Hawthorn vs Lower Mitcham

In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Hawthorn: a median of $1.8 million, against $1.57 million in Lower Mitcham, though rent is higher in Lower Mitcham. Hawthorn is closer to the city centre: 6.1 km, against 7 km.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Hawthorn has more parks and reserves (7 vs 3)
  • Lower Mitcham carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 69/100)

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

  • Hawthorn has cheaper units ($571,083 vs $860,000)
  • Lower Mitcham has cheaper houses ($1,575,000 vs $1,800,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($295/wk vs $346/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Hawthorn has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • Lower Mitcham carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 69/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
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.

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Walkability 91 / 87
Hawthorn — Walkability: 91/100 Lower Mitcham — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 31 / 79
Hawthorn — Safety: 31/100 Lower Mitcham — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hawthorn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lower Mitcham — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 25 / 41
Hawthorn — Low flood risk: 25/100 Lower Mitcham — Low flood risk: 41/100

Demographics

Lower Mitcham rents higher ($346/wk vs $295/wk); Hawthorn has higher household incomes ($123,240 vs $106,340).

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Population 2,221
+2% vs other
 2,187
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.5% +1.6%
Median age 43 45
Median household income $123,240/yr
+14% vs other
 $106,340/yr
Median weekly rent $295/wk $346/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
0-4 4.5% / 4.7%
Hawthorn — 0-4: 4.5% Lower Mitcham — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 12.5% / 13.7%
Hawthorn — 5-14: 12.5% Lower Mitcham — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 6.4% / 6.4%
Hawthorn — 15-19: 6.4% Lower Mitcham — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.7% / 4.4%
Hawthorn — 20-24: 6.7% Lower Mitcham — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 10.3% / 8.3%
Hawthorn — 25-34: 10.3% Lower Mitcham — 25-34: 8.3%
35-44 11.6% / 12.3%
Hawthorn — 35-44: 11.6% Lower Mitcham — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 13.1% / 13.5%
Hawthorn — 45-54: 13.1% Lower Mitcham — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 14.4% / 15.3%
Hawthorn — 55-64: 14.4% Lower Mitcham — 55-64: 15.3%
65-74 13.5% / 12.1%
Hawthorn — 65-74: 13.5% Lower Mitcham — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 6.0% / 6.8%
Hawthorn — 75-84: 6.0% Lower Mitcham — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 1.4% / 2.4%
Hawthorn — 85+: 1.4% Lower Mitcham — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn 53.3% couple families
Hawthorn — Couple Families: 53.3% Hawthorn — Lone Person: 31.7% Hawthorn — One Parent Families: 10.1% Hawthorn — Group Household: 3.2% Hawthorn — Other Families: 1.7%
Lower Mitcham 50.3% couple families
Lower Mitcham — Couple Families: 50.3% Lower Mitcham — Lone Person: 36.6% Lower Mitcham — One Parent Families: 10.9% Lower Mitcham — Group Household: 1.3% Lower Mitcham — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn 23.9% renting
Hawthorn — Owned Outright: 40.4% Hawthorn — Mortgage: 35.7% Hawthorn — Renting: 23.9%
Lower Mitcham 15.0% renting
Lower Mitcham — Owned Outright: 46.8% Lower Mitcham — Mortgage: 38.2% Lower Mitcham — Renting: 15.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Bachelor Degree 26.0% / 24.3%
Hawthorn — Bachelor Degree: 26.0% Lower Mitcham — Bachelor Degree: 24.3%
Postgraduate Degree 10.5% / 9.7%
Hawthorn — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5% Lower Mitcham — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.7% / 8.2%
Hawthorn — Certificate III & IV: 6.7% Lower Mitcham — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.8%
Hawthorn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Lower Mitcham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 3.8%
Hawthorn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Lower Mitcham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.0%).

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.

