Region (SA4) · Area profile
Adelaide - Central and Hills
1,497 km²
Growing by 13% since 2011, Adelaide - Central and Hills has evolved into a highly educated and affluent hub. The area is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 41. It blends a cosmopolitan feel, seen in its high proportion of overseas-born residents, with an upscale character where many households earn well above the state average. This combination of professional workforce and high incomes creates a distinct, prosperous community within the region.
Explore Adelaide - Central and Hills by topic
The population is older than most areas, with 20.1% aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 15.8%, which is a little below the national figure.
People born overseas make up 28.7% of the population, which is well above the South Australian average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Italian at 10.2%.
Language diversity is high, with 22.8% of people using a language other than English at home. This is well above the state average, and Mandarin is the most common non-English language.
A large proportion of the community—45.2%—reports having no religion. This figure has risen by 17 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.
This is a highly qualified area, with 38.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far exceeding both the state and national figures. Year 12 completion is also much higher than most areas at 69.8%.
Typical incomes are high, with the usual family earning $2,344 a week. A quarter of all households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is well above the state figure.
The community is generally healthy, with 27.4% of people reporting a long-term health condition, which is well below the state average. Only 5.2% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteerism is very strong here, with 20.2% of people volunteering, among the highest for similar areas. Unpaid care is also common, with 13.1% of people providing such support.
First Nations residents are a small minority at 0.8% of the population. This group has a much higher Year 12 completion rate than most areas, reaching 51.0%.
People living alone are more common here than in most areas, at 28.6%. One-parent families make up 11.1%, which is well below the state and national figures.
Detached houses are much less common than in most areas, making up 66.3% of homes. Renting is typical at 28.7%, while 34.6% of homes are owned outright.
Public transport use is much higher than most areas, supported by a very high number of weekly departures. Around 8.7% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The area is quite mobile, with 41.4% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 20.7% of the population, well above the national figure.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most areas, at 63.4%. Many residents work as professionals, and the unemployment rate is low at 4.7%.
The population has continued to grow since 2021, rising by 7.4%, which is a little above the state growth rate.
The area is cooler than most other regions, with an average maximum temperature of 20.3 degrees. Annual rainfall is 744mm, far above the state average.
This is a very walkable area, with 84.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of essential amenities. Nearly 90% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.