Dry Creek vs Mawson Lakes

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Mawson Lakes, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mawson Lakes: a median of $880,000, against $710,000 in Dry Creek, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Dry Creek tends to suit share households and buyers on a tighter budget, while Mawson Lakes 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

Mawson Lakes

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Dry Creek has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 66%)

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

First-home buyers

Dry Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($710,000 vs $880,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Dry Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($265/wk vs $360/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

  • Dry Creek has a shorter drive in (18 min vs 23 min)
  • Mawson Lakes is more walkable (84/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mawson Lakes

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 99/100)
  • But Dry Creek has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 8%)

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

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

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
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.

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Walkability 0 / 84
Dry Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Mawson Lakes — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 1 / 27
Dry Creek — Safety: 1/100 Mawson Lakes — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Dry Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mawson Lakes — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 43 / 16
Dry Creek — Low flood risk: 43/100 Mawson Lakes — Low flood risk: 16/100

Demographics

Mawson Lakes has more residents (13,794 vs 232); Mawson Lakes has higher household incomes ($100,880 vs $63,492).

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Population 232 13,794
+5846% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +3.7%
Median age 35 33
Median household income $63,492/yr $100,880/yr
+59% vs other
Median weekly rent $265/wk $360/wk
+36% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
0-4 5.6% / 6.1%
Dry Creek — 0-4: 5.6% Mawson Lakes — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 9.1% / 12.5%
Dry Creek — 5-14: 9.1% Mawson Lakes — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 5.2% / 6.1%
Dry Creek — 15-19: 5.2% Mawson Lakes — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 10.3% / 9.5%
Dry Creek — 20-24: 10.3% Mawson Lakes — 20-24: 9.5%
25-34 24.1% / 19.3%
Dry Creek — 25-34: 24.1% Mawson Lakes — 25-34: 19.3%
35-44 11.2% / 16.9%
Dry Creek — 35-44: 11.2% Mawson Lakes — 35-44: 16.9%
45-54 12.1% / 12.4%
Dry Creek — 45-54: 12.1% Mawson Lakes — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 13.4% / 9.0%
Dry Creek — 55-64: 13.4% Mawson Lakes — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 8.2% / 5.4%
Dry Creek — 65-74: 8.2% Mawson Lakes — 65-74: 5.4%
75-84 5.2% / 2.0%
Dry Creek — 75-84: 5.2% Mawson Lakes — 75-84: 2.0%
85+ — / 0.8%
Dry Creek — 85+: not among its largest Mawson Lakes — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dry Creek 28.4% couple families
Dry Creek — Couple Families: 28.4% Dry Creek — Lone Person: 36.5% Dry Creek — One Parent Families: 12.2% Dry Creek — Group Household: 16.2% Dry Creek — Other Families: 6.8%
Mawson Lakes 45.3% couple families
Mawson Lakes — Couple Families: 45.3% Mawson Lakes — Lone Person: 30.9% Mawson Lakes — One Parent Families: 13.4% Mawson Lakes — Group Household: 8.6% Mawson Lakes — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Dry Creek 30.6% renting
Dry Creek — Owned Outright: 32.7% Dry Creek — Mortgage: 36.7% Dry Creek — Renting: 30.6%
Mawson Lakes 39.6% renting
Mawson Lakes — Owned Outright: 17.8% Mawson Lakes — Mortgage: 42.6% Mawson Lakes — Renting: 39.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 11.4%
Dry Creek — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Mawson Lakes — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Bachelor Degree 11.2% / 17.9%
Dry Creek — Bachelor Degree: 11.2% Mawson Lakes — Bachelor Degree: 17.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 7.9%
Dry Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Mawson Lakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree — / 8.8%
Dry Creek — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Mawson Lakes — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.9%
Dry Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Mawson Lakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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.

