Para Hills is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Salisbury Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. School access, parks and housing affordability are all relative strengths. Mapped flood cover is a very strong feature of the suburb, with mapped flood cover 99% below the peer median, and green cover is stronger than in comparable places, well above typical levels for semi-rural and lifestyle localities. The main trade-offs are higher crime and lower socio-economic advantage.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising schools and parks and daily services over peace and quiet.
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
School access, parks and housing affordability are all relative strengths
Mapped flood cover is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Green cover is stronger than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Reported crime is elevated relative to comparable places
Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median
What stands out
Overseas-born and multilingual community
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 Para Hills compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$828k
+12% change
Median rent
$570/wk
Houses $580 · Units $420
Population (ERP)
7,001
+0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.1%
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
#22
among Metro Adelaide · Growth area
Crime rate
76th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
50th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
22%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
38th
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
43.8/100 — Average
State standing
Top 44% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
3432nd in Australia
State rank
306th in SA
Peer rank
#22 among Metro Adelaide · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#201 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
98%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$420
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$580
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$570
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
35
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$828,000
Median price change
+11.9%
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.
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
7,001(June 2025)
+0.3% annual · +2.6% over 5 years · 50th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.3%
5-year growth
+2.6%
Change in 1 year
+21
Change in 5 years
+176
Growth rank in SA
50th 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 (~7,100), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
6,793
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$1,420
Dwelling vacancy
6.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
164 of 2,671
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$325
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
32.3% / 45.8% / 21.9%
Employment rate
57.3%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
6.2% / 4.7% / 75.7%
Walked or cycled to work
0.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,440 / 31 / 31
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.
15.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.2% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified15.2% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified8.3% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational22.2% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below54.3% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce20.2%
Engineering and related technologies20%
Society and culture15.7%
Health11.3%
Food, hospitality and personal services7.2%
Education6.9%
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)
$54,591
52nd percentile in SA · -7% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$58,496
53rd percentile in SA · -10% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
11.0%
33rd percentile in SA · -20% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$52,258
18th percentile in SA · -17% vs Australia
Residents with business income
14.0%
87th percentile in SA · +35% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5096 — 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
8,738
Taxpayers reporting net rent
946
Median net rent
-$95
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,225
Taxable income vs state median
0%
Salary / wages vs state median
+2%
Rental investment vs state median
-8%
Super vs state median
-33%
Business income vs state median
+27%
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
27.8% speak a language other than English at home; 32.9% born overseas
Language at home
4,716 English only · 1,813 other
Non-English at home
27.8%
Born overseas
2,159 (32.9%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
149 (2.2%)
Australian citizens
5,819
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
34
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Arabic112 · 17.2%
Punjabi91 · 14%
Gujarati37 · 5.7%
Hindi36 · 5.5%
Vietnamese29 · 4.4%
Greek26 · 4%
Tagalog25 · 3.8%
Italian24 · 3.7%
Religion
40.6%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 40.6%, while Christianity accounts for 36%. Islam is more prevalent locally than across the state.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
40.6%
45.2%
Christianity
36%
40%
Hinduism
3.6%
2.1%
Islam
9.1%
2.3%
Buddhism
2.1%
1.9%
Other / not stated
8.7%
8.5%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
13.6%
15.5%
Anglican
6.1%
7.2%
Christian (not further defined)
3.1%
2.6%
Uniting Church
3%
4.8%
Eastern Orthodox
2.4%
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
514
Against the person
124
Against property
390
Rate per 1,000 residents
73.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 55 residents
State crime-rate percentile
76.2th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
133
Increase (daily rate)
+32.1%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
174
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
24.85
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property113
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences46
Serious Assault75
Theft From A Person58
Theft From Retail Premises92
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Para Hills SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 978 · 37th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 269 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
East Para Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 994 · 44th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
North Ingle SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 998 · 46th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 180 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Para Hills West Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 981 · 38th percentile · LBOTE 71% · 287 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Para Hills High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 948 · 24th percentile · LBOTE 41% · 670 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Liberman Kindergarten41 Liberman RoadPreschools
Para Hills 1 Education Director Office26-34 Wilkinson RoadSupport Services
Para Hills 2 Education Director Office26-34 Wilkinson RoadSupport Services
Para Hills 3 Education Director Office26-34 Wilkinson RoadSupport Services
Para Hills 4 Education Director Office26-34 Wilkinson RoadSupport Services
