Stirling vs Heathfield

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Stirling, about half of households are couple families. In Heathfield, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Stirling: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.3 million in Heathfield. Stirling is closer to the city centre: 16.6 km, against 19.2 km. On these figures, Heathfield tends to suit 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

They split

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

  • Stirling has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • Heathfield carries lower crime risk (19/100 vs 41/100)

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

First-home buyers

Heathfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,296,000 vs $1,601,000)

Weighs house 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

Stirling

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 45/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (16.6 km vs 19.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Stirling

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 45/100)
  • But Heathfield carries lower crime risk (19/100 vs 41/100)

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

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

Stirling Heathfield
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.

Stirling Heathfield
Walkability 82 / 45
Stirling — Walkability: 82/100 Heathfield — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 59 / 81
Stirling — Safety: 59/100 Heathfield — Safety: 81/100
Low fire risk 73 / 22
Stirling — Low fire risk: 73/100 Heathfield — Low fire risk: 22/100
Low flood risk 73 / 87
Stirling — Low flood risk: 73/100 Heathfield — Low flood risk: 87/100

Demographics

Stirling has more residents (3,067 vs 1,062); Stirling skews older (48 vs 46).

Stirling Heathfield
Population 3,067
+65% vs other
 1,062
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +6.6%
Median age 48 46
Median household income $123,136/yr
+3% vs other
 $119,496/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Stirling Heathfield
0-4 4.1% / 4.0%
Stirling — 0-4: 4.1% Heathfield — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 13.9% / 13.5%
Stirling — 5-14: 13.9% Heathfield — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 6.7% / 7.6%
Stirling — 15-19: 6.7% Heathfield — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 3.6% / 5.7%
Stirling — 20-24: 3.6% Heathfield — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 6.4% / 7.2%
Stirling — 25-34: 6.4% Heathfield — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 10.9% / 10.6%
Stirling — 35-44: 10.9% Heathfield — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 16.1% / 13.4%
Stirling — 45-54: 16.1% Heathfield — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 12.1% / 16.2%
Stirling — 55-64: 12.1% Heathfield — 55-64: 16.2%
65-74 14.9% / 12.4%
Stirling — 65-74: 14.9% Heathfield — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 8.2% / 6.3%
Stirling — 75-84: 8.2% Heathfield — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 2.8% / 3.9%
Stirling — 85+: 2.8% Heathfield — 85+: 3.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Stirling 53.2% couple families
Stirling — Couple Families: 53.2% Stirling — Lone Person: 33.1% Stirling — One Parent Families: 11.1% Stirling — Group Household: 1.5% Stirling — Other Families: 1.0%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Stirling 9.9% renting
Stirling — Owned Outright: 49.4% Stirling — Mortgage: 40.6% Stirling — Renting: 9.9%
Heathfield 6.7% renting
Heathfield — Owned Outright: 41.7% Heathfield — Mortgage: 51.5% Heathfield — Renting: 6.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Stirling Heathfield
Bachelor Degree 23.4% / 19.3%
Stirling — Bachelor Degree: 23.4% Heathfield — Bachelor Degree: 19.3%
Postgraduate Degree 11.3% / 8.0%
Stirling — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3% Heathfield — Postgraduate Degree: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 11.2%
Stirling — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Heathfield — Certificate III & IV: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 8.0%
Stirling — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Heathfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.0% / 3.4%
Stirling — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0% Heathfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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.

Stirling Heathfield
England 9.2% / 7.8%
Stirling — England: 9.2% Heathfield — England: 7.8%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.7%
Stirling — New Zealand: 0.8% Heathfield — New Zealand: 1.7%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.8%
Stirling — Scotland: 1.0% Heathfield — Scotland: 0.8%
Germany 0.9% / 0.9%
Stirling — Germany: 0.9% Heathfield — Germany: 0.9%
South Africa 1.2% / —
Stirling — South Africa: 1.2% Heathfield — South Africa: not among its largest
India 0.5% / 0.5%
Stirling — India: 0.5% Heathfield — India: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Stirling 94.1% houses
Stirling — Houses: 94.1% Stirling — Flats / Apartments: 1.6% Stirling — Townhouses: 4.3%
Heathfield 95.1% houses
Heathfield — Houses: 95.1% Heathfield — Flats / Apartments: 4.9% Heathfield — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Stirling Heathfield
Median house price $1,601,000 $1,296,000
Median unit price $820,000 —
Median land price $1,055,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 32 sales
 108 days
from 4 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.

Stirling Heathfield
3 bed $1.4M / $1.07M
Stirling — 3 bed: $1.4M (29 sales) Heathfield — 3 bed: $1.07M (6 sales)

29 vs 6 sales

4 bed $1.77M / $1.48M
Stirling — 4 bed: $1.77M (34 sales) Heathfield — 4 bed: $1.48M (7 sales)

34 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Heathfield has more rural and farming land (62% vs 39%); Heathfield has more land zoned for conservation (22% vs 4%).

Stirling Heathfield
Rural and farming 39% 62%
Residential 46% 3%
Environmental 4% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 13%
Parks and recreation 8% 1%
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

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

Stirling Heathfield
Houses 2.7%
$800/wk on $1.52M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Stirling Heathfield
House price Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 75% of SA
Income Higher than 93% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 94% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Affordability Higher than 56% of SA Higher than 61% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 78% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of SA —

Liveability

Stirling is more walkable (82 vs 45); Stirling scores higher overall (82 vs 64).

Stirling Heathfield
Grade A B
Score 82/100 64/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Heathfield carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 27); Stirling carries more crime risk (41 vs 19).

Stirling Heathfield
Bushfire Low
27/100
 High
78/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Low
19/100
Flood Low
27/100
 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

Stirling Heathfield
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

Schools in Stirling

  • Stirling East Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Catherine's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Heathfield

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

Amenities in the suburb

Stirling Heathfield
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 15 0
Parks & reserves 9 7
Childcare 6 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Heathfield sits further from the CBD (19.2 km vs 16.6 km).

Stirling Heathfield
Walkability score 82/100 45/100
Distance to Adelaide 16.6 km 19.2 km
+16% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 24 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 51/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 91.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 25.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 5152
 1.8%
postcode 5153
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 58
postcode 5152
 86
postcode 5153

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.

Stirling Heathfield
Car (driver) 65.0% / 73.8%
Stirling — Car (driver): 65.0% Heathfield — Car (driver): 73.8%
Worked from Home 23.7% / 16.5%
Stirling — Worked from Home: 23.7% Heathfield — Worked from Home: 16.5%
Bus 4.3% / 3.5%
Stirling — Bus: 4.3% Heathfield — Bus: 3.5%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.9%
Stirling — Car (passenger): 3.9% Heathfield — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Walked Only 2.7% / 1.2%
Stirling — Walked Only: 2.7% Heathfield — Walked Only: 1.2%

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

Setting

Stirling Heathfield
Elevation 493 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 447 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.9 km 18.2 km

NBN connectivity

Stirling Heathfield
Connectivity score 61/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
1,523 premises
 33%
424 premises

Climate

Stirling Heathfield
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)

Stirling Heathfield
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Stirling

Acreage Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Retirees

Heathfield

Acreage Middle-Ring Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Stirling

Stirling vs Aldgate Stirling vs Crafers Stirling vs Crafers West Stirling vs Upper Sturt Stirling vs Piccadilly Stirling vs Mount George

Other comparisons with Heathfield

Heathfield vs Aldgate Heathfield vs Mylor Heathfield vs Upper Sturt Heathfield vs Ironbank Heathfield vs Longwood
Full data on Stirling Full data on Heathfield
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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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