Malvern vs Highgate

Highgate is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Malvern. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Malvern, most households are couple families. In Highgate, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Malvern: a median of $2.26 million, against $1.65 million in Highgate, and rent is higher there too. Malvern is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 5.7 km. On these figures, Highgate tends to suit 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

Highgate

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 72/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Malvern has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 70%)

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 $693,693)
  • Highgate has cheaper houses ($1,650,000 vs $2,260,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Malvern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 65/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Malvern has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 18%)
  • Highgate carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Malvern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.4% vs -8.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Malvern and Highgate 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 Highgate
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 Highgate
Walkability 73 / 65
Malvern — Walkability: 73/100 Highgate — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 28 / 82
Malvern — Safety: 28/100 Highgate — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100 Highgate — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 32 / 100
Malvern — Low flood risk: 32/100 Highgate — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Malvern has more residents (2,713 vs 1,504); Malvern has higher household incomes ($138,060 vs $113,984).

Malvern Highgate
Population 2,713
+45% vs other
 1,504
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% -8.6%
Median age 46 41
Median household income $138,060/yr
+17% vs other
 $113,984/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+5% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Malvern Highgate
0-4 3.6% / 3.9%
Malvern — 0-4: 3.6% Highgate — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 12.6% / 13.9%
Malvern — 5-14: 12.6% Highgate — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 6.9% / 7.5%
Malvern — 15-19: 6.9% Highgate — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 6.0% / 6.4%
Malvern — 20-24: 6.0% Highgate — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 7.4% / 9.3%
Malvern — 25-34: 7.4% Highgate — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 10.9% / 13.0%
Malvern — 35-44: 10.9% Highgate — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 15.0% / 14.9%
Malvern — 45-54: 15.0% Highgate — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 13.7% / 12.7%
Malvern — 55-64: 13.7% Highgate — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 13.5% / 10.0%
Malvern — 65-74: 13.5% Highgate — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 6.7% / 6.1%
Malvern — 75-84: 6.7% Highgate — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 3.9% / 2.1%
Malvern — 85+: 3.9% Highgate — 85+: 2.1%

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%
Highgate 50.0% couple families
Highgate — Couple Families: 50.0% Highgate — Lone Person: 33.3% Highgate — One Parent Families: 12.8% Highgate — Group Household: 2.5% Highgate — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Highgate 23.6% renting
Highgate — Owned Outright: 41.9% Highgate — Mortgage: 34.5% Highgate — Renting: 23.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Malvern Highgate
Bachelor Degree 26.3% / 27.3%
Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 26.3% Highgate — Bachelor Degree: 27.3%
Postgraduate Degree 9.8% / 10.2%
Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8% Highgate — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.2%
Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Highgate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 6.3%
Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Highgate — Certificate III & IV: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 3.1%
Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Highgate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.3%).

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 Highgate
China 3.4% / 6.6%
Malvern — China: 3.4% Highgate — China: 6.6%
England 3.9% / 3.0%
Malvern — England: 3.9% Highgate — England: 3.0%
Malaysia 0.9% / 1.9%
Malvern — Malaysia: 0.9% Highgate — Malaysia: 1.9%
India 1.2% / 1.3%
Malvern — India: 1.2% Highgate — India: 1.3%
Italy 1.4% / —
Malvern — Italy: 1.4% Highgate — Italy: not among its largest
Greece 1.1% / —
Malvern — Greece: 1.1% Highgate — Greece: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 0.7%
Malvern — Vietnam: not among its largest Highgate — Vietnam: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

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%
Highgate 69.6% houses
Highgate — Houses: 69.6% Highgate — Townhouses: 17.8% Highgate — Flats / Apartments: 12.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Malvern Highgate
Median house price $2,260,000 $1,650,000
Median unit price $515,000 $693,693
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 23 sales
 22 days
from 16 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 Highgate
3 bed $2.17M / $1.06M
Malvern — 3 bed: $2.17M (29 sales) Highgate — 3 bed: $1.06M (13 sales)

29 vs 13 sales

4 bed $2.65M / $1.58M
Malvern — 4 bed: $2.65M (22 sales) Highgate — 4 bed: $1.58M (8 sales)

22 vs 8 sales

5 bed $3.42M / $2.62M
Malvern — 5 bed: $3.42M (6 sales) Highgate — 5 bed: $2.62M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Malvern Highgate
Residential 96% 86%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 11%
Commercial 4% 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

Malvern Highgate
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 Highgate
Houses 2.1%
$790/wk on $1.95M
 —
Units 3.5%
$450/wk on $672K
 —

Ranking within SA

Malvern Highgate
House price Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 96% of SA
Income Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 86% of SA
Affordability Higher than 15% of SA Higher than 6% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 95% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 85% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of SA —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 6% of SA —

Liveability

Highgate scores higher overall (87 vs 72); Malvern is more walkable (73 vs 65).

Malvern Highgate
Grade A A+
Score 72/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Malvern carries more flood risk (68 vs 0); Malvern carries more crime risk (72 vs 18).

Malvern Highgate
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 Low
18/100
Flood Moderate
68/100
 None
0/100
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 Highgate
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.5 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.3% 5.0%

Schools in Malvern

  • Unley Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Highgate

  • Highgate School Government · Primary above peers
  • Concordia College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Malvern Highgate
Cafes & restaurants 3 1
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 2 3
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

Malvern Highgate
Walkability score 73/100 65/100
Distance to Adelaide 4.6 km 5.7 km
+24% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 11 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 82.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 33.2
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 Highgate
Car (driver) 66.4% / 67.8%
Malvern — Car (driver): 66.4% Highgate — Car (driver): 67.8%
Worked from Home 18.2% / 15.2%
Malvern — Worked from Home: 18.2% Highgate — Worked from Home: 15.2%
Bus 5.5% / 6.0%
Malvern — Bus: 5.5% Highgate — Bus: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 3.1%
Malvern — Car (passenger): 4.9% Highgate — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Bicycle 2.8% / 4.6%
Malvern — Bicycle: 2.8% Highgate — Bicycle: 4.6%
Walked Only 2.1% / 3.2%
Malvern — Walked Only: 2.1% Highgate — Walked Only: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.8%).

Setting

Malvern Highgate
Elevation 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 74 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 10.1 km

NBN connectivity

Malvern Highgate
Connectivity score 73/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,376 premises
 17%
715 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Malvern Highgate
Division Adelaide
same for both
Member Steve Georganas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Malvern Highgate
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

Highgate

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Malvern

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

Other comparisons with Highgate

Highgate vs Fullarton Highgate vs Myrtle Bank Highgate vs Kingswood Highgate vs Netherby Highgate vs Urrbrae
Full data on Malvern Full data on Highgate
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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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