Bowden vs Brompton

Bowden is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 36 in Brompton. In Bowden, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Brompton, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Bowden is closer to the city centre: 4.7 km, against 5.3 km. On these figures, Bowden tends to suit young adults and people living alone.

Bowden is smaller and closer to the CBD at 4.7 km, while Brompton has double the population and higher median household income at $94,068 versus $84,656. Bowden scores better on liveability (65 versus 60) and sits in a higher socio-economic decile, whereas Brompton is notably more walkable with a score of 91 compared to Bowden's 82. House and unit prices are similar between the two, and rental costs are comparable. Bowden may appeal to those seeking a quieter, more affluent pocket closer to the city, while Brompton suits buyers who value walkability and a larger, more established community.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Brompton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (43% vs 14%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (34% vs 22%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit 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

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Bowden gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (15% vs 6%)
  • Brompton is more walkable (94/100 vs 85/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brompton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 85/100)
  • But Bowden has more units and townhouses to downsize into (86% vs 57%)

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

Investors

Bowden

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (98.5% vs 5.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bowden Brompton
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.

Bowden Brompton
Walkability 85 / 94
Bowden — Walkability: 85/100 Brompton — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 16 / 13
Bowden — Safety: 16/100 Brompton — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bowden — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brompton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 47 / 33
Bowden — Low flood risk: 47/100 Brompton — Low flood risk: 33/100

Demographics

Brompton has more residents (3,729 vs 1,808); Brompton skews older (36 vs 32).

Bowden Brompton
Population 1,808 3,729
+106% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +98.5% +5.4%
Median age 32 36
Median household income $84,656/yr $94,068/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+3% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bowden Brompton
0-4 2.8% / 3.8%
Bowden — 0-4: 2.8% Brompton — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 4.5% / 6.7%
Bowden — 5-14: 4.5% Brompton — 5-14: 6.7%
15-19 2.3% / 2.8%
Bowden — 15-19: 2.3% Brompton — 15-19: 2.8%
20-24 13.9% / 8.9%
Bowden — 20-24: 13.9% Brompton — 20-24: 8.9%
25-34 32.4% / 24.9%
Bowden — 25-34: 32.4% Brompton — 25-34: 24.9%
35-44 14.4% / 13.7%
Bowden — 35-44: 14.4% Brompton — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 8.4% / 11.3%
Bowden — 45-54: 8.4% Brompton — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 11.3% / 9.8%
Bowden — 55-64: 11.3% Brompton — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 7.6% / 8.0%
Bowden — 65-74: 7.6% Brompton — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 2.0% / 4.8%
Bowden — 75-84: 2.0% Brompton — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 0.6% / 5.1%
Bowden — 85+: 0.6% Brompton — 85+: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bowden 61.6% lone person
Bowden — Lone Person: 61.6% Bowden — Couple Families: 13.1% Bowden — Group Household: 14.3% Bowden — One Parent Families: 8.7% Bowden — Other Families: 2.3%
Brompton 47.6% lone person
Brompton — Lone Person: 47.6% Brompton — Couple Families: 19.2% Brompton — Group Household: 15.6% Brompton — One Parent Families: 14.5% Brompton — Other Families: 3.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bowden 59.3% renting
Bowden — Owned Outright: 13.0% Bowden — Mortgage: 27.7% Bowden — Renting: 59.3%
Brompton 53.8% renting
Brompton — Owned Outright: 16.9% Brompton — Mortgage: 29.2% Brompton — Renting: 53.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bowden Brompton
Bachelor Degree 29.0% / 24.1%
Bowden — Bachelor Degree: 29.0% Brompton — Bachelor Degree: 24.1%
Postgraduate Degree 11.5% / 8.2%
Bowden — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5% Brompton — Postgraduate Degree: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 10.1%
Bowden — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Brompton — Certificate III & IV: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.2%
Bowden — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Brompton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.8%
Bowden — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Brompton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.0%).

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.

