Goolwa Beach vs Goolwa

Goolwa Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 58 against 67 in Goolwa. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Goolwa Beach, about half of households are people living alone. In Goolwa, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Goolwa tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

Goolwa Beach

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 67/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (40% vs 26%)
  • But Goolwa has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Goolwa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($360,000 vs $545,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Goolwa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $275/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Goolwa

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 17/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (82.7 km vs 85 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Goolwa

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 17/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (54% vs 38%)
  • But Goolwa Beach carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 67/100)

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

Investors

Goolwa Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
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.

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Walkability 17 / 65
Goolwa Beach — Walkability: 17/100 Goolwa — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 58 / 33
Goolwa Beach — Safety: 58/100 Goolwa — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 79 / 100
Goolwa Beach — Low fire risk: 79/100 Goolwa — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Goolwa Beach has higher household incomes ($47,632 vs $41,080); Goolwa skews older (67 vs 58).

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Population 2,222 2,558
+15% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.4% +8.9%
Median age 58 67
Median household income $47,632/yr
+14% vs other
 $41,080/yr
Median weekly rent $275/wk
+9% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
0-4 3.5% / 1.9%
Goolwa Beach — 0-4: 3.5% Goolwa — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 9.0% / 5.4%
Goolwa Beach — 5-14: 9.0% Goolwa — 5-14: 5.4%
15-19 3.9% / 3.1%
Goolwa Beach — 15-19: 3.9% Goolwa — 15-19: 3.1%
20-24 2.7% / 2.0%
Goolwa Beach — 20-24: 2.7% Goolwa — 20-24: 2.0%
25-34 6.8% / 4.7%
Goolwa Beach — 25-34: 6.8% Goolwa — 25-34: 4.7%
35-44 8.8% / 5.1%
Goolwa Beach — 35-44: 8.8% Goolwa — 35-44: 5.1%
45-54 10.9% / 8.2%
Goolwa Beach — 45-54: 10.9% Goolwa — 45-54: 8.2%
55-64 15.6% / 15.1%
Goolwa Beach — 55-64: 15.6% Goolwa — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 21.0% / 24.0%
Goolwa Beach — 65-74: 21.0% Goolwa — 65-74: 24.0%
75-84 13.2% / 21.4%
Goolwa Beach — 75-84: 13.2% Goolwa — 75-84: 21.4%
85+ 4.3% / 9.1%
Goolwa Beach — 85+: 4.3% Goolwa — 85+: 9.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Goolwa Beach 54.8% lone person
Goolwa Beach — Lone Person: 54.8% Goolwa Beach — Couple Families: 26.5% Goolwa Beach — One Parent Families: 13.6% Goolwa Beach — Group Household: 3.0% Goolwa Beach — Other Families: 2.1%
Goolwa 70.4% lone person
Goolwa — Lone Person: 70.4% Goolwa — Couple Families: 13.8% Goolwa — One Parent Families: 11.8% Goolwa — Group Household: 2.8% Goolwa — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Goolwa Beach 21.8% renting
Goolwa Beach — Owned Outright: 46.3% Goolwa Beach — Mortgage: 31.8% Goolwa Beach — Renting: 21.8%
Goolwa 26.6% renting
Goolwa — Owned Outright: 55.1% Goolwa — Mortgage: 18.3% Goolwa — Renting: 26.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Certificate III & IV 18.9% / 16.8%
Goolwa Beach — Certificate III & IV: 18.9% Goolwa — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 7.7% / 8.0%
Goolwa Beach — Bachelor Degree: 7.7% Goolwa — Bachelor Degree: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.3%
Goolwa Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Goolwa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 2.1%
Goolwa Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Goolwa — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.5%
Goolwa Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Goolwa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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.

