Clovelly Park vs Tonsley

Tonsley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 35 in Clovelly Park. In both, most households own their home. In Clovelly Park, most homes are detached houses. In Tonsley, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Clovelly Park: a median of $920,000, against $800,000 in Tonsley, and rent is higher there too. Clovelly Park is closer to the city centre: 9.8 km, against 11.1 km. On these figures, Tonsley tends to suit young adults and 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

Clovelly Park

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (53% vs 29%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (69% vs 49%)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 90/100)

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

First-home buyers

Tonsley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($800,000 vs $920,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tonsley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $358/wk)

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

  • Clovelly Park is more walkable (86/100 vs 70/100)
  • Tonsley gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (12% vs 7%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Clovelly Park

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 90/100)
  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 70/100)
  • But Tonsley has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 31%)

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 house yield.

Where they sit

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

Clovelly Park Tonsley
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.

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Walkability 86 / 70
Clovelly Park — Walkability: 86/100 Tonsley — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 35 / 10
Clovelly Park — Safety: 35/100 Tonsley — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Clovelly Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Tonsley — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Clovelly Park has more residents (3,126 vs 743); Clovelly Park skews older (35 vs 31).

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Population 3,126
+76% vs other
 743
Population trend (2016 → 2021) —
same for both
Median age 35 31
Median household income $83,200/yr
+8% vs other
 $76,440/yr
Median weekly rent $358/wk
+8% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clovelly Park Tonsley
0-4 5.7% / 3.9%
Clovelly Park — 0-4: 5.7% Tonsley — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 11.5% / 6.3%
Clovelly Park — 5-14: 11.5% Tonsley — 5-14: 6.3%
15-19 4.3% / 4.4%
Clovelly Park — 15-19: 4.3% Tonsley — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 7.9% / 14.4%
Clovelly Park — 20-24: 7.9% Tonsley — 20-24: 14.4%
25-34 20.2% / 29.1%
Clovelly Park — 25-34: 20.2% Tonsley — 25-34: 29.1%
35-44 16.3% / 14.9%
Clovelly Park — 35-44: 16.3% Tonsley — 35-44: 14.9%
45-54 11.0% / 8.6%
Clovelly Park — 45-54: 11.0% Tonsley — 45-54: 8.6%
55-64 9.1% / 7.9%
Clovelly Park — 55-64: 9.1% Tonsley — 55-64: 7.9%
65-74 7.5% / 6.6%
Clovelly Park — 65-74: 7.5% Tonsley — 65-74: 6.6%
75-84 4.7% / 2.6%
Clovelly Park — 75-84: 4.7% Tonsley — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 2.0% / 1.9%
Clovelly Park — 85+: 2.0% Tonsley — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clovelly Park 35.3% lone person
Clovelly Park — Lone Person: 35.3% Clovelly Park — Couple Families: 39.3% Clovelly Park — One Parent Families: 13.6% Clovelly Park — Group Household: 9.1% Clovelly Park — Other Families: 2.7%
Tonsley 55.5% lone person
Tonsley — Lone Person: 55.5% Tonsley — Couple Families: 18.0% Tonsley — One Parent Families: 10.9% Tonsley — Group Household: 11.3% Tonsley — Other Families: 4.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clovelly Park 34.9% renting
Clovelly Park — Owned Outright: 28.2% Clovelly Park — Mortgage: 36.9% Clovelly Park — Renting: 34.9%
Tonsley 43.8% renting
Tonsley — Owned Outright: 15.2% Tonsley — Mortgage: 41.1% Tonsley — Renting: 43.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Bachelor Degree 17.3% / 22.1%
Clovelly Park — Bachelor Degree: 17.3% Tonsley — Bachelor Degree: 22.1%
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 12.9%
Clovelly Park — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Tonsley — Certificate III & IV: 12.9%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 9.2%
Clovelly Park — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Tonsley — Postgraduate Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 5.8%
Clovelly Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Tonsley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.7%
Clovelly Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Tonsley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

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.

