Goolwa vs Hindmarsh Island

Hindmarsh Island is the younger of the two, with a median age of 60 against 67 in Goolwa. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Goolwa, most households are people living alone. In Hindmarsh Island, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Hindmarsh Island: a median of $825,000, against $715,000 in Goolwa, and rent is higher there too. 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

Hindmarsh Island

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 26%)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 67/100)
  • But Goolwa has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Goolwa has cheaper houses ($715,000 vs $825,000)
  • Hindmarsh Island has cheaper land ($285,000 vs $360,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Goolwa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $330/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 82 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (82.7 km vs 92.4 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 40%)
  • But Hindmarsh Island carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 67/100)

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

Investors

Hindmarsh Island

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (32.0% vs 8.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island 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 Hindmarsh Island
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 Hindmarsh Island
Walkability 65 / 0
Goolwa — Walkability: 65/100 Hindmarsh Island — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 33 / 60
Goolwa — Safety: 33/100 Hindmarsh Island — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 87
Goolwa — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hindmarsh Island — Low fire risk: 87/100

Demographics

Hindmarsh Island has higher household incomes ($58,396 vs $41,080); Goolwa has more residents (2,558 vs 1,846).

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Population 2,558
+28% vs other
 1,846
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +32.0%
Median age 67 60
Median household income $41,080/yr $58,396/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $330/wk
+32% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
0-4 1.9% / 2.6%
Goolwa — 0-4: 1.9% Hindmarsh Island — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 5.4% / 8.6%
Goolwa — 5-14: 5.4% Hindmarsh Island — 5-14: 8.6%
15-19 3.1% / 3.6%
Goolwa — 15-19: 3.1% Hindmarsh Island — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 2.0% / 2.2%
Goolwa — 20-24: 2.0% Hindmarsh Island — 20-24: 2.2%
25-34 4.7% / 6.0%
Goolwa — 25-34: 4.7% Hindmarsh Island — 25-34: 6.0%
35-44 5.1% / 7.6%
Goolwa — 35-44: 5.1% Hindmarsh Island — 35-44: 7.6%
45-54 8.2% / 9.7%
Goolwa — 45-54: 8.2% Hindmarsh Island — 45-54: 9.7%
55-64 15.1% / 19.3%
Goolwa — 55-64: 15.1% Hindmarsh Island — 55-64: 19.3%
65-74 24.0% / 26.7%
Goolwa — 65-74: 24.0% Hindmarsh Island — 65-74: 26.7%
75-84 21.4% / 11.1%
Goolwa — 75-84: 21.4% Hindmarsh Island — 75-84: 11.1%
85+ 9.1% / 2.0%
Goolwa — 85+: 9.1% Hindmarsh Island — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.7%).

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%
Hindmarsh Island 45.3% lone person
Hindmarsh Island — Lone Person: 45.3% Hindmarsh Island — Couple Families: 30.2% Hindmarsh Island — One Parent Families: 17.4% Hindmarsh Island — Group Household: 6.4% Hindmarsh Island — Other Families: 0.8%
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%
Hindmarsh Island 20.8% renting
Hindmarsh Island — Owned Outright: 54.1% Hindmarsh Island — Mortgage: 25.2% Hindmarsh Island — Renting: 20.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 17.8%
Goolwa — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Hindmarsh Island — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 9.8%
Goolwa — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Hindmarsh Island — Bachelor Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 10.5%
Goolwa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Hindmarsh Island — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 2.4%
Goolwa — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Hindmarsh Island — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.0%
Goolwa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Hindmarsh Island — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

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.

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
England 13.3% / 12.1%
Goolwa — England: 13.3% Hindmarsh Island — England: 12.1%
Scotland 1.3% / 1.0%
Goolwa — Scotland: 1.3% Hindmarsh Island — Scotland: 1.0%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.4%
Goolwa — New Zealand: 0.9% Hindmarsh Island — New Zealand: 1.4%
Germany 1.3% / 0.5%
Goolwa — Germany: 1.3% Hindmarsh Island — Germany: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.9% / 0.6%
Goolwa — Netherlands: 0.9% Hindmarsh Island — Netherlands: 0.6%
Italy 0.4% / 0.5%
Goolwa — Italy: 0.4% Hindmarsh Island — Italy: 0.5%

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

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%
Hindmarsh Island 87.5% houses
Hindmarsh Island — Houses: 87.5% Hindmarsh Island — Townhouses: 7.3% Hindmarsh Island — Flats / Apartments: 5.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Median house price $715,000 $825,000
Median unit price $445,000 —
Median land price $360,000 $285,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 36 sales
 45 days
from 71 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 Hindmarsh Island
3 bed $700K / $730K
Goolwa — 3 bed: $700K (28 sales) Hindmarsh Island — 3 bed: $730K (68 sales)

28 vs 68 sales

4 bed $856K / $870K
Goolwa — 4 bed: $856K (13 sales) Hindmarsh Island — 4 bed: $870K (75 sales)

13 vs 75 sales

5 bed $905K / $868K
Goolwa — 5 bed: $905K (6 sales) Hindmarsh Island — 5 bed: $868K (8 sales)

6 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Hindmarsh Island has more land zoned for conservation (44% vs 3%); Goolwa has more rural and farming land (74% vs 49%).

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Rural and farming 74% 49%
Environmental 3% 44%
Residential 8% 6%
Other and special use 5% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 0%
Commercial 2% 0%
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 Hindmarsh Island
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 Hindmarsh Island
Houses 3.1%
$480/wk on $800K
 3.6%
$630/wk on $915K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 7% of SA Higher than 23% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of SA Higher than 37% 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 79% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of SA Higher than 33% of SA

Liveability

Goolwa is more walkable (65 vs 0).

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Grade C
same for both
Score 43/100 44/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Hindmarsh Island carries more bushfire risk (13 vs 0); Goolwa carries more crime risk (67 vs 40).

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
13/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
41/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
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 Hindmarsh Island

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Hindmarsh Island sits further from the CBD (92.4 km vs 82.7 km).

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Walkability score 65/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 82.7 km 92.4 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 73 min 82 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 Hindmarsh Island
Car (driver) 79.1% / 75.9%
Goolwa — Car (driver): 79.1% Hindmarsh Island — Car (driver): 75.9%
Worked from Home 11.2% / 14.5%
Goolwa — Worked from Home: 11.2% Hindmarsh Island — Worked from Home: 14.5%
Walked Only 5.5% / 2.7%
Goolwa — Walked Only: 5.5% Hindmarsh Island — Walked Only: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 5.4%
Goolwa — Car (passenger): 2.0% Hindmarsh Island — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bicycle 0.6% / 1.0%
Goolwa — Bicycle: 0.6% Hindmarsh Island — Bicycle: 1.0%
Train 1.0% / —
Goolwa — Train: 1.0% Hindmarsh Island — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.6 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 3.3 km

NBN connectivity

Goolwa Hindmarsh Island
Connectivity score 53/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
1,858 premises
 40%
1,642 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Goolwa

Acreage Coastal Retirees

Hindmarsh Island

Acreage Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Goolwa

Goolwa vs Goolwa Beach Goolwa vs Goolwa North Goolwa vs Middleton Goolwa vs Goolwa South Goolwa vs Currency Creek

Other comparisons with Hindmarsh Island

Hindmarsh Island vs Goolwa North Hindmarsh Island vs Goolwa South Hindmarsh Island vs Clayton Bay Hindmarsh Island vs Currency Creek Hindmarsh Island vs Point Sturt Hindmarsh Island vs Coorong
Full data on Goolwa Full data on Hindmarsh Island
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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