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
England 9.9% / 13.3%
Goolwa Beach — England: 9.9% Goolwa — England: 13.3%
Netherlands 1.0% / 0.9%
Goolwa Beach — Netherlands: 1.0% Goolwa — Netherlands: 0.9%
Germany 0.6% / 1.3%
Goolwa Beach — Germany: 0.6% Goolwa — Germany: 1.3%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.9%
Goolwa Beach — New Zealand: 0.9% Goolwa — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.4% / 1.3%
Goolwa Beach — Scotland: 0.4% Goolwa — Scotland: 1.3%
South Africa 0.4% / —
Goolwa Beach — South Africa: 0.4% Goolwa — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Goolwa Beach 89.2% houses
Goolwa Beach — Houses: 89.2% Goolwa Beach — Townhouses: 10.0% Goolwa Beach — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Goolwa 85.3% houses
Goolwa — Houses: 85.3% Goolwa — Townhouses: 9.0% Goolwa — Flats / Apartments: 5.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Median house price $706,000 $715,000
Median unit price — $445,000
Median land price $545,000 $360,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 18 sales
 24 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.

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
2 bed $632K / $642K
Goolwa Beach — 2 bed: $632K (12 sales) Goolwa — 2 bed: $642K (20 sales)

12 vs 20 sales

3 bed $686K / $700K
Goolwa Beach — 3 bed: $686K (37 sales) Goolwa — 3 bed: $700K (28 sales)

37 vs 28 sales

4 bed $792K / $856K
Goolwa Beach — 4 bed: $792K (17 sales) Goolwa — 4 bed: $856K (13 sales)

17 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Goolwa has more rural and farming land (74% vs 41%).

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Rural and farming 41% 74%
Residential 48% 8%
Environmental 11% 3%
Other and special use 0% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 5%
Commercial 0% 2%
Industrial 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

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
New dwellings approved 429
across Alexandrina
same for both
Approvals change year on year +25%
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.

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Houses 3.9%
$538/wk on $710K
 3.1%
$480/wk on $800K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 14% of SA Higher than 7% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 70% of SA Higher than 86% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 59% of SA Higher than 58% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 75% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of SA Higher than 18% of SA

Liveability

Goolwa is more walkable (65 vs 17); Goolwa scores higher overall (43 vs 38).

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Grade C
same for both
Score 38/100 43/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Goolwa Beach carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0); Goolwa carries more crime risk (67 vs 42).

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Bushfire Low
21/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Goolwa Beach

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

Schools in Goolwa

  • Goolwa Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Goolwa Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 6 1
Childcare 0 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Goolwa Beach sits further from the CBD (85 km vs 82.7 km).

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Walkability score 17/100 65/100
Distance to Adelaide 85 km
+3% vs other
 82.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min 73 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 5214
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 73
postcode 5214
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.

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Car (driver) 79.2% / 79.1%
Goolwa Beach — Car (driver): 79.2% Goolwa — Car (driver): 79.1%
Worked from Home 11.4% / 11.2%
Goolwa Beach — Worked from Home: 11.4% Goolwa — Worked from Home: 11.2%
Walked Only 3.2% / 5.5%
Goolwa Beach — Walked Only: 3.2% Goolwa — Walked Only: 5.5%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 2.0%
Goolwa Beach — Car (passenger): 4.6% Goolwa — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Bicycle 1.1% / 0.6%
Goolwa Beach — Bicycle: 1.1% Goolwa — Bicycle: 0.6%
Train — / 1.0%
Goolwa Beach — Train: not among its largest Goolwa — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.2%).

Setting

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 802 m
784 m to a named beach
 2.6 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Connectivity score 65/100 53/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
1,664 premises
 14%
1,858 premises

Climate

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Annual rainfall 786 mm 466 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Average residential rate $2,523/yr
same for both
Council Alexandrina
same for both

Federal electorate

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Goolwa Beach Goolwa
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Goolwa Beach

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Retirees

Goolwa

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

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Goolwa Beach vs Middleton Goolwa Beach vs Goolwa South

Other comparisons with Goolwa

Goolwa vs Hindmarsh Island Goolwa vs Goolwa North Goolwa vs Middleton Goolwa vs Goolwa South Goolwa vs Currency Creek
Full data on Goolwa Beach Full data on Goolwa
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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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