Goolwa vs Goolwa South

Goolwa South is the younger of the two, with a median age of 62 against 67 in Goolwa. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are people living alone. On these figures, Goolwa tends to suit 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

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Goolwa South carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 67/100)

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

First-home buyers

Goolwa

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($360,000 vs $940,000)
  • has cheaper units ($445,000 vs $675,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Goolwa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $280/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Goolwa

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (73 min vs 84 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (82.7 km vs 88.7 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 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (54% vs 44%)
  • But Goolwa South carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 67/100)

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

Goolwa and Goolwa South 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 Goolwa South
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 Goolwa South
Walkability 65 / 0
Goolwa — Walkability: 65/100 Goolwa South — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 33 / 60
Goolwa — Safety: 33/100 Goolwa South — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Goolwa — Low fire risk: 100/100 Goolwa South — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Goolwa has more residents (2,558 vs 1,041); Goolwa South has higher household incomes ($49,972 vs $41,080).

Goolwa Goolwa South
Population 2,558
+59% vs other
 1,041
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +7.2%
Median age 67 62
Median household income $41,080/yr $49,972/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $280/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Goolwa Goolwa South
0-4 1.9% / 2.8%
Goolwa — 0-4: 1.9% Goolwa South — 0-4: 2.8%
5-14 5.4% / 4.7%
Goolwa — 5-14: 5.4% Goolwa South — 5-14: 4.7%
15-19 3.1% / 3.7%
Goolwa — 15-19: 3.1% Goolwa South — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 2.0% / 3.8%
Goolwa — 20-24: 2.0% Goolwa South — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 4.7% / 7.5%
Goolwa — 25-34: 4.7% Goolwa South — 25-34: 7.5%
35-44 5.1% / 7.9%
Goolwa — 35-44: 5.1% Goolwa South — 35-44: 7.9%
45-54 8.2% / 10.5%
Goolwa — 45-54: 8.2% Goolwa South — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 15.1% / 15.7%
Goolwa — 55-64: 15.1% Goolwa South — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 24.0% / 23.3%
Goolwa — 65-74: 24.0% Goolwa South — 65-74: 23.3%
75-84 21.4% / 15.4%
Goolwa — 75-84: 21.4% Goolwa South — 75-84: 15.4%
85+ 9.1% / 5.4%
Goolwa — 85+: 9.1% Goolwa South — 85+: 5.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Goolwa South 62.8% lone person
Goolwa South — Lone Person: 62.8% Goolwa South — Couple Families: 18.6% Goolwa South — One Parent Families: 14.3% Goolwa South — Group Household: 3.0% Goolwa South — 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 26.6% renting
Goolwa — Owned Outright: 55.1% Goolwa — Mortgage: 18.3% Goolwa — Renting: 26.6%
Goolwa South 28.0% renting
Goolwa South — Owned Outright: 50.5% Goolwa South — Mortgage: 21.4% Goolwa South — Renting: 28.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Goolwa South
England 13.3% / 10.2%
Goolwa — England: 13.3% Goolwa South — England: 10.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.3%
Goolwa — New Zealand: 0.9% Goolwa South — New Zealand: 1.3%
Germany 1.3% / 0.8%
Goolwa — Germany: 1.3% Goolwa South — Germany: 0.8%
Netherlands 0.9% / 1.0%
Goolwa — Netherlands: 0.9% Goolwa South — Netherlands: 1.0%
Scotland 1.3% / 0.5%
Goolwa — Scotland: 1.3% Goolwa South — Scotland: 0.5%

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

Qualifications

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

Goolwa Goolwa South
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 18.6%
Goolwa — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Goolwa South — Certificate III & IV: 18.6%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 8.7%
Goolwa — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Goolwa South — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 8.8%
Goolwa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Goolwa South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 3.7%
Goolwa — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Goolwa South — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.5%
Goolwa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Goolwa South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Goolwa 85.3% houses
Goolwa — Houses: 85.3% Goolwa — Townhouses: 9.0% Goolwa — Flats / Apartments: 5.6%
Goolwa South 89.4% houses
Goolwa South — Houses: 89.4% Goolwa South — Townhouses: 5.6% Goolwa South — Flats / Apartments: 5.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Goolwa Goolwa South
Median house price $715,000 $690,000
Median unit price $445,000 $675,000
Median land price $360,000 $940,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 36 sales
 16 days
from 24 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 Goolwa South
2 bed $642K / $518K
Goolwa — 2 bed: $642K (20 sales) Goolwa South — 2 bed: $518K (12 sales)

20 vs 12 sales

3 bed $700K / $675K
Goolwa — 3 bed: $700K (28 sales) Goolwa South — 3 bed: $675K (41 sales)

28 vs 41 sales

4 bed $856K / $865K
Goolwa — 4 bed: $856K (13 sales) Goolwa South — 4 bed: $865K (21 sales)

13 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Goolwa South has more land zoned for conservation (86% vs 3%); Goolwa has more rural and farming land (74% vs 0%).

Goolwa Goolwa South
Environmental 3% 86%
Rural and farming 74% 0%
Residential 8% 12%
Other and special use 5% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 0%
Commercial 2% 1%
Industrial 1% 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

Goolwa Goolwa South
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 Goolwa South
Houses 3.1%
$480/wk on $800K
 3.3%
$540/wk on $850K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Goolwa Goolwa South
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 7% of SA Higher than 16% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of SA Higher than 23% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 58% of SA Higher than 59% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of SA Higher than 76% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of SA Higher than 25% of SA

Liveability

Goolwa is more walkable (65 vs 0).

Goolwa Goolwa South
Grade C
same for both
Score 43/100 41/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Goolwa carries more crime risk (67 vs 40).

Goolwa Goolwa South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
67/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

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

Schools in Goolwa

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

Schools in Goolwa South

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Goolwa South sits further from the CBD (88.7 km vs 82.7 km).

Goolwa Goolwa South
Walkability score 65/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 82.7 km 88.7 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 73 min 84 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 Goolwa South
Car (driver) 79.1% / 75.9%
Goolwa — Car (driver): 79.1% Goolwa South — Car (driver): 75.9%
Worked from Home 11.2% / 13.5%
Goolwa — Worked from Home: 11.2% Goolwa South — Worked from Home: 13.5%
Walked Only 5.5% / 3.6%
Goolwa — Walked Only: 5.5% Goolwa South — Walked Only: 3.6%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 5.9%
Goolwa — Car (passenger): 2.0% Goolwa South — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Bicycle 0.6% / 1.0%
Goolwa — Bicycle: 0.6% Goolwa South — Bicycle: 1.0%
Train 1.0% / —
Goolwa — Train: 1.0% Goolwa South — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.1%).

Setting

Goolwa Goolwa South
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.6 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 536 m

NBN connectivity

Goolwa Goolwa South
Connectivity score 53/100 56/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
1,858 premises
 19%
1,105 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Goolwa

Acreage Coastal Retirees

Goolwa South

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Goolwa

Goolwa vs Goolwa Beach Goolwa vs Hindmarsh Island Goolwa vs Goolwa North Goolwa vs Middleton Goolwa vs Currency Creek

Other comparisons with Goolwa South

Goolwa South vs Goolwa Beach Goolwa South vs Hindmarsh Island Goolwa South vs Coorong
Full data on Goolwa Full data on Goolwa South
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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