Brownlow Ki vs Cygnet River

Cygnet River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 52 in Brownlow Ki. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Brownlow Ki, most households are people living alone. In Cygnet River, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Cygnet River tends to suit families with children and couples.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Brownlow Ki carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 44/100)
  • Cygnet River is already more of a family suburb (47% vs 33%)

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

First-home buyers

Brownlow Ki

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 36%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Brownlow Ki

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (20% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($208/wk vs $230/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Brownlow Ki is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • Cygnet River sits closer to the CBD (180.3 km vs 184.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Brownlow Ki

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 44/100)

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

Investors

Brownlow Ki

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (0.8% vs -5.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
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.

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Walkability 15 / 0
Brownlow Ki — Walkability: 15/100 Cygnet River — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 69 / 56
Brownlow Ki — Safety: 69/100 Cygnet River — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 10
Brownlow Ki — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cygnet River — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 7 / 14
Brownlow Ki — Low flood risk: 7/100 Cygnet River — Low flood risk: 14/100

Demographics

Brownlow Ki has more residents (238 vs 72); Brownlow Ki skews older (52 vs 40).

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Population 238
+70% vs other
 72
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.8% -5.3%
Median age 52 40
Median household income $53,248/yr
+7% vs other
 $49,348/yr
Median weekly rent $208/wk $230/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
0-4 5.9% / 4.2%
Brownlow Ki — 0-4: 5.9% Cygnet River — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 10.9% / 16.7%
Brownlow Ki — 5-14: 10.9% Cygnet River — 5-14: 16.7%
15-19 3.8% / 4.2%
Brownlow Ki — 15-19: 3.8% Cygnet River — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 2.1% / —
Brownlow Ki — 20-24: 2.1% Cygnet River — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 7.6% / 6.9%
Brownlow Ki — 25-34: 7.6% Cygnet River — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 10.1% / 16.7%
Brownlow Ki — 35-44: 10.1% Cygnet River — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 14.3% / 15.3%
Brownlow Ki — 45-54: 14.3% Cygnet River — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 18.9% / 9.7%
Brownlow Ki — 55-64: 18.9% Cygnet River — 55-64: 9.7%
65-74 18.9% / 20.8%
Brownlow Ki — 65-74: 18.9% Cygnet River — 65-74: 20.8%
75-84 5.0% / 5.6%
Brownlow Ki — 75-84: 5.0% Cygnet River — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 2.1% / —
Brownlow Ki — 85+: 2.1% Cygnet River — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brownlow Ki 59.7% lone person
Brownlow Ki — Lone Person: 59.7% Brownlow Ki — Couple Families: 28.4% Brownlow Ki — Group Household: 7.5% Brownlow Ki — One Parent Families: 4.5%
Cygnet River 53.3% lone person
Cygnet River — Lone Person: 53.3% Cygnet River — Couple Families: 46.7% Cygnet River — Group Household: 0.0% Cygnet River — One Parent Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Brownlow Ki 20.2% renting
Brownlow Ki — Owned Outright: 48.9% Brownlow Ki — Mortgage: 30.9% Brownlow Ki — Renting: 20.2%
Cygnet River 10.0% renting
Cygnet River — Owned Outright: 46.7% Cygnet River — Mortgage: 43.3% Cygnet River — Renting: 10.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
England 5.5% / 6.9%
Brownlow Ki — England: 5.5% Cygnet River — England: 6.9%
New Zealand 2.5% / —
Brownlow Ki — New Zealand: 2.5% Cygnet River — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 1.3% / —
Brownlow Ki — Philippines: 1.3% Cygnet River — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 1.3% / —
Brownlow Ki — Germany: 1.3% Cygnet River — Germany: not among its largest
Netherlands 1.3% / —
Brownlow Ki — Netherlands: 1.3% Cygnet River — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

Qualifications

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

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 13.9%
Brownlow Ki — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Cygnet River — Bachelor Degree: 13.9%
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 6.9%
Brownlow Ki — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% Cygnet River — Certificate III & IV: 6.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 9.7%
Brownlow Ki — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Cygnet River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / —
Brownlow Ki — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Cygnet River — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / —
Brownlow Ki — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Cygnet River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brownlow Ki 97.9% houses
Brownlow Ki — Houses: 97.9% Brownlow Ki — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Cygnet River 100.0% houses
Cygnet River — Houses: 100.0% Cygnet River — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Median house price $523,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Cygnet River has more rural and farming land (71% vs 41%); Cygnet River has more land zoned for conservation (23% vs 11%).

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Rural and farming 41% 71%
Parks and recreation 36% 0%
Environmental 11% 23%
Residential 12% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 6%
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

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
New dwellings approved 48
across Kangaroo Island
same for both
Approvals change year on year -12%
same for both

Ranking within SA

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 18% of SA Higher than 15% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 69% of SA Higher than 23% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 46% of SA Higher than 45% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of SA Higher than 57% of SA

Liveability

Brownlow Ki is more walkable (15 vs 0).

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Cygnet River carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 0); Cygnet River carries more crime risk (44 vs 31).

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
90/100
Crime Low
31/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood High
93/100
 High
86/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
54/100
 High
80/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
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

Amenities in the suburb

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Brownlow Ki sits further from the CBD (184.1 km vs 180.3 km).

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Walkability score 15/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 184.1 km
+2% vs other
 180.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 201 min 197 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 5223
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 5223
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.

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Car (driver) 85.7% / 79.4%
Brownlow Ki — Car (driver): 85.7% Cygnet River — Car (driver): 79.4%
Worked from Home 10.7% / 8.8%
Brownlow Ki — Worked from Home: 10.7% Cygnet River — Worked from Home: 8.8%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 11.8%
Brownlow Ki — Car (passenger): 3.6% Cygnet River — Car (passenger): 11.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.7%).

Setting

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 435 m
654 m to a named beach
 5.5 km

NBN connectivity

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
127 premises
 0%
47 premises

Climate

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Annual rainfall 412 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Average residential rate $1,908/yr
same for both
Council Kangaroo Island
same for both

Federal electorate

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Brownlow Ki Cygnet River
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Brownlow Ki

Beach Coastal Retirees

Cygnet River

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brownlow Ki

Brownlow Ki vs Kingscote

Other comparisons with Cygnet River

Cygnet River vs Kingscote Cygnet River vs Haines Cygnet River vs Wisanger Cygnet River vs Nepean Bay Cygnet River vs Macgillivray Cygnet River vs Menzies
Full data on Brownlow Ki Full data on Cygnet River
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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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