Melrose Park vs Daw Park

In both, most households own their home. In Melrose Park, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Daw Park: a median of $1.3 million, against $1.12 million in Melrose Park, though rent is higher in Melrose Park.

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

Melrose Park

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (75% vs 51%)
  • But Daw Park carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Melrose Park

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($740,000 vs $5,200,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,120,500 vs $1,302,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Daw Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Melrose Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Daw Park

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 25%)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Melrose Park is more walkable (88/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Melrose Park Daw Park
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.

Melrose Park Daw Park
Walkability 88 / 80
Melrose Park — Walkability: 88/100 Daw Park — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 20 / 50
Melrose Park — Safety: 20/100 Daw Park — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melrose Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Daw Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 18 / 16
Melrose Park — Low flood risk: 18/100 Daw Park — Low flood risk: 16/100

Demographics

Melrose Park rents higher ($350/wk vs $300/wk).

Melrose Park Daw Park
Population 2,319 2,705
+17% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +1.2%
Median age 38 39
Median household income $82,316/yr $85,228/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+14% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park Daw Park
0-4 6.9% / 5.3%
Melrose Park — 0-4: 6.9% Daw Park — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 12.0% / 10.9%
Melrose Park — 5-14: 12.0% Daw Park — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 4.6% / 6.0%
Melrose Park — 15-19: 4.6% Daw Park — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 5.3% / 6.1%
Melrose Park — 20-24: 5.3% Daw Park — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 14.5% / 15.5%
Melrose Park — 25-34: 14.5% Daw Park — 25-34: 15.5%
35-44 15.9% / 13.3%
Melrose Park — 35-44: 15.9% Daw Park — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 11.3% / 14.0%
Melrose Park — 45-54: 11.3% Daw Park — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 10.9% / 10.2%
Melrose Park — 55-64: 10.9% Daw Park — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 8.7% / 8.5%
Melrose Park — 65-74: 8.7% Daw Park — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 5.6% / 5.3%
Melrose Park — 75-84: 5.6% Daw Park — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 4.1% / 4.7%
Melrose Park — 85+: 4.1% Daw Park — 85+: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 43.6% lone person
Melrose Park — Lone Person: 43.6% Melrose Park — Couple Families: 36.5% Melrose Park — One Parent Families: 13.4% Melrose Park — Group Household: 4.8% Melrose Park — Other Families: 1.7%
Daw Park 41.7% lone person
Daw Park — Lone Person: 41.7% Daw Park — Couple Families: 36.0% Daw Park — One Parent Families: 13.8% Daw Park — Group Household: 6.2% Daw Park — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 27.3% renting
Melrose Park — Owned Outright: 32.2% Melrose Park — Mortgage: 40.5% Melrose Park — Renting: 27.3%
Daw Park 32.8% renting
Daw Park — Owned Outright: 30.8% Daw Park — Mortgage: 36.4% Daw Park — Renting: 32.8%
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.

Melrose Park Daw Park
England 2.8% / 3.5%
Melrose Park — England: 2.8% Daw Park — England: 3.5%
India 2.2% / 2.3%
Melrose Park — India: 2.2% Daw Park — India: 2.3%
China 2.4% / 1.9%
Melrose Park — China: 2.4% Daw Park — China: 1.9%
Greece 1.9% / 1.7%
Melrose Park — Greece: 1.9% Daw Park — Greece: 1.7%
Nepal 2.1% / 1.4%
Melrose Park — Nepal: 2.1% Daw Park — Nepal: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

Qualifications

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

Melrose Park Daw Park
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 19.4%
Melrose Park — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Daw Park — Bachelor Degree: 19.4%
Certificate III & IV 12.9% / 10.6%
Melrose Park — Certificate III & IV: 12.9% Daw Park — Certificate III & IV: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.5%
Melrose Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Daw Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 6.0%
Melrose Park — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Daw Park — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 3.2%
Melrose Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Daw Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 74.6% houses
Melrose Park — Houses: 74.6% Melrose Park — Flats / Apartments: 13.8% Melrose Park — Townhouses: 11.6%
Daw Park 51.4% houses
Daw Park — Houses: 51.4% Daw Park — Flats / Apartments: 30.0% Daw Park — Townhouses: 18.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Melrose Park Daw Park
Median house price $1,120,500 $1,302,000
Median unit price $650,000 $612,000
Median land price $740,000 $5,200,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 24 sales
 19 days
from 23 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.

