Macdonald Park vs Penfield

Macdonald Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 49 against 70 in Penfield. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Penfield, the large majority of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Macdonald Park: a median of $1.4 million, against $277,000 in Penfield, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Penfield tends to suit 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

Macdonald Park

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 18%)
  • carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 87/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Macdonald Park leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 32%)
  • Penfield has cheaper houses ($277,000 vs $1,400,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Macdonald Park leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 28%)
  • Penfield has cheaper rent ($180/wk vs $345/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Penfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Penfield

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (62% vs 22%)
  • But Macdonald Park carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 87/100)

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

Where they sit

Macdonald Park and Penfield 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
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
Walkability 0 / 15
Macdonald Park — Walkability: 0/100 Penfield — Walkability: 15/100
Safety 36 / 13
Macdonald Park — Safety: 36/100 Penfield — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Macdonald Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Penfield — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 11 / 22
Macdonald Park — Low flood risk: 11/100 Penfield — Low flood risk: 22/100

Demographics

Macdonald Park has higher household incomes ($80,964 vs $33,956); Macdonald Park rents higher ($345/wk vs $180/wk).

Macdonald Park Penfield
Population 503
+16% vs other
 422
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.8% —
Median age 49 70
Median household income $80,964/yr
+58% vs other
 $33,956/yr
Median weekly rent $345/wk
+48% vs other
 $180/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Macdonald Park Penfield
0-4 4.0% / 0.7%
Macdonald Park — 0-4: 4.0% Penfield — 0-4: 0.7%
5-14 10.1% / 3.6%
Macdonald Park — 5-14: 10.1% Penfield — 5-14: 3.6%
15-19 6.4% / 2.4%
Macdonald Park — 15-19: 6.4% Penfield — 15-19: 2.4%
20-24 4.8% / 2.8%
Macdonald Park — 20-24: 4.8% Penfield — 20-24: 2.8%
25-34 10.1% / 4.5%
Macdonald Park — 25-34: 10.1% Penfield — 25-34: 4.5%
35-44 9.7% / 6.9%
Macdonald Park — 35-44: 9.7% Penfield — 35-44: 6.9%
45-54 13.9% / 5.9%
Macdonald Park — 45-54: 13.9% Penfield — 45-54: 5.9%
55-64 20.3% / 12.6%
Macdonald Park — 55-64: 20.3% Penfield — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 13.7% / 27.0%
Macdonald Park — 65-74: 13.7% Penfield — 65-74: 27.0%
75-84 6.8% / 27.5%
Macdonald Park — 75-84: 6.8% Penfield — 75-84: 27.5%
85+ 1.4% / 7.6%
Macdonald Park — 85+: 1.4% Penfield — 85+: 7.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Macdonald Park 28.0% lone person
Macdonald Park — Lone Person: 28.0% Macdonald Park — Couple Families: 41.5% Macdonald Park — One Parent Families: 20.3% Macdonald Park — Other Families: 7.6% Macdonald Park — Group Household: 2.5%
Penfield 79.6% lone person
Penfield — Lone Person: 79.6% Penfield — Couple Families: 13.1% Penfield — One Parent Families: 4.4% Penfield — Other Families: 0.0% Penfield — Group Household: 2.9%
Lone Person Couple Families 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 12.4% renting
Penfield — Owned Outright: 80.6% Penfield — Mortgage: 7.0% Penfield — Renting: 12.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Macdonald Park Penfield
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 9.2%
Macdonald Park — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Penfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.2%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 4.0%
Macdonald Park — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Penfield — Bachelor Degree: 4.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 2.6%
Macdonald Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Penfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.9%
Macdonald Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Penfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%
Postgraduate Degree 0.6% / —
Macdonald Park — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6% Penfield — 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
England 8.9% / 17.1%
Macdonald Park — England: 8.9% Penfield — England: 17.1%
Vietnam 2.6% / 4.5%
Macdonald Park — Vietnam: 2.6% Penfield — Vietnam: 4.5%
Italy 1.8% / 1.2%
Macdonald Park — Italy: 1.8% Penfield — Italy: 1.2%
Netherlands — / 2.8%
Macdonald Park — Netherlands: not among its largest Penfield — Netherlands: 2.8%
Sri Lanka — / 2.1%
Macdonald Park — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Penfield — Sri Lanka: 2.1%
Scotland — / 2.1%
Macdonald Park — Scotland: not among its largest Penfield — Scotland: 2.1%
India 1.0% / —
Macdonald Park — India: 1.0% Penfield — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.0% / —
Macdonald Park — New Zealand: 1.0% Penfield — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

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% Macdonald Park — Townhouses: 0.0%
Penfield 97.2% houses
Penfield — Houses: 97.2% Penfield — Flats / Apartments: 1.4% Penfield — Townhouses: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Macdonald Park Penfield
Median house price $1,400,000 $277,000
Median unit price — $283,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 4 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Macdonald Park has more rural and farming land (99% vs 71%); Penfield has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 1%).

Macdonald Park Penfield
Rural and farming 99% 71%
Industrial 1% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 8%
Residential 0% 6%
Parks and recreation 1% 2%
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
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
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 55% of SA Higher than 3% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 36% of SA Higher than 69% 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 72% of SA

Liveability

Penfield is more walkable (15 vs 0).

Macdonald Park Penfield
Grade D —
Score 30/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Penfield carries more crime risk (87 vs 64); Macdonald Park carries more flood risk (89 vs 78).

Macdonald Park Penfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 High
87/100
Flood High
89/100
 High
78/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 High
100/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Macdonald Park Penfield
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
Childcare 0 1

Mobility

Macdonald Park Penfield
Walkability score 0/100 15/100
Distance to Adelaide 36.9 km
+4% vs other
 35.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 32 min
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
Car (driver) 74.8% / 56.3%
Macdonald Park — Car (driver): 74.8% Penfield — Car (driver): 56.3%
Worked from Home 12.1% / 31.0%
Macdonald Park — Worked from Home: 12.1% Penfield — Worked from Home: 31.0%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 12.7%
Macdonald Park — Car (passenger): 5.3% Penfield — Car (passenger): 12.7%
Walked Only 5.8% / —
Macdonald Park — Walked Only: 5.8% Penfield — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 1.9% / —
Macdonald Park — Bus: 1.9% Penfield — Bus: not among its largest

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

Setting

Macdonald Park Penfield
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.4 km 9.8 km

NBN connectivity

Macdonald Park Penfield
Connectivity score 31/100 43/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
198 premises
 1%
275 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

Tags

Macdonald Park

Acreage Outer

Penfield

Acreage 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 Gardens

Other comparisons with Penfield

Penfield vs Virginia Penfield vs Eyre Penfield vs Waterloo Corner Penfield vs Direk Penfield vs Edinburgh Penfield vs Penfield Gardens
Full data on Macdonald Park Full data on Penfield
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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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