Lower Inman Valley vs Victor Harbor

Lower Inman Valley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 59 in Victor Harbor. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Lower Inman Valley, most households are couple families. In Victor Harbor, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Lower Inman Valley: a median of $1.31 million, against $740,000 in Victor Harbor. On these figures, Lower Inman Valley tends to suit couples, while Victor Harbor suits people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

  • Lower Inman Valley carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 66/100)
  • Victor Harbor has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Victor Harbor

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($352,500 vs $1,030,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($740,000 vs $1,309,000)
  • But Lower Inman Valley leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Lower Inman Valley leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 30%)
  • Victor Harbor has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 6%)

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

Commuting to the city

Victor Harbor

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (44/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (72 min vs 81 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (83.3 km vs 91.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Victor Harbor

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (44/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (41% vs 22%)
  • But Lower Inman Valley carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 66/100)

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

Investors

Lower Inman Valley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.1% vs 6.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
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.

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Walkability 10 / 44
Lower Inman Valley — Walkability: 10/100 Victor Harbor — Walkability: 44/100
Safety 86 / 34
Lower Inman Valley — Safety: 86/100 Victor Harbor — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lower Inman Valley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Victor Harbor — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 71 / 23
Lower Inman Valley — Low flood risk: 71/100 Victor Harbor — Low flood risk: 23/100

Demographics

Victor Harbor has more residents (4,520 vs 517); Lower Inman Valley has higher household incomes ($94,224 vs $45,864).

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Population 517 4,520
+774% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.1% +6.8%
Median age 50 59
Median household income $94,224/yr
+51% vs other
 $45,864/yr
Median weekly rent $265/wk $267/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
0-4 3.3% / 3.1%
Lower Inman Valley — 0-4: 3.3% Victor Harbor — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 13.5% / 8.8%
Lower Inman Valley — 5-14: 13.5% Victor Harbor — 5-14: 8.8%
15-19 9.1% / 4.1%
Lower Inman Valley — 15-19: 9.1% Victor Harbor — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 2.3% / 3.2%
Lower Inman Valley — 20-24: 2.3% Victor Harbor — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 5.2% / 6.7%
Lower Inman Valley — 25-34: 5.2% Victor Harbor — 25-34: 6.7%
35-44 9.5% / 8.3%
Lower Inman Valley — 35-44: 9.5% Victor Harbor — 35-44: 8.3%
45-54 17.0% / 9.6%
Lower Inman Valley — 45-54: 17.0% Victor Harbor — 45-54: 9.6%
55-64 19.7% / 15.6%
Lower Inman Valley — 55-64: 19.7% Victor Harbor — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 15.7% / 20.0%
Lower Inman Valley — 65-74: 15.7% Victor Harbor — 65-74: 20.0%
75-84 4.6% / 13.1%
Lower Inman Valley — 75-84: 4.6% Victor Harbor — 75-84: 13.1%
85+ 1.7% / 7.6%
Lower Inman Valley — 85+: 1.7% Victor Harbor — 85+: 7.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lower Inman Valley 26.0% lone person
Lower Inman Valley — Lone Person: 26.0% Lower Inman Valley — Couple Families: 63.5% Lower Inman Valley — One Parent Families: 6.2% Lower Inman Valley — Group Household: 4.2% Lower Inman Valley — Other Families: 0.0%
Victor Harbor 58.9% lone person
Victor Harbor — Lone Person: 58.9% Victor Harbor — Couple Families: 21.4% Victor Harbor — One Parent Families: 14.3% Victor Harbor — Group Household: 3.4% Victor Harbor — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lower Inman Valley 6.4% renting
Lower Inman Valley — Owned Outright: 46.8% Lower Inman Valley — Mortgage: 46.8% Lower Inman Valley — Renting: 6.4%
Victor Harbor 30.3% renting
Victor Harbor — Owned Outright: 47.1% Victor Harbor — Mortgage: 22.6% Victor Harbor — Renting: 30.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 17.1%
Lower Inman Valley — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Victor Harbor — Certificate III & IV: 17.1%
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 8.5%
Lower Inman Valley — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Victor Harbor — Bachelor Degree: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 8.7%
Lower Inman Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Victor Harbor — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 2.2%
Lower Inman Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Victor Harbor — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 1.4%
Lower Inman Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Victor Harbor — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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.

