Median house price
—
No data available
SA · Alexandrina Council
Highland Valley, 5255
Est. population · Jun 2025
410
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.6%
Median age
47
Median income
$2,291/wk
Employment rate
61.5%
Languages at home
1.1%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Highland Valley offers a slower smaller community life in Alexandrina Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
Reported crime has been falling recently. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Community and employment push the suburb to a good desirability read, even as local dining and lifestyle amenities look more ordinary among similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Highland Valley snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
410
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.1%
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
#3
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
0th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
63rd
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
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
- 60.0/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 8% of South Australia's suburbs
- National rank
- 1019th in Australia
- State rank
- 50th in SA
- Peer rank
- #3 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #6 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 52%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
410(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +7.6% over 5 years · 63th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +7.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +29
- Growth rank in SA
- 63th 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 (~450), extrapolated at +1.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 384
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $2,291
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 136
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 61.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 124 / 0 / 0
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)
- 1
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 0
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 2.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 384 residents
- State safety percentile
- 0.2th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 53
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -74.9%
Most common offence types
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury1
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
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
- Strathalbyn and District Health Service (10.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
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)
- 14
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.1
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· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling including associated earthworks and infrastructureLOT 2 RED CREEK RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Under Assessment
May 2026
- Land Division (Boundary re-alignment 2 into 2 lots)114 HIGHLAND VALLEY RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255;379 BURNSIDE RD WOODCHESTER SA 5255Decision Made
March 2026
- Construction of a swimming pool and associated swimming pool safety features309 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Construction of an agricultural building (implement shed) with associated above-ground rainwater tanks and incidental earthworksLOT 2 RED CREEK RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
February 2026
- Construction of outbuilding (shed)121 RIDGETOP RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
2025· 10 proposals
November 2025
- Construction of an addition to an existing dwelling, an agricultural building and an above-ground water tank384A SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Under Assessment
October 2025
- Construction of a carport and a shed (outbuilding)160 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Under Assessment
September 2025
- Construction of an outbuilding (shed)181 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding (shed)57 VALE RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
August 2025
- Construction of an above ground 76,504L rainwater tank65 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
July 2025
- Construction of an agricultural building590 RED CREEK RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
June 2025
- Construction of an agricultural building (storage of farm machinery)359 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Construction of a verandah132 KLENKE RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
April 2025
- Swimming pool and safety fence69 VALE RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Change of Use from Agricultural Building to Ancillary Accommodation (ground floor only) with store above.1414 WELLINGTON RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
2024· 6 proposals
August 2024
- Demolition of the existing and construction of a new outbuilding for agricultural and domestic storage purposes including mezzanine and an attached external deck309 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
July 2024
- Construction of a Carport293 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
June 2024
- Construction of two carports148 VALE RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
April 2024
- Construction of a domestic outbuilding (garage)309 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding36 FALKAI RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
February 2024
- Construction of a verandah92 KLENKE RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Single storey dwelling additions and alterations1115 WELLINGTON RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
July 2023
- Construction of an agricultural building (hay shed)120 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
May 2023
- Domestic Outbuilding (Shed)199 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
February 2023
- Variation to 22013355 - Agricultural building - Change of location293 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- install a pre fab concrete pool 6mx3mx1.6m1000 WELLINGTON RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
January 2023
- Swimming pool and safety fence293 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
2022· 13 proposals
November 2022
- Domestic Outbuilding / Storage Shed.200 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Side Verandah115 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
October 2022
- Construction of an outbuilding (garage)340 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Construction of two (2) tourist accommodation retreats including associated ground mounted solar panels and signage286 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255;LOT 559 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Construction of a two storey detached dwelling, outbuilding (garage) and installation of a pool including associated safety features and infrastructure.292 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Implement / hay shed (Agricultural Building) extension (existing shed DA 455/1001/13).1000 WELLINGTON RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
August 2022
- Single Storey Dwelling Addition (filling in of existing alfresco area)245 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
July 2022
- dwelling addition293 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
June 2022
- Construction of two freestanding decks244 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- Verandah244 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
- 6x 9.4metre pergola attached on to the northern side of house1366 WELLINGTON RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
May 2022
- farm shed293 SCRUBBY HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision Made
March 2022
- Construction of an outbuilding (Carport)507 ARCHER HILL RD HIGHLAND VALLEY SA 5255Decision 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
1 heritage place
- Arsenic Labyrinth, Wheal Ellen MineHighland Valley Road, near STRATHALBYNState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
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
- Mayo
- Member of Parliament
- Rebekha SHARKIE (Centre Alliance)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 137,818
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 45.0%Labor 55.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 14.2 km away).
Coalition 49.1%Labor 50.9%
4.1 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WoodchesterLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)4.1 km away
- MacclesfieldLabor 60.8% · Coalition 39.2% TPP (2025)9.1 km away
- StrathalbynLabor 50.9% · Coalition 49.1% TPP (2025)9.7 km away
- CallingtonLabor 50.3% · Coalition 49.7% TPP (2025)11.4 km away
- Mount Barker SouthLabor 66.8% · Coalition 33.2% TPP (2025)12.8 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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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 Alexandrina Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.