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Nepal 5.0% / 5.2%
Clovelly Park — Nepal: 5.0% Tonsley — Nepal: 5.2%
India 6.4% / 3.6%
Clovelly Park — India: 6.4% Tonsley — India: 3.6%
England 2.5% / 3.4%
Clovelly Park — England: 2.5% Tonsley — England: 3.4%
China 3.5% / 1.6%
Clovelly Park — China: 3.5% Tonsley — China: 1.6%
Philippines — / 2.3%
Clovelly Park — Philippines: not among its largest Tonsley — Philippines: 2.3%
Vietnam 1.1% / —
Clovelly Park — Vietnam: 1.1% Tonsley — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clovelly Park 68.8% houses
Clovelly Park — Houses: 68.8% Clovelly Park — Townhouses: 30.3% Clovelly Park — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Tonsley 49.3% houses
Tonsley — Houses: 49.3% Tonsley — Townhouses: 30.9% Tonsley — Flats / Apartments: 19.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Median house price $920,000 $800,000
Median unit price $616,250 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 25 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Tonsley has more commercially zoned land (61% vs 2%).

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Residential 91% 29%
Commercial 2% 61%
Industrial 7% 10%
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

Clovelly Park Tonsley
New dwellings approved 809
across Marion
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Houses 4.2%
$705/wk on $864K
 4.6%
$680/wk on $772K
Units — 5.0%
$600/wk on $630K

Ranking within SA

Clovelly Park Tonsley
House price Higher than 44% of SA Higher than 16% of SA
Income Higher than 58% of SA Higher than 52% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
Affordability Higher than 60% of SA Higher than 80% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 88% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 75% of SA Higher than 90% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 70% of SA

Liveability

Clovelly Park is more walkable (86 vs 70); Clovelly Park scores higher overall (70 vs 60).

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Grade A B
Score 70/100 60/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Tonsley carries more crime risk (90 vs 65).

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
90/100
Flood — Low
10/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Clovelly Park Tonsley
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 3
Tonsley, 0.0 km
 3
Tonsley, 1.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.3% 8.9%

Amenities in the suburb

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 0 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Walkability score 86/100 70/100
Distance to Adelaide 9.8 km 11.1 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 19 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 90/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 33.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 5042
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 5042
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.

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Car (driver) 71.0% / 64.1%
Clovelly Park — Car (driver): 71.0% Tonsley — Car (driver): 64.1%
Worked from Home 10.8% / 10.4%
Clovelly Park — Worked from Home: 10.8% Tonsley — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Train 6.2% / 12.2%
Clovelly Park — Train: 6.2% Tonsley — Train: 12.2%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.7%
Clovelly Park — Car (passenger): 5.1% Tonsley — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bus 4.0% / 3.6%
Clovelly Park — Bus: 4.0% Tonsley — Bus: 3.6%
Walked Only 1.0% / 3.9%
Clovelly Park — Walked Only: 1.0% Tonsley — Walked Only: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.0%).

Setting

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.5 km 5.2 km

NBN connectivity

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Connectivity score 67/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,403 premises
 36%
338 premises

Climate

Clovelly Park Tonsley
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)

Clovelly Park Tonsley
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

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Average residential rate $1,782/yr
same for both
Council Marion
same for both

Federal electorate

Clovelly Park Tonsley
Division Boothby
same for both
Member Louise Miller-Frost
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Clovelly Park

Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Urban

Tonsley

Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clovelly Park

Clovelly Park vs Mitchell Park Clovelly Park vs Edwardstown Clovelly Park vs Ascot Park Clovelly Park vs St Marys Clovelly Park vs Melrose Park

Other comparisons with Tonsley

Tonsley vs Mitchell Park Tonsley vs St Marys Tonsley vs Bedford Park
Full data on Clovelly Park Full data on Tonsley
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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