Bolivar vs Waterloo Corner

Waterloo Corner is the younger of the two, with a median age of 58 against 61 in Bolivar. In both, most households own their home. In Bolivar, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and the large majority of households are people living alone. In Waterloo Corner, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. Waterloo Corner is closer to the city centre: 29.2 km, against 32.7 km. On these figures, Bolivar 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

Waterloo Corner

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 11%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (47% vs 12%)
  • carries lower crime risk (84/100 vs 97/100)

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

First-home buyers

Bolivar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (32% vs 42%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Bolivar has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 13%)
  • Waterloo Corner leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Waterloo Corner

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (29 min vs 61 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (29.2 km vs 32.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Waterloo Corner

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (84/100 vs 97/100)
  • But Bolivar has more units and townhouses to downsize into (89% vs 3%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bolivar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (32.7% vs -10.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
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.

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Walkability 0 / 10
Bolivar — Walkability: 0/100 Waterloo Corner — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 3 / 16
Bolivar — Safety: 3/100 Waterloo Corner — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 83
Bolivar — Low fire risk: 100/100 Waterloo Corner — Low fire risk: 83/100
Low flood risk 15 / 10
Bolivar — Low flood risk: 15/100 Waterloo Corner — Low flood risk: 10/100

Demographics

Waterloo Corner has more residents (1,103 vs 357); Waterloo Corner has higher household incomes ($48,672 vs $39,312).

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Population 357 1,103
+209% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +32.7% -10.0%
Median age 61 58
Median household income $39,312/yr $48,672/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $240/wk
+6% vs other
 $225/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
0-4 2.2% / 3.1%
Bolivar — 0-4: 2.2% Waterloo Corner — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 2.8% / 7.8%
Bolivar — 5-14: 2.8% Waterloo Corner — 5-14: 7.8%
15-19 1.7% / 3.8%
Bolivar — 15-19: 1.7% Waterloo Corner — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 2.8% / 5.0%
Bolivar — 20-24: 2.8% Waterloo Corner — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 7.3% / 6.9%
Bolivar — 25-34: 7.3% Waterloo Corner — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 9.5% / 8.2%
Bolivar — 35-44: 9.5% Waterloo Corner — 35-44: 8.2%
45-54 16.0% / 10.9%
Bolivar — 45-54: 16.0% Waterloo Corner — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 19.0% / 15.0%
Bolivar — 55-64: 19.0% Waterloo Corner — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 28.3% / 22.1%
Bolivar — 65-74: 28.3% Waterloo Corner — 65-74: 22.1%
75-84 10.9% / 13.2%
Bolivar — 75-84: 10.9% Waterloo Corner — 75-84: 13.2%
85+ 0.8% / 4.5%
Bolivar — 85+: 0.8% Waterloo Corner — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bolivar 79.6% lone person
Bolivar — Lone Person: 79.6% Bolivar — Couple Families: 7.1% Bolivar — One Parent Families: 5.3% Bolivar — Group Household: 8.0% Bolivar — Other Families: 0.0%
Waterloo Corner 47.9% lone person
Waterloo Corner — Lone Person: 47.9% Waterloo Corner — Couple Families: 38.8% Waterloo Corner — One Parent Families: 8.0% Waterloo Corner — Group Household: 3.0% Waterloo Corner — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bolivar 38.7% renting
Bolivar — Owned Outright: 56.8% Bolivar — Mortgage: 4.5% Bolivar — Renting: 38.7%
Waterloo Corner 12.7% renting
Waterloo Corner — Owned Outright: 68.1% Waterloo Corner — Mortgage: 19.2% Waterloo Corner — Renting: 12.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 11.1%
Bolivar — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% Waterloo Corner — Certificate III & IV: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.5% / 3.6%
Bolivar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5% Waterloo Corner — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.6%
Bachelor Degree 2.8% / 4.1%
Bolivar — Bachelor Degree: 2.8% Waterloo Corner — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / —
Bolivar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Waterloo Corner — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest
Postgraduate Degree — / 0.8%
Bolivar — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Waterloo Corner — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

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.

