Ethelton vs Semaphore Park

Ethelton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Semaphore Park. In both, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In Ethelton, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Semaphore Park: a median of $1 million, against $870,000 in Ethelton, though rent is higher in Ethelton.

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

  • Ethelton has more separate houses rather than flats (71% vs 54%)
  • Semaphore Park has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Ethelton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 33%)
  • has cheaper houses ($870,000 vs $1,000,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Semaphore Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Semaphore Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 69/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Semaphore Park

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (46% vs 29%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 18%)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Ethelton carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 87/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ethelton Semaphore Park
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.

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Walkability 69 / 80
Ethelton — Walkability: 69/100 Semaphore Park — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 32 / 13
Ethelton — Safety: 32/100 Semaphore Park — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ethelton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Semaphore Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 15 / 38
Ethelton — Low flood risk: 15/100 Semaphore Park — Low flood risk: 38/100

Demographics

Semaphore Park has more residents (4,541 vs 1,487); Ethelton rents higher ($300/wk vs $250/wk).

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Population 1,487 4,541
+205% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +5.7%
Median age 42 46
Median household income $69,940/yr
+6% vs other
 $65,624/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+17% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ethelton Semaphore Park
0-4 5.0% / 5.4%
Ethelton — 0-4: 5.0% Semaphore Park — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 10.8% / 9.7%
Ethelton — 5-14: 10.8% Semaphore Park — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 4.8% / 4.9%
Ethelton — 15-19: 4.8% Semaphore Park — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 4.4% / 4.1%
Ethelton — 20-24: 4.4% Semaphore Park — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 12.0% / 11.6%
Ethelton — 25-34: 12.0% Semaphore Park — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 15.9% / 12.8%
Ethelton — 35-44: 15.9% Semaphore Park — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 13.7% / 12.7%
Ethelton — 45-54: 13.7% Semaphore Park — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 15.1% / 13.4%
Ethelton — 55-64: 15.1% Semaphore Park — 55-64: 13.4%
65-74 11.4% / 13.8%
Ethelton — 65-74: 11.4% Semaphore Park — 65-74: 13.8%
75-84 4.6% / 7.5%
Ethelton — 75-84: 4.6% Semaphore Park — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 2.0% / 4.3%
Ethelton — 85+: 2.0% Semaphore Park — 85+: 4.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ethelton 50.6% lone person
Ethelton — Lone Person: 50.6% Ethelton — Couple Families: 26.6% Ethelton — One Parent Families: 18.6% Ethelton — Group Household: 3.1% Ethelton — Other Families: 1.2%
Semaphore Park 47.9% lone person
Semaphore Park — Lone Person: 47.9% Semaphore Park — Couple Families: 29.3% Semaphore Park — One Parent Families: 17.9% Semaphore Park — Group Household: 3.5% Semaphore Park — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ethelton 30.7% renting
Ethelton — Owned Outright: 28.8% Ethelton — Mortgage: 40.5% Ethelton — Renting: 30.7%
Semaphore Park 39.0% renting
Semaphore Park — Owned Outright: 31.0% Semaphore Park — Mortgage: 30.1% Semaphore Park — Renting: 39.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 15.5%
Ethelton — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Semaphore Park — Certificate III & IV: 15.5%
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 11.5%
Ethelton — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Semaphore Park — Bachelor Degree: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.4%
Ethelton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Semaphore Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 3.0%
Ethelton — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Semaphore Park — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.5%
Ethelton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Semaphore Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Ethelton Semaphore Park
England 5.4% / 6.1%
Ethelton — England: 5.4% Semaphore Park — England: 6.1%
Italy 0.9% / 1.2%
Ethelton — Italy: 0.9% Semaphore Park — Italy: 1.2%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.8%
Ethelton — Scotland: 0.9% Semaphore Park — Scotland: 0.8%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.6%
Ethelton — Philippines: 1.0% Semaphore Park — Philippines: 0.6%
Greece 0.9% / 0.6%
Ethelton — Greece: 0.9% Semaphore Park — Greece: 0.6%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.8%
Ethelton — South Africa: 0.6% Semaphore Park — South Africa: 0.8%
New Zealand — / 1.0%
Ethelton — New Zealand: not among its largest Semaphore Park — New Zealand: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ethelton 70.6% houses
Ethelton — Houses: 70.6% Ethelton — Townhouses: 21.8% Ethelton — Flats / Apartments: 7.6%
Semaphore Park 53.9% houses
Semaphore Park — Houses: 53.9% Semaphore Park — Townhouses: 39.8% Semaphore Park — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Median house price $870,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price $679,642 $722,500
Median land price — $900,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 16 sales
 19 days
from 36 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.

