Athelstone vs Highbury

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Athelstone is closer to the city centre: 13.2 km, against 15.3 km.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Athelstone

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 5)
  • But Highbury has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 84%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Highbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($530,000 vs $620,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Athelstone

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 43/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (13.2 km vs 15.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Athelstone

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 43/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Athelstone and Highbury drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Athelstone Highbury
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Athelstone Highbury
Walkability 68 / 43
Athelstone — Walkability: 68/100 Highbury — Walkability: 43/100
Safety 69 / 61
Athelstone — Safety: 69/100 Highbury — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 31 / 100
Athelstone — Low fire risk: 31/100 Highbury — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 52 / 22
Athelstone — Low flood risk: 52/100 Highbury — Low flood risk: 22/100

Demographics

Athelstone has more residents (9,601 vs 6,956); Athelstone skews older (43 vs 41).

Athelstone Highbury
Population 9,601
+28% vs other
 6,956
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +5.6%
Median age 43 41
Median household income $100,932/yr $105,976/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $369/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Athelstone Highbury
0-4 4.7% / 5.3%
Athelstone — 0-4: 4.7% Highbury — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 11.5% / 12.6%
Athelstone — 5-14: 11.5% Highbury — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 5.9% / 6.9%
Athelstone — 15-19: 5.9% Highbury — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 5.8% / 5.9%
Athelstone — 20-24: 5.8% Highbury — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 11.5% / 10.6%
Athelstone — 25-34: 11.5% Highbury — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 12.7% / 12.6%
Athelstone — 35-44: 12.7% Highbury — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 13.7% / 14.1%
Athelstone — 45-54: 13.7% Highbury — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 14.2% / 12.4%
Athelstone — 55-64: 14.2% Highbury — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 11.9% / 11.8%
Athelstone — 65-74: 11.9% Highbury — 65-74: 11.8%
75-84 6.5% / 6.4%
Athelstone — 75-84: 6.5% Highbury — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.6% / 1.3%
Athelstone — 85+: 1.6% Highbury — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Athelstone 56.6% couple families
Athelstone — Couple Families: 56.6% Athelstone — Lone Person: 26.4% Athelstone — One Parent Families: 13.8% Athelstone — Group Household: 2.0% Athelstone — Other Families: 1.1%
Highbury 57.4% couple families
Highbury — Couple Families: 57.4% Highbury — Lone Person: 24.6% Highbury — One Parent Families: 15.3% Highbury — Group Household: 2.3% Highbury — Other Families: 0.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Athelstone 13.1% renting
Athelstone — Owned Outright: 44.9% Athelstone — Mortgage: 42.0% Athelstone — Renting: 13.1%
Highbury 12.3% renting
Highbury — Owned Outright: 42.2% Highbury — Mortgage: 45.5% Highbury — Renting: 12.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Athelstone Highbury
Bachelor Degree 16.8% / 15.7%
Athelstone — Bachelor Degree: 16.8% Highbury — Bachelor Degree: 15.7%
Certificate III & IV 12.8% / 14.5%
Athelstone — Certificate III & IV: 12.8% Highbury — Certificate III & IV: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.7%
Athelstone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Highbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 4.5%
Athelstone — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Highbury — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.8%
Athelstone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Highbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Athelstone Highbury
England 4.2% / 5.2%
Athelstone — England: 4.2% Highbury — England: 5.2%
Italy 4.7% / 2.2%
Athelstone — Italy: 4.7% Highbury — Italy: 2.2%
India 2.2% / 1.7%
Athelstone — India: 2.2% Highbury — India: 1.7%
China 1.9% / 0.9%
Athelstone — China: 1.9% Highbury — China: 0.9%
Malaysia 1.5% / 0.7%
Athelstone — Malaysia: 1.5% Highbury — Malaysia: 0.7%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.9%
Athelstone — South Africa: 0.7% Highbury — South Africa: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Athelstone 84.5% houses
Athelstone — Houses: 84.5% Athelstone — Townhouses: 13.0% Athelstone — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Highbury 97.1% houses
Highbury — Houses: 97.1% Highbury — Townhouses: 2.6% Highbury — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Athelstone Highbury
Median house price $1,025,000 $1,004,500
Median unit price $702,500 $653,000
Median land price $620,000 $530,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 89 sales
 18 days
from 82 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Athelstone Highbury
3 bed $960K / $905K
Athelstone — 3 bed: $960K (76 sales) Highbury — 3 bed: $905K (61 sales)

