Highgate vs Urrbrae

Highgate is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 44 in Urrbrae. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Highgate, about half of households are couple families. In Urrbrae, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Highgate: a median of $1.65 million, against $1.45 million in Urrbrae, though rent is higher in Urrbrae. Highgate is closer to the city centre: 5.7 km, against 7.1 km. On these figures, Highgate tends to suit people living alone.

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

  • Highgate has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • Urrbrae has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 70%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Highgate has cheaper units ($693,693 vs $1,040,000)
  • Urrbrae has cheaper houses ($1,450,000 vs $1,650,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Highgate

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $505/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Highgate

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 9%)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 33/100)

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

Investors

Urrbrae

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.8% vs -8.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Highgate Urrbrae
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.

Highgate Urrbrae
Walkability 65 / 58
Highgate — Walkability: 65/100 Urrbrae — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 82 / 67
Highgate — Safety: 82/100 Urrbrae — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 100 / 74
Highgate — Low fire risk: 100/100 Urrbrae — Low fire risk: 74/100

Demographics

Highgate has more residents (1,504 vs 1,070); Urrbrae rents higher ($505/wk vs $360/wk).

Highgate Urrbrae
Population 1,504
+29% vs other
 1,070
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.6% +10.8%
Median age 41 44
Median household income $113,984/yr $121,992/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $505/wk
+40% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highgate Urrbrae
0-4 3.9% / 4.0%
Highgate — 0-4: 3.9% Urrbrae — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 13.9% / 14.0%
Highgate — 5-14: 13.9% Urrbrae — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 7.5% / 7.3%
Highgate — 15-19: 7.5% Urrbrae — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 6.4% / 5.8%
Highgate — 20-24: 6.4% Urrbrae — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 9.3% / 7.0%
Highgate — 25-34: 9.3% Urrbrae — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 13.0% / 12.4%
Highgate — 35-44: 13.0% Urrbrae — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 14.9% / 13.9%
Highgate — 45-54: 14.9% Urrbrae — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 12.7% / 13.8%
Highgate — 55-64: 12.7% Urrbrae — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 10.0% / 10.5%
Highgate — 65-74: 10.0% Urrbrae — 65-74: 10.5%
75-84 6.1% / 8.3%
Highgate — 75-84: 6.1% Urrbrae — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 2.1% / 2.6%
Highgate — 85+: 2.1% Urrbrae — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highgate 50.0% couple families
Highgate — Couple Families: 50.0% Highgate — Lone Person: 33.3% Highgate — One Parent Families: 12.8% Highgate — Group Household: 2.5% Highgate — Other Families: 1.4%
Urrbrae 56.7% couple families
Urrbrae — Couple Families: 56.7% Urrbrae — Lone Person: 24.0% Urrbrae — One Parent Families: 16.3% Urrbrae — Group Household: 1.5% Urrbrae — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Highgate 23.6% renting
Highgate — Owned Outright: 41.9% Highgate — Mortgage: 34.5% Highgate — Renting: 23.6%
Urrbrae 13.4% renting
Urrbrae — Owned Outright: 45.3% Urrbrae — Mortgage: 41.3% Urrbrae — Renting: 13.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Highgate Urrbrae
Bachelor Degree 27.3% / 26.4%
Highgate — Bachelor Degree: 27.3% Urrbrae — Bachelor Degree: 26.4%
Postgraduate Degree 10.2% / 10.4%
Highgate — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2% Urrbrae — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.0%
Highgate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Urrbrae — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 6.3%
Highgate — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Urrbrae — Certificate III & IV: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.0%
Highgate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Urrbrae — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.3%).

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.

Highgate Urrbrae
China 6.6% / 5.8%
Highgate — China: 6.6% Urrbrae — China: 5.8%
England 3.0% / 3.9%
Highgate — England: 3.0% Urrbrae — England: 3.9%
Malaysia 1.9% / 0.7%
Highgate — Malaysia: 1.9% Urrbrae — Malaysia: 0.7%
South Africa — / 2.5%
Highgate — South Africa: not among its largest Urrbrae — South Africa: 2.5%
India 1.3% / 0.7%
Highgate — India: 1.3% Urrbrae — India: 0.7%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.1%
Highgate — New Zealand: 0.6% Urrbrae — New Zealand: 1.1%
Vietnam 0.7% / —
Highgate — Vietnam: 0.7% Urrbrae — Vietnam: not among its largest
Iran — / 0.7%
Highgate — Iran: not among its largest Urrbrae — Iran: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highgate 69.6% houses
Highgate — Houses: 69.6% Highgate — Townhouses: 17.8% Highgate — Flats / Apartments: 12.6%
Urrbrae 90.7% houses
Urrbrae — Houses: 90.7% Urrbrae — Townhouses: 6.4% Urrbrae — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Highgate Urrbrae
Median house price $1,650,000 $1,450,000
Median unit price $693,693 $1,040,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 16 sales
 24 days
from 10 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.

