Malvern vs Fullarton

In both, most households own their home. In Malvern, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Fullarton, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Malvern: a median of $2.26 million, against $1.55 million in Fullarton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Malvern tends to suit couples, while Fullarton suits people living alone 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

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 49%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 48%)
  • But Fullarton has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

  • Malvern has cheaper units ($515,000 vs $708,500)
  • Fullarton has cheaper houses ($1,550,000 vs $2,260,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fullarton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($345/wk vs $380/wk)
  • But Malvern leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 20%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fullarton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 73/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fullarton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

Fullarton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.6% vs 2.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Malvern Fullarton
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.

Malvern Fullarton
Walkability 73 / 90
Malvern — Walkability: 73/100 Fullarton — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 28 / 33
Malvern — Safety: 28/100 Fullarton — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fullarton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 32 / 41
Malvern — Low flood risk: 32/100 Fullarton — Low flood risk: 41/100

Demographics

Fullarton has more residents (4,500 vs 2,713); Malvern has higher household incomes ($138,060 vs $87,672).

Malvern Fullarton
Population 2,713 4,500
+66% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% +6.1%
Median age 46 44
Median household income $138,060/yr
+36% vs other
 $87,672/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+9% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Malvern Fullarton
0-4 3.6% / 4.0%
Malvern — 0-4: 3.6% Fullarton — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 12.6% / 12.3%
Malvern — 5-14: 12.6% Fullarton — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 6.9% / 5.1%
Malvern — 15-19: 6.9% Fullarton — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 6.0% / 5.8%
Malvern — 20-24: 6.0% Fullarton — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 7.4% / 10.0%
Malvern — 25-34: 7.4% Fullarton — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 10.9% / 13.7%
Malvern — 35-44: 10.9% Fullarton — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 15.0% / 11.9%
Malvern — 45-54: 15.0% Fullarton — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 13.7% / 10.0%
Malvern — 55-64: 13.7% Fullarton — 55-64: 10.0%
65-74 13.5% / 11.3%
Malvern — 65-74: 13.5% Fullarton — 65-74: 11.3%
75-84 6.7% / 8.9%
Malvern — 75-84: 6.7% Fullarton — 75-84: 8.9%
85+ 3.9% / 7.2%
Malvern — 85+: 3.9% Fullarton — 85+: 7.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Malvern 56.6% couple families
Malvern — Couple Families: 56.6% Malvern — Lone Person: 27.8% Malvern — One Parent Families: 12.2% Malvern — Group Household: 1.9% Malvern — Other Families: 1.5%
Fullarton 36.7% couple families
Fullarton — Couple Families: 36.7% Fullarton — Lone Person: 46.7% Fullarton — One Parent Families: 11.3% Fullarton — Group Household: 4.2% Fullarton — 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.

Malvern 19.3% renting
Malvern — Owned Outright: 49.4% Malvern — Mortgage: 31.3% Malvern — Renting: 19.3%
Fullarton 34.2% renting
Fullarton — Owned Outright: 35.2% Fullarton — Mortgage: 30.7% Fullarton — Renting: 34.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Malvern Fullarton
Bachelor Degree 26.3% / 22.9%
Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 26.3% Fullarton — Bachelor Degree: 22.9%
Postgraduate Degree 9.8% / 10.9%
Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8% Fullarton — Postgraduate Degree: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.9%
Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Fullarton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 6.2%
Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Fullarton — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 3.5%
Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Fullarton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.3%).

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.

Malvern Fullarton
England 3.9% / 3.9%
Malvern — England: 3.9% Fullarton — England: 3.9%
China 3.4% / 3.4%
Malvern — China: 3.4% Fullarton — China: 3.4%
India 1.2% / 3.7%
Malvern — India: 1.2% Fullarton — India: 3.7%
Italy 1.4% / 0.9%
Malvern — Italy: 1.4% Fullarton — Italy: 0.9%
Malaysia 0.9% / 1.2%
Malvern — Malaysia: 0.9% Fullarton — Malaysia: 1.2%
Greece 1.1% / 0.9%
Malvern — Greece: 1.1% Fullarton — Greece: 0.9%
Sri Lanka — / 1.2%
Malvern — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Fullarton — Sri Lanka: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Malvern 79.8% houses
Malvern — Houses: 79.8% Malvern — Townhouses: 12.7% Malvern — Flats / Apartments: 7.4%
Fullarton 49.3% houses
Fullarton — Houses: 49.3% Fullarton — Townhouses: 29.9% Fullarton — Flats / Apartments: 20.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Malvern Fullarton
Median house price $2,260,000 $1,550,000
Median unit price $515,000 $708,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 23 sales
 23 days
from 31 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.