Bowden Brompton
England 4.6% / 3.9%
Bowden — England: 4.6% Brompton — England: 3.9%
China 4.1% / 2.1%
Bowden — China: 4.1% Brompton — China: 2.1%
Greece — / 4.0%
Bowden — Greece: not among its largest Brompton — Greece: 4.0%
India 1.5% / 1.9%
Bowden — India: 1.5% Brompton — India: 1.9%
Vietnam 0.8% / 2.3%
Bowden — Vietnam: 0.8% Brompton — Vietnam: 2.3%
Malaysia 2.0% / 0.9%
Bowden — Malaysia: 2.0% Brompton — Malaysia: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.3% / —
Bowden — New Zealand: 1.3% Brompton — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bowden 22.5% townhouses
Bowden — Townhouses: 22.5% Bowden — Flats / Apartments: 63.4% Bowden — Houses: 14.1%
Brompton 54.2% townhouses
Brompton — Townhouses: 54.2% Brompton — Flats / Apartments: 2.6% Brompton — Houses: 43.2%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Bowden Brompton
Median house price $975,000 $969,500
Median unit price $687,000 $680,000
Median land price $1,047,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 8 sales
 16 days
from 20 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.

Bowden Brompton
2 bed $900K / $853K
Bowden — 2 bed: $900K (5 sales) Brompton — 2 bed: $853K (10 sales)

5 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.22M / $955K
Bowden — 3 bed: $1.22M (6 sales) Brompton — 3 bed: $955K (22 sales)

6 vs 22 sales

Zoning mix

Bowden Brompton
Residential 99% 91%
Industrial 0% 7%
Commercial 1% 2%
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

Bowden Brompton
New dwellings approved 1,636
across Charles Sturt
same for both
Approvals change year on year +109%
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.

Bowden Brompton
Houses — 4.1%
$685/wk on $874K
Units 4.0%
$600/wk on $775K
 —

Ranking within SA

Bowden Brompton
House price Higher than 73% of SA Higher than 55% of SA
Income Higher than 63% of SA Higher than 72% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 100% of SA
Affordability Higher than 21% of SA Higher than 63% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 82% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 95% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 63% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 15% of SA —

Liveability

Bowden scores higher overall (72 vs 61); Brompton is more walkable (94 vs 85).

Bowden Brompton
Grade A B
Score 72/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Brompton carries more flood risk (67 vs 53).

Bowden Brompton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
84/100
 High
87/100
Flood Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
67/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Bowden Brompton
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.4 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.1% 4.0%

Schools in Bowden

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

Schools in Brompton

  • Immaculate Heart of Mary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Bowden Brompton Community School Government · Combined · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bowden Brompton
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 10 3
Parks & reserves 6
same for both
Childcare 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Bowden Brompton
Walkability score 85/100 94/100
Distance to Adelaide 4.7 km 5.3 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 11 min
Public transport score 73/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 14.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 48.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 4 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 5007
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 5007
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.

Bowden Brompton
Car (driver) 54.0% / 61.9%
Bowden — Car (driver): 54.0% Brompton — Car (driver): 61.9%
Worked from Home 14.8% / 12.3%
Bowden — Worked from Home: 14.8% Brompton — Worked from Home: 12.3%
Tram / Light Rail 13.0% / 4.8%
Bowden — Tram / Light Rail: 13.0% Brompton — Tram / Light Rail: 4.8%
Bus 3.4% / 7.4%
Bowden — Bus: 3.4% Brompton — Bus: 7.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.2%
Bowden — Car (passenger): 5.3% Brompton — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Bicycle 4.5% / 4.5%
Bowden — Bicycle: 4.5% Brompton — Bicycle: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.9%).

Setting

Bowden Brompton
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.1 km 7.9 km

NBN connectivity

Bowden Brompton
Connectivity score 93/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 82%
1,274 premises
 39%
2,370 premises

Climate

Bowden Brompton
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bowden Brompton
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

Bowden Brompton
Average residential rate $1,726/yr
same for both
Council Charles Sturt
same for both

Federal electorate

Bowden Brompton
Division Adelaide
same for both
Member Steve Georganas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bowden Brompton
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bowden

Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trains Urban

Brompton

Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bowden

Bowden vs North Adelaide Bowden vs Renown Park Bowden vs Ovingham Bowden vs Hindmarsh

Other comparisons with Brompton

Brompton vs Renown Park Brompton vs Ridleyton Brompton vs Hindmarsh
Full data on Bowden Full data on Brompton
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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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