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
England 4.3% / 4.4%
Hawthorn — England: 4.3% Lower Mitcham — England: 4.4%
China 1.4% / 2.1%
Hawthorn — China: 1.4% Lower Mitcham — China: 2.1%
India 1.5% / 0.6%
Hawthorn — India: 1.5% Lower Mitcham — India: 0.6%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.5%
Hawthorn — Scotland: 0.9% Lower Mitcham — Scotland: 0.5%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.5%
Hawthorn — New Zealand: 0.7% Lower Mitcham — New Zealand: 0.5%
Vietnam 1.0% / —
Hawthorn — Vietnam: 1.0% Lower Mitcham — Vietnam: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.5%
Hawthorn — Malaysia: not among its largest Lower Mitcham — Malaysia: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn 72.7% houses
Hawthorn — Houses: 72.7% Hawthorn — Flats / Apartments: 21.0% Hawthorn — Townhouses: 6.3%
Lower Mitcham 76.3% houses
Lower Mitcham — Houses: 76.3% Lower Mitcham — Flats / Apartments: 10.3% Lower Mitcham — Townhouses: 13.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Median house price $1,800,000 $1,575,000
Median unit price $571,083 $860,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 7 sales
 35 days
from 23 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.

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
3 bed $1.78M / $1.27M
Hawthorn — 3 bed: $1.78M (12 sales) Lower Mitcham — 3 bed: $1.27M (18 sales)

12 vs 18 sales

4 bed $1.61M / $2M
Hawthorn — 4 bed: $1.61M (5 sales) Lower Mitcham — 4 bed: $2M (17 sales)

5 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Residential 90% 96%
Commercial 5% 4%
Parks and recreation 4% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
New dwellings approved 188
across Mitcham
same for both
Approvals change year on year +32%
same for both

Ranking within SA

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
House price Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
Income Higher than 94% of SA —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of SA Higher than 96% of SA
Affordability Higher than 25% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 97% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 98% of SA

Liveability

Lower Mitcham scores higher overall (87 vs 75).

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Grade A A+
Score 75/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hawthorn carries more crime risk (69 vs 21); Hawthorn carries more flood risk (75 vs 59).

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Low
21/100
Flood High
75/100
 Moderate
59/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Tonsley, 4.3 km
 3
Tonsley, 3.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.6% 3.5%

Amenities in the suburb

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 7 3
Childcare 2 0
GPs 2 0
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Walkability score 91/100 87/100
Distance to Adelaide 6.1 km 7 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 14 min
Public transport score 90/100
Rail · Bus
 80/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 80.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 15.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 5062
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 63
postcode 5062
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.

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Car (driver) 67.7% / 68.4%
Hawthorn — Car (driver): 67.7% Lower Mitcham — Car (driver): 68.4%
Worked from Home 16.6% / 17.0%
Hawthorn — Worked from Home: 16.6% Lower Mitcham — Worked from Home: 17.0%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 4.0%
Hawthorn — Car (passenger): 4.4% Lower Mitcham — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Bus 4.8% / 3.0%
Hawthorn — Bus: 4.8% Lower Mitcham — Bus: 3.0%
Train 2.0% / 3.6%
Hawthorn — Train: 2.0% Lower Mitcham — Train: 3.6%
Bicycle 2.8% / 2.6%
Hawthorn — Bicycle: 2.8% Lower Mitcham — Bicycle: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.4%).

Setting

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Elevation 67 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.4 km 8.6 km

NBN connectivity

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Connectivity score 77/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
1,062 premises
 90%
957 premises

Climate

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Average residential rate $2,296/yr
same for both
Council Mitcham
same for both

Federal electorate

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Division Boothby
same for both
Member Louise Miller-Frost
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hawthorn Lower Mitcham
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hawthorn

Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub

Lower Mitcham

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hawthorn

Hawthorn vs Colonel Light Gardens Hawthorn vs Malvern Hawthorn vs Torrens Park Hawthorn vs Westbourne Park Hawthorn vs Kingswood Hawthorn vs Unley Park

Other comparisons with Lower Mitcham

Lower Mitcham vs Colonel Light Gardens Lower Mitcham vs Torrens Park Lower Mitcham vs Clapham
Full data on Hawthorn Full data on Lower Mitcham
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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