Hillcrest, SA: suburb profile

The population of Hillcrest SA is 3,659 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Hillcrest is $759 per week ($39,468 per year). Median rent in Hillcrest is $319 per week ($1,382 per month). Hillcrest has a median age of 35 years, younger than the national median of 38. Hillcrest has a population density of 3,191 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Hillcrest is India. The most common religion is No religion (33.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Gujarati. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Hillcrest is $1,602.

There were 162 recorded offences in Hillcrest in 2025-26, a rate of 44 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (82 offences).

Population
3,659
Census 2021
Median income
$759/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$319/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
35years
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.

Hillcrest vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Hillcrest is $759 a week, in line with the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 355th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $319 a week, $19 more than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 19.9% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 35, 8 years 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.
MeasureHillcrestTypical SADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$759/wk$759/wk 0%$766/wk
Household income$1,599/wk$1,494/wk +7%$1,637/wk
Rent$319/wk$300/wk +6%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,602/mo$1,534/mo +4%$1,733/mo
Median age3543 −8 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.9%19.5% +0.5 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 Hillcrest, the typical SA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Hillcrest Population

3,659 residents at the 2021 Census.

Hillcrest Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$759/wk
$39,468 per year
Ranked 4,333 of 14,663
Median Rent
$319/wk
$1,382 per month
Ranked 4,239 of 14,663
Median Age
35years
3 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,602/mo
Avg household size: 2.6 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Hillcrest Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,599/wk
Median rent $319/wk
Rent to income 19.9%

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

Median rent in Hillcrest against your income

About $6,929 a month
Median rent $319/wk
Left after rent $1,280/wk
Rent share 19.9%

Hillcrest Schools

31
schools nearby
18
government
1042
avg ICSEA score
18,665
total students
East Marden Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 548 students
1127
ICSEA
St Pius X School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 552 students
1108
ICSEA
St Monica's Parish School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 192 students
1102
ICSEA
Vale Park Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 393 students
1097
ICSEA
Sunrise Christian School Paradise Independent
Primary · R-6 · 175 students
1096
ICSEA
Hillcrest Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 395 students
1096
ICSEA
Cedar College Independent
Combined · R-12 · 884 students
1090
ICSEA
St Martin's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 691 students
1085
ICSEA
Prescott Primary School, Northern Independent
Primary · R-6 · 462 students
1083
ICSEA
St Joseph's School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 859 students
1077
ICSEA
East Torrens Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 350 students
1073
ICSEA
Adelaide East Education Centre Government
Secondary · U · 49 students
1056
ICSEA
Kildare College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 768 students
1051
ICSEA
St Francis of Assisi School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 246 students
1049
ICSEA
Dernancourt School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 326 students
1046
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 31 schools.

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

All schools near Hillcrest, with a map

Hillcrest Map

Hillcrest, South Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Hillcrest, South Australia: 34.8633°S, 138.6452°E

Hillcrest Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (31)

People in Hillcrest

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.3% (1,766) Female 51.7% (1,892)

Population Density

3,191
people per km²
3,659 people · 1.1 km²

Households

2.6
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,952
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

India
15.9%
China
4.0%
England
2.5%
Malaysia
1.5%
Philippines
1.4%
Iran
1.1%
Sri Lanka
1.1%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Gujarati
8.3%
Punjabi
5.7%
Mandarin
5.2%
Hindi
3.3%
Cantonese
2.1%
Persian (excluding Dari)
1.3%
Arabic
1.3%

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

Ancestry

English
25.4%
Australian
21.3%
Indian
15.6%
Chinese
8.8%
Italian
5.6%
Irish
5.0%
German
4.3%
Scottish
4.0%
Greek
1.9%
Australian Aboriginal
1.9%
Filipino
1.9%

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
33.3%
Hinduism
13.8%
Catholic
13.8%
Other religions
5.6%
Islam
5.6%
Not stated
5.4%
Sikhism
5.1%
Anglican
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
51.1% 1,491
Separated
3.0% 88
Divorced
8.1% 237
Widowed
5.1% 148
Never married
32.6% 951

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
49.6%
Couple: no children
22.8%
Couple: no children under 15
13.2%
One parent: no children under 15
7.7%
One parent: children under 15
6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
26.8%
2 persons
29.5%
3 persons
17.4%
4 persons
17.0%
5 persons
6.2%
6+ persons
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Hillcrest

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,369 occupied private dwellings in Hillcrest at the 2021 Census, 33.5% were rented, 22.8% owned outright and 39.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
3.4% 46 dwellings
Owned outright
22.8% 312 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
39.9% 546 dwellings
Rented
33.5% 458 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.2% 17 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
83.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
15.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.4%
2 bedrooms
15.6%
3 bedrooms
64.8%
4 bedrooms
16.6%
5 bedrooms
2.5%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.3%
$300-$449/mo
3.3%
$450-$599/mo
1.8%
$600-$799/mo
4.3%
$800-$999/mo
4.9%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
18.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
27.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
22.8%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
7.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
10.2%
1 vehicle
37.6%
2 vehicles
37.9%
3 vehicles
8.6%
4+ vehicles
5.8%

