Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Happy Valley suburb profile
Happy Valley, SA · Postcode 5159
This Happy Valley suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Happy Valley, SA (postcode 5159). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Happy Valley with nearby suburbs.
Happy Valley at a glance
Population
11,420
Median rent
$360/wk
Household income
$1,573/wk
Median age
42
Happy Valley trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+0.8% over 10 years
Population
11,420
was 11,219 in 2016
+201 · +1.8%
Median rent
$360/wk
was $330/wk in 2016
+$30 · +9.1%
Household income
$1,573/wk
was $1,391/wk in 2016
+$182 · +13.1%
Median age
42
was 41 in 2016
+1 · +2.4%
Dig deeper: Happy Valley population growth · Happy Valley then and now
Happy Valley vs nearby & Greater Adelaide
Median Census 2021 figures for Happy Valley, nearby suburbs (8), and the Adelaide metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+10.4% vs area
- Happy Valley$360/wk
- Nearby$360/wk
- Adelaide$326/wk
Household income
-2.1% vs area
- Happy Valley$1,573/wk
- Nearby$1,818/wk
- Adelaide$1,607/wk
Median age
+5% vs area
- Happy Valley42
- Nearby41
- Adelaide40
Personal income
-3.3% vs area
- Happy Valley$773/wk
- Nearby$817/wk
- Adelaide$799/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in SA. See Adelaide rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Happy Valley compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Happy Valley sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 71,045.9
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6997.4
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 61,033.7
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 6984.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Happy Valley on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Happy Valley, SA.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Happy Valley people
- Population
- 11,420
- Median age
- 42
- Born overseas
- 18.6%
- Average household size
- 2.5
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Happy Valley income
- Median household income
- $1,573/wk
- Median personal income
- $773/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Happy Valley housing
- Median rent
- $360/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,517/mo
- Separate houses
- 85.5%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 32.2%
- Mortgaged
- 44.5%
- Rented
- 10.1%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 5%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Happy Valley work
- Employment to population
- 60.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 55.4%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 5159)
Compare Happy Valley with nearby suburbs
Happy Valley in numbers
Happy Valley had 11,420 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 12th most populous suburb or locality in SA out of 1,624. The median age is 42, close to the typical SA suburb. The average household has 2.5 people. 18.6% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 32.2% own their home outright, 44.5% are paying a mortgage, 10.1% rent. Separate houses make up 85.5% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $360/wk, 16% above the typical SA suburb.
Median household income was $1,573/wk, 3% above the typical SA suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.2%. 55.4% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 7 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 1.8% (from 11,219 to 11,420). Median rent moved from $330/wk to $360/wk (+9.1%).
Happy Valley suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Happy Valley, SA?
- The median weekly rent in Happy Valley was $360/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Happy Valley, SA?
- Happy Valley had 11,420 residents at the 2021 Census, up 1.8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Happy Valley?
- Median household income in Happy Valley was $1,573/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Happy Valley?
- 10.1% of occupied homes in Happy Valley were rented, 32.2% were owned outright and 44.5% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Happy Valley suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Happy Valley (SA). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Adelaide