Mclaren Flat vs Mclaren Vale

McLaren Flat is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 54 in McLaren Vale. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In McLaren Flat, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in McLaren Flat: a median of $1.06 million, against $955,000 in McLaren Vale, and rent is higher there too. McLaren Vale is closer to the city centre: 40.1 km, against 47.3 km. On these figures, McLaren Flat tends to suit families with children and couples, while McLaren Vale suits people living alone and older residents.

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

McLaren Flat

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 53/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (82% vs 54%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 85%)
  • But McLaren Vale has more childcare (6 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 2 things we measure here

  • Mclaren Flat leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 27%)
  • Mclaren Vale has cheaper houses ($955,000 vs $1,065,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

McLaren Flat

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 25%)

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

Commuting to the city

McLaren Vale

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (41 min vs 52 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (40.1 km vs 47.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

McLaren Vale

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 14%)
  • But McLaren Flat carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 53/100)

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

Investors

McLaren Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.3% vs 1.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
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.

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Walkability 10 / 55
Mclaren Flat — Walkability: 10/100 Mclaren Vale — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 88 / 47
Mclaren Flat — Safety: 88/100 Mclaren Vale — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 23 / 31
Mclaren Flat — Low fire risk: 23/100 Mclaren Vale — Low fire risk: 31/100
Low flood risk 64 / 61
Mclaren Flat — Low flood risk: 64/100 Mclaren Vale — Low flood risk: 61/100

Demographics

McLaren Vale has more residents (4,061 vs 1,625); McLaren Flat has higher household incomes ($110,708 vs $69,212).

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Population 1,625 4,061
+150% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7%
same for both
Median age 40 54
Median household income $110,708/yr
+37% vs other
 $69,212/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+6% vs other
 $328/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
0-4 5.7% / 3.5%
Mclaren Flat — 0-4: 5.7% Mclaren Vale — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 16.9% / 10.0%
Mclaren Flat — 5-14: 16.9% Mclaren Vale — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 8.3% / 4.6%
Mclaren Flat — 15-19: 8.3% Mclaren Vale — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 4.3% / 4.1%
Mclaren Flat — 20-24: 4.3% Mclaren Vale — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 7.3% / 6.9%
Mclaren Flat — 25-34: 7.3% Mclaren Vale — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 15.0% / 9.8%
Mclaren Flat — 35-44: 15.0% Mclaren Vale — 35-44: 9.8%
45-54 16.7% / 12.6%
Mclaren Flat — 45-54: 16.7% Mclaren Vale — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 11.8% / 15.6%
Mclaren Flat — 55-64: 11.8% Mclaren Vale — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 8.9% / 15.8%
Mclaren Flat — 65-74: 8.9% Mclaren Vale — 65-74: 15.8%
75-84 4.4% / 12.4%
Mclaren Flat — 75-84: 4.4% Mclaren Vale — 75-84: 12.4%
85+ 0.6% / 4.8%
Mclaren Flat — 85+: 0.6% Mclaren Vale — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mclaren Flat 68.8% couple families
Mclaren Flat — Couple Families: 68.8% Mclaren Flat — Lone Person: 15.5% Mclaren Flat — One Parent Families: 13.6% Mclaren Flat — Group Household: 1.1% Mclaren Flat — Other Families: 1.1%
Mclaren Vale 39.9% couple families
Mclaren Vale — Couple Families: 39.9% Mclaren Vale — Lone Person: 43.1% Mclaren Vale — One Parent Families: 14.2% Mclaren Vale — Group Household: 2.0% Mclaren Vale — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mclaren Flat 11.4% renting
Mclaren Flat — Owned Outright: 32.7% Mclaren Flat — Mortgage: 55.9% Mclaren Flat — Renting: 11.4%
Mclaren Vale 16.7% renting
Mclaren Vale — Owned Outright: 48.3% Mclaren Vale — Mortgage: 35.0% Mclaren Vale — Renting: 16.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
England 9.8% / 14.9%
Mclaren Flat — England: 9.8% Mclaren Vale — England: 14.9%
Scotland 0.9% / 1.8%
Mclaren Flat — Scotland: 0.9% Mclaren Vale — Scotland: 1.8%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.2%
Mclaren Flat — New Zealand: 0.6% Mclaren Vale — New Zealand: 1.2%
Germany 0.6% / 0.9%
Mclaren Flat — Germany: 0.6% Mclaren Vale — Germany: 0.9%
Italy 0.4% / 1.1%
Mclaren Flat — Italy: 0.4% Mclaren Vale — Italy: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Qualifications

