Birkenhead vs Peterhead

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Peterhead, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Peterhead tends to suit people living alone.

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

Birkenhead

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 96/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 69%)

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

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

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

  • Birkenhead carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 96/100)
  • Peterhead has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% 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

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

Birkenhead Peterhead
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.

Birkenhead Peterhead
Walkability 59 / 55
Birkenhead — Walkability: 59/100 Peterhead — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 29 / 4
Birkenhead — Safety: 29/100 Peterhead — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Birkenhead — Low fire risk: 100/100 Peterhead — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 21 / 11
Birkenhead — Low flood risk: 21/100 Peterhead — Low flood risk: 11/100

Demographics

Birkenhead has more residents (1,798 vs 1,201); Birkenhead has higher household incomes ($83,096 vs $69,992).

Birkenhead Peterhead
Population 1,798
+33% vs other
 1,201
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.1% +7.5%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $83,096/yr
+16% vs other
 $69,992/yr
Median weekly rent $315/wk
+5% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Birkenhead Peterhead
0-4 7.4% / 5.8%
Birkenhead — 0-4: 7.4% Peterhead — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 9.3% / 11.0%
Birkenhead — 5-14: 9.3% Peterhead — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 4.4% / 3.9%
Birkenhead — 15-19: 4.4% Peterhead — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 5.9% / 4.7%
Birkenhead — 20-24: 5.9% Peterhead — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 15.6% / 14.8%
Birkenhead — 25-34: 15.6% Peterhead — 25-34: 14.8%
35-44 13.8% / 14.2%
Birkenhead — 35-44: 13.8% Peterhead — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 13.8% / 12.4%
Birkenhead — 45-54: 13.8% Peterhead — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 15.2% / 15.2%
Birkenhead — 55-64: 15.2% Peterhead — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 9.5% / 10.6%
Birkenhead — 65-74: 9.5% Peterhead — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 3.1% / 4.8%
Birkenhead — 75-84: 3.1% Peterhead — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 1.8% / 2.4%
Birkenhead — 85+: 1.8% Peterhead — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Birkenhead 42.9% lone person
Birkenhead — Lone Person: 42.9% Birkenhead — Couple Families: 31.5% Birkenhead — One Parent Families: 19.4% Birkenhead — Group Household: 3.8% Birkenhead — Other Families: 2.4%
Peterhead 51.2% lone person
Peterhead — Lone Person: 51.2% Peterhead — Couple Families: 24.4% Peterhead — One Parent Families: 19.8% Peterhead — Group Household: 4.6% Peterhead — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Birkenhead 27.7% renting
Birkenhead — Owned Outright: 26.0% Birkenhead — Mortgage: 46.3% Birkenhead — Renting: 27.7%
Peterhead 29.8% renting
Peterhead — Owned Outright: 24.3% Peterhead — Mortgage: 45.9% Peterhead — Renting: 29.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Birkenhead Peterhead
Certificate III & IV 18.7% / 17.7%
Birkenhead — Certificate III & IV: 18.7% Peterhead — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 7.7%
Birkenhead — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Peterhead — Bachelor Degree: 7.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.2%
Birkenhead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Peterhead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 2.5%
Birkenhead — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Peterhead — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.4%
Birkenhead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Peterhead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

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.

Birkenhead Peterhead
England 5.4% / 5.5%
Birkenhead — England: 5.4% Peterhead — England: 5.5%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Birkenhead — New Zealand: 1.3% Peterhead — New Zealand: 1.5%
Italy 1.1% / 0.9%
Birkenhead — Italy: 1.1% Peterhead — Italy: 0.9%
Philippines 0.7% / 1.1%
Birkenhead — Philippines: 0.7% Peterhead — Philippines: 1.1%
Greece 0.8% / 0.5%
Birkenhead — Greece: 0.8% Peterhead — Greece: 0.5%
Germany 0.8% / 0.4%
Birkenhead — Germany: 0.8% Peterhead — Germany: 0.4%
Scotland — / 1.2%
Birkenhead — Scotland: not among its largest Peterhead — Scotland: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Birkenhead 88.1% houses
Birkenhead — Houses: 88.1% Birkenhead — Townhouses: 8.0% Birkenhead — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Peterhead 69.3% houses
Peterhead — Houses: 69.3% Peterhead — Townhouses: 24.0% Peterhead — Flats / Apartments: 6.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Birkenhead Peterhead
Median house price $855,100 $825,000
Median unit price — $605,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 26 sales
 18 days
from 10 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.

