suburb.guide

SA · Onkaparinga Council

Onkaparinga Hills, 5163

Est. population · Jun 2025

2,830

Growth (1 yr)

+0.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+8.1%

Median age

45

Median income

$2,078/wk

Employment rate

64%

Median house price · Q1 2026

$800,000

Languages at home

4.6%non-English

Most common: Greek, Arabic, German

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

38.5/100
Below average

430th in SA

Verified 81% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • Heritage area
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
What Onkaparinga Hills is known for: National parks, Heritage area, Excellent transport, High desirability

Suburb profile

Onkaparinga Hills sits up in the Onkaparinga Council hills, a mid-sized suburb where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out.

Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.

Local crime has been trending higher of late. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

Desirability lands below average here: softer weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with growth momentum, plus community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Onkaparinga Hills snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

$800k

+2.6% change

Median rent

$650/wk

Population (ERP)

2,830

+0.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.9%

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

#46

among Metro Adelaide · Mature

Safety

4th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

54th

percentile in SA

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

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
38.5/100 — Below average
National rank
4049th in Australia
State rank
430th in SA
Peer rank
#46 among Metro Adelaide · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#299 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
81%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$650
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$800,000
Median price change
+2.6%

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

2,830(June 2025)

+0.5% annual · +8.1% over 5 years · 54th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.5%
5-year growth
+8.1%
Change in 1 year
+15
Change in 5 years
+211
Growth rank in SA
54th 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 (~2,950), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
2,610
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$2,078
Dwelling vacancy
3.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
35 of 902
Median monthly mortgage
$1,625
Employment rate
64%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
863 / 5 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2024–25)
51
Against the person
14
Against property
37
Rate per 1,000 residents
18
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 218 residents
State safety percentile
4th (lower crime is better)
Family & domestic abuse offences
226
Increase (daily rate)
+55%

Most common offence types

  • Common Assault2
  • Other Acts Intended To Cause Injury9
  • Other Property Damage And Environmental6
  • Other Property Damage And Environmental5
  • Sct - Non Residence4
  • Sct - Residence1
  • Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury12
  • Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury1
  • Theft From Motor Vehicle8
  • Theft/Illegal Use Of Mv5

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Public transport

4 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Stop 55 States Rd - East side
  • Stop 55A States Rd - East side
  • Stop 55B States Rd - East side
  • Stop 55C States Rd - East side

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

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

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Onkaparinga River National Park and Recreation Park

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
12
Parks (OSM)
10

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

Health access

Nearest hospital
Noarlunga Hospital (6.0 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)
127
Participants per 1,000 residents
44.9

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

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
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 (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· 40 proposals

  • August 2026

  • Community title land division 1 allotment into 15, a reserve, common property, retaining walls and tree damaging activity
    8 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Torrens title Land Division creating 26 allotments with associated stormwater reserve, public road, retaining walls, cut / fill and removal of one (1) significant tree (olea europaea) and eight (8) regulated trees (pinus halpensis, olea europaea, prunus dulcis, cupressus sempervirens)
    4 HIGHVIEW CT ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Retaining wall and associated fencing with a combined maximum height of 2.8m.
    49 MINA PDE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment

  • July 2026

  • Two storey dwelling with associated swimming pool, outbuilding and retaining walls
    UNIT 5 29 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Single storey detached dwelling in split level, fences, retaining walls
    UNIT 5 31 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Use of transportable home for temporary residential use- Retrospective
    295 UPPER PENNEYS HILL RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Variation to Development Application 25028165 - Creation of 49 residential allotments (15 additional), public road, public open space, earthworks and retaining walls, Tree Damaging Activity (10 Regulated and 3 Significant Trees) and Clearance of Native Vegetation
    22 -24 HEPENSTAL RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163;26 -30 HEPENSTAL RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Attached Verandah
    27 WALFORD DR ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Verandah
    LOT 8 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Land division - boundary realignment
    UNIT 16 31 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment

  • June 2026

  • Ancillary Accommodation
    52 SPRIGGS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Carport
    64 KINGS HILL CCT ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Outbuilding -shed
    34 SPRIGGS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made