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

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 16.3%
Mclaren Flat — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Mclaren Vale — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 11.1%
Mclaren Flat — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Mclaren Vale — Bachelor Degree: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 9.4%
Mclaren Flat — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Mclaren Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 2.6%
Mclaren Flat — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Mclaren Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.3%
Mclaren Flat — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Mclaren Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mclaren Flat 100.0% houses
Mclaren Flat — Houses: 100.0% Mclaren Flat — Townhouses: 0.0% Mclaren Flat — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Mclaren Vale 84.8% houses
Mclaren Vale — Houses: 84.8% Mclaren Vale — Townhouses: 10.5% Mclaren Vale — Flats / Apartments: 4.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Median house price $1,065,000 $955,000
Median unit price — $627,500
Median land price — $585,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 49 days
from 10 sales
 29 days
from 44 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.

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
3 bed $1M / $886K
Mclaren Flat — 3 bed: $1M (20 sales) Mclaren Vale — 3 bed: $886K (33 sales)

20 vs 33 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $1.15M
Mclaren Flat — 4 bed: $1.11M (17 sales) Mclaren Vale — 4 bed: $1.15M (27 sales)

17 vs 27 sales

5 bed $1.16M / $1.11M
Mclaren Flat — 5 bed: $1.16M (5 sales) Mclaren Vale — 5 bed: $1.11M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

McLaren Flat has more land zoned for conservation (54% vs 20%); McLaren Vale has more rural and farming land (70% vs 44%).

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Rural and farming 44% 70%
Environmental 54% 20%
Residential 2% 3%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Industrial 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
Commercial 0% 1%
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

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
New dwellings approved 1,367
across Onkaparinga
same for both
Approvals change year on year +58%
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.

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Houses 1.6%
$675/wk on $2.19M
 3.3%
$630/wk on $999K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
House price Higher than 51% of SA Higher than 36% of SA
Income Higher than 87% of SA Higher than 38% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 65% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Affordability Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 47% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 68% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of SA Higher than 96% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 1% of SA Higher than 25% of SA

Liveability

McLaren Vale is more walkable (55 vs 10); McLaren Flat scores higher overall (48 vs 38).

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Grade C
same for both
Score 48/100 38/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

McLaren Vale carries more crime risk (53 vs 12).

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Bushfire High
77/100
 Moderate
69/100
Crime Low
12/100
 Moderate
53/100
Flood Low
36/100
 Low
39/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Mclaren Flat

  • McLaren Flat Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mclaren Vale

  • McLaren Vale Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 17
Parks & reserves 4 2
Childcare 0 6
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 3

Mobility

McLaren Flat sits further from the CBD (47.3 km vs 40.1 km).

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Walkability score 10/100 55/100
Distance to Adelaide 47.3 km
+15% vs other
 40.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 52 min 41 min
Public transport score 24/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 3.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 45.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 5171
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 90
postcode 5171
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.

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Car (driver) 79.7% / 73.7%
Mclaren Flat — Car (driver): 79.7% Mclaren Vale — Car (driver): 73.7%
Worked from Home 14.7% / 15.6%
Mclaren Flat — Worked from Home: 14.7% Mclaren Vale — Worked from Home: 15.6%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 3.2%
Mclaren Flat — Car (passenger): 2.9% Mclaren Vale — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 1.5% / 4.5%
Mclaren Flat — Walked Only: 1.5% Mclaren Vale — Walked Only: 4.5%
Train 0.7% / 2.6%
Mclaren Flat — Train: 0.7% Mclaren Vale — Train: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Elevation 135 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.9 km 6.6 km

NBN connectivity

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Connectivity score 80/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 71%
627 premises
 83%
2,247 premises

Climate

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Annual rainfall 786 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 19.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.34 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Average residential rate $2,008/yr
same for both
Council Onkaparinga
same for both

Federal electorate

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mclaren Flat Mclaren Vale
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mclaren Flat

Acreage Family Outer

Mclaren Vale

Outer Retirees Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mclaren Flat

Mclaren Flat vs Kangarilla Mclaren Flat vs Blewitt Springs Mclaren Flat vs Kuitpo Mclaren Flat vs The Range

Other comparisons with Mclaren Vale

Mclaren Vale vs Seaford Rise Mclaren Vale vs Onkaparinga Hills Mclaren Vale vs Willunga Mclaren Vale vs Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale vs Maslin Beach Mclaren Vale vs Seaford Heights
Full data on Mclaren Flat Full data on Mclaren Vale
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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