Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Highgate (SA) has an estimated 1,550 residents, up from 1,504 at the 2021 Census — a change of 46 people, or 3.1%. That puts 2,768 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Highgate (SA) has an estimated resident count of approximately 1,550, determined through AreaSearch's evaluation of broader regional ABS updates alongside validated post-Census addresses. Compared to the 1,504 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this marks an expansion of 46 individuals, or 3.1%. AreaSearch derived this 1,550 figure by reviewing the June 2025 ABS ERP figures alongside 11 validated new addresses registered following the Census. The suburb's density stands at 2,767 persons per square kilometer, ranking it within the top quartile of assessed Australian regions.
The post-Census increase of 3.1% sits within 2.3 percentage points of the wider SA3 region (5.4%), illustrating solid growth dynamics. Inbound international migration served as virtually the exclusive catalyst powering these recent population gains. Projections for the suburb of Highgate (SA) draw upon 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 models anchored to 2022. Where SA2 data is unavailable or extends beyond 2032, models incorporate the 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age-cohort figures based on 2021 numbers, aggregated down to the SA2 level via population weighting. Looking ahead, demographic modeling points to expansion slightly below the nationwide median, with SA2 aggregated forecasts indicating the suburb will add 142 persons to 2041, representing an overall gain of 9.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
ABS residential building consent data compiled by AreaSearch indicates minimal residential building activity across Highgate over recent years, with only 3 residences approved over the previous 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 5 dwelling approvals have been logged. Relative to recent population decreases, this volume of building activity remains sufficient for prospective buyers. Approved residential projects reflect an average expected construction cost of $751,000, pointing to targeted development within the high-end property sector. Non-residential building activity has seen $125,000 in commercial approvals logged so far this financial year, underscoring the predominantly residential focus of the neighborhood.
Per capita residential building volumes in Highgate lag Greater Adelaide significantly, sitting 73.0% below the metropolitan benchmark. While subdued new construction historically underpins property values and demand for established dwellings, building activity has picked up lately. This lower activity relative to regional and nationwide benchmarks underscores the suburb's established nature and physical development limits. Furthermore, all recent residential consents comprise exclusively apartments or townhouses. This pivot toward medium and higher-density formats provides more attainable price points catering to first-home buyers, downsizers, and investors, while marking a clear shift from the existing housing profile where separate houses comprise 69.0%. With roughly 387 people per dwelling approval, the locality exhibits characteristics of a fully developed market facing reduced land availability.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Highgate (SA)
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 18 current infrastructure and development projects close to Highgate (SA), worth an estimated $464 million. 4 are already under construction and 5 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Planning initiatives, major works, and municipal infrastructure upgrades play a major role in shaping local urban outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 2 key projects positioned to influence the area. Leading undertakings include the Ridge Park Master Plan, 23 Riverdale Road Residential Development, Highgate Village Streetscape Upgrade, and 400 Fullarton Road Residential Development.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Estia Health Myrtle Bank Expansion
Expansion of the existing Estia Health residential aged care home in Myrtle Bank. The development involves construction of a two-storey facility addition accommodating 46 residential care beds and independent suites, increasing total capacity to 118 beds. Planning assessment and development approvals were managed through the City of Burnside and SA Planning system.
Unley Central
A transformative 150 million dollar mixed-use precinct on the former Target site. The nine-storey development integrates 130 luxury apartments with a diverse commercial hub including a six-screen boutique cinema, supermarkets, cafes, and medical services. As South Australia's first fully integrated mixed-use development on a single site, it provides significant local employment and modernizes the Unley Road corridor.
Regis Aged Care Parkside
Construction of a five-storey residential aged care facility (supported accommodation) comprising 156 accommodation units with ancillary communal areas, solar photovoltaic panels, water tanks, car parking, and landscaping. The site, formerly approved for a mixed-use development, was acquired and repurposed by Regis Aged Care.
400 Fullarton Road Residential Development
Construction of a three-storey residential flat building comprising 13 residential apartments with associated basement and ground-level car parking, landscaping, and tree removal works. The development application was assessed and granted planning consent under the South Australian Planning and Design Code via the PlanSA portal for the City of Burnside.
Highgate Village Streetscape Upgrade
The Highgate Village Streetscape Upgrade delivers physical and public realm enhancements along the Fullarton Road commercial precinct. Stage 1 works include new continuous footpath paving, tree plantings, landscaped garden beds, integrated street furniture, and improved pedestrian safety. The project is led and managed by the City of Unley as part of its ongoing precinct streetscape program.
Belair Road Retaining Walls Maintenance
Essential maintenance works on the retaining walls along Belair Road, below the Windy Point Lookout, to ensure the long-term structural integrity of the road.
Unley 108 Apartments
Catcorp's project features a seven-storey mixed-use tower with residential units and a commercial space in Unley.
Unley Road Public Realm Streetscape Upgrade
Council project to revitalise Unley Road between Park Street and Thomas Street. Works include new street furniture, planting beds, way-finding signage, and renewal of footpaths and kerbing.
857 residents of Highgate (SA) are employed, from a labour force of 880. Unemployment sits at 2.6%, with participation at 67.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Highgate benefits from an accomplished, educated labor pool characterized by substantial representation in professional services, a low unemployment level of 2.6%, and estimated annual jobs growth of 3.9% per AreaSearch aggregated metrics. As of March 2026857 local residents are employed. The jobless rate sits 1.2% lower than the Greater Adelaide figure of 3.8%, while participation closely tracks the metropolitan average of 66.4%. At the Census, 15.0% of working residents reported working remotely from home, a metric shaped in part by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment fields for the local workforce are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.
Professional & technical roles are heavily concentrated in the area, reaching 1.7 times the metropolitan benchmark. Conversely, retail trade accounts for only 5.9% of resident jobs, below the 10.0% registered across Greater Adelaide. A ratio of 0.7 workers for every resident at the Census points to above-average local employment provision. According to AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM figures, during the twelve months to March 2026, the area experienced a 3.9% increase in employed persons alongside a 3.9% expansion in the total workforce, while the jobless rate held flat. By comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded a 4.2% rise in employment, a 4.0% increase in the labor force, and a 0.2 percentage point decline in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia projections from Mar-26 illustrate wider demand trajectories; nationwide employment is projected to rise 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. When weighted against Highgate's sector distribution, local employment is modeled to grow 7.2% across five years and 14.9% across ten years, although this baseline illustrative weighting excludes localized demographic shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Highgate (SA) is $2,192 a week (about $114,000 a year), with median personal income at $988 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $62,448 a year against an average of $98,521. The average runs 58% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation data for financial year 2023 released at the postcode level shows Highgate taxpayers earning a median income of $62,448 and an average of $98,521, placing the suburb in the top percentile nationally and exceeding Greater Adelaide ($54,808 median and $66,852 average). Adjusted for 10.17% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, March 2026 figures are estimated at $68,799 (median) and $108,541 (average). In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings all tracked between the 77th and 77th percentiles across Australia. The most common weekly earnings band is $1,500 - 2,999, capturing 27.3% of residents (423 people), compared to 31.8% regionally.
Furthermore, 35.6% earn above $3,000/week, highlighting robust local purchasing power. Residents keep 89.0% of their earnings after servicing housing payments, placing the suburb in the 9th decile for SEIFA income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Highgate (SA) had 572 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 69% detached houses and 14% apartments. 34% are owned with a mortgage, 23% rented and 43% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $360 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,009 a month. Rent absorbs 16.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Dwelling structure within Highgate, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 68.7% houses and 31.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Highgate was well beyond that of Adelaide metro, at 43.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (34.1%) or rented (23.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Adelaide metro average at $2,009, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $360, compared to Adelaide metro's $1,562 and $320.
