Median house price
—
No data available
SA · Murray Bridge Council
Northern Heights, 5253
Est. population · Jun 2025
334
Growth (1 yr)
+0.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.0%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,384/wk
Employment rate
52%
Languages at home
8.7%non-English
Most common: Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Northern Heights sits up in the Murray Bridge Council hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state.
Reported crime has been falling recently. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
Desirability sits below average overall, with growth momentum, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Northern Heights snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
334
+0.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.8%
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
#35
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
53rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
70th
percentile in SA
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
16th
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
- 31.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5401st in Australia
- State rank
- 550th in SA
- Peer rank
- #35 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #157 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
334(June 2025)
+0.9% annual · +6.0% over 5 years · 70th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.9%
- 5-year growth
- +6.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +19
- Growth rank in SA
- 70th 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 (~350), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 305
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,384
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 120
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,174
- Employment rate
- 52%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 112 / 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)
- 12
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 35.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 51 residents
- State safety percentile
- 52.6th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 400
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -19.8%
Most common offence types
- Abduction, Harassment And Other Offences1
- Other Property Damage And Environmental1
- Other Theft2
- Sct - Residence2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury5
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
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 924
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 16th
School list
- Murray Bridge North SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 924 · 16th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 486 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
- Murray Bridge Special SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 914 · 14th percentile · LBOTE 0% · 20 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
- St Joseph's SchoolCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 955 · 27th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 428 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bigmore Rd / Mannum Rd - North side (Murray Bridge)
- Bigmore Rd / Mannum Rd - South side (Murray Bridge)
- Frahn Rd / Nilpena Rd - East side (Northern Heights)
- Nilpena Rd / Frahn Rd - North side (Northern Heights)
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
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb
- Walkability proxy
- 6/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.28
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Park
- Swimming pool (2)
Other(1)
- Parking (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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (3.5 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)
- 16
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 47.9
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· 2 proposals
January 2026
- Steel Flat Carport3 BIGMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Agricultural building (Machinery Shed)3 -5 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2025· 6 proposals
September 2025
- Agricultural Building18 -22 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Colourbond Verandah attached to dwelling: - Dimensions: 15m x 5.56m wide x 3.99m high192 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
August 2025
- Dwelling Addition5 -7 NILPENA RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling with double garage, front porch and side alfresco all under the main roof, and associated earthworks and retaining wall222 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Building alterations and additions & installation of new extractor units and ventilation system.12 -32 LAGOON RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
July 2025
- VerandahLOT 613 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Land division - community title to create eight (8) additional allotments (total 9) and retaining walls (maximum height 2.6m)198 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
September 2024
- Detached Carport: 5.5m x 5.0m wide x 3.0m high.214 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
July 2024
- Detached dwelling and associated horse stablesLOT 12 WATTS RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
June 2024
- Outbuilding Shed.LOT 619 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
May 2024
- Telecommunications facility - 30m monopole tower, antennas, ground-based equipment and fencing.LOT 116 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
- Detached dwelling, Outbuilding (Garage) and Water Tank.66 KUCHEL RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
April 2024
- Outbuilding (shed) 6.1m x 7.8m x 3.7m(wall height)203 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Dwelling addition consisting of a laundry extension to the rear of the existing dwelling2 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
March 2024
- Dwelling addition to the rear of existing dwelling consisting of extension to living, kitchen and laundry areas and including a rear verandah to be under the same roof; and Pergola attached to side of existing dwelling and to the rear of the existing carport192 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
February 2024
- 9 Mtr x 6 Mtr Garage with roller doors for Cars and CaravanLOT 10 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Add an above ground pool to the north east corner of the yard. Pool is 1.22m height, 3.6m wide.19 BIGMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
November 2023
- Garage (Outbuilding) ancillary to existing dwelling2 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
October 2023
- Erecting of a carport on private property. The attached plans detail the depth of the footing into the ground, as well as the various measurements of the proposed structure.4 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
April 2023
- Dwelling additions and alterations in particular; Enclose existing verandah to be used as a bedroom1 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
2022· 1 proposal
December 2022
- Demolition of agricultural building (implement shed) Construction of zincalume agricultural building (implement shed)LOT 617 NILPENA RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2021· 3 proposals
September 2021
- Advertisements comprising of; - Seven drop down banner signs - The installation of two (2) panel board signs, 2400mm high x 1600mm wide, - The installation of two (2) panel signs attached to the existing chain mesh fence, each sign 9m long x 1.5m high201 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
July 2021
- New Swimming poolLOT 2 TOORA RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
April 2021
- Single storey detached dwellingLOT 10 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
Other· 2 proposals
- THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL MURRAY BRIDGE PTY LIMITEDFood Production and Animal Plant ProcessingEPA licence
- THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL MURRAY BRIDGE PTY LIMITEDOtherEPA licence
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
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
- Barker
- Member of Parliament
- Tony PASIN (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,045
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.6%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.6 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 21.3 km away).
Coalition 56.0%Labor 44.0%
7.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Murray BridgeLabor 47.1% · Coalition 52.9% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- Murray Bridge WestLabor 40.8% · Coalition 59.2% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Murray Bridge EastLabor 36.2% · Coalition 63.8% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
- Murray Bridge SouthLabor 48.6% · Coalition 51.4% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
- MypolongaLabor 37.4% · Coalition 62.6% TPP (2025)11.1 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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Murray Bridge Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.