Darlington vs Flagstaff Hill

Darlington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Flagstaff Hill. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Flagstaff Hill, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Flagstaff Hill: a median of $1.04 million, against $890,000 in Darlington, and rent is higher there too. Darlington is closer to the city centre: 14 km, against 17.6 km. On these figures, Darlington tends to suit people living alone, while Flagstaff Hill suits 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

Flagstaff Hill

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 83/100)

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

First-home buyers

Flagstaff Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($585,000 vs $1,472,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 25%)
  • But Darlington has cheaper houses ($890,000 vs $1,035,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Darlington

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($325/wk vs $385/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Darlington

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (14 km vs 17.6 km)
  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 62/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Darlington

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (20% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Flagstaff Hill carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 83/100)

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

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

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
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.

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Walkability 74 / 62
Darlington — Walkability: 74/100 Flagstaff Hill — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 17 / 82
Darlington — Safety: 17/100 Flagstaff Hill — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 73 / 78
Darlington — Low fire risk: 73/100 Flagstaff Hill — Low fire risk: 78/100
Low flood risk 41 / 64
Darlington — Low flood risk: 41/100 Flagstaff Hill — Low flood risk: 64/100

Demographics

Flagstaff Hill has more residents (10,184 vs 1,275); Flagstaff Hill has higher household incomes ($108,160 vs $83,252).

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Population 1,275 10,184
+699% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.2% +2.4%
Median age 39 43
Median household income $83,252/yr $108,160/yr
+30% vs other
Median weekly rent $325/wk $385/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
0-4 4.7% / 5.0%
Darlington — 0-4: 4.7% Flagstaff Hill — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 10.4% / 12.4%
Darlington — 5-14: 10.4% Flagstaff Hill — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 7.3% / 6.3%
Darlington — 15-19: 7.3% Flagstaff Hill — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 7.2% / 5.8%
Darlington — 20-24: 7.2% Flagstaff Hill — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 14.1% / 9.7%
Darlington — 25-34: 14.1% Flagstaff Hill — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 14.4% / 13.0%
Darlington — 35-44: 14.4% Flagstaff Hill — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 13.4% / 14.2%
Darlington — 45-54: 13.4% Flagstaff Hill — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 10.6% / 13.8%
Darlington — 55-64: 10.6% Flagstaff Hill — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 9.6% / 12.5%
Darlington — 65-74: 9.6% Flagstaff Hill — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 5.8% / 5.8%
Darlington — 75-84: 5.8% Flagstaff Hill — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 2.0% / 1.5%
Darlington — 85+: 2.0% Flagstaff Hill — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darlington 36.8% couple families
Darlington — Couple Families: 36.8% Darlington — Lone Person: 35.0% Darlington — One Parent Families: 17.6% Darlington — Group Household: 8.7% Darlington — Other Families: 1.8%
Flagstaff Hill 60.4% couple families
Flagstaff Hill — Couple Families: 60.4% Flagstaff Hill — Lone Person: 23.4% Flagstaff Hill — One Parent Families: 12.9% Flagstaff Hill — Group Household: 2.2% Flagstaff Hill — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Darlington 28.8% renting
Darlington — Owned Outright: 33.3% Darlington — Mortgage: 37.9% Darlington — Renting: 28.8%
Flagstaff Hill 10.5% renting
Flagstaff Hill — Owned Outright: 39.0% Flagstaff Hill — Mortgage: 50.5% Flagstaff Hill — Renting: 10.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Certificate III & IV 15.2% / 15.3%
Darlington — Certificate III & IV: 15.2% Flagstaff Hill — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Bachelor Degree 14.2% / 15.9%
Darlington — Bachelor Degree: 14.2% Flagstaff Hill — Bachelor Degree: 15.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 9.6%
Darlington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Flagstaff Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 5.1%
Darlington — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Flagstaff Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.7%
Darlington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Flagstaff Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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.