Birkenhead Peterhead
2 bed $778K / $795K
Birkenhead — 2 bed: $778K (7 sales) Peterhead — 2 bed: $795K (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

3 bed $855K / $835K
Birkenhead — 3 bed: $855K (49 sales) Peterhead — 3 bed: $835K (16 sales)

49 vs 16 sales

4 bed $982K / $920K
Birkenhead — 4 bed: $982K (12 sales) Peterhead — 4 bed: $920K (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Peterhead has more industrially zoned land (40% vs 25%).

Birkenhead Peterhead
Residential 66% 59%
Industrial 25% 40%
Commercial 8% 1%
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

Birkenhead Peterhead
New dwellings approved 1,176
across Port Adelaide Enfield
same for both
Approvals change year on year +23%
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.

Birkenhead Peterhead
Houses 3.7%
$670/wk on $950K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Birkenhead Peterhead
House price Higher than 21% of SA Higher than 15% of SA
Income Higher than 58% of SA Higher than 40% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Affordability Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 71% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 69% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of SA
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 36% of SA —

Liveability

Birkenhead scores higher overall (40 vs 24).

Birkenhead Peterhead
Grade C D
Score 40/100 24/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Peterhead carries more crime risk (96 vs 71); Peterhead carries more flood risk (89 vs 79).

Birkenhead Peterhead
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 High
96/100
Flood High
79/100
 High
89/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Birkenhead Peterhead
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Birkenhead

  • Le Fevre Peninsula Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Peterhead

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

Amenities in the suburb

Birkenhead Peterhead
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 2 0
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Birkenhead Peterhead
Walkability score 59/100 55/100
Distance to Adelaide 20.4 km 20.7 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min
same for both
Public transport score 45/100
Bus
 40/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 13.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 10.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5015
 0.8%
postcode 5016
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 5015
 58
postcode 5016

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.

Birkenhead Peterhead
Car (driver) 81.2% / 81.9%
Birkenhead — Car (driver): 81.2% Peterhead — Car (driver): 81.9%
Worked from Home 7.5% / 6.0%
Birkenhead — Worked from Home: 7.5% Peterhead — Worked from Home: 6.0%
Train 4.7% / 5.6%
Birkenhead — Train: 4.7% Peterhead — Train: 5.6%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.5%
Birkenhead — Car (passenger): 3.5% Peterhead — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.0%
Birkenhead — Walked Only: 1.9% Peterhead — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bicycle 0.7% / 1.4%
Birkenhead — Bicycle: 0.7% Peterhead — Bicycle: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.9%).

Setting

Birkenhead Peterhead
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
3.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Birkenhead Peterhead
Connectivity score 62/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
873 premises
 34%
648 premises

Climate

Birkenhead Peterhead
Annual rainfall 457 mm 404 mm
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C 30.4°C
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C 6.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Birkenhead Peterhead
PM2.5 4.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Birkenhead Peterhead
Average residential rate $1,311/yr
same for both
Council Port Adelaide Enfield
same for both

Federal electorate

Birkenhead Peterhead
Division Hindmarsh
same for both
Member Mark Butler
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Birkenhead Peterhead
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Birkenhead

Coastal Middle-Ring

Peterhead

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Birkenhead

Birkenhead vs Largs Bay Birkenhead vs Port Adelaide Birkenhead vs Exeter Birkenhead vs Glanville Birkenhead vs New Port

Other comparisons with Peterhead

Peterhead vs Largs Bay Peterhead vs Port Adelaide Peterhead vs Exeter
Full data on Birkenhead Full data on Peterhead
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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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