Malvern Fullarton
3 bed $2.17M / $1.5M
Malvern — 3 bed: $2.17M (29 sales) Fullarton — 3 bed: $1.5M (38 sales)

29 vs 38 sales

4 bed $2.65M / $1.76M
Malvern — 4 bed: $2.65M (22 sales) Fullarton — 4 bed: $1.76M (11 sales)

22 vs 11 sales

5 bed $3.42M / $2.4M
Malvern — 5 bed: $3.42M (6 sales) Fullarton — 5 bed: $2.4M (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Malvern Fullarton
Residential 96%
same for both
Commercial 4%
same for both
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

Malvern Fullarton
New dwellings approved 273
across Unley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -67%
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.

Malvern Fullarton
Houses 2.1%
$790/wk on $1.95M
 2.6%
$750/wk on $1.49M
Units 3.5%
$450/wk on $672K
 3.8%
$520/wk on $720K

Ranking within SA

Malvern Fullarton
House price Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
Income Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 66% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 98% of SA
Affordability Higher than 15% of SA Higher than 8% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 95% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 89% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of SA Higher than 8% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 6% of SA Higher than 10% of SA

Liveability

Fullarton is more walkable (90 vs 73); Fullarton scores higher overall (78 vs 72).

Malvern Fullarton
Grade A
same for both
Score 72/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Malvern Fullarton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood Moderate
68/100
 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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Malvern Fullarton
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.5 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.3% 3.8%

Schools in Malvern

  • Unley Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Fullarton

  • Sunrise Christian School Fullarton Independent · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Malvern Fullarton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 2
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 2 3
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 8

Mobility

Malvern Fullarton
Walkability score 73/100 90/100
Distance to Adelaide 4.6 km
+2% vs other
 4.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 9 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 82.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 5061
 2.0%
postcode 5063
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 5061
 44
postcode 5063

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.

Malvern Fullarton
Car (driver) 66.4% / 63.4%
Malvern — Car (driver): 66.4% Fullarton — Car (driver): 63.4%
Worked from Home 18.2% / 16.0%
Malvern — Worked from Home: 18.2% Fullarton — Worked from Home: 16.0%
Bus 5.5% / 8.4%
Malvern — Bus: 5.5% Fullarton — Bus: 8.4%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.9%
Malvern — Car (passenger): 4.9% Fullarton — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Bicycle 2.8% / 3.9%
Malvern — Bicycle: 2.8% Fullarton — Bicycle: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.4%).

Setting

Malvern Fullarton
Elevation 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 10.7 km

NBN connectivity

Malvern Fullarton
Connectivity score 73/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,376 premises
 26%
2,513 premises

Climate

Malvern Fullarton
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)

Malvern Fullarton
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

Malvern Fullarton
Average residential rate $2,288/yr
same for both
Council Unley
same for both

Federal electorate

Malvern Fullarton
Division Adelaide Sturt
Member Steve Georganas Claire Clutterham
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Malvern Fullarton
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Malvern

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River

Fullarton

Inner Parks Premium Professionals Retirees River Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Malvern

Malvern vs Parkside Malvern vs Unley Malvern vs Kingswood Malvern vs Hawthorn Malvern vs Hyde Park Malvern vs Netherby

Other comparisons with Fullarton

Fullarton vs Parkside Fullarton vs Unley Fullarton vs Myrtle Bank Fullarton vs Glenside Fullarton vs Glenunga Fullarton vs Highgate
Full data on Malvern Full data on Fullarton
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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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