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
England 3.2% / 9.8%
Darlington — England: 3.2% Flagstaff Hill — England: 9.8%
India 3.1% / 1.4%
Darlington — India: 3.1% Flagstaff Hill — India: 1.4%
China 1.6% / 1.8%
Darlington — China: 1.6% Flagstaff Hill — China: 1.8%
Malaysia 2.4% / —
Darlington — Malaysia: 2.4% Flagstaff Hill — Malaysia: not among its largest
South Africa — / 1.5%
Darlington — South Africa: not among its largest Flagstaff Hill — South Africa: 1.5%
Greece 1.3% / —
Darlington — Greece: 1.3% Flagstaff Hill — Greece: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.0%
Darlington — New Zealand: not among its largest Flagstaff Hill — New Zealand: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Darlington 79.6% houses
Darlington — Houses: 79.6% Darlington — Townhouses: 15.3% Darlington — Flats / Apartments: 5.1%
Flagstaff Hill 96.5% houses
Flagstaff Hill — Houses: 96.5% Flagstaff Hill — Townhouses: 1.6% Flagstaff Hill — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Median house price $890,000 $1,035,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,472,500 $585,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 8 sales
 15 days
from 91 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.

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
3 bed $855K / $938K
Darlington — 3 bed: $855K (10 sales) Flagstaff Hill — 3 bed: $938K (88 sales)

10 vs 88 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $1.11M
Darlington — 4 bed: $1.06M (8 sales) Flagstaff Hill — 4 bed: $1.11M (75 sales)

8 vs 75 sales

Zoning mix

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Residential 56% 68%
Environmental 34% 29%
Commercial 6% 1%
Industrial 3% 0%
Parks and recreation 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

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
New dwellings approved 809
across Marion
 1,367
across Onkaparinga
Approvals change year on year -31% +58%

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.

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Houses — 3.1%
$660/wk on $1.11M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
House price Higher than 25% of SA Higher than 48% of SA
Income Higher than 58% of SA Higher than 85% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Affordability Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 85% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 77% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 17% of SA

Liveability

Flagstaff Hill scores higher overall (72 vs 44); Darlington is more walkable (74 vs 62).

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Grade C A
Score 44/100 72/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Darlington carries more crime risk (83 vs 18); Darlington carries more flood risk (59 vs 36).

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Bushfire Low
27/100
 Low
22/100
Crime High
83/100
 Low
18/100
Flood Moderate
59/100
 Low
36/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Bedford Park, 1.6 km
 2
Bedford Park, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5% 2.7%

Schools in Darlington

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

Schools in Flagstaff Hill

  • Craigburn Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Flagstaff Hill Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 8
Childcare 0 5
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Flagstaff Hill sits further from the CBD (17.6 km vs 14 km).

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Walkability score 74/100 62/100
Distance to Adelaide 14 km 17.6 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 24 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 41.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 155.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 5047
 1.0%
postcode 5159
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 5047
 70
postcode 5159

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.

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Car (driver) 73.9% / 77.5%
Darlington — Car (driver): 73.9% Flagstaff Hill — Car (driver): 77.5%
Worked from Home 11.7% / 12.9%
Darlington — Worked from Home: 11.7% Flagstaff Hill — Worked from Home: 12.9%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 3.9%
Darlington — Car (passenger): 4.5% Flagstaff Hill — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Bus 4.8% / 3.0%
Darlington — Bus: 4.8% Flagstaff Hill — Bus: 3.0%
Train 2.4% / 1.7%
Darlington — Train: 2.4% Flagstaff Hill — Train: 1.7%
Walked Only 2.6% / 0.4%
Darlington — Walked Only: 2.6% Flagstaff Hill — Walked Only: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.5%).

Setting

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Elevation 90 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 194 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.6 km 6.5 km

NBN connectivity

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Connectivity score 74/100 70/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
574 premises
 46%
3,940 premises

Climate

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
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)

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³ —
PM10 17.8 µg/m³ 19.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 1.12 pphm 0.34 pphm

Council rates

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Average residential rate $1,782/yr $2,008/yr
Council Marion Onkaparinga

Federal electorate

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Division Boothby Kingston
Member Louise Miller-Frost Amanda Rishworth
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Darlington Flagstaff Hill
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Darlington

Middle-Ring Quiet

Flagstaff Hill

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darlington

Darlington vs Seacombe Gardens Darlington vs Sturt Darlington vs O'Halloran Hill Darlington vs Bedford Park Darlington vs Seacombe Heights

Other comparisons with Flagstaff Hill

Flagstaff Hill vs Happy Valley Flagstaff Hill vs Aberfoyle Park Flagstaff Hill vs Coromandel Valley Flagstaff Hill vs Craigburn Farm Flagstaff Hill vs O'Halloran Hill Flagstaff Hill vs Bellevue Heights
Full data on Darlington Full data on Flagstaff Hill
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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