Colonel Light Gardens vs Hawthorn

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Colonel Light Gardens, most households are couple families. In Hawthorn, about half of households are couple families. Hawthorn is closer to the city centre: 6.1 km, against 7.5 km. On these figures, Hawthorn 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

Colonel Light Gardens

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 69/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 73%)

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

First-home buyers

Colonel Light Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 25%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($295/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hawthorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 82/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hawthorn

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (27% vs 9%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 15%)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 82/100)
  • But Colonel Light Gardens carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 69/100)

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

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

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
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.

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Walkability 82 / 91
Colonel Light Gardens — Walkability: 82/100 Hawthorn — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 73 / 31
Colonel Light Gardens — Safety: 73/100 Hawthorn — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Colonel Light Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hawthorn — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 29 / 25
Colonel Light Gardens — Low flood risk: 29/100 Hawthorn — Low flood risk: 25/100

Demographics

Colonel Light Gardens has more residents (3,311 vs 2,221); Colonel Light Gardens rents higher ($400/wk vs $295/wk).

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Population 3,311
+33% vs other
 2,221
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.1% +2.5%
Median age 42 43
Median household income $129,532/yr
+5% vs other
 $123,240/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+26% vs other
 $295/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
0-4 5.1% / 4.5%
Colonel Light Gardens — 0-4: 5.1% Hawthorn — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 15.3% / 12.5%
Colonel Light Gardens — 5-14: 15.3% Hawthorn — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 7.5% / 6.4%
Colonel Light Gardens — 15-19: 7.5% Hawthorn — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.9% / 6.7%
Colonel Light Gardens — 20-24: 5.9% Hawthorn — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 7.3% / 10.3%
Colonel Light Gardens — 25-34: 7.3% Hawthorn — 25-34: 10.3%
35-44 12.5% / 11.6%
Colonel Light Gardens — 35-44: 12.5% Hawthorn — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 17.5% / 13.1%
Colonel Light Gardens — 45-54: 17.5% Hawthorn — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 14.4% / 14.4%
Colonel Light Gardens — 55-64: 14.4% Hawthorn — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 9.8% / 13.5%
Colonel Light Gardens — 65-74: 9.8% Hawthorn — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 3.8% / 6.0%
Colonel Light Gardens — 75-84: 3.8% Hawthorn — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 1.0% / 1.4%
Colonel Light Gardens — 85+: 1.0% Hawthorn — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Colonel Light Gardens 62.8% couple families
Colonel Light Gardens — Couple Families: 62.8% Colonel Light Gardens — Lone Person: 22.2% Colonel Light Gardens — One Parent Families: 11.6% Colonel Light Gardens — Group Household: 2.0% Colonel Light Gardens — Other Families: 1.3%
Hawthorn 53.3% couple families
Hawthorn — Couple Families: 53.3% Hawthorn — Lone Person: 31.7% Hawthorn — One Parent Families: 10.1% Hawthorn — Group Household: 3.2% Hawthorn — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Colonel Light Gardens 11.8% renting
Colonel Light Gardens — Owned Outright: 42.1% Colonel Light Gardens — Mortgage: 46.1% Colonel Light Gardens — Renting: 11.8%
Hawthorn 23.9% renting
Hawthorn — Owned Outright: 40.4% Hawthorn — Mortgage: 35.7% Hawthorn — Renting: 23.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 26.0%
Colonel Light Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Hawthorn — Bachelor Degree: 26.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 10.5%
Colonel Light Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Hawthorn — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5%
Certificate III & IV 9.8% / 6.7%
Colonel Light Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 9.8% Hawthorn — Certificate III & IV: 6.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 7.0%
Colonel Light Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Hawthorn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 3.7%
Colonel Light Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Hawthorn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.0%).

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.