76 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1.12M / $1.13M
Athelstone — 4 bed: $1.12M (58 sales) Highbury — 4 bed: $1.13M (80 sales)

58 vs 80 sales

5 bed $1.36M / $1.15M
Athelstone — 5 bed: $1.36M (15 sales) Highbury — 5 bed: $1.15M (9 sales)

15 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Athelstone has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 1%).

Athelstone Highbury
Residential 69% 67%
Parks and recreation 7% 23%
Environmental 20% 1%
Industrial 0% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 1%
Commercial 1% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Athelstone Highbury
New dwellings approved 361
across Campbelltown (SA)
 574
across Tea Tree Gully
Approvals change year on year -34% +36%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Athelstone Highbury
Houses 3.8%
$685/wk on $949K
 3.9%
$750/wk on $1M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Athelstone Highbury
House price Higher than 48% of SA Higher than 57% of SA
Income Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Schools Higher than 77% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 87% of SA Higher than 78% of SA
Affordability Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 83% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 96% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of SA Higher than 49% of SA

Liveability

Athelstone is more walkable (68 vs 43).

Athelstone Highbury
Grade B
same for both
Score 59/100
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Athelstone carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 0); Highbury carries more flood risk (78 vs 48).

Athelstone Highbury
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
31/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Moderate
48/100
 High
78/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Athelstone Highbury
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 5.0 km
 1
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 7.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 3.3%

Schools in Athelstone

  • Saint Ignatius' College - Senior School Campus Catholic · Combined above peers
  • Athelstone School Government · Primary at peers
  • Thorndon Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Highbury

  • Highbury Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Athelstone Highbury
Parks & reserves 8 5
Childcare 5 2
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Highbury sits further from the CBD (15.3 km vs 13.2 km).

Athelstone Highbury
Walkability score 68/100 43/100
Distance to Adelaide 13.2 km 15.3 km
+16% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 25 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 140.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5076
 1.3%
postcode 5089
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 5076
 69
postcode 5089

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Athelstone Highbury
Car (driver) 73.8% / 73.7%
Athelstone — Car (driver): 73.8% Highbury — Car (driver): 73.7%
Worked from Home 12.2% / 12.1%
Athelstone — Worked from Home: 12.2% Highbury — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Bus 7.9% / 7.6%
Athelstone — Bus: 7.9% Highbury — Bus: 7.6%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 5.3%
Athelstone — Car (passenger): 5.0% Highbury — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Bicycle 0.6% / 0.6%
Athelstone — Bicycle: 0.6% Highbury — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.8%).

Setting

Athelstone Highbury
Elevation 136 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 147 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.6 km 15.7 km

NBN connectivity

Athelstone Highbury
Connectivity score 86/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
3,992 premises
 59%
2,776 premises

Climate

Athelstone Highbury
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Athelstone Highbury
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Athelstone Highbury
Average residential rate $1,998/yr $2,000/yr
Council Campbelltown (SA) Tea Tree Gully

Federal electorate

Athelstone Highbury
Division Sturt
same for both
Member Claire Clutterham
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Athelstone Highbury
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Athelstone

Middle-Ring Parks

Highbury

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Athelstone

Athelstone vs Rostrevor Athelstone vs Paradise Athelstone vs Newton Athelstone vs Montacute

Other comparisons with Highbury

Highbury vs Hope Valley Highbury vs Paradise Highbury vs Dernancourt Highbury vs Vista Highbury vs Houghton Highbury vs Paracombe
Full data on Athelstone Full data on Highbury
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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