Flagstaff Hill vs Happy Valley

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Flagstaff Hill, most households are couple families. In Happy Valley, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Flagstaff Hill: a median of $1.04 million, against $870,000 in Happy Valley, and rent is higher there too. Flagstaff Hill is closer to the city centre: 17.6 km, against 23.1 km. On these figures, Flagstaff Hill tends to suit couples, while Happy Valley suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Flagstaff Hill

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 31/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 62%)

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

First-home buyers

Happy Valley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($870,000 vs $1,035,500)

Weighs house 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

Flagstaff Hill

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (24 min vs 56 min)
  • is more walkable (62/100 vs 41/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (17.6 km vs 23.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Flagstaff Hill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 31/100)
  • is more walkable (62/100 vs 41/100)

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

Investors

Happy Valley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
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.

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Walkability 62 / 41
Flagstaff Hill — Walkability: 62/100 Happy Valley — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 82 / 69
Flagstaff Hill — Safety: 82/100 Happy Valley — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 78 / 100
Flagstaff Hill — Low fire risk: 78/100 Happy Valley — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 64 / 63
Flagstaff Hill — Low flood risk: 64/100 Happy Valley — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Flagstaff Hill has higher household incomes ($108,160 vs $81,796).

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Population 10,184 11,420
+12% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.4% +1.8%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $108,160/yr
+24% vs other
 $81,796/yr
Median weekly rent $385/wk
+6% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
0-4 5.0% / 5.6%
Flagstaff Hill — 0-4: 5.0% Happy Valley — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 12.4% / 11.5%
Flagstaff Hill — 5-14: 12.4% Happy Valley — 5-14: 11.5%
15-19 6.3% / 5.9%
Flagstaff Hill — 15-19: 6.3% Happy Valley — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.8% / 4.8%
Flagstaff Hill — 20-24: 5.8% Happy Valley — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 9.7% / 11.9%
Flagstaff Hill — 25-34: 9.7% Happy Valley — 25-34: 11.9%
35-44 13.0% / 13.2%
Flagstaff Hill — 35-44: 13.0% Happy Valley — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 14.2% / 12.2%
Flagstaff Hill — 45-54: 14.2% Happy Valley — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 13.8% / 12.4%
Flagstaff Hill — 55-64: 13.8% Happy Valley — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 12.5% / 13.5%
Flagstaff Hill — 65-74: 12.5% Happy Valley — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 5.8% / 6.3%
Flagstaff Hill — 75-84: 5.8% Happy Valley — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 1.5% / 2.8%
Flagstaff Hill — 85+: 1.5% Happy Valley — 85+: 2.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Flagstaff Hill 60.4% couple families
Flagstaff Hill — Couple Families: 60.4% Flagstaff Hill — Lone Person: 23.4% Flagstaff Hill — One Parent Families: 12.9% Flagstaff Hill — Group Household: 2.2% Flagstaff Hill — Other Families: 1.1%
Happy Valley 46.1% couple families
Happy Valley — Couple Families: 46.1% Happy Valley — Lone Person: 34.7% Happy Valley — One Parent Families: 16.4% Happy Valley — Group Household: 1.9% Happy Valley — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Flagstaff Hill 10.5% renting
Flagstaff Hill — Owned Outright: 39.0% Flagstaff Hill — Mortgage: 50.5% Flagstaff Hill — Renting: 10.5%
Happy Valley 11.6% renting
Happy Valley — Owned Outright: 37.1% Happy Valley — Mortgage: 51.3% Happy Valley — Renting: 11.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 18.6%
Flagstaff Hill — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Happy Valley — Certificate III & IV: 18.6%
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 11.2%
Flagstaff Hill — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Happy Valley — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 8.9%
Flagstaff Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Happy Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 2.5%
Flagstaff Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Happy Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.0%
Flagstaff Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Happy Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
England 9.8% / 8.3%
Flagstaff Hill — England: 9.8% Happy Valley — England: 8.3%
South Africa 1.5% / 0.8%
Flagstaff Hill — South Africa: 1.5% Happy Valley — South Africa: 0.8%
India 1.4% / 0.6%
Flagstaff Hill — India: 1.4% Happy Valley — India: 0.6%
China 1.8% / —
Flagstaff Hill — China: 1.8% Happy Valley — China: not among its largest
Scotland 1.0% / 0.8%
Flagstaff Hill — Scotland: 1.0% Happy Valley — Scotland: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.7%
Flagstaff Hill — New Zealand: 1.0% Happy Valley — New Zealand: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Flagstaff Hill 96.5% houses
Flagstaff Hill — Houses: 96.5% Flagstaff Hill — Townhouses: 1.6% Flagstaff Hill — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Happy Valley 89.9% houses
Happy Valley — Houses: 89.9% Happy Valley — Townhouses: 10.0% Happy Valley — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Median house price $1,035,500 $870,000
Median unit price — $665,000
Median land price $585,000 $520,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 15 days
from 91 sales
 16 days
from 90 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.

