Middleton vs Goolwa Beach

Middleton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 49 against 58 in Goolwa Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Goolwa Beach, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Middleton: a median of $1.06 million, against $706,000 in Goolwa Beach. On these figures, Goolwa Beach tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Middleton is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 40%)
  • Goolwa Beach has more parks and reserves (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Goolwa Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($545,000 vs $1,275,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($706,000 vs $1,060,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Middleton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 30%)

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

Commuting to the city

Middleton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (68 min vs 77 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (78.5 km vs 85 km)
  • But Goolwa Beach is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Goolwa Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (38% vs 25%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Middleton is growing faster (12.3% vs 4.4%)
  • Goolwa Beach returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 2.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Middleton Goolwa Beach
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.

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Walkability 0 / 17
Middleton — Walkability: 0/100 Goolwa Beach — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 64 / 58
Middleton — Safety: 64/100 Goolwa Beach — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 79
Middleton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Goolwa Beach — Low fire risk: 79/100

Demographics

Goolwa Beach has more residents (2,222 vs 1,298); Middleton has higher household incomes ($69,160 vs $47,632).

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Population 1,298 2,222
+71% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.3% +4.4%
Median age 49 58
Median household income $69,160/yr
+31% vs other
 $47,632/yr
Median weekly rent $283/wk
+3% vs other
 $275/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Middleton Goolwa Beach
0-4 3.8% / 3.5%
Middleton — 0-4: 3.8% Goolwa Beach — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 11.7% / 9.0%
Middleton — 5-14: 11.7% Goolwa Beach — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 5.1% / 3.9%
Middleton — 15-19: 5.1% Goolwa Beach — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 4.1% / 2.7%
Middleton — 20-24: 4.1% Goolwa Beach — 20-24: 2.7%
25-34 7.7% / 6.8%
Middleton — 25-34: 7.7% Goolwa Beach — 25-34: 6.8%
35-44 10.9% / 8.8%
Middleton — 35-44: 10.9% Goolwa Beach — 35-44: 8.8%
45-54 13.6% / 10.9%
Middleton — 45-54: 13.6% Goolwa Beach — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 17.0% / 15.6%
Middleton — 55-64: 17.0% Goolwa Beach — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 16.7% / 21.0%
Middleton — 65-74: 16.7% Goolwa Beach — