Gulfview Heights vs Para Hills West

Para Hills West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Gulfview Heights. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Gulfview Heights, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gulfview Heights: a median of $950,000, against $736,000 in Para Hills West, and rent is higher there too. Para Hills West is closer to the city centre: 16.4 km, against 19.7 km. On these figures, Gulfview Heights tends to suit couples, while Para Hills West suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

Gulfview Heights and Para Hills West are quite different in character. Gulfview Heights has significantly higher household incomes ($101,556 versus $58,604), a much stronger liveability score (53 versus 21), and lower crime risk (50 versus 85), though it sits slightly further from the CBD at 19.7 km. Para Hills West is closer to the city at 16.4 km and carries lower flood and bushfire risks, but faces notably higher crime risk and sits in a lower socio-economic decile. House prices reflect the gap: Gulfview Heights medians are $950,000 compared to $723,000 in Para Hills West. Gulfview Heights suits buyers prioritising safety, liveability, and a more affluent neighbourhood; Para Hills West appeals to those seeking proximity to the CBD and lower natural disaster risk.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Gulfview Heights

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 85/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 51%)
  • But Para Hills West has more childcare (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Para Hills West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($673,500 vs $962,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($735,500 vs $950,000)
  • But Gulfview Heights leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 27%)

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

Renters

Para Hills West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 9%)
  • has cheaper rent ($275/wk vs $350/wk)
  • But Gulfview Heights leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Para Hills West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (23 min vs 28 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (16.4 km vs 19.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Gulfview Heights carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 85/100)
  • Para Hills West has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 3%)

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

Gulfview Heights and Para Hills West drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
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.

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Walkability 58 / 52
Gulfview Heights — Walkability: 58/100 Para Hills West — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 50 / 15
Gulfview Heights — Safety: 50/100 Para Hills West — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 79 / 100
Gulfview Heights — Low fire risk: 79/100 Para Hills West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 39 / 9
Gulfview Heights — Low flood risk: 39/100 Para Hills West — Low flood risk: 9/100

Demographics

Gulfview Heights has higher household incomes ($101,556 vs $58,604); Gulfview Heights rents higher ($350/wk vs $275/wk).

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Population 3,674
+10% vs other
 3,295
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +3.3%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $101,556/yr
+42% vs other
 $58,604/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+21% vs other
 $275/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
0-4 4.4% / 6.3%
Gulfview Heights — 0-4: 4.4% Para Hills West — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 12.2% / 11.7%
Gulfview Heights — 5-14: 12.2% Para Hills West — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 6.9% / 4.6%
Gulfview Heights — 15-19: 6.9% Para Hills West — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.9% / 7.0%
Gulfview Heights — 20-24: 6.9% Para Hills West — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 10.8% / 15.2%
Gulfview Heights — 25-34: 10.8% Para Hills West — 25-34: 15.2%
35-44 12.0% / 13.3%
Gulfview Heights — 35-44: 12.0% Para Hills West — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 15.1% / 11.4%
Gulfview Heights — 45-54: 15.1% Para Hills West — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 15.4% / 12.4%
Gulfview Heights — 55-64: 15.4% Para Hills West — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 11.2% / 10.4%
Gulfview Heights — 65-74: 11.2% Para Hills West — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 4.0% / 5.5%
Gulfview Heights — 75-84: 4.0% Para Hills West — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 1.0% / 2.2%
Gulfview Heights — 85+: 1.0% Para Hills West — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gulfview Heights 61.9% couple families
Gulfview Heights — Couple Families: 61.9% Gulfview Heights — Lone Person: 21.0% Gulfview Heights — One Parent Families: 14.8% Gulfview Heights — Group Household: 1.1% Gulfview Heights — Other Families: 1.2%
Para Hills West 31.4% couple families
Para Hills West — Couple Families: 31.4% Para Hills West — Lone Person: 43.3% Para Hills West — One Parent Families: 20.0% Para Hills West — Group Household: 3.7% Para Hills West — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Gulfview Heights 9.2% renting
Gulfview Heights — Owned Outright: 42.2% Gulfview Heights — Mortgage: 48.5% Gulfview Heights — Renting: 9.2%
Para Hills West 38.4% renting
Para Hills West — Owned Outright: 25.6% Para Hills West — Mortgage: 36.0% Para Hills West — Renting: 38.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Certificate III & IV 18.3% / 16.4%
Gulfview Heights — Certificate III & IV: 18.3% Para Hills West — Certificate III & IV: 16.4%
Bachelor Degree 10.3% / 7.3%
Gulfview Heights — Bachelor Degree: 10.3% Para Hills West — Bachelor Degree: 7.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 5.6%
Gulfview Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Para Hills West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 2.7%
Gulfview Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Para Hills West — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.2%
Gulfview Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Para Hills West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
England 7.8% / 6.9%
Gulfview Heights — England: 7.8% Para Hills West — England: 6.9%
India 1.2% / 7.1%
Gulfview Heights — India: 1.2% Para Hills West — India: 7.1%
Afghanistan 0.9% / 4.1%
Gulfview Heights — Afghanistan: 0.9% Para Hills West — Afghanistan: 4.1%
Vietnam 1.1% / 1.0%
Gulfview Heights — Vietnam: 1.1% Para Hills West — Vietnam: 1.0%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.5%
Gulfview Heights — Philippines: 0.6% Para Hills West — Philippines: 1.5%
Italy 1.5% / —
Gulfview Heights — Italy: 1.5% Para Hills West — Italy: not among its largest
Iran — / 1.1%
Gulfview Heights — Iran: not among its largest Para Hills West — Iran: 1.1%
Greece 0.9% / —
Gulfview Heights — Greece: 0.9% Para Hills West — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gulfview Heights 97.4% houses
Gulfview Heights — Houses: 97.4% Gulfview Heights — Townhouses: 2.7% Gulfview Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Para Hills West 70.1% houses
Para Hills West — Houses: 70.1% Para Hills West — Townhouses: 28.4% Para Hills West — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Median house price $950,000 $735,500
Median unit price $596,000 $574,500
Median land price $962,000 $673,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 28 sales
 18 days
from 18 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.

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
3 bed $850K / $752K
Gulfview Heights — 3 bed: $850K (25 sales) Para Hills West — 3 bed: $752K (39 sales)

25 vs 39 sales

4 bed $960K / $737K
Gulfview Heights — 4 bed: $960K (27 sales) Para Hills West — 4 bed: $737K (5 sales)

27 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Para Hills West has more industrially zoned land (34% vs 20%).

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Residential 63% 48%
Industrial 20% 34%
Parks and recreation 16% 18%
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

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
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.

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Houses 4.3%
$750/wk on $899K
 4.4%
$632/wk on $755K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
House price Higher than 39% of SA Higher than 27% of SA
Income Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 26% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
Affordability Higher than 86% of SA Higher than 36% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 59% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 83% of SA

Liveability

Gulfview Heights scores higher overall (53 vs 20).

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Grade B D
Score 53/100 20/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Gulfview Heights carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0); Para Hills West carries more crime risk (85 vs 50).

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Bushfire Low
21/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 High
85/100
Flood Moderate
61/100
 High
91/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 5.6 km
 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 1.9%

Schools in Gulfview Heights

  • Gulfview Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Para Hills West

  • Para Hills High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Para Hills West Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Parks & reserves 4 2
Childcare 1 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Gulfview Heights sits further from the CBD (19.7 km vs 16.4 km).

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Walkability score 58/100 52/100
Distance to Adelaide 19.7 km
+17% vs other
 16.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 44.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 85.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 5096
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 71
postcode 5096
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.

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Car (driver) 80.7% / 82.3%
Gulfview Heights — Car (driver): 80.7% Para Hills West — Car (driver): 82.3%
Worked from Home 8.8% / 6.2%
Gulfview Heights — Worked from Home: 8.8% Para Hills West — Worked from Home: 6.2%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 5.1%
Gulfview Heights — Car (passenger): 5.8% Para Hills West — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Bus 4.2% / 5.2%
Gulfview Heights — Bus: 4.2% Para Hills West — Bus: 5.2%
Walked Only 0.3% / 0.9%
Gulfview Heights — Walked Only: 0.3% Para Hills West — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.3%).

Setting

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Elevation 111 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.2 km 8.0 km

NBN connectivity

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Connectivity score 78/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
1,355 premises
 33%
1,772 premises

Climate

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
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)

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Average residential rate $1,722/yr
same for both
Council Salisbury
same for both

Federal electorate

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Division Makin
same for both
Member Tony Zappia
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Gulfview Heights Para Hills West
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Gulfview Heights

Large Blocks Middle-Ring

Para Hills West

Middle-Ring Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gulfview Heights

Gulfview Heights vs Golden Grove Gulfview Heights vs Salisbury East Gulfview Heights vs Wynn Vale Gulfview Heights vs Modbury Heights Gulfview Heights vs Para Hills

Other comparisons with Para Hills West

Para Hills West vs Ingle Farm Para Hills West vs Salisbury East Para Hills West vs Pooraka Para Hills West vs Para Hills Para Hills West vs Salisbury South
Full data on Gulfview Heights Full data on Para Hills West
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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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