  • May 2026

  • Building alteration (demolition of selected internal walls with new structural framing to suit)
    10 KIMBLEY RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Attached Verandah
    20 CLARK AV ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Partial change of use to a temporary sales office with associated car parking, decking and advertisements
    LOT 2 MAIN SOUTH RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163;LOT 31 MAIN SOUTH RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment

  • April 2026

  • Dwelling addition including 2x bedrooms, bathroom, entry and master suite including walk in robe and ensuite.
    544 BAINS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Freestanding Colorbond Shed
    19 OLDE GUM TREE DR ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling, fences and retaining walls
    UNIT 16 31 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Outbuilding- Shed
    89 UPPER PENNEYS HILL RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • In-ground swimming pool with safety fence
    550 PANALATINGA RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling (Lot 14) and associated retaining walls with a maximum height of 0.5m
    6 HIGHVIEW CT ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Construction of a single-storey detached dwelling, including associated retaining walls and fencing with a maximum height of 2.4?metres
    6 HIGHVIEW CT ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Verandah
    74 SPRIGGS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made

  • March 2026

  • Torrens title land division - 1 allotment into 5 with associated cut / fill, retaining walls and removal of (1) significant tree (Fraxinus angustifolia) and (1) regulated tree (Fraxinus angustifolia)
    21 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Attached verandah
    5 WOODLAND DR ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Deck
    35 HEPENSTAL RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Verandah
    15 CHELMSFORD AV ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Outbuilding- Shed
    304 UPPER PENNEYS HILL RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling
    UNIT 6 31 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Above ground water storage tank
    295 UPPER PENNEYS HILL RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Installation of Stratco shed
    3 HARBURY CT ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made

  • February 2026

  • Single storey detached dwelling
    LOT 201 PIGGOTT RANGE RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Ancillary accommodation, deck, filling of land and tree damaging activity
    1028 PIGGOTT RANGE RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Torrens title land division (3 allotments into 37) with associated public roads, public open space, earthworks, retaining walls, fencing and tree damaging activity including the removal of 46 Regulated trees and 13 Significant trees (Stage 1A)
    4 -6 HEPENSTAL RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163;8 -14 HEPENSTAL RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163;89 GATES RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Solar photovoltaic panels (roof mounted)
    30 TUSMORE DR ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling
    LOT 15 STATES RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made

  • January 2026

  • Attached Verandah
    18 FOXFIELD DR ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Outbuilding (Shed)
    366 BAINS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Land division creating 320 allotments from two existing allotments, including associated road reserves, open space reserves and a stormwater basin to be delivered over multiple stages, together with retaining walls, fences, tree-damaging activity and six (6) two-storey dwellings.
    LOT 2 MAIN SOUTH RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163;LOT 31 MAIN SOUTH RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
2025· 6 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Attached Verandah- Retrospective
    4 NORTHWOOD GRN ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Attached verandah
    6 KINGS CT ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Verandah
    29 HEPENSTAL RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Single storey detached dwelling with associated earthwork and clearance of native vegetation.
    104 EDUCATION RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
  • Freestanding verandah.
    10 KIMBLEY RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
  • Verandah
    LOT 15 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

3 heritage places

  • Dwelling - 'The Cottage Nursery'1 Nursery Lane ONKAPARINGA HILLSLocal heritage
  • Dwelling, former Farm Building, ('Craigbank')30 Tusmore Drive ONKAPARINGA HILLSLocal heritage
  • farmhouse and Outbuildings, former Farm Complex10 Kellys Road ONKAPARINGA HILLSLocal heritage

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Bushfire safer places
1

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

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Kingston
Member of Parliament
Amanda RISHWORTH (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
127,919
Turnout (2025)
92.0%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+4.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 29.3%Labor 70.7%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.6 km away).

Coalition 24.4%Labor 75.7%

4.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +3.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Morphett Vale SouthLabor 79.9% · Coalition 20.1% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
  • Hackham EastLabor 73.2% · Coalition 26.9% TPP (2025)3.0 km away
  • Morphett Vale CentralLabor 76.1% · Coalition 23.9% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
  • Woodcroft SouthLabor 73.2% · Coalition 26.8% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
  • Morphett Vale EastLabor 75.5% · Coalition 24.5% TPP (2025)3.6 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
7/10
IRSD decile (2021)
8/10

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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Onkaparinga Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.