Bedford Park vs Darlington

Bedford Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 39 in Darlington. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Bedford Park, about half of households rent. In Darlington, most households own their home. On these figures, Bedford Park tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

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

Darlington

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (54% vs 40%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 69%)
  • But Bedford Park has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bedford Park

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $325/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bedford Park has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 20%)
  • Darlington has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 12%)

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

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

Bedford Park Darlington
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.

Bedford Park Darlington
Walkability 75 / 74
Bedford Park — Walkability: 75/100 Darlington — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 13 / 17
Bedford Park — Safety: 13/100 Darlington — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 73
Bedford Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Darlington — Low fire risk: 73/100
Low flood risk 38 / 41
Bedford Park — Low flood risk: 38/100 Darlington — Low flood risk: 41/100

Demographics

Bedford Park has more residents (1,882 vs 1,275); Darlington skews older (39 vs 28).

Bedford Park Darlington
Population 1,882
+32% vs other
 1,275
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.5% +3.2%
Median age 28 39
Median household income $75,296/yr $83,252/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $325/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bedford Park Darlington
0-4 2.7% / 4.7%
Bedford Park — 0-4: 2.7% Darlington — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 4.7% / 10.4%
Bedford Park — 5-14: 4.7% Darlington — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 11.0% / 7.3%
Bedford Park — 15-19: 11.0% Darlington — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 21.4% / 7.2%
Bedford Park — 20-24: 21.4% Darlington — 20-24: 7.2%
25-34 23.6% / 14.1%
Bedford Park — 25-34: 23.6% Darlington — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 11.2% / 14.4%
Bedford Park — 35-44: 11.2% Darlington — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 7.1% / 13.4%
Bedford Park — 45-54: 7.1% Darlington — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 6.8% / 10.6%
Bedford Park — 55-64: 6.8% Darlington — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 5.5% / 9.6%
Bedford Park — 65-74: 5.5% Darlington — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 4.6% / 5.8%
Bedford Park — 75-84: 4.6% Darlington — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 2.1% / 2.0%
Bedford Park — 85+: 2.1% Darlington — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bedford Park 37.5% lone person
Bedford Park — Lone Person: 37.5% Bedford Park — Couple Families: 28.9% Bedford Park — Group Household: 21.4% Bedford Park — One Parent Families: 10.6% Bedford Park — Other Families: 1.7%
Darlington 35.0% lone person
Darlington — Lone Person: 35.0% Darlington — Couple Families: 36.8% Darlington — Group Household: 8.7% Darlington — One Parent Families: 17.6% Darlington — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bedford Park 52.5% renting
Bedford Park — Owned Outright: 27.6% Bedford Park — Mortgage: 19.9% Bedford Park — Renting: 52.5%
Darlington 28.8% renting
Darlington — Owned Outright: 33.3% Darlington — Mortgage: 37.9% Darlington — Renting: 28.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bedford Park Darlington
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 14.2%
Bedford Park — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Darlington — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Certificate III & IV 10.4% / 15.2%
Bedford Park — Certificate III & IV: 10.4% Darlington — Certificate III & IV: 15.2%
Postgraduate Degree 9.3% / 5.4%
Bedford Park — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3% Darlington — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.3% / 6.6%
Bedford Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3% Darlington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 2.0%
Bedford Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Darlington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Bedford Park Darlington
India 4.7% / 3.1%
Bedford Park — India: 4.7% Darlington — India: 3.1%
China 6.1% / 1.6%
Bedford Park — China: 6.1% Darlington — China: 1.6%
England 2.0% / 3.2%
Bedford Park — England: 2.0% Darlington — England: 3.2%
Vietnam 3.1% / 1.1%
Bedford Park — Vietnam: 3.1% Darlington — Vietnam: 1.1%
Singapore 2.7% / —
Bedford Park — Singapore: 2.7% Darlington — Singapore: not among its largest
Sri Lanka 2.6% / —
Bedford Park — Sri Lanka: 2.6% Darlington — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 2.4%
Bedford Park — Malaysia: not among its largest Darlington — Malaysia: 2.4%
Greece — / 1.3%
Bedford Park — Greece: not among its largest Darlington — Greece: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bedford Park 68.8% houses
Bedford Park — Houses: 68.8% Bedford Park — Townhouses: 16.4% Bedford Park — Flats / Apartments: 14.8%
Darlington 79.6% houses
Darlington — Houses: 79.6% Darlington — Townhouses: 15.3% Darlington — Flats / Apartments: 5.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bedford Park Darlington
Median house price $965,000 $890,000
Median unit price $440,750 —
Median land price — $1,472,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 10 sales
 35 days
from 8 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.