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
England 4.1% / 4.3%
Colonel Light Gardens — England: 4.1% Hawthorn — England: 4.3%
China 0.9% / 1.4%
Colonel Light Gardens — China: 0.9% Hawthorn — China: 1.4%
India 0.6% / 1.5%
Colonel Light Gardens — India: 0.6% Hawthorn — India: 1.5%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.7%
Colonel Light Gardens — New Zealand: 0.7% Hawthorn — New Zealand: 0.7%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.9%
Colonel Light Gardens — Scotland: 0.4% Hawthorn — Scotland: 0.9%
Greece 1.0% / —
Colonel Light Gardens — Greece: 1.0% Hawthorn — Greece: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.0%
Colonel Light Gardens — Vietnam: not among its largest Hawthorn — Vietnam: 1.0%
Italy 0.6% / —
Colonel Light Gardens — Italy: 0.6% Hawthorn — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Colonel Light Gardens 91.2% houses
Colonel Light Gardens — Houses: 91.2% Colonel Light Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 3.8% Colonel Light Gardens — Townhouses: 5.0%
Hawthorn 72.7% houses
Hawthorn — Houses: 72.7% Hawthorn — Flats / Apartments: 21.0% Hawthorn — Townhouses: 6.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Median house price $1,691,000 $1,800,000
Median unit price — $571,083
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 17 sales
 19 days
from 7 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.

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
3 bed $1.55M / $1.78M
Colonel Light Gardens — 3 bed: $1.55M (17 sales) Hawthorn — 3 bed: $1.78M (12 sales)

17 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.77M / $1.61M
Colonel Light Gardens — 4 bed: $1.77M (17 sales) Hawthorn — 4 bed: $1.61M (5 sales)

17 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Residential 92% 90%
Parks and recreation 7% 4%
Commercial 1% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 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

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
New dwellings approved 188
across Mitcham
same for both
Approvals change year on year +32%
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.

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Houses 2.3%
$650/wk on $1.5M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
House price Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 91% of SA
Income Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 94% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 94% of SA Higher than 99% of SA
Affordability Higher than 48% of SA Higher than 25% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 83% of SA Higher than 97% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of SA Higher than 91% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of SA —

Liveability

Hawthorn is more walkable (91 vs 82); Colonel Light Gardens scores higher overall (83 vs 75).

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Grade A+ A
Score 83/100 75/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hawthorn carries more crime risk (69 vs 27).

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood High
71/100
 High
75/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Tonsley, 2.7 km
 3
Tonsley, 4.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 4.6%

Schools in Colonel Light Gardens

  • St Therese School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Colonel Light Gardens Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Hawthorn

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

Amenities in the suburb

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 4
Parks & reserves 5 7
Childcare 3 2
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 2 0
Waterways 0 6

Mobility

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Walkability score 82/100 91/100
Distance to Adelaide 7.5 km
+19% vs other
 6.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 13 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 90/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 96.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 80.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 5041
 2.5%
postcode 5062
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 58
postcode 5041
 63
postcode 5062

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.

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Car (driver) 68.9% / 67.7%
Colonel Light Gardens — Car (driver): 68.9% Hawthorn — Car (driver): 67.7%
Worked from Home 15.8% / 16.6%
Colonel Light Gardens — Worked from Home: 15.8% Hawthorn — Worked from Home: 16.6%
Bus 5.0% / 4.8%
Colonel Light Gardens — Bus: 5.0% Hawthorn — Bus: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 4.4%
Colonel Light Gardens — Car (passenger): 5.0% Hawthorn — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Bicycle 2.9% / 2.8%
Colonel Light Gardens — Bicycle: 2.9% Hawthorn — Bicycle: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.9%).

Setting

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Elevation 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 67 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.6 km 8.4 km

NBN connectivity

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Connectivity score 98/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 96%
1,275 premises
 32%
1,062 premises

Climate

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
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)

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
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

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Average residential rate $2,296/yr
same for both
Council Mitcham
same for both

Federal electorate

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Division Boothby
same for both
Member Louise Miller-Frost
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Colonel Light Gardens

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

Hawthorn

Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Colonel Light Gardens

Colonel Light Gardens vs Daw Park Colonel Light Gardens vs Cumberland Park Colonel Light Gardens vs Westbourne Park Colonel Light Gardens vs Panorama Colonel Light Gardens vs Melrose Park Colonel Light Gardens vs Lower Mitcham

Other comparisons with Hawthorn

Hawthorn vs Malvern Hawthorn vs Torrens Park Hawthorn vs Westbourne Park Hawthorn vs Kingswood Hawthorn vs Lower Mitcham Hawthorn vs Unley Park
Full data on Colonel Light Gardens Full data on Hawthorn
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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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