Hawthorndene vs Upper Sturt

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Upper Sturt: a median of $1.24 million, against $1.12 million in Hawthorndene, though rent is higher in Hawthorndene. Hawthorndene is closer to the city centre: 14.3 km, against 19 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Hawthorndene has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • Upper Sturt has more parks and reserves (10 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Hawthorndene

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,121,500 vs $1,242,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Upper Sturt

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hawthorndene

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (14.3 km vs 19 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
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.

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Walkability 44 / 37
Hawthorndene — Walkability: 44/100 Upper Sturt — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 84 / 80
Hawthorndene — Safety: 84/100 Upper Sturt — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 66 / 24
Hawthorndene — Low fire risk: 66/100 Upper Sturt — Low fire risk: 24/100

Demographics

Hawthorndene has more residents (3,389 vs 1,005); Hawthorndene rents higher ($400/wk vs $345/wk).

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Population 3,389
+70% vs other
 1,005
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +5.7%
Median age 41
same for both
Median household income $111,228/yr $115,908/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+14% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
0-4 5.4% / 6.1%
Hawthorndene — 0-4: 5.4% Upper Sturt — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 14.6% / 13.3%
Hawthorndene — 5-14: 14.6% Upper Sturt — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 7.0% / 6.0%
Hawthorndene — 15-19: 7.0% Upper Sturt — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 4.9% / 4.3%
Hawthorndene — 20-24: 4.9% Upper Sturt — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 9.4% / 10.1%
Hawthorndene — 25-34: 9.4% Upper Sturt — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 13.0% / 14.0%
Hawthorndene — 35-44: 13.0% Upper Sturt — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 15.0% / 15.1%
Hawthorndene — 45-54: 15.0% Upper Sturt — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 12.0% / 13.6%
Hawthorndene — 55-64: 12.0% Upper Sturt — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 10.4% / 13.2%
Hawthorndene — 65-74: 10.4% Upper Sturt — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 7.0% / 3.6%
Hawthorndene — 75-84: 7.0% Upper Sturt — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 1.5% / 0.9%
Hawthorndene — 85+: 1.5% Upper Sturt — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hawthorndene 60.1% couple families
Hawthorndene — Couple Families: 60.1% Hawthorndene — Lone Person: 24.6% Hawthorndene — One Parent Families: 12.6% Hawthorndene — Group Household: 1.6% Hawthorndene — Other Families: 1.1%
Upper Sturt 60.5% couple families
Upper Sturt — Couple Families: 60.5% Upper Sturt — Lone Person: 24.0% Upper Sturt — One Parent Families: 12.4% Upper Sturt — Group Household: 1.3% Upper Sturt — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorndene 7.6% renting
Hawthorndene — Owned Outright: 39.5% Hawthorndene — Mortgage: 52.9% Hawthorndene — Renting: 7.6%
Upper Sturt 6.5% renting
Upper Sturt — Owned Outright: 36.4% Upper Sturt — Mortgage: 57.1% Upper Sturt — Renting: 6.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Bachelor Degree 21.5% / 17.0%
Hawthorndene — Bachelor Degree: 21.5% Upper Sturt — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 11.4%
Hawthorndene — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Upper Sturt — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 9.5%
Hawthorndene — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Upper Sturt — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.7% / 7.3%
Hawthorndene — Postgraduate Degree: 6.7% Upper Sturt — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.1% / 3.7%
Hawthorndene — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1% Upper Sturt — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

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.

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
England 8.2% / 6.9%
Hawthorndene — England: 8.2% Upper Sturt — England: 6.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.2%
Hawthorndene — New Zealand: 0.9% Upper Sturt — New Zealand: 1.2%
Germany 0.7% / 1.2%
Hawthorndene — Germany: 0.7% Upper Sturt — Germany: 1.2%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Hawthorndene — South Africa: 0.6% Upper Sturt — South Africa: not among its largest
China 0.6% / —
Hawthorndene — China: 0.6% Upper Sturt — China: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Hawthorndene — Philippines: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Philippines: 0.5%
Malaysia — / 0.5%
Hawthorndene — Malaysia: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Malaysia: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorndene 96.6% houses
Hawthorndene — Houses: 96.6% Hawthorndene — Townhouses: 3.1% Hawthorndene — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Upper Sturt 98.0% houses
Upper Sturt — Houses: 98.0% Upper Sturt — Townhouses: 0.0% Upper Sturt — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Median house price $1,121,500 $1,242,500
Median unit price $775,000 —
Median land price $647,500 $610,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 22 sales
 49 days
from 12 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.

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
3 bed $1.07M / $1.09M
Hawthorndene — 3 bed: $1.07M (27 sales) Upper Sturt — 3 bed: $1.09M (12 sales)

27 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.23M / $1.41M
Hawthorndene — 4 bed: $1.23M (24 sales) Upper Sturt — 4 bed: $1.41M (7 sales)

24 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Upper Sturt has more rural and farming land (46% vs 0%); Hawthorndene has more land zoned for conservation (61% vs 44%).

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Environmental 61% 44%
Rural and farming 0% 46%
Residential 39% 10%
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

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
New dwellings approved 188
across Mitcham
 95
across Adelaide Hills
Approvals change year on year +32% +53%

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.

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Houses 3.3%
$700/wk on $1.1M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
House price Higher than 50% of SA Higher than 68% of SA
Income Higher than 87% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 77% of SA
Affordability Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 69% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 94% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of SA Higher than 72% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of SA —

Liveability

Hawthorndene scores higher overall (70 vs 53).

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Grade A B
Score 70/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Upper Sturt carries more bushfire risk (76 vs 34).

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Bushfire Low
34/100
 High
76/100
Crime Low
16/100
 Low
20/100
Flood Low
39/100
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Bedford Park, 6.3 km
 None

Schools in Hawthorndene

  • Hawthorndene Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Upper Sturt

  • Upper Sturt Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 5 10
Childcare 3 0
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Upper Sturt sits further from the CBD (19 km vs 14.3 km).

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Walkability score 44/100 37/100
Distance to Adelaide 14.3 km 19 km
+33% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 24 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 36/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 53.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 18.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 5051
 1.6%
postcode 5156
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 73
postcode 5051
 57
postcode 5156

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.

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Car (driver) 72.3% / 72.5%
Hawthorndene — Car (driver): 72.3% Upper Sturt — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 15.6% / 17.8%
Hawthorndene — Worked from Home: 15.6% Upper Sturt — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 2.8%
Hawthorndene — Car (passenger): 3.2% Upper Sturt — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Bus 2.3% / 3.6%
Hawthorndene — Bus: 2.3% Upper Sturt — Bus: 3.6%
Train 3.9% / 1.3%
Hawthorndene — Train: 3.9% Upper Sturt — Train: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.5%).

Setting

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Elevation 308 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 396 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.1 km 15.0 km

NBN connectivity

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Connectivity score 71/100 41/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
1,306 premises
 0%
391 premises

Climate

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Annual rainfall 969 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Average residential rate $2,296/yr $2,727/yr
Council Mitcham Adelaide Hills

Federal electorate

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hawthorndene Upper Sturt
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hawthorndene

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Professionals

Upper Sturt

Acreage Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hawthorndene

Hawthorndene vs Belair Hawthorndene vs Coromandel Valley Hawthorndene vs Blackwood Hawthorndene vs Glenalta Hawthorndene vs Coromandel East

Other comparisons with Upper Sturt

Upper Sturt vs Belair Upper Sturt vs Stirling Upper Sturt vs Crafers West Upper Sturt vs Heathfield Upper Sturt vs Ironbank Upper Sturt vs Coromandel East
Full data on Hawthorndene Full data on Upper Sturt
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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