Onkaparinga Hills is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Onkaparinga Council. It is close to the Onkaparinga River and the River National Park.
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable, well above typical levels for semi-rural and lifestyle localities. Local amenities is an exceptional strength. Open-space access is exceptionally strong. Reported crime is exceptionally low against comparable places. Reported offences have fallen 42% year on year, and mapped flood cover is another of the suburb's defining strengths, with mapped flood cover 14% below the peer median. Median rents are a relative weakness, with median rents 12% above the peer median.
Overall, Onkaparinga Hills suits people prioritising lower crime and open space over lower rents.
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
Semi-rural locality · compared with semi-rural and lifestyle localities in South Australia (227)
Strengths
Reported crime is exceptionally low against comparable places
Open-space access is exceptionally strong
Everyday destinations are relatively walkable
Local amenity access is stronger than in most comparable places
Mapped flood cover is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Median rents are a relative weakness
What stands out
Onkaparinga River
River National Park
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 Onkaparinga Hills compares
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
#54
among Metro Adelaide · Mature
Crime rate
11th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
54th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
5%
2021 Census tenure
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
36.4/100 — Below average
National rank
5334th in Australia
State rank
491st in SA
Peer rank
#54 among Metro Adelaide · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#271 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
86%
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.
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
2,830(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
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$385
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
40.3% / 55.2% / 4.5%
Employment rate
64%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
9% / 2.3% / 72.4%
Walked or cycled to work
0.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
863 / 5 / 0
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.
15.1% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 26.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified15.1% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified11.3% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational26.6% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below47% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce22.1%
Engineering and related technologies20.9%
Society and culture14.6%
Health12.5%
Architecture and building7.8%
Education7.1%
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)
$54,166
49th percentile in SA · -8% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$57,836
52nd percentile in SA · -11% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
8.0%
7th percentile in SA · -42% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$60,721
26th percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia
Residents with business income
9.0%
25th percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5163 — 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
8,223
Taxpayers reporting net rent
641
Median net rent
-$359
Taxpayers reporting business income
721
Taxable income vs state median
0%
Salary / wages vs state median
+1%
Rental investment vs state median
-33%
Super vs state median
-22%
Business income vs state median
-18%
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
4.6% speak a language other than English at home; 19.3% born overseas
Language at home
2,421 English only · 117 other
Non-English at home
4.6%
Born overseas
487 (19.3%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
17 (0.7%)
Australian citizens
2,420
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
6
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Greek11 · 35.5%
Arabic5 · 16.1%
German5 · 16.1%
Polish4 · 12.9%
Italian3 · 9.7%
Russian3 · 9.7%
Religion
55.8%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 55.8%, while Christianity accounts for 38.7%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
55.8%
45.2%
Christianity
38.7%
40%
Other / not stated
5.6%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
12.6%
15.5%
Anglican
9.3%
7.2%
Uniting Church
4.4%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
3.6%
2.6%
Baptist
2.1%
1.5%
Lutheran
2.1%
2.4%
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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
11
Against the person
3
Against property
8
Rate per 1,000 residents
3.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 290 residents
State crime-rate percentile
10.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
226
Decrease (daily rate)
-42.1%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
68
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
24.03
Most common offence types
Arson1
Damage Or Destroy Property6
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences1
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences5
Sct - Residence2
Sct - Residence4
Serious Assault6
Theft From A Person2
Theft From A Person4
Common Assault2
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Great for outdoor family life — 11 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
4.21
Sport & outdoors(9)
Patrick Jonker VelowayCycling route
Onkaparinga River National ParkNature reserve
Echinda TrailWalking trail
Gorge Link TrackWalking trail
Nature TrailWalking trail
Punchbowl Link TrailWalking trail
Punchbowl lookout walkWalking trail
River HkeWalking trail
Sundews Ridge HikeWalking trail
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
Noarlunga Hospital (6.0 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· 49 proposals
September 2026
Torrens Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 7
594 -598 STATES RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Attached verandah.
19 CHELMSFORD AV ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Outbuilding- Garage, toilet and retaining wall
23 -25 KINGS HILL CCT ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Building alteration to install wood heater and flue
39 NOBLE CCT ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
Swimming pool and safety barrier & retaining wall
13 FOXFIELD DR ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Build a shed to replace existing shed
7 GREENSBOROUGH CT ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Verandah
45 NORTHUMBERLAND RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
August 2026
Addition and alteration to existing dwelling including change of use of existing alfresco to lounge area, and a verandah.
19 BURNSIDE DR ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Outbuilding (domestic storage shed)
24 SPRIGGS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
Community Title Land Division – 1 allotment into 50 (occurring over Allotment 1001 in DA 26025647), associated communal road, and demolition of a building associated with a Local Heritage Place (5300).
222 PATAPINDA RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division – 1 allotment into 2, and demolition of a building associated with a Local Heritage Place (5300)
222 PATAPINDA RD ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Under Assessment
Construction of in-ground concrete swimming pool and safety fence
13 HOUNDSGATE CT ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Attached verandah
13 GATEACRE BROW ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
Community title land division 1 allotment into 15, a reserve, common property,cut/fill, retaining walls and removal of one (1) regulated tree- Corymbia cirodora
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
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 and outbuilding for temporary residential use- Retrospective
295 UPPER PENNEYS HILL RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
Variation to Development Application 25028165 - Creation of 45 residential allotments (10 additional), public road, public open space, earthworks and retaining walls, Tree Damaging Activity (10 Regulated and 2 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 5163Decision Made
Verandah
LOT 8 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made
Land division - boundary realignment
UNIT 16 31 STURT LANE ONKAPARINGA HEIGHTS SA 5163Decision Made
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 5163Decision Made
April 2026
Freestanding Colorbond Shed
19 OLDE GUM TREE DR ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
Part demolition of existing dwelling and dwelling addition
544 BAINS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Under Assessment
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
Verandah
74 SPRIGGS RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
March 2026
Torrens title land division - 1 allotment into 5 with associated cut / fill and retaining walls.
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
Above ground water storage tank
295 UPPER PENNEYS HILL RD ONKAPARINGA HILLS SA 5163Decision Made
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
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.
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%)