Highgate Urrbrae
3 bed $1.06M / $1.32M
Highgate — 3 bed: $1.06M (13 sales) Urrbrae — 3 bed: $1.32M (13 sales)

13 vs 13 sales

4 bed $1.58M / $1.7M
Highgate — 4 bed: $1.58M (8 sales) Urrbrae — 4 bed: $1.7M (6 sales)

8 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Urrbrae has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 0%).

Highgate Urrbrae
Residential 86% 31%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 49%
Environmental 0% 20%
Commercial 3% 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

Highgate Urrbrae
New dwellings approved 273
across Unley
 188
across Mitcham
Approvals change year on year -67% +32%

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.

Highgate Urrbrae
Houses — 3.3%
$800/wk on $1.24M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Highgate Urrbrae
House price Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 68% of SA
Income Higher than 88% of SA Higher than 93% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Affordability Higher than 6% of SA Higher than 77% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 100% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 93% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 26% of SA

Liveability

Highgate scores higher overall (87 vs 78).

Highgate Urrbrae
Grade A+ A
Score 87/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Urrbrae carries more bushfire risk (26 vs 0); Urrbrae carries more crime risk (33 vs 18).

Highgate Urrbrae
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
26/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Low
33/100
Flood None
0/100
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Highgate Urrbrae
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 4.1 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 5.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.0% 6.0%

Schools in Highgate

  • Highgate School Government · Primary above peers
  • Concordia College Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Urrbrae

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Highgate Urrbrae
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 3 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Highgate Urrbrae
Walkability score 65/100 58/100
Distance to Adelaide 5.7 km 7.1 km
+25% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 13 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 64/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 33.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 5063
 2.9%
postcode 5064
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 5063
 63
postcode 5064

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.

Highgate Urrbrae
Car (driver) 67.8% / 63.0%
Highgate — Car (driver): 67.8% Urrbrae — Car (driver): 63.0%
Worked from Home 15.2% / 25.7%
Highgate — Worked from Home: 15.2% Urrbrae — Worked from Home: 25.7%
Bus 6.0% / 4.2%
Highgate — Bus: 6.0% Urrbrae — Bus: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 4.6%
Highgate — Car (passenger): 3.1% Urrbrae — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bicycle 4.6% / 1.9%
Highgate — Bicycle: 4.6% Urrbrae — Bicycle: 1.9%
Walked Only 3.2% / 0.7%
Highgate — Walked Only: 3.2% Urrbrae — Walked Only: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.8%).

Setting

Highgate Urrbrae
Elevation 74 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 141 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.1 km 11.6 km

NBN connectivity

Highgate Urrbrae
Connectivity score 74/100 82/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
715 premises
 44%
433 premises

Climate

Highgate Urrbrae
Annual rainfall 457 mm 969 mm
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C 23.8°C
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C 5.4°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Highgate Urrbrae
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

Highgate Urrbrae
Average residential rate $2,288/yr $2,296/yr
Council Unley Mitcham

Federal electorate

Highgate Urrbrae
Division Adelaide Boothby
Member Steve Georganas Louise Miller-Frost
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Highgate Urrbrae
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Highgate

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

Urrbrae

Inner Large Blocks Parks Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highgate

Highgate vs Fullarton Highgate vs Myrtle Bank Highgate vs Malvern Highgate vs Kingswood Highgate vs Netherby

Other comparisons with Urrbrae

Urrbrae vs Myrtle Bank Urrbrae vs Glen Osmond Urrbrae vs Netherby Urrbrae vs Springfield Urrbrae vs Mount Osmond Urrbrae vs Brown Hill Creek
Full data on Highgate Full data on Urrbrae
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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