Happy Valley vs Old Reynella

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Happy Valley, about half of households are couple families.

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

Happy Valley

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 73/100)

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

First-home buyers

Happy Valley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($520,000 vs $815,000)

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

Renters

Old Reynella

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Old Reynella

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (27 min vs 56 min)
  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 41/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Happy Valley carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 73/100)
  • Old Reynella is more walkable (66/100 vs 41/100)

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

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

Happy Valley Old Reynella
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.

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Walkability 41 / 66
Happy Valley — Walkability: 41/100 Old Reynella — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 69 / 27
Happy Valley — Safety: 69/100 Old Reynella — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Happy Valley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Old Reynella — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 60
Happy Valley — Low flood risk: 63/100 Old Reynella — Low flood risk: 60/100

Demographics

Happy Valley has more residents (11,420 vs 3,458); Happy Valley has higher household incomes ($81,796 vs $72,124).

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Population 11,420
+70% vs other
 3,458
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +2.2%
Median age 42
same for both
Median household income $81,796/yr
+12% vs other
 $72,124/yr
Median weekly rent $360/wk
+8% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Happy Valley Old Reynella
0-4 5.6% / 5.1%
Happy Valley — 0-4: 5.6% Old Reynella — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 11.5% / 11.1%
Happy Valley — 5-14: 11.5% Old Reynella — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 5.9% / 6.2%
Happy Valley — 15-19: 5.9% Old Reynella — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 4.8% / 6.0%
Happy Valley — 20-24: 4.8% Old Reynella — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 11.9% / 11.7%
Happy Valley — 25-34: 11.9% Old Reynella — 25-34: 11.7%
35-44 13.2% / 12.7%
Happy Valley — 35-44: 13.2% Old Reynella — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 12.2% / 12.5%
Happy Valley — 45-54: 12.2% Old Reynella — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 12.4% / 12.6%
Happy Valley — 55-64: 12.4% Old Reynella — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 13.5% / 10.9%
Happy Valley — 65-74: 13.5% Old Reynella — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 6.3% / 6.4%
Happy Valley — 75-84: 6.3% Old Reynella — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 2.8% / 4.5%
Happy Valley — 85+: 2.8% Old Reynella — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Happy Valley 46.1% couple families
Happy Valley — Couple Families: 46.1% Happy Valley — Lone Person: 34.7% Happy Valley — One Parent Families: 16.4% Happy Valley — Group Household: 1.9% Happy Valley — Other Families: 1.0%
Old Reynella 39.0% couple families
Old Reynella — Couple Families: 39.0% Old Reynella — Lone Person: 39.8% Old Reynella — One Parent Families: 16.9% Old Reynella — Group Household: 2.9% Old Reynella — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Happy Valley 11.6% renting
Happy Valley — Owned Outright: 37.1% Happy Valley — Mortgage: 51.3% Happy Valley — Renting: 11.6%
Old Reynella 20.8% renting
Old Reynella — Owned Outright: 34.0% Old Reynella — Mortgage: 45.2% Old Reynella — Renting: 20.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Certificate III & IV 18.6% / 18.8%
Happy Valley — Certificate III & IV: 18.6% Old Reynella — Certificate III & IV: 18.8%
Bachelor Degree 11.2% / 9.7%
Happy Valley — Bachelor Degree: 11.2% Old Reynella — Bachelor Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 7.5%
Happy Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Old Reynella — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.5% / 1.6%
Happy Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5% Old Reynella — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.4%
Happy Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Old Reynella — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

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.

Happy Valley Old Reynella
England 8.3% / 8.4%
Happy Valley — England: 8.3% Old Reynella — England: 8.4%
Scotland 0.8% / 1.5%
Happy Valley — Scotland: 0.8% Old Reynella — Scotland: 1.5%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.7%
Happy Valley — Philippines: 0.6% Old Reynella — Philippines: 1.7%
India 0.6% / 1.3%
Happy Valley — India: 0.6% Old Reynella — India: 1.3%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.8%
Happy Valley — South Africa: 0.8% Old Reynella — South Africa: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.9%
Happy Valley — New Zealand: 0.7% Old Reynella — New Zealand: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Happy Valley 89.9% houses
Happy Valley — Houses: 89.9% Happy Valley — Townhouses: 10.0% Happy Valley — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Old Reynella 86.0% houses
Old Reynella — Houses: 86.0% Old Reynella — Townhouses: 14.0% Old Reynella — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Median house price $870,000 $857,500
Median unit price $665,000 $720,000
Median land price $520,000 $815,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 90 sales
 18 days
from 25 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.