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Great for outdoor family life — 11 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 58 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
84/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
1.03
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.62
Food & drink(7)
Para Hills Hot Bread BakeryBakery
Angor Wat Chinese TakeawayFast food
McDonald'sFast food
MunchiesFast food
519 Bridge Road
Para Hills Pizza ExpressFast food
Select ChickensFast food
521 Bridge Road
Somerset HotelPub
505 Bridge Road
Shopping(5)
OTRConvenience store
Para Hills Shopping CentreShopping centre
1a Wilkinson Road, Para Hills
IGASupermarket
521 Bridge Road
WoolworthsSupermarket
Everyday services(1)
OTR Para HillsPetrol station
321 Bridge Road
Community(2)
Para Hills LibraryLibrary
22 Wilkinson Road
East Para Primary SchoolSchool
Health & services(4)
Para Hills ClinicMedical clinic
513 Bridge Road
SA PathologyMedical clinic
513 Bridge Road
United ChemistsPharmacy
513 Bridge Road
Para Hills Veterinary ClinicVeterinary
523 Bridge Road
Sport & outdoors(16)
Dry Creek TrailCycling route
Yulinda Gully SingletrackCycling route
Broadstock Green ReservePark
Park (8)
Prettejohn ReservePark
Prettejohn Reserve - LowerPark
Playground (2)
Sports field
Transport(57)
57 bus stops
Other(6)
Common (7)
Deli
Hairdresser
Parking (17)
Proactive HealthPhysiotherapist
Unit 1 519 Bridge Road
TelstraTelephone
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
Northern Endoscopy Centre (3.4 km)
Nearest hospital type
Private Day Only Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
No emergency department listed
GP clinics in suburb
2
GPs tagged bulk billing (OSM)
0 of 2
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Para Hills ClinicBridge RoadGP
SA PathologyBridge RoadGP
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
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 (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 133 proposals
September 2026
Removal of one (1) Regulated tree in verge
9 MCGOWAN RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Land Division (Creation of Two (2) Allotments from One (1) Existing Allotment)
16 CYNTHIA ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Land Division (Creation of Three (3) Allotments from One (1) Existing Allotment)
24 PENNER CR PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Single Storey Dwelling
4A RAY ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Two Single Storey Dwellings, Retaining Walls Over 1m and Fencing Over 2.1m
44 ROBERT CT PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Shed
16 VALDA RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Removal of One (1) Regulated Tree in Verge
40 SLEEP RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Two Single Storey Dwelling with Retaining Walls Over 1m and Fencing Over 2.1m
7 FRANCES AV PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Land division (creation of two (2) allotments from one (1) existing allotment) in association with land use DA 26017277
6 YULINDA TCE PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
August 2026
Two (2) Single Storey Detached Dwellings, Associated Retaining Walls and Fencing over 2.1m and The Removal of a Regulated Canary Date Palm (Phoenix Canariensis)
29 WARRIGAL ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Residential Land Division - 1 into 2
17 CAROL DR PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Two (2) Single Storey Dwellings and Fencing Over 2.1m
27 CYNTHIA ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Land Division (Creation of Two (2) Allotments from One (1) Existing Allotment) Retaining the Existing Dwelling
14 NUKUNA CT PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Land Division one (1) allotment into two (2)
5 HODGE RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Removal of One (1) Regulated Tree in Verge
6 PENNER CR PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Land division (creation of three (3) allotments from one (1) existing allotment) in association with land use DA 26026064
20 LORNA RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Residential Land Division - 1 into 2 and Removal of One (1) Significant Tree
7 FRANCES AV PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Three (3) single storey dwellings in a terrace arrangement with associated retaining walls and fencing combined exceeding 2.1 metres and removal of two (2) regulated trees
20 LORNA RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Ancillary Accommodation
42 TODD RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Removal of one regulated tree (weeping myall)
395 BRIDGE RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Residential Land Division - 1 into 2 and Removal of Two (2) Regulated Trees
7 WILLIAMSON RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
July 2026
Removal of One (1) Regulated Tree in Verge (Verge on Oswald Crescent)
31 O'GRADY DR PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Removal of One (1) Significant Tree in Verge
4 CANBERRA ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Removal of one (1) Significant tree in reserve
21 -29 MAVES RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Convert garage into a habitable room (rumpus room) (Retrospective)
5 SINCLAIR CR PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
240 KESTERS RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division 1 into 2
11 BARKEY ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Dwelling Addition
27 LORNA RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Two (2), Two Storey Dwellings with Fencing Over 2.1m
2 GILL ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Removal of one (1) significant tree in reserve
LOT 1211 FRANCES AV PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Three (3) detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement and associated combined retaining and fencing taller than 2.1m.
24 PENNER CR PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Retaining wall and fencing with a combined height greater than 2.1 metres
25 YULINDA TCE PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Land Division 1 into 2 Torrens Title and removal of a Regulated Tree.
3 HODGE RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Ancillary Accommodation
44 TODD RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
June 2026
Land Division 1 into 2 allotments and removal of one significant tree, removal of one regulated tree and removal of one regulated street tree.
49 CAROL DR PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Land division (creation of two (2) allotments from one (1) existing allotment)
29 WARRIGAL ST PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Two single storey dwellings with associated carport, verandah, retaining walls and fencing combined height exceeding 2.1m
6 YULINDA TCE PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Three (3) Single-Storey Detached Dwellings in a Terrace Arrangement with Retaining Walls Over 1m and Fencing Over 2.1m and Removal of One (1) Regulated Street Tree
7 MITCHELL DR PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
Verandah
7 GOODWIN CT PARA HILLS SA 5096Decision Made
Internal refurbishment to existing supermarket (Woolworths)
2 -16 WILKINSON RD PARA HILLS SA 5096Under Assessment
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.
Salisbury EastLabor 67.9% · Coalition 32.1% TPP (2025)1.9 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.
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%)