Macdonald Park vs Penfield Gardens

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Penfield Gardens, most households are couple families. On these figures, Penfield Gardens tends to suit couples.

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

  • Macdonald Park carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 89/100)
  • Penfield Gardens is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 62%)

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

First-home buyers

Macdonald Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 29%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Macdonald Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $383/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Macdonald Park carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 89/100)
  • Penfield Gardens has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 22%)

Weighs 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

Macdonald Park and Penfield Gardens drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
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.

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Walkability 0 / 0
Macdonald Park — Walkability: 0/100 Penfield Gardens — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 36 / 11
Macdonald Park — Safety: 36/100 Penfield Gardens — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Macdonald Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Penfield Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 11 / 11
Macdonald Park — Low flood risk: 11/100 Penfield Gardens — Low flood risk: 11/100

Demographics

Macdonald Park has more residents (503 vs 304); Penfield Gardens rents higher ($383/wk vs $345/wk).

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Population 503
+40% vs other
 304
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.8% -9.3%
Median age 49 48
Median household income $80,964/yr $82,836/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $345/wk $383/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
0-4 4.0% / 3.3%
Macdonald Park — 0-4: 4.0% Penfield Gardens — 0-4: 3.3%
5-14 10.1% / 10.9%
Macdonald Park — 5-14: 10.1% Penfield Gardens — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 6.4% / 4.9%
Macdonald Park — 15-19: 6.4% Penfield Gardens — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 4.8% / 7.6%
Macdonald Park — 20-24: 4.8% Penfield Gardens — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 10.1% / 8.6%
Macdonald Park — 25-34: 10.1% Penfield Gardens — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 9.7% / 11.5%
Macdonald Park — 35-44: 9.7% Penfield Gardens — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 13.9% / 13.5%
Macdonald Park — 45-54: 13.9% Penfield Gardens — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 20.3% / 11.8%
Macdonald Park — 55-64: 20.3% Penfield Gardens — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 13.7% / 13.2%
Macdonald Park — 65-74: 13.7% Penfield Gardens — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 6.8% / 9.9%
Macdonald Park — 75-84: 6.8% Penfield Gardens — 75-84: 9.9%
85+ 1.4% / 3.9%
Macdonald Park — 85+: 1.4% Penfield Gardens — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Macdonald Park 41.5% couple families
Macdonald Park — Couple Families: 41.5% Macdonald Park — Lone Person: 28.0% Macdonald Park — One Parent Families: 20.3% Macdonald Park — Other Families: 7.6% Macdonald Park — Group Household: 2.5%
Penfield Gardens 65.6% couple families
Penfield Gardens — Couple Families: 65.6% Penfield Gardens — Lone Person: 26.2% Penfield Gardens — One Parent Families: 8.2% Penfield Gardens — Other Families: 0.0% Penfield Gardens — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Macdonald Park 11.7% renting
Macdonald Park — Owned Outright: 39.8% Macdonald Park — Mortgage: 48.5% Macdonald Park — Renting: 11.7%
Penfield Gardens 10.0% renting
Penfield Gardens — Owned Outright: 60.0% Penfield Gardens — Mortgage: 30.0% Penfield Gardens — Renting: 10.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 11.8%
Macdonald Park — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Penfield Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 4.9%
Macdonald Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Penfield Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 3.6%
Macdonald Park — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Penfield Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 3.6%
Postgraduate Degree 0.6% / —
Macdonald Park — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6% Penfield Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

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.

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
England 8.9% / 3.3%
Macdonald Park — England: 8.9% Penfield Gardens — England: 3.3%
Vietnam 2.6% / 8.6%
Macdonald Park — Vietnam: 2.6% Penfield Gardens — Vietnam: 8.6%
Italy 1.8% / 8.6%
Macdonald Park — Italy: 1.8% Penfield Gardens — Italy: 8.6%
Malaysia — / 6.2%
Macdonald Park — Malaysia: not among its largest Penfield Gardens — Malaysia: 6.2%
Greece — / 3.0%
Macdonald Park — Greece: not among its largest Penfield Gardens — Greece: 3.0%
India 1.0% / —
Macdonald Park — India: 1.0% Penfield Gardens — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.0% / —
Macdonald Park — New Zealand: 1.0% Penfield Gardens — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Macdonald Park 96.0% houses
Macdonald Park — Houses: 96.0% Macdonald Park — Flats / Apartments: 4.0%
Penfield Gardens 100.0% houses
Penfield Gardens — Houses: 100.0% Penfield Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Median house price $1,400,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 4 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Rural and farming 99% 94%
Parks and recreation 1% 6%
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

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
New dwellings approved 2,475
across Playford
same for both
Approvals change year on year +65%
same for both

Ranking within SA

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 55% of SA Higher than 58% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 36% of SA Higher than 49% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 62% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of SA Higher than 67% of SA

Liveability

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Grade D —
Score 30/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Penfield Gardens carries more crime risk (89 vs 64).

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 High
89/100
Flood High
89/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
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

Amenities in the suburb

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Adelaide 36.9 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 5121
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.

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Car (driver) 74.8% / 60.0%
Macdonald Park — Car (driver): 74.8% Penfield Gardens — Car (driver): 60.0%
Worked from Home 12.1% / 25.4%
Macdonald Park — Worked from Home: 12.1% Penfield Gardens — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 9.2%
Macdonald Park — Car (passenger): 5.3% Penfield Gardens — Car (passenger): 9.2%
Walked Only 5.8% / 5.4%
Macdonald Park — Walked Only: 5.8% Penfield Gardens — Walked Only: 5.4%
Bus 1.9% / —
Macdonald Park — Bus: 1.9% Penfield Gardens — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.8%).

Setting

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.4 km 11.5 km

NBN connectivity

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Connectivity score 31/100 30/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
198 premises
 0%
130 premises

Climate

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.31 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Average residential rate $2,101/yr
same for both
Council Playford
same for both

Federal electorate

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Division Spence
same for both
Member Matt Burnell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Macdonald Park

Acreage Outer

Penfield Gardens

Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Macdonald Park

Macdonald Park vs Andrews Farm Macdonald Park vs Munno Para West Macdonald Park vs Angle Vale Macdonald Park vs Eyre Macdonald Park vs Penfield

Other comparisons with Penfield Gardens

Penfield Gardens vs Angle Vale Penfield Gardens vs Lewiston Penfield Gardens vs Virginia Penfield Gardens vs Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens vs Penfield
Full data on Macdonald Park Full data on Penfield Gardens
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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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