Bedford Park Darlington
3 bed $965K / $855K
Bedford Park — 3 bed: $965K (17 sales) Darlington — 3 bed: $855K (10 sales)

17 vs 10 sales

4 bed $1.01M / $1.06M
Bedford Park — 4 bed: $1.01M (10 sales) Darlington — 4 bed: $1.06M (8 sales)

10 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Bedford Park has more commercially zoned land (67% vs 6%); Darlington has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 0%).

Bedford Park Darlington
Commercial 67% 6%
Residential 22% 56%
Environmental 0% 34%
Parks and recreation 6% 1%
Industrial 3%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

Bedford Park Darlington
New dwellings approved 188
across Mitcham
 809
across Marion
Approvals change year on year +32% -31%

Ranking within SA

Bedford Park Darlington
House price Higher than 40% of SA Higher than 25% of SA
Income Higher than 50% of SA Higher than 58% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of SA
same for both
Affordability Higher than 54% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 84% of SA

Liveability

Bedford Park scores higher overall (50 vs 44).

Bedford Park Darlington
Grade C
same for both
Score 50/100 44/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
same for both

Risk profile

Darlington carries more bushfire risk (27 vs 0).

Bedford Park Darlington
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
27/100
Crime High
87/100
 High
83/100
Flood Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
59/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Bedford Park Darlington
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Bedford Park, 0.0 km
 2
Bedford Park, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 23.3% 4.5%

Schools in Bedford Park

  • Australian Science and Mathematics School Government · Secondary

Schools in Darlington

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

Amenities in the suburb

Bedford Park Darlington
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 8 1
Childcare 2 0
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Bedford Park Darlington
Walkability score 75/100 74/100
Distance to Adelaide 12.7 km 14 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min
same for both
Public transport score 89/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 304.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 41.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 5042
 1.2%
postcode 5047
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 5042
 54
postcode 5047

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.

Bedford Park Darlington
Car (driver) 62.8% / 73.9%
Bedford Park — Car (driver): 62.8% Darlington — Car (driver): 73.9%
Worked from Home 8.8% / 11.7%
Bedford Park — Worked from Home: 8.8% Darlington — Worked from Home: 11.7%
Bus 11.3% / 4.8%
Bedford Park — Bus: 11.3% Darlington — Bus: 4.8%
Walked Only 8.8% / 2.6%
Bedford Park — Walked Only: 8.8% Darlington — Walked Only: 2.6%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 4.5%
Bedford Park — Car (passenger): 4.6% Darlington — Car (passenger): 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.9%).

Setting

Bedford Park Darlington
Elevation 85 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 90 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.9 km 3.6 km

NBN connectivity

Bedford Park Darlington
Connectivity score 66/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 25%
926 premises
 28%
574 premises

Climate

Bedford Park Darlington
Annual rainfall 394 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bedford Park Darlington
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

Bedford Park Darlington
Average residential rate $2,296/yr $1,782/yr
Council Mitcham Marion

Federal electorate

Bedford Park Darlington
Division Boothby
same for both
Member Louise Miller-Frost
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bedford Park Darlington
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bedford Park

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Students Transport Hub

Darlington

Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bedford Park

Bedford Park vs Flagstaff Hill Bedford Park vs Mitchell Park Bedford Park vs Marion Bedford Park vs Eden Hills Bedford Park vs St Marys Bedford Park vs Sturt

Other comparisons with Darlington

Darlington vs Flagstaff Hill Darlington vs Seacombe Gardens Darlington vs Sturt Darlington vs O'Halloran Hill Darlington vs Seacombe Heights
Full data on Bedford Park Full data on Darlington
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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