Heathfield vs Upper Sturt

Upper Sturt is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Heathfield. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families.

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

Upper Sturt

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 7)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Upper Sturt

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heathfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (45/100 vs 37/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Heathfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (45/100 vs 37/100)

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

Heathfield 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.

Heathfield 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.

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Walkability 45 / 37
Heathfield — Walkability: 45/100 Upper Sturt — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 81 / 80
Heathfield — Safety: 81/100 Upper Sturt — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 22 / 24
Heathfield — Low fire risk: 22/100 Upper Sturt — Low fire risk: 24/100

Demographics

Heathfield rents higher ($450/wk vs $345/wk); Heathfield skews older (46 vs 41).

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Population 1,062
+5% vs other
 1,005
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +5.7%
Median age 46 41
Median household income $119,496/yr
+3% vs other
 $115,908/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+23% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heathfield Upper Sturt
0-4 4.0% / 6.1%
Heathfield — 0-4: 4.0% Upper Sturt — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 13.5% / 13.3%
Heathfield — 5-14: 13.5% Upper Sturt — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 7.6% / 6.0%
Heathfield — 15-19: 7.6% Upper Sturt — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 5.7% / 4.3%
Heathfield — 20-24: 5.7% Upper Sturt — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 7.2% / 10.1%
Heathfield — 25-34: 7.2% Upper Sturt — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 10.6% / 14.0%
Heathfield — 35-44: 10.6% Upper Sturt — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 13.4% / 15.1%
Heathfield — 45-54: 13.4% Upper Sturt — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 16.2% / 13.6%
Heathfield — 55-64: 16.2% Upper Sturt — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 12.4% / 13.2%
Heathfield — 65-74: 12.4% Upper Sturt — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 6.3% / 3.6%
Heathfield — 75-84: 6.3% Upper Sturt — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 3.9% / 0.9%
Heathfield — 85+: 3.9% Upper Sturt — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heathfield 57.9% couple families
Heathfield — Couple Families: 57.9% Heathfield — Lone Person: 27.1% Heathfield — One Parent Families: 12.5% Heathfield — Group Household: 2.5% Heathfield — Other Families: 0.0%
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.

Heathfield 6.7% renting
Heathfield — Owned Outright: 41.7% Heathfield — Mortgage: 51.5% Heathfield — Renting: 6.7%
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.

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Bachelor Degree 19.3% / 17.0%
Heathfield — Bachelor Degree: 19.3% Upper Sturt — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.2% / 11.4%
Heathfield — Certificate III & IV: 11.2% Upper Sturt — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 9.5%
Heathfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Upper Sturt — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.0% / 7.3%
Heathfield — Postgraduate Degree: 8.0% Upper Sturt — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 3.7%
Heathfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Upper Sturt — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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.

Heathfield Upper Sturt
England 7.8% / 6.9%
Heathfield — England: 7.8% Upper Sturt — England: 6.9%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.2%
Heathfield — New Zealand: 1.7% Upper Sturt — New Zealand: 1.2%
Germany 0.9% / 1.2%
Heathfield — Germany: 0.9% Upper Sturt — Germany: 1.2%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.5%
Heathfield — Scotland: 0.8% Upper Sturt — Scotland: 0.5%
Malaysia 0.4% / 0.5%
Heathfield — Malaysia: 0.4% Upper Sturt — Malaysia: 0.5%
India 0.5% / —
Heathfield — India: 0.5% Upper Sturt — India: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Heathfield — Philippines: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Philippines: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heathfield 95.1% houses
Heathfield — Houses: 95.1% Heathfield — Flats / Apartments: 4.9%
Upper Sturt 98.0% houses
Upper Sturt — Houses: 98.0% Upper Sturt — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Median house price $1,296,000 $1,242,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $610,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 108 days
from 4 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.

Heathfield Upper Sturt
3 bed $1.07M / $1.09M
Heathfield — 3 bed: $1.07M (6 sales) Upper Sturt — 3 bed: $1.09M (12 sales)

6 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.48M / $1.41M
Heathfield — 4 bed: $1.48M (7 sales) Upper Sturt — 4 bed: $1.41M (7 sales)

7 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Upper Sturt has more land zoned for conservation (44% vs 22%); Heathfield has more rural and farming land (62% vs 46%).

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Rural and farming 62% 46%
Environmental 22% 44%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 0%
Residential 3% 10%
Parks and recreation 1% 0%
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

Heathfield Upper Sturt
New dwellings approved 95
across Adelaide Hills
same for both
Approvals change year on year +53%
same for both

Ranking within SA

Heathfield Upper Sturt
House price Higher than 75% of SA Higher than 68% of SA
Income Higher than 92% 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 61% of SA Higher than 69% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 92% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 72% of SA

Liveability

Heathfield is more walkable (45 vs 37); Heathfield scores higher overall (64 vs 53).

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Bushfire High
78/100
 High
76/100
Crime Low
19/100
 Low
20/100
Flood Low
13/100
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Heathfield

  • Heathfield High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Heathfield Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Upper Sturt

  • Upper Sturt Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 7 10
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Walkability score 45/100 37/100
Distance to Adelaide 19.2 km
+1% vs other
 19 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min
same for both
Public transport score 51/100
Bus
 36/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 25.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 18.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 5153
 1.6%
postcode 5156
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 86
postcode 5153
 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.

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Car (driver) 73.8% / 72.5%
Heathfield — Car (driver): 73.8% Upper Sturt — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 16.5% / 17.8%
Heathfield — Worked from Home: 16.5% Upper Sturt — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Bus 3.5% / 3.6%
Heathfield — Bus: 3.5% Upper Sturt — Bus: 3.6%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 2.8%
Heathfield — Car (passenger): 3.9% Upper Sturt — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.1%
Heathfield — Walked Only: 1.2% Upper Sturt — Walked Only: 1.1%
Train — / 1.3%
Heathfield — Train: not among its largest Upper Sturt — Train: 1.3%

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

Setting

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Elevation 447 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 396 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.2 km 15.0 km

NBN connectivity

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Connectivity score 62/100 41/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
424 premises
 0%
391 premises

Climate

Heathfield 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)

Heathfield 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

Heathfield Upper Sturt
Average residential rate $2,727/yr
same for both
Council Adelaide Hills
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Heathfield

Acreage Middle-Ring Professionals

Upper Sturt

Acreage Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heathfield

Heathfield vs Aldgate Heathfield vs Stirling Heathfield vs Mylor Heathfield vs Ironbank Heathfield vs Longwood

Other comparisons with Upper Sturt

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