Mclaren Vale vs Tatachilla

Tatachilla is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 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 Tatachilla, most households are couple families. On these figures, McLaren Vale tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Tatachilla suits families with children and 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

  • Mclaren Vale has more childcare (6 vs 1)
  • Tatachilla is already more of a family suburb (86% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Tatachilla

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $328/wk)
  • But McLaren Vale has a bigger rental market to choose from (17% vs 5%)

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

Commuting to the city

McLaren Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

McLaren Vale

ahead on 5 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (15% vs 1%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

Weighs smaller dwellings, 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

Mclaren Vale and Tatachilla 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 Vale Tatachilla
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 Vale Tatachilla
Walkability 55 / 0
Mclaren Vale — Walkability: 55/100 Tatachilla — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 47 / 29
Mclaren Vale — Safety: 47/100 Tatachilla — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 31 / 100
Mclaren Vale — Low fire risk: 31/100 Tatachilla — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

McLaren Vale has more residents (4,061 vs 231); Tatachilla has higher household incomes ($107,900 vs $69,212).

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Population 4,061
+94% vs other
 231
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +9.0%
Median age 54 45
Median household income $69,212/yr $107,900/yr
+56% vs other
Median weekly rent $328/wk
+15% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
0-4 3.5% / 4.8%
Mclaren Vale — 0-4: 3.5% Tatachilla — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 10.0% / 16.0%
Mclaren Vale — 5-14: 10.0% Tatachilla — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 4.6% / 7.8%
Mclaren Vale — 15-19: 4.6% Tatachilla — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 4.1% / 5.2%
Mclaren Vale — 20-24: 4.1% Tatachilla — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 6.9% / 4.8%
Mclaren Vale — 25-34: 6.9% Tatachilla — 25-34: 4.8%
35-44 9.8% / 11.7%
Mclaren Vale — 35-44: 9.8% Tatachilla — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 12.6% / 19.9%
Mclaren Vale — 45-54: 12.6% Tatachilla — 45-54: 19.9%
55-64 15.6% / 15.2%
Mclaren Vale — 55-64: 15.6% Tatachilla — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 15.8% / 8.7%
Mclaren Vale — 65-74: 15.8% Tatachilla — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 12.4% / 7.4%
Mclaren Vale — 75-84: 12.4% Tatachilla — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 4.8% / —
Mclaren Vale — 85+: 4.8% Tatachilla — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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 — Other Families: 0.8% Mclaren Vale — Group Household: 2.0%
Tatachilla 65.5% couple families
Tatachilla — Couple Families: 65.5% Tatachilla — Lone Person: 9.1% Tatachilla — One Parent Families: 20.0% Tatachilla — Other Families: 5.5% Tatachilla — 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.

Mclaren Vale 16.7% renting
Mclaren Vale — Owned Outright: 48.3% Mclaren Vale — Mortgage: 35.0% Mclaren Vale — Renting: 16.7%
Tatachilla 5.2% renting
Tatachilla — Owned Outright: 44.2% Tatachilla — Mortgage: 50.6% Tatachilla — Renting: 5.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 19.9%
Mclaren Vale — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Tatachilla — Certificate III & IV: 19.9%
Bachelor Degree 11.1% / 13.9%
Mclaren Vale — Bachelor Degree: 11.1% Tatachilla — Bachelor Degree: 13.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 10.0%
Mclaren Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Tatachilla — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 4.3%
Mclaren Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Tatachilla — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.5%
Mclaren Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Tatachilla — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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 Vale Tatachilla
England 14.9% / 8.7%
Mclaren Vale — England: 14.9% Tatachilla — England: 8.7%
Thailand — / 2.2%
Mclaren Vale — Thailand: not among its largest Tatachilla — Thailand: 2.2%
Scotland 1.8% / —
Mclaren Vale — Scotland: 1.8% Tatachilla — Scotland: not among its largest
France — / 1.3%
Mclaren Vale — France: not among its largest Tatachilla — France: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.2% / —
Mclaren Vale — New Zealand: 1.2% Tatachilla — New Zealand: not among its largest
Italy 1.1% / —
Mclaren Vale — Italy: 1.1% Tatachilla — Italy: not among its largest
Germany 0.9% / —
Mclaren Vale — Germany: 0.9% Tatachilla — Germany: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mclaren Vale 84.8% houses
Mclaren Vale — Houses: 84.8% Mclaren Vale — Townhouses: 10.5% Mclaren Vale — Flats / Apartments: 4.8%
Tatachilla 98.8% houses
Tatachilla — Houses: 98.8% Tatachilla — Townhouses: 0.0% Tatachilla — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Median house price $955,000 —
Median unit price $627,500 —
Median land price $585,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 44 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Tatachilla has more rural and farming land (91% vs 70%); McLaren Vale has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 0%).

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Rural and farming 70% 91%
Environmental 20% 0%
Industrial 2% 9%
Residential 3% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Commercial 1% 0%
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 Vale Tatachilla
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 Vale Tatachilla
Houses 3.3%
$630/wk on $999K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
House price Higher than 36% of SA —
Income Higher than 38% of SA —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 40% of SA
Affordability Higher than 47% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 68% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 71% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of SA —

Liveability

McLaren Vale is more walkable (55 vs 0).

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Grade C —
Score 38/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

McLaren Vale carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 0); Tatachilla carries more crime risk (71 vs 53).

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
53/100
 High
71/100
Flood Low
39/100
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Mclaren Vale

  • McLaren Vale Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Tatachilla

  • Tatachilla Lutheran College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Walkability score 55/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 40.1 km 41.1 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min
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 Vale Tatachilla
Car (driver) 73.7% / 72.8%
Mclaren Vale — Car (driver): 73.7% Tatachilla — Car (driver): 72.8%
Worked from Home 15.6% / 20.2%
Mclaren Vale — Worked from Home: 15.6% Tatachilla — Worked from Home: 20.2%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 4.4%
Mclaren Vale — Car (passenger): 3.2% Tatachilla — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 4.5% / 2.6%
Mclaren Vale — Walked Only: 4.5% Tatachilla — Walked Only: 2.6%
Train 2.6% / —
Mclaren Vale — Train: 2.6% Tatachilla — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.7%).

Setting

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Elevation 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 3.6 km
4.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mclaren Vale Tatachilla
Connectivity score 88/100 39/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 83%
2,247 premises
 12%
97 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mclaren Vale

Outer Retirees Village Feel

Tatachilla

Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mclaren Vale

Mclaren Vale vs Seaford Rise Mclaren Vale vs Onkaparinga Hills Mclaren Vale vs Willunga Mclaren Vale vs McLaren Flat Mclaren Vale vs Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale vs Maslin Beach

Other comparisons with Tatachilla

Tatachilla vs Willunga Tatachilla vs Maslin Beach Tatachilla vs Aldinga Tatachilla vs Whites Valley
Full data on Mclaren Vale Full data on Tatachilla
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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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