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
India 1.7% / 8.7%
Dry Creek — India: 1.7% Mawson Lakes — India: 8.7%
Vietnam 6.0% / 3.4%
Dry Creek — Vietnam: 6.0% Mawson Lakes — Vietnam: 3.4%
Afghanistan 5.6% / 1.5%
Dry Creek — Afghanistan: 5.6% Mawson Lakes — Afghanistan: 1.5%
England 1.7% / 3.7%
Dry Creek — England: 1.7% Mawson Lakes — England: 3.7%
Philippines 2.2% / 1.7%
Dry Creek — Philippines: 2.2% Mawson Lakes — Philippines: 1.7%
China — / 3.6%
Dry Creek — China: not among its largest Mawson Lakes — China: 3.6%
New Zealand 2.6% / —
Dry Creek — New Zealand: 2.6% Mawson Lakes — New Zealand: not among its largest
Germany 2.2% / —
Dry Creek — Germany: 2.2% Mawson Lakes — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dry Creek 77.1% houses
Dry Creek — Houses: 77.1% Dry Creek — Townhouses: 25.0% Dry Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Mawson Lakes 66.5% houses
Mawson Lakes — Houses: 66.5% Mawson Lakes — Townhouses: 17.9% Mawson Lakes — Flats / Apartments: 15.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Median house price $710,000 $880,000
Median unit price — $530,000
Median land price — $845,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 13 days
from 3 sales
 23 days
from 119 sales

Zoning mix

Dry Creek has more land zoned for conservation (27% vs 0%); Dry Creek has more industrially zoned land (32% vs 8%).

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Residential 1% 51%
Other and special use 39% 0%
Industrial 32% 8%
Environmental 27% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 25%
Commercial 0% 17%
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

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
New dwellings approved 949
across Salisbury
same for both
Approvals change year on year -30%
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.

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Houses — 4.3%
$680/wk on $820K
Units — 5.1%
$545/wk on $555K

Ranking within SA

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
House price Higher than 7% of SA Higher than 43% of SA
Income Higher than 31% of SA Higher than 80% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 22% of SA Higher than 95% of SA
Affordability Higher than 74% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 52% of SA Higher than 78% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 80% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 75% of SA

Liveability

Mawson Lakes is more walkable (84 vs 0).

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Grade — B
Score — 56/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Mawson Lakes carries more flood risk (84 vs 57); Dry Creek carries more crime risk (99 vs 73).

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
99/100
 High
73/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 High
84/100
Coastal erosion Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 32
within 5 km
 23
within 5 km

Schools

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 4.1 km
 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 5.0%

Schools in Dry Creek

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

Schools in Mawson Lakes

  • Endeavour College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Mawson Lakes School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 14
Parks & reserves 2 14
Childcare 0 8
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 5
same for both

Mobility

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Walkability score 0/100 84/100
Distance to Adelaide 15.2 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 23 min
Public transport score 52/100
Rail · Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 315.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 5094
 1.0%
postcode 5095
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings —
postcode 5094
 57
postcode 5095

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.

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Car (driver) 88.4% / 74.1%
Dry Creek — Car (driver): 88.4% Mawson Lakes — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 7.0% / 11.1%
Dry Creek — Worked from Home: 7.0% Mawson Lakes — Worked from Home: 11.1%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.9%
Dry Creek — Car (passenger): 4.7% Mawson Lakes — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Bus — / 6.9%
Dry Creek — Bus: not among its largest Mawson Lakes — Bus: 6.9%
Walked Only — / 2.0%
Dry Creek — Walked Only: not among its largest Mawson Lakes — Walked Only: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (88.4%).

Setting

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Elevation 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km 5.0 km

NBN connectivity

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Connectivity score 66/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
344 premises
 34%
6,012 premises

Climate

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³ —
PM10 18.3 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Average residential rate $1,722/yr
same for both
Council Salisbury
same for both

Federal electorate

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Division Makin
same for both
Member Tony Zappia
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dry Creek Mawson Lakes
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dry Creek

Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Townhouses Trains

Mawson Lakes

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dry Creek

Dry Creek vs Pooraka Dry Creek vs Kilburn Dry Creek vs Gepps Cross Dry Creek vs Wingfield Dry Creek vs Globe Derby Park Dry Creek vs Bolivar

Other comparisons with Mawson Lakes

Mawson Lakes vs Parafield Gardens Mawson Lakes vs Pooraka Mawson Lakes vs Globe Derby Park Mawson Lakes vs Green Fields
Full data on Dry Creek Full data on Mawson Lakes
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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