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
England 5.0% / 10.4%
Bolivar — England: 5.0% Waterloo Corner — England: 10.4%
Vietnam — / 8.9%
Bolivar — Vietnam: not among its largest Waterloo Corner — Vietnam: 8.9%
Italy 2.0% / 3.5%
Bolivar — Italy: 2.0% Waterloo Corner — Italy: 3.5%
Afghanistan — / 1.2%
Bolivar — Afghanistan: not among its largest Waterloo Corner — Afghanistan: 1.2%
Netherlands 1.1% / —
Bolivar — Netherlands: 1.1% Waterloo Corner — Netherlands: not among its largest
Scotland — / 1.1%
Bolivar — Scotland: not among its largest Waterloo Corner — Scotland: 1.1%
New Zealand 0.8% / —
Bolivar — New Zealand: 0.8% Waterloo Corner — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bolivar 10.7% houses
Bolivar — Houses: 10.7% Bolivar — Flats / Apartments: 86.2% Bolivar — Townhouses: 3.1%
Waterloo Corner 96.7% houses
Waterloo Corner — Houses: 96.7% Waterloo Corner — Flats / Apartments: 3.3% Waterloo Corner — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Median house price — $1,364,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $2,599,992
Typical days to sell (houses) — 25 days
from 6 sales

Zoning mix

Waterloo Corner has more rural and farming land (84% vs 5%); Bolivar has more industrially zoned land (36% vs 7%).

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Rural and farming 5% 84%
Infrastructure and transport 39% 1%
Industrial 36% 7%
Environmental 9% 0%
Parks and recreation 3% 8%
Other and special use 7% 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

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
New dwellings approved 949
across Salisbury
 2,475
across Playford
Approvals change year on year -30% +65%

Ranking within SA

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 6% of SA Higher than 14% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 29% of SA Higher than 64% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 31% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 71% of SA

Liveability

Waterloo Corner is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Grade — D
Score — 13/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Waterloo Corner carries more bushfire risk (17 vs 0); Bolivar carries more crime risk (97 vs 84).

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
17/100
Crime High
97/100
 High
84/100
Flood High
85/100
 High
90/100
Coastal erosion Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
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 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 5.5 km
 None

Amenities in the suburb

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Bolivar sits further from the CBD (32.7 km vs 29.2 km).

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Walkability score 0/100 10/100
Distance to Adelaide 32.7 km
+11% vs other
 29.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 61 min 29 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 5110
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 5110
same for both

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.

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Car (driver) 67.4% / 65.2%
Bolivar — Car (driver): 67.4% Waterloo Corner — Car (driver): 65.2%
Worked from Home 8.1% / 22.3%
Bolivar — Worked from Home: 8.1% Waterloo Corner — Worked from Home: 22.3%
Car (passenger) 11.6% / 5.3%
Bolivar — Car (passenger): 11.6% Waterloo Corner — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 3.5% / 7.2%
Bolivar — Walked Only: 3.5% Waterloo Corner — Walked Only: 7.2%
Bus 9.3% / —
Bolivar — Bus: 9.3% Waterloo Corner — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.4%).

Setting

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.6 km 4.3 km
4.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Connectivity score 63/100 32/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
66 premises
 2%
455 premises

Climate

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.4°C 30.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 6.6°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³ 5.5 µg/m³
PM10 18.3 µg/m³ 18.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.51 pphm 0.31 pphm

Council rates

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Average residential rate $1,722/yr $2,101/yr
Council Salisbury Playford

Federal electorate

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Division Spence
same for both
Member Matt Burnell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bolivar Waterloo Corner
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bolivar

Coastal Middle-Ring Retirees

Waterloo Corner

Acreage Multicultural Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bolivar

Bolivar vs Paralowie Bolivar vs Burton Bolivar vs Globe Derby Park Bolivar vs Dry Creek Bolivar vs St Kilda

Other comparisons with Waterloo Corner

Waterloo Corner vs Burton Waterloo Corner vs Virginia Waterloo Corner vs Direk Waterloo Corner vs Penfield Waterloo Corner vs Edinburgh Waterloo Corner vs Penfield Gardens
Full data on Bolivar Full data on Waterloo Corner
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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