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
England 8.1% / 9.7%
Lower Inman Valley — England: 8.1% Victor Harbor — England: 9.7%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.0%
Lower Inman Valley — New Zealand: 1.9% Victor Harbor — New Zealand: 1.0%
Netherlands 1.2% / 0.5%
Lower Inman Valley — Netherlands: 1.2% Victor Harbor — Netherlands: 0.5%
Germany 0.6% / 0.8%
Lower Inman Valley — Germany: 0.6% Victor Harbor — Germany: 0.8%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Lower Inman Valley — Scotland: not among its largest Victor Harbor — Scotland: 1.0%
Philippines — / 0.6%
Lower Inman Valley — Philippines: not among its largest Victor Harbor — Philippines: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lower Inman Valley 100.6% houses
Lower Inman Valley — Houses: 100.6% Lower Inman Valley — Townhouses: 0.0% Lower Inman Valley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Victor Harbor 73.3% houses
Victor Harbor — Houses: 73.3% Victor Harbor — Townhouses: 19.5% Victor Harbor — Flats / Apartments: 7.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Median house price $1,309,000 $740,000
Median unit price — $561,000
Median land price $1,030,000 $352,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 22 days
from 72 sales

Zoning mix

Lower Inman Valley has more rural and farming land (100% vs 21%).

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Rural and farming 100% 21%
Residential 0% 36%
Parks and recreation 0% 20%
Commercial 0% 6%
Industrial 0% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
Environmental 0% 4%
Other and special use 0% 3%
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

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
New dwellings approved 347
across Victor Harbor
same for both
Approvals change year on year -26%
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.

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Houses — 3.6%
$550/wk on $800K
Units — 3.3%
$455/wk on $710K

Ranking within SA

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 73% of SA Higher than 11% of SA
Schools — Higher than 10% of SA
Walkability Higher than 64% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 63% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of SA Higher than 98% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 32% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 4% of SA

Liveability

Victor Harbor is more walkable (44 vs 10); Lower Inman Valley scores higher overall (61 vs 25).

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Grade B D
Score 61/100 25/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Victor Harbor carries more crime risk (66 vs 14); Victor Harbor carries more flood risk (77 vs 29).

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
14/100
 Moderate
66/100
Flood Low
29/100
 High
77/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
55/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lower Inman Valley

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

Schools in Victor Harbor

  • Investigator College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Victor Harbor High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Victor Harbor Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 1 10
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 4
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 3
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Lower Inman Valley sits further from the CBD (91.2 km vs 83.3 km).

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Walkability score 10/100 44/100
Distance to Adelaide 91.2 km
+9% vs other
 83.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 72 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 5211
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 5211
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.

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Car (driver) 76.8% / 72.5%
Lower Inman Valley — Car (driver): 76.8% Victor Harbor — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 16.1% / 12.6%
Lower Inman Valley — Worked from Home: 16.1% Victor Harbor — Worked from Home: 12.6%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 6.2%
Lower Inman Valley — Car (passenger): 7.1% Victor Harbor — Car (passenger): 6.2%
Walked Only — / 7.4%
Lower Inman Valley — Walked Only: not among its largest Victor Harbor — Walked Only: 7.4%
Bicycle — / 0.8%
Lower Inman Valley — Bicycle: not among its largest Victor Harbor — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.8%).

Setting

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Elevation 101 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.5 km 1.3 km

NBN connectivity

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Connectivity score 30/100 96/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
207 premises
 91%
3,563 premises

Climate

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Annual rainfall 786 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Average residential rate $2,533/yr
same for both
Council Victor Harbor
same for both

Federal electorate

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lower Inman Valley Victor Harbor
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lower Inman Valley

Rural

Victor Harbor

Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lower Inman Valley

Lower Inman Valley vs Hindmarsh Valley Lower Inman Valley vs Inman Valley Lower Inman Valley vs Back Valley

Other comparisons with Victor Harbor

Victor Harbor vs Encounter Bay Victor Harbor vs McCracken Victor Harbor vs Hindmarsh Valley Victor Harbor vs Back Valley
Full data on Lower Inman Valley Full data on Victor Harbor
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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