Melrose Park Daw Park
3 bed $1.1M / $1.21M
Melrose Park — 3 bed: $1.1M (27 sales) Daw Park — 3 bed: $1.21M (25 sales)

27 vs 25 sales

4 bed $1.45M / $1.7M
Melrose Park — 4 bed: $1.45M (11 sales) Daw Park — 4 bed: $1.7M (17 sales)

11 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Melrose Park has more industrially zoned land (39% vs 0%); Daw Park has more commercially zoned land (20% vs 0%).

Melrose Park Daw Park
Residential 61% 80%
Industrial 39% 0%
Commercial 0% 20%
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

Melrose Park Daw Park
New dwellings approved 188
across Mitcham
same for both
Approvals change year on year +32%
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.

Melrose Park Daw Park
Houses 3.2%
$700/wk on $1.12M
 2.8%
$700/wk on $1.31M
Units — 4.6%
$550/wk on $626K

Ranking within SA

Melrose Park Daw Park
House price Higher than 54% of SA Higher than 70% of SA
Income Higher than 58% of SA Higher than 63% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Affordability Higher than 43% of SA Higher than 25% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 83% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 97% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of SA Higher than 10% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of SA

Liveability

Daw Park scores higher overall (64 vs 57); Melrose Park is more walkable (88 vs 80).

Melrose Park Daw Park
Grade B
same for both
Score 57/100 64/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Melrose Park carries more crime risk (80 vs 50).

Melrose Park Daw Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood High
82/100
 High
84/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Melrose Park Daw Park
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Tonsley, 1.6 km
 3
Tonsley, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.6%

Schools in Melrose Park

  • Edwardstown Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Daw Park

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

Amenities in the suburb

Melrose Park Daw Park
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 5 1
Parks & reserves 8 2
Childcare 1 2
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Melrose Park Daw Park
Walkability score 88/100 80/100
Distance to Adelaide 8.4 km
+7% vs other
 7.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 15 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 57.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 5039
 1.3%
postcode 5041
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 5039
 58
postcode 5041

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.

Melrose Park Daw Park
Car (driver) 70.4% / 71.6%
Melrose Park — Car (driver): 70.4% Daw Park — Car (driver): 71.6%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 12.7%
Melrose Park — Worked from Home: 12.5% Daw Park — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Bus 5.9% / 6.7%
Melrose Park — Bus: 5.9% Daw Park — Bus: 6.7%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 3.8%
Melrose Park — Car (passenger): 3.7% Daw Park — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 4.0% / 2.7%
Melrose Park — Walked Only: 4.0% Daw Park — Walked Only: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.6%).

Setting

Melrose Park Daw Park
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.2 km 7.0 km

NBN connectivity

Melrose Park Daw Park
Connectivity score 90/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 73%
1,393 premises
 81%
1,281 premises

Climate

Melrose Park Daw Park
Annual rainfall 394 mm 457 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.1°C 29.1°C
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C 8.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Melrose Park Daw Park
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

Melrose Park Daw Park
Average residential rate $2,296/yr
same for both
Council Mitcham
same for both

Federal electorate

Melrose Park Daw Park
Division Boothby
same for both
Member Louise Miller-Frost
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Melrose Park Daw Park
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Melrose Park

Inner Parks

Daw Park

Inner Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melrose Park

Melrose Park vs Edwardstown Melrose Park vs Colonel Light Gardens Melrose Park vs Clovelly Park Melrose Park vs Pasadena Melrose Park vs St Marys Melrose Park vs Cumberland Park

Other comparisons with Daw Park

Daw Park vs Colonel Light Gardens Daw Park vs Pasadena Daw Park vs Cumberland Park Daw Park vs Westbourne Park Daw Park vs Panorama Daw Park vs Clarence Gardens
Full data on Melrose Park Full data on Daw Park
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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