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
3 bed $938K / $836K
Flagstaff Hill — 3 bed: $938K (88 sales) Happy Valley — 3 bed: $836K (122 sales)

88 vs 122 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $936K
Flagstaff Hill — 4 bed: $1.11M (75 sales) Happy Valley — 4 bed: $936K (60 sales)

75 vs 60 sales

5 bed $1.3M / $1M
Flagstaff Hill — 5 bed: $1.3M (16 sales) Happy Valley — 5 bed: $1M (18 sales)

16 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Flagstaff Hill has more land zoned for conservation (29% vs 1%).

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Residential 68% 46%
Parks and recreation 2% 51%
Environmental 29% 1%
Rural and farming 0% 1%
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

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
New dwellings approved 1,367
across Onkaparinga
same for both
Approvals change year on year +58%
same for both

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.

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Houses 3.1%
$660/wk on $1.11M
 4.0%
$675/wk on $885K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
House price Higher than 48% of SA Higher than 32% of SA
Income Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 57% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 78% of SA
Affordability Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 76% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 77% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 85% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of SA Higher than 54% of SA

Liveability

Flagstaff Hill is more walkable (62 vs 41); Flagstaff Hill scores higher overall (72 vs 61).

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Grade A B
Score 72/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Flagstaff Hill carries more bushfire risk (22 vs 0); Happy Valley carries more crime risk (31 vs 18).

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Bushfire Low
22/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Low
36/100
 Low
37/100
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

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Bedford Park, 3.1 km
 2
Bedford Park, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 1.8%

Schools in Flagstaff Hill

  • Craigburn Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Flagstaff Hill Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Happy Valley

  • Happy Valley Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Braeview School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 8 10
Childcare 5 6
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Waterways 2 5

Mobility

Happy Valley sits further from the CBD (23.1 km vs 17.6 km).

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Walkability score 62/100 41/100
Distance to Adelaide 17.6 km 23.1 km
+31% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 56 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 155.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 237.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5159
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 5159
same for both

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.

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Car (driver) 77.5% / 80.1%
Flagstaff Hill — Car (driver): 77.5% Happy Valley — Car (driver): 80.1%
Worked from Home 12.9% / 10.4%
Flagstaff Hill — Worked from Home: 12.9% Happy Valley — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.8%
Flagstaff Hill — Car (passenger): 3.9% Happy Valley — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Bus 3.0% / 3.1%
Flagstaff Hill — Bus: 3.0% Happy Valley — Bus: 3.1%
Train 1.7% / 1.4%
Flagstaff Hill — Train: 1.7% Happy Valley — Train: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.1%).

Setting

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Elevation 194 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 147 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.5 km 6.9 km

NBN connectivity

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Connectivity score 70/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 46%
3,940 premises
 45%
4,948 premises

Climate

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Annual rainfall 394 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 19.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.34 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Average residential rate $2,008/yr
same for both
Council Onkaparinga
same for both

Federal electorate

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Division Kingston
same for both
Member Amanda Rishworth
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Flagstaff Hill

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks

Happy Valley

Large Blocks Middle-Ring River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Flagstaff Hill

Flagstaff Hill vs Aberfoyle Park Flagstaff Hill vs Coromandel Valley Flagstaff Hill vs Craigburn Farm Flagstaff Hill vs O'Halloran Hill Flagstaff Hill vs Bellevue Heights Flagstaff Hill vs Bedford Park

Other comparisons with Happy Valley

Happy Valley vs Woodcroft Happy Valley vs Aberfoyle Park Happy Valley vs Old Reynella Happy Valley vs Trott Park Happy Valley vs O'Halloran Hill Happy Valley vs Reynella East
Full data on Flagstaff Hill Full data on Happy Valley
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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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