North side
- Stop 166 Cross Rd - North side
- Stop 167 Cross Rd - North side
- Stop School Cross Rd / Urrbrae Agricultural High School - North side
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Adelaide Metro GTFS stops — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · current · Updated
Amenities
40 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 1 playgrounds · 6 swimming pools · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Decent local green space — 0 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Strong local sport and recreation — 8 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 13/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.66
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Food & drink(1)
- Samrat TandooriRestaurant
Community(1)
- Highgate Primary SchoolSchool
Health & services(1)
- Dental on FullartonDentist
467 Fullarton Road
Sport & outdoors(8)
- Playground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (6)
Transport(6)
6 bus stops
Other(6)
- Bicycle Parking (2)
- Concordia College and St Johns Lutheran SchoolCollege
- Kwik KopyCopyshop
Unit 7A 453 Fullarton Road
- Parking (16)
- Australia PostPost office
- Waste Basket (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Glenside Health Services (2.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public Psychiatric Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- No emergency department listed
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 34
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 21.0
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.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
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
- 29° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 67 mm · ~8 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 97 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 119 mm · ~15 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 14 proposals
July 2026
- Outbuilding (garage and domestic storage shed)25 INVERGOWRIE AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
June 2026
- Carport behind existing garage14 CARLTON ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
May 2026
- 1 into 4 Community Title Land DivisionLOT 300 EUSTON AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
- Partial demolition of existing dwelling, alterations, single storey dwelling addition to rear, outbuilding and swimming pool and associated safety fencing.28 CHURCH ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
- 1 into 7 Community Title Land DivisionLOT 301 EUSTON AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
- Carport10 INVERGOWRIE AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
April 2026
- Demolition of existing carport and construction of a carport and louvre roof verandah37A CARLTON ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Removal of a Regulated Street Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata).38 CHELTENHAM ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Construction of seven, two-storey group dwellings and combined retaining walls and fencing with a height greater than 2.1 metresLOT 301 EUSTON AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
March 2026
- Demolition of ancillary structure, partial demolition of existing dwelling, alterations and double storey dwelling addition.4 YEO AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
- Swimming Pool & Safety Fences84 AVENUE RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Construction of four, two-storey group dwellings and masonry front fencingLOT 300 EUSTON AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
February 2026
- Remove significant tree (Eucalyptus sp.)134B CROSS RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
January 2026
- Demolition of ancillary structures and partial demolition of existing dwelling. Construction of a single storey dwelling addition, carport, outbuilding (shed), front fence, and swimming pool and associated safety features.1 INVERGOWRIE AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
2025· 21 proposals
December 2025
- Construction of an office with associated car park and landscapingLOT 402 FULLARTON RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
November 2025
- Carport33 CHURCH ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Partial demolition of existing dwelling, alterations and a single storey dwelling addition and a carport3 INVERGOWRIE AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Construction of a two storey detached dwelling, front fence, combined retaining wall and fence and a swimming pool with associated safety features40 AVENUE RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
October 2025
- Two verandahs located at the rear of the dwelling30 YEO AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Conversion of garage to bedroom and new attached carport106 CROSS RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Removal of a significant tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus Globulus)37 YEO AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
August 2025
- Demolition of the existing dwelling and outbuildings, construction of two, single-storey detached dwellings and combined boundary fencing and retaining walls33 NORTH TCE HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Attached Verandah15 NORTH TCE HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Demolition of ancillary structures, single storey dwelling addition, two outbuildings and a verandah32 HIGHGATE ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
July 2025
- Swimming Pool & Safety Fences12 NORTH TCE HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Construction of a freestanding verandah12 YEO AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Change Fascia Signage Colour from Grey to YellowUNIT 1-3 445 -447 FULLARTON RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Verandah with gable roof100 CROSS RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
June 2025
- Variation to DA 090/389/2007/C2, installation of smoke detection systemUNIT 1-4 433 FULLARTON RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Demolition of the existing dwelling28 CHURCH ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
March 2025
- Construction of an in-ground swimming pool with associated safety features and dwelling addition (to house pool pump equipment)58 AVENUE RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Install a fiberglass swimming pool & associated safety barrier12 YEO AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Swimming pool with enclosed pool plant and pool fence & gate12 NORTH TCE HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
February 2025
- Dwelling additions and alterations including partial demolition of the existing dwelling, demolition of ancillary structures and construction of a front fence.22 AVENUE RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Under Assessment
January 2025
- Retaining walls and fencing (maximum height of 2.72m) along side and rear boundaries24 CARLTON ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
2024· 6 proposals
December 2024
- Partial demolition of existing dwelling and construction of alterations and single storey dwelling addition.10 INVERGOWRIE AV HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
October 2024
- Land Division: Torrens Titled Land Division creating one additional allotment (1 into 2)122A CROSS RD HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- Demolition of ancillary structures, alterations and additions to the existing dwelling and construction of a deck27A CARLTON ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
September 2024
- Demolish a steel framed Colorbond clad garage and attached shed with concrete floor and partial removal of concrete driveway26 CARLTON ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- The demolition of a single storey dwelling, construction of a single storey detached dwelling and associated fencing15 WINCHESTER ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
- VerandahUNIT 2 38 HIGHGATE ST HIGHGATE SA 5063Decision Made
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · 2026 · Updated
Heritage
15 heritage places
- Contributory Item32 - 36 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATEContributory item
- Contributory Item22 - 26 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATEContributory item
- Contributory item29 - 35 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATEContributory item
- Contributory item39 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATEContributory item
- Dwelling499-503 Fullarton Road HIGHGATELocal heritage
- Dwelling (Rosefield)11-13 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATELocal heritage
- Hall (Former Chapel) Concordia College45 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATELocal heritage
- Highgate Primary School27 Avenue Road HIGHGATELocal heritage
- Historic Sites (unclassified)6 - 8 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATEContributory item
- Historic Sites (unclassified)12 Cheltenham Street HIGHGATEContributory item
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Bushfire & hazard overlays (SA) — Government of South Australia · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Adelaide
- Member of Parliament
- Steve GEORGANAS (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,436
- Turnout (2025)
- 90.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +7.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 30.9%Labor 69.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.4 km away).
Coalition 36.7%Labor 63.3%
5.7 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +10.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- HighgateLabor 64.1% · Coalition 35.9% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- Unley ParkLabor 43.7% · Coalition 56.3% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- MalvernLabor 61.5% · Coalition 38.5% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- ParksideLabor 69.1% · Coalition 30.9% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- UnleyLabor 65.6% · Coalition 34.4% TPP (2025)2.0 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
This suburb ranks highly for
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Unley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.