Council (LGA) · Area profile
Adelaide Hills
794 km²
Far higher incomes and education levels set Adelaide Hills apart from the rest of the state. This is a wealthy, older community where the typical resident is 44 and many hold university degrees. It is a place of large, detached homes and a landscape that is much cooler and wetter than the South Australian average. With a population of nearly 41,000, it is a stable area where people tend to stay long-term.
Adelaide Hills's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The population is noticeably older than the national figure, with the typical resident being 44. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 20.1% of the community, a figure that rose 6.7 points since 2011.
English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the area has a higher proportion of overseas-born residents than most similar areas. However, this is still far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 90.6% of the community. Those using another language at home make up 5.5%, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A majority of residents—54.4%—report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. This trend has grown significantly, rising 19 points since 2011.
This is a highly qualified community where 33.1% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, far above the South Australian average of 22.7%. Year 12 completion is also much higher than most areas at 64.6%.
Household incomes are much higher than most areas, with the typical family earning $2,416 a week. This is well above the state figure of $1,889.
People needing help with daily activities are much less common here than in most areas, at 3.8%. About 28.3% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is about the same as the national figure.
Volunteering is very common, with 26.9% of people helping out, far above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a high rate of unpaid care for children and housework.
First Nations residents in the area have a much lower unemployment rate than most areas at 6.3%. Year 12 completion for this group is among the highest at this level at 62.3%.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per home. One-parent families are much less common than in most areas, and only 19.2% of people live alone.
Separate houses make up 95.9% of all dwellings, far above the national figure. Home ownership is strong, with 40.6% of homes owned outright, and renting is very uncommon at 10.6%.
Car use is dominant, as only 1.7% of homes have no motor vehicle. While 15.0% of people work from home, very few—just 2.0%—commute by public transport.
The community is very stable, with only 29.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas. The unemployment rate is a very low 3.4%, which is lower than both the state and national figures.
The area ranks among the most advantaged in the country, scoring a 10 for overall advantage. It is noted for its exceptional access to money, resources, and job skills.
The climate is much milder than the rest of the state, with an average maximum temperature of 20.3 degrees. It is also far wetter, with annual rainfall of 777mm compared to the state average of 143mm.
The area is mostly car-dependent due to a steep average terrain slope of 10.6%. Most homes are far from essential services, with only 29.5% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.