Nationally, Highgate's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Highgate (SA) counted 572 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 38% are couples with children, against 23% couples without children. 25% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 72.7% of all local households, divided between couples with children (37.9%), couples without children (23.4%), and single parent families (9.6%). The remaining 27.3% consists of non-family arrangements, with single-person residences accounting for 25.3% and group living representing 1.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, slightly exceeding the Greater Adelaide figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
52.2% of adults in Highgate (SA) hold a university qualification, including 35.1% with a bachelor degree and 13.1% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 90% of areas nationally. A further 10.5% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,908 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,145 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment among Highgate residents aged 15+ is exceptionally strong, with 52.2% holding tertiary degrees compared to 28.9% across Greater Adelaide and 25.7% across SA. Bachelor degrees form the largest category at 35.1%, with postgraduate awards at 13.1% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Technical and vocational credentials represent 19.8% of qualifications for those aged 15+, comprising certificates (10.5%) and advanced diplomas (9.3%). Community participation in formal study is high, with 32.8% of the local population actively enrolled. This cohort includes 9.8% attending primary schools, 9.7% in secondary institutions, and 8.7% enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Highgate (SA) reaches 7 stops on 21 routes, timetabled for about 760 services a week. The typical home sits about 210 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Within Highgate, public transport infrastructure includes 7 active bus stops. These facilities are linked to 21 distinct transit routes, providing a collective volume of 763 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is favorable, with residents situated an average of 206 meters from their nearest boarding point. Reflecting the suburb's residential focus, the outward commute is dominated by private vehicles at 81%, followed by 7% using buses and 5% traveling by bicycle. Motor vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. Around 15.0% of the workforce indicated working from home in the 2021 Census, subject to COVID-19 settings.
Transit service frequency across all operational lines averages 109 trips per day, translating to roughly 109 weekly departures for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.0% of residents in Highgate (SA) report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 88% of areas nationally. 2.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 65.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Highgate are positive, with AreaSearch metrics highlighting low illness and mortality rates, particularly among younger residents. Private health insurance coverage is extensive, held by roughly 66% of the population (1,020 people), substantially higher than the Greater Adelaide figure of 52.7% and the nationwide benchmark of 55.7%. The primary reported chronic conditions among local residents are mental health challenges (7.3%) and arthritis (6.7%). Meanwhile, 74.0% of the population reported no long-term medical ailments, comparing favorably to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 18.2% of the community (282 people), exhibiting strong health profiles despite ranking somewhat lower against national senior cohorts than the broader local community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
25.4% of Highgate (SA) residents were born overseas and 21.8% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (27.9%) and Australian (22.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Highgate is pronounced relative to most surrounding markets, with 25.4% of residents born abroad and 21.8% utilizing a language other than English in their homes. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation, accounting for 45.3% of the community. In addition, Buddhism shows a distinct presence at 3.4% of residents, compared to 2.4% across Greater Adelaide. Regarding parental lineage and heritage, the leading identified backgrounds in Highgate are English (27.9%), Australian (22.7%), and Chinese (8.9%), with the Chinese cohort noticeably exceeding the 3.1% regional level. Other specific backgrounds showing above-average local presence include German at 5.3% (vs 5.1% regionally), French at 0.8% (vs 0.4%), and Hungarian at 0.5% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Highgate (SA) is 40. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 27.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Highgate presents as a mature family neighborhood. As of August 2026 estimates, younger cohorts aged 0 - 24 represent 33.9% of the population, compared to 29.0% across Greater Adelaide, while residents aged 25 - 44 constitute 24.1% versus 28.9% regionally. The estimated median age is 40, down from 41 at the 2021 Census and 1 year above the Greater Adelaide 2021 Census benchmark of 39. Residents aged 45 - 64 have reduced their share from 27.6% at the Census to an estimated 25.0%. Over the period to 2041, senior cohorts (65+) are projected to capture the bulk of demographic growth, expanding by 53 residents (19%) to reach 335.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Highgate (SA)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 11 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,504 at the 2021 Census → 1,550 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL40588). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.