Ethelton Semaphore Park
2 bed $774K / $865K
Ethelton — 2 bed: $774K (10 sales) Semaphore Park — 2 bed: $865K (6 sales)

10 vs 6 sales

3 bed $874K / $910K
Ethelton — 3 bed: $874K (29 sales) Semaphore Park — 3 bed: $910K (53 sales)

29 vs 53 sales

Zoning mix

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Residential 89% 86%
Parks and recreation 9% 11%
Environmental 0% 3%
Commercial 2% 0%
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

Ethelton Semaphore Park
New dwellings approved 1,176
across Port Adelaide Enfield
 1,636
across Charles Sturt
Approvals change year on year +23% +109%

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.

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Houses 3.8%
$640/wk on $875K
 3.4%
$620/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Ethelton Semaphore Park
House price Higher than 17% of SA Higher than 51% of SA
Income Higher than 39% of SA Higher than 33% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Affordability Higher than 70% of SA Higher than 22% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of SA Higher than 27% of SA

Liveability

Semaphore Park is more walkable (80 vs 69).

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Grade C
same for both
Score 42/100 44/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Ethelton carries more flood risk (85 vs 62); Semaphore Park carries more crime risk (87 vs 68).

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
68/100
 High
87/100
Flood High
85/100
 Moderate
62/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
47/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Ethelton

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

Schools in Semaphore Park

  • Westport Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 6
Childcare 1 3
Pharmacies 0 1

Mobility

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Walkability score 69/100 80/100
Distance to Adelaide 15.1 km 15.6 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 25 min
Public transport score 37/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 14 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5015
 1.2%
postcode 5019
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 5015
 52
postcode 5019

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.

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Car (driver) 73.5% / 76.7%
Ethelton — Car (driver): 73.5% Semaphore Park — Car (driver): 76.7%
Worked from Home 11.3% / 12.8%
Ethelton — Worked from Home: 11.3% Semaphore Park — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 4.3%
Ethelton — Car (passenger): 4.4% Semaphore Park — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Train 6.3% / 2.2%
Ethelton — Train: 6.3% Semaphore Park — Train: 2.2%
Walked Only 2.6% / 1.3%
Ethelton — Walked Only: 2.6% Semaphore Park — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bus 1.5% / 2.2%
Ethelton — Bus: 1.5% Semaphore Park — Bus: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.7%).

Setting

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.3 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 848 m
868 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Connectivity score 66/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
779 premises
 44%
2,251 premises

Climate

Ethelton Semaphore Park
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)

Ethelton Semaphore Park
PM2.5 4.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Average residential rate $1,311/yr $1,726/yr
Council Port Adelaide Enfield Charles Sturt

Federal electorate

Ethelton Semaphore Park
Division Hindmarsh
same for both
Member Mark Butler
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ethelton

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Trains

Semaphore Park

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ethelton

Ethelton vs Semaphore Ethelton vs Semaphore South Ethelton vs Glanville Ethelton vs New Port

Other comparisons with Semaphore Park

Semaphore Park vs West Lakes Semaphore Park vs West Lakes Shore Semaphore Park vs Port Adelaide Semaphore Park vs Semaphore South Semaphore Park vs New Port
Full data on Ethelton Full data on Semaphore Park
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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