Mclaren Vale vs Whites Valley

Whites Valley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 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 Whites Valley, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Whites Valley: a median of $1.45 million, against $955,000 in McLaren Vale, though rent is higher in McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is closer to the city centre: 40.1 km, against 44.6 km. On these figures, McLaren Vale tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Whites Valley suits 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

Whites Valley

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 54%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 85%)
  • But McLaren Vale has more childcare (6 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

McLaren Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($955,000 vs $1,450,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Whites Valley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($270/wk vs $328/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

McLaren Vale

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 13/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (41 min vs 47 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (40.1 km vs 44.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

McLaren Vale

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (15% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 13/100)
  • 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 Whites Valley 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 Whites Valley
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 Whites Valley
Walkability 55 / 13
Mclaren Vale — Walkability: 55/100 Whites Valley — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 47 / 40
Mclaren Vale — Safety: 47/100 Whites Valley — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 31 / 100
Mclaren Vale — Low fire risk: 31/100 Whites Valley — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

McLaren Vale has more residents (4,061 vs 313); Whites Valley has higher household incomes ($92,612 vs $69,212).

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Population 4,061
+92% vs other
 313
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +6.1%
Median age 54 48
Median household income $69,212/yr $92,612/yr
+34% vs other
Median weekly rent $328/wk
+18% vs other
 $270/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
0-4 3.5% / 2.6%
Mclaren Vale — 0-4: 3.5% Whites Valley — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 10.0% / 10.2%
Mclaren Vale — 5-14: 10.0% Whites Valley — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 4.6% / 6.1%
Mclaren Vale — 15-19: 4.6% Whites Valley — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 4.1% / 7.7%
Mclaren Vale — 20-24: 4.1% Whites Valley — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 6.9% / 7.0%
Mclaren Vale — 25-34: 6.9% Whites Valley — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 9.8% / 10.9%
Mclaren Vale — 35-44: 9.8% Whites Valley — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 12.6% / 14.4%
Mclaren Vale — 45-54: 12.6% Whites Valley — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 15.6% / 17.3%
Mclaren Vale — 55-64: 15.6% Whites Valley — 55-64: 17.3%
65-74 15.8% / 14.1%
Mclaren Vale — 65-74: 15.8% Whites Valley — 65-74: 14.1%
75-84 12.4% / 5.1%
Mclaren Vale — 75-84: 12.4% Whites Valley — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 4.8% / 1.3%
Mclaren Vale — 85+: 4.8% Whites Valley — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

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 — Group Household: 2.0% Mclaren Vale — Other Families: 0.8%
Whites Valley 53.2% couple families
Whites Valley — Couple Families: 53.2% Whites Valley — Lone Person: 27.4% Whites Valley — One Parent Families: 19.4% Whites Valley — Group Household: 0.0% Whites Valley — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

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%
Whites Valley 7.3% renting
Whites Valley — Owned Outright: 55.0% Whites Valley — Mortgage: 37.6% Whites Valley — Renting: 7.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 16.0%
Mclaren Vale — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Whites Valley — Certificate III & IV: 16.0%
Bachelor Degree 11.1% / 8.0%
Mclaren Vale — Bachelor Degree: 11.1% Whites Valley — Bachelor Degree: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.0%
Mclaren Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Whites Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 1.3%
Mclaren Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Whites Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.3%
Mclaren Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Whites Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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.

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
England 14.9% / 9.6%
Mclaren Vale — England: 14.9% Whites Valley — England: 9.6%
Italy 1.1% / 1.3%
Mclaren Vale — Italy: 1.1% Whites Valley — Italy: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.0%
Mclaren Vale — New Zealand: 1.2% Whites Valley — New Zealand: 1.0%
Netherlands 0.6% / 1.3%
Mclaren Vale — Netherlands: 0.6% Whites Valley — Netherlands: 1.3%
Scotland 1.8% / —
Mclaren Vale — Scotland: 1.8% Whites Valley — Scotland: not among its largest
Canada 0.3% / 1.0%
Mclaren Vale — Canada: 0.3% Whites Valley — Canada: 1.0%
Germany 0.9% / —
Mclaren Vale — Germany: 0.9% Whites Valley — 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%
Whites Valley 98.2% houses
Whites Valley — Houses: 98.2% Whites Valley — Townhouses: 0.0% Whites Valley — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Median house price $955,000 $1,450,000
Median unit price $627,500 —
Median land price $585,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 44 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Whites Valley has more rural and farming land (100% vs 70%); McLaren Vale has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 0%).

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Rural and farming 70% 100%
Environmental 20% 0%
Residential 3% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
Industrial 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 Whites Valley
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 Whites Valley
Houses 3.3%
$630/wk on $999K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
House price Higher than 36% of SA Higher than 1% of SA
Income Higher than 38% of SA Higher than 71% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 67% of SA
Affordability Higher than 47% of SA Higher than 100% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 68% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
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 13).

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Grade C —
Score 38/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

McLaren Vale carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 0).

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
60/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Mclaren Vale

  • McLaren Vale Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Whites Valley

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 17 1
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 4

Mobility

Whites Valley sits further from the CBD (44.6 km vs 40.1 km).

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Walkability score 55/100 13/100
Distance to Adelaide 40.1 km 44.6 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min 47 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 40/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 45.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 5171
 1.5%
postcode 5172
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 90
postcode 5171
 96
postcode 5172

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 Whites Valley
Car (driver) 73.7% / 62.3%
Mclaren Vale — Car (driver): 73.7% Whites Valley — Car (driver): 62.3%
Worked from Home 15.6% / 26.6%
Mclaren Vale — Worked from Home: 15.6% Whites Valley — Worked from Home: 26.6%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 7.1%
Mclaren Vale — Car (passenger): 3.2% Whites Valley — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Walked Only 4.5% / 3.9%
Mclaren Vale — Walked Only: 4.5% Whites Valley — Walked Only: 3.9%
Train 2.6% / —
Mclaren Vale — Train: 2.6% Whites Valley — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Elevation 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 5.2 km

NBN connectivity

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
Connectivity score 88/100 32/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 83%
2,247 premises
 3%
134 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Mclaren Vale Whites Valley
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

Whites Valley

Acreage 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 Whites Valley

Whites Valley vs Willunga Whites Valley vs Aldinga Whites Valley vs Willunga South Whites Valley vs Sellicks Hill Whites Valley vs Tatachilla
Full data on Mclaren Vale Full data on Whites Valley
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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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