Happy Valley, SA: suburb profile

The population of Happy Valley SA is 11,420 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Happy Valley is $773 per week ($40,196 per year). Median rent in Happy Valley is $360 per week ($1,560 per month). Happy Valley has a median age of 42 years, older than the national median of 38. Happy Valley has a population density of 873 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Happy Valley is England. The most common religion is No religion (54.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Happy Valley is $1,517.

There were 100 recorded offences in Happy Valley in 2025-26, a rate of 9 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (39 offences).

Population
11,420
Census 2021
Median income
$773/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$360/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
42years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

Happy Valley vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Happy Valley is $773 a week, 2% above the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 327th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $360 a week, $60 more than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 22.9% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 42, 1 year younger than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureHappy ValleyTypical SADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$773/wk$759/wk +2%$766/wk
Household income$1,573/wk$1,494/wk +5%$1,637/wk
Rent$360/wk$300/wk +20%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,517/mo$1,534/mo −1%$1,733/mo
Median age4243 −1 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.9%19.5% +3.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Happy Valley, the typical SA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Happy Valley Population

11,420 residents at the 2021 Census.

Happy Valley Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$773/wk
$40,196 per year
Ranked 4,082 of 14,663
Median Rent
$360/wk
$1,560 per month
Ranked 2,908 of 14,663
Median Age
42years
4 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,517/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Happy Valley Rent Prices & Affordability

23% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,573/wk
Median rent $360/wk
Rent to income 22.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Happy Valley against your income

About $6,816 a month
Median rent $360/wk
Left after rent $1,213/wk
Rent share 22.9%

Happy Valley Schools

12
schools nearby
7
government
1043
avg ICSEA score
5,570
total students
Pilgrim School Independent
Primary · R-6 · 161 students
1109
ICSEA
School of the Nativity Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 159 students
1086
ICSEA
Flagstaff Hill Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 432 students
1067
ICSEA
IQRA College Independent
Combined · R-12 · 734 students
1067
ICSEA
Our Saviour Lutheran School Happy Valley Incorporated Independent
Primary · R-6 · 98 students
1065
ICSEA
Aberfoyle Park High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 906 students
1039
ICSEA
Happy Valley Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 325 students
1033
ICSEA
Braeview School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 360 students
1032
ICSEA
Aberfoyle Hub Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 241 students
1030
ICSEA
Thiele Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 151 students
1022
ICSEA
Reynella East College Government
Combined · U, R-12 · 1,938 students
988
ICSEA
OneSchool Global SA Independent
Combined · 3-12 · 65 students
983
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Happy Valley, with a map

Happy Valley Map

Happy Valley, South Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Happy Valley, South Australia: 35.0735°S, 138.5778°E

Happy Valley Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (12)

People in Happy Valley

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.5% (5,543) Female 51.5% (5,875)

Population Density

873
people per km²
11,420 people · 13.1 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,961
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
8.3%
Scotland
0.8%
South Africa
0.8%
New Zealand
0.7%
India
0.6%
Netherlands
0.6%
Philippines
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
0.5%
Polish
0.3%
Greek
0.3%
Arabic
0.2%
Spanish
0.2%
German
0.2%
Cantonese
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
49.0%
Australian
39.5%
Scottish
10.6%
Irish
9.0%
German
8.8%
Italian
2.7%
Dutch
2.6%
Chinese
1.2%
Greek
1.2%
Welsh
1.1%
Polish
1.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
54.1%
Catholic
11.4%
Anglican
7.9%
Uniting Church
6.3%
Not stated
4.8%
Christian (other)
3.8%
Lutheran
2.0%
Baptist
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
51.6% 4,887
Separated
3.1% 296
Divorced
9.4% 890
Widowed
5.7% 537
Never married
30.3% 2,869

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
39.0%
Couple: no children
30.5%
Couple: no children under 15
17.2%
One parent: no children under 15
6.8%
One parent: children under 15
6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
23.9%
2 persons
36.9%
3 persons
16.6%
4 persons
15.9%
5 persons
5.0%
6+ persons
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Happy Valley

Housing Tenure

Of the 4,464 occupied private dwellings in Happy Valley at the 2021 Census, 10.6% were rented, 33.9% owned outright and 46.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
7.4% 331 dwellings
Owned outright
33.9% 1,512 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
46.8% 2,090 dwellings
Rented
10.6% 473 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.2% 52 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
90.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
6.4%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.6%
2 bedrooms
10.3%
3 bedrooms
59.6%
4 bedrooms
24.9%
5 bedrooms
3.9%
6+ bedrooms
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.6%
$300-$449/mo
2.4%
$450-$599/mo
2.5%
$600-$799/mo
3.7%
$800-$999/mo
5.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
23.1%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
29.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
20.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
4.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.1%
1 vehicle
33.2%
2 vehicles
41.9%
3 vehicles
14.1%
4+ vehicles
7.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Happy Valley

Employment

Employed full-time
36.4% 3,251 people
Employed part-time
24.1% 2,151 people
Unemployed
2.7% 242 people
Not in labour force
36.8% 3,288 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
27.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
19.3%
Community & Personal Service
15.2%
Clerical & Administrative
13.6%
Managers
11.7%
Labourers
4.8%
Sales Workers
4.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
0.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.4%
$150-$299/wk
1.0%
$300-$399/wk
2.0%
$400-$499/wk
6.8%
$500-$649/wk
4.1%
$650-$799/wk
7.1%
$800-$999/wk
7.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.4%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.6%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.9%
$4,000+/wk
6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.9%
$1-$149/wk
4.7%
$150-$299/wk
6.8%
$300-$399/wk
4.3%
$400-$499/wk
4.0%
$500-$649/wk
3.9%
$650-$799/wk
10.3%
$800-$999/wk
11.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
14.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
7.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.0%
$3,500+/wk
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
76.8%
Did not go to work
13.8%
Car (passenger)
3.6%
Bus
2.5%
Walked only
0.8%
Train
0.6%
Other
0.5%
Truck
0.5%
Bicycle
0.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%
Ferry
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
58.8%
Year 11 or equivalent
21.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
16.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
3.8%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
41.9%
Bachelor Degree
25.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.9%
Postgraduate Degree
5.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.6%
Certificate I/II
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.9%
Engineering
17.7%
Society & Culture
15.2%
Health
13.9%
Education
9.7%
Architecture & Building
7.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.0%
Creative Arts
3.7%
Information Technology
2.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.4%
Agriculture & Environment
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
34.2%
Secondary: Government
23.4%
Vocational Education
11.2%
Pre-school
9.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
8.3%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
6.6%
Primary: Catholic
4.9%
Secondary: Catholic
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
91.2%
Has need for assistance
5.9%
Need for assistance not stated
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,187
Asthma
468
Arthritis
431
Diabetes
361
Heart disease
359
Cancer
217
Lung condition
209
Stroke
135
Kidney disease
125
Dementia
43

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.0% 1,291
Did not provide
86.0% 7,905

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.8% 1,632
Not a volunteer
82.2% 7,560

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 9
Previously served
3.9% 357
Never served
96.0% 8,856

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.8%
1 child
14.0%
2 children
36.9%
3 children
15.4%
4 children
4.0%
5+ children
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
45
1951: 1960
183
1961: 1970
375
1971: 1980
232
1981: 1990
221
1991: 2000
167
2001: 2010
515
2011: 2015
215
2016
20
2017
36
2018
26
2019
27
2020
9
2021
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

8.9%
moved in the last year
29.4%
moved in the last 5 years
4.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
62.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
10,022
Moved from SA
781
Moved: same area (SA2)
88
Moved from overseas
32
Moved from VIC
29
Moved from NSW
15
Moved from NT
12
Moved from QLD
9

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
22.6%
5: 14 hours
33.5%
15: 29 hours
15.0%
30+ hours
9.1%
Did not do domestic work
19.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
87.1%
Step family: no other children
7.2%
Blended family: no other children
4.6%
Intact family: other children present
0.6%
Other couple: children only
0.3%
Step family: other children present
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Happy Valley Crime Statistics

100 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
39
Assault
27
Property Damage
19
Break & Enter
8
Other Against Person
4
Fraud
2
Robbery
1

Total offences by year

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Moorak
Income: $817/wk Rent: $250/wk $110/wk less rent
Oakden
Income: $649/wk Rent: $283/wk $77/wk less rent
Everard Park
Income: $744/wk Rent: $286/wk $74/wk less rent
Williamstown (SA)
Income: $813/wk Rent: $300/wk $60/wk less rent
Ethelton
Income: $787/wk Rent: $300/wk $60/wk less rent
Willaston
Income: $713/wk Rent: $300/wk $60/wk less rent
Woodville (SA)
Income: $750/wk Rent: $300/wk $60/wk less rent
Croydon (SA)
Income: $811/wk Rent: $310/wk $50/wk less rent

Suburbs near Happy Valley

The closest suburb to Happy Valley is Aberfoyle Park, 2.1 km away.

Aberfoyle Park
2.1 km away · income $783/wk · rent $340/wk
O'Halloran Hill
2.7 km away · income $796/wk · rent $350/wk
Reynella East
2.8 km away · income $660/wk · rent $315/wk
Flagstaff Hill
3.0 km away · income $844/wk · rent $385/wk
Trott Park
3.5 km away · income $766/wk · rent $350/wk
Woodcroft (SA)
4.0 km away · income $771/wk · rent $350/wk

Compare Happy Valley (SA)

Frequently Asked Questions About Happy Valley

What is the population of Happy Valley SA?

The population of Happy Valley SA is 11,420 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 873 people per km². Happy Valley is ranked #492 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Happy Valley?

The median personal income in Happy Valley SA is $773 per week, or $40,196 per year. The median household income is $1,573 per week. Family income is $1,961 per week. Happy Valley is ranked #4,082 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Happy Valley?

Median rent in Happy Valley SA is $360 per week ($1,560 per month). Rent represents 22.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. Happy Valley ranks #2,908 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Happy Valley?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Happy Valley SA is $1,517. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Happy Valley?

The median age in Happy Valley SA is 42 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Happy Valley a good suburb to live in?

Happy Valley is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 11,420. The median income is $773/wk, which is above the typical SA suburb ($759/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Adelaide Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 40564. All dollar figures in AUD.