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

Work, income and education in Hillcrest

Employment

Employed full-time
38.2% 1,029 people
Employed part-time
23.5% 632 people
Unemployed
3.9% 105 people
Not in labour force
34.4% 925 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
32.3%
Technicians & Trade Workers
13.2%
Community & Personal Service
12.4%
Clerical & Administrative
12.4%
Managers
11.2%
Labourers
7.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
6.3%
Sales Workers
4.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.1%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
1.7%
$300-$399/wk
2.8%
$400-$499/wk
8.8%
$500-$649/wk
4.7%
$650-$799/wk
6.2%
$800-$999/wk
6.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
9.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.1%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.5%
$4,000+/wk
6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
11.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.0%
$150-$299/wk
6.1%
$300-$399/wk
4.8%
$400-$499/wk
3.7%
$500-$649/wk
3.5%
$650-$799/wk
9.8%
$800-$999/wk
11.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
14.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.6%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
7.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.6%
$3,500+/wk
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
73.1%
Did not go to work
10.8%
Bus
8.8%
Car (passenger)
4.2%
Other
1.0%
Walked only
0.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Bicycle
0.3%
Truck
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.3%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
72.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
11.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
11.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.0%

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

Bachelor Degree
39.9%
Certificate III/IV
20.3%
Postgraduate Degree
17.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.1%
Certificate I/II
1.4%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
27.9%
Engineering
16.2%
Health
15.0%
Society & Culture
10.2%
Information Technology
7.7%
Education
6.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
4.5%
Architecture & Building
3.3%
Creative Arts
2.7%
Agriculture & Environment
1.0%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
30.3%
Vocational Education
14.6%
Secondary: Government
14.1%
Pre-school
12.4%
Primary: Catholic
11.7%
Secondary: Catholic
6.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.4%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.9%

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
89.2%
Has need for assistance
6.3%
Need for assistance not stated
4.6%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
272
Asthma
108
Diabetes
106
Arthritis
93
Heart disease
70
Lung condition
67
Cancer
41
Kidney disease
37
Stroke
34
Dementia
7

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.0% 331
Did not provide
88.0% 2,432

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.6% 405
Not a volunteer
85.4% 2,367

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.3% 8
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 5
Previously served
1.6% 45
Never served
97.9% 2,737

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
36.1%
1 child
17.8%
2 children
30.2%
3 children
10.2%
4 children
3.9%
5+ children
1.8%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
7
1951: 1960
53
1961: 1970
66
1971: 1980
48
1981: 1990
83
1991: 2000
89
2001: 2010
458
2011: 2015
277
2016
82
2017
65
2018
100
2019
102
2020
33
2021
17

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

Population Mobility

13.2%
moved in the last year
43.0%
moved in the last 5 years
5.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
63.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,003
Moved from SA
312
Moved: same area (SA2)
64
Moved from overseas
26
Moved from NSW
19
Moved from VIC
14
Moved from QLD
7
Moved from NT
6

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.7%
5: 14 hours
27.0%
15: 29 hours
12.3%
30+ hours
8.7%
Did not do domestic work
31.2%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
91.8%
Step family: no other children
4.1%
Blended family: no other children
1.6%
Intact family: other children present
1.6%
Step family: other children present
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Hillcrest Crime Statistics

162 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
82
Assault
28
Property Damage
23
Break & Enter
14
Fraud
10
Other Against Person
5

Total offences by year

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

St Marys (SA)
Income: $785/wk Rent: $285/wk $34/wk less rent
Ridleyton
Income: $842/wk Rent: $300/wk $19/wk less rent
Woodville North
Income: $643/wk Rent: $300/wk $19/wk less rent
Hampstead Gardens
Income: $761/wk Rent: $300/wk $19/wk less rent
Two Wells
Income: $818/wk Rent: $300/wk $19/wk less rent
Northfield
Income: $679/wk Rent: $307/wk $12/wk less rent
Devon Park (SA)
Income: $851/wk Rent: $285/wk $34/wk less rent
Gilles Plains
Income: $678/wk Rent: $295/wk $24/wk less rent

Suburbs near Hillcrest

The closest suburb to Hillcrest is Windsor Gardens, 1.1 km away.

Windsor Gardens
1.1 km away · income $777/wk · rent $320/wk
Oakden
1.2 km away · income $649/wk · rent $283/wk
Lightsview
1.6 km away · income $1,005/wk · rent $400/wk
Greenacres
1.6 km away · income $789/wk · rent $320/wk
Northgate (SA)
1.7 km away · income $881/wk · rent $395/wk
Klemzig
1.8 km away · income $769/wk · rent $300/wk

Compare Hillcrest (SA)

Frequently Asked Questions About Hillcrest

What is the population of Hillcrest SA?

The population of Hillcrest SA is 3,659 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 3,191 people per km². Hillcrest is ranked #2,066 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Hillcrest?

The median personal income in Hillcrest SA is $759 per week, or $39,468 per year. The median household income is $1,599 per week. Family income is $1,952 per week. Hillcrest is ranked #4,333 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Hillcrest?

Median rent in Hillcrest SA is $319 per week ($1,382 per month). Rent represents 19.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. Hillcrest ranks #4,239 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Hillcrest?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Hillcrest SA is $1,602. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Hillcrest?

The median age in Hillcrest SA is 35 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Hillcrest a good suburb to live in?

Hillcrest is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 3,659. The median income is $759/wk, which is below the typical SA suburb ($759/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.9% 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: 40592. All dollar figures in AUD.