Happy Valley Old Reynella
3 bed $836K / $855K
Happy Valley — 3 bed: $836K (122 sales) Old Reynella — 3 bed: $855K (35 sales)

122 vs 35 sales

4 bed $936K / $930K
Happy Valley — 4 bed: $936K (60 sales) Old Reynella — 4 bed: $930K (15 sales)

60 vs 15 sales

5 bed $1M / $1.01M
Happy Valley — 5 bed: $1M (18 sales) Old Reynella — 5 bed: $1.01M (5 sales)

18 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Residential 46% 86%
Parks and recreation 51% 0%
Industrial 0% 9%
Commercial 0% 4%
Rural and farming 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

Happy Valley Old Reynella
New dwellings approved 1,367
across Onkaparinga
same for both
Approvals change year on year +58%
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.

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Houses 4.0%
$675/wk on $885K
 4.2%
$675/wk on $840K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Happy Valley Old Reynella
House price Higher than 32% of SA Higher than 10% of SA
Income Higher than 57% of SA Higher than 46% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 86% of SA
Affordability Higher than 76% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 60% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 83% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of SA Higher than 71% of SA

Liveability

Old Reynella is more walkable (66 vs 41); Happy Valley scores higher overall (61 vs 51).

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Grade B
same for both
Score 61/100 51/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Old Reynella carries more crime risk (73 vs 31).

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
31/100
 High
73/100
Flood Low
37/100
 Moderate
40/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Bedford Park, 5.9 km
 1
Bedford Park, 8.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.0%

Schools in Happy Valley

  • Happy Valley Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Braeview School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Old Reynella

  • Reynella Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • FAME - Flexible Accredited Meaningful Engagement - The Cottage Campus Catholic · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 2 6
Parks & reserves 10 1
Childcare 6 4
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Walkability score 41/100 66/100
Distance to Adelaide 23.1 km
+4% vs other
 22.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 27 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 237.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 201.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5159
 0.6%
postcode 5161
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 5159
 66
postcode 5161

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.

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Car (driver) 80.1% / 78.7%
Happy Valley — Car (driver): 80.1% Old Reynella — Car (driver): 78.7%
Worked from Home 10.4% / 8.7%
Happy Valley — Worked from Home: 10.4% Old Reynella — Worked from Home: 8.7%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 4.6%
Happy Valley — Car (passenger): 3.8% Old Reynella — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bus 3.1% / 4.9%
Happy Valley — Bus: 3.1% Old Reynella — Bus: 4.9%
Train 1.4% / 1.4%
Happy Valley — Train: 1.4% Old Reynella — Train: 1.4%
Walked Only 0.8% / 1.7%
Happy Valley — Walked Only: 0.8% Old Reynella — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.1%).

Setting

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Elevation 147 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 113 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.9 km 4.5 km

NBN connectivity

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Connectivity score 74/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
4,948 premises
 28%
1,715 premises

Climate

Happy Valley Old Reynella
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)

Happy Valley Old Reynella
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 19.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.34 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Average residential rate $2,008/yr
same for both
Council Onkaparinga
same for both

Federal electorate

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Division Kingston
same for both
Member Amanda Rishworth
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Happy Valley Old Reynella
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Happy Valley

Large Blocks Middle-Ring River

Old Reynella

Large Blocks Middle-Ring

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Happy Valley

Happy Valley vs Woodcroft Happy Valley vs Aberfoyle Park Happy Valley vs Flagstaff Hill Happy Valley vs Trott Park Happy Valley vs O'Halloran Hill Happy Valley vs Reynella East

Other comparisons with Old Reynella

Old Reynella vs Morphett Vale Old Reynella vs Woodcroft Old Reynella vs Reynella Old Reynella vs Trott Park Old Reynella vs Reynella East
Full data on Happy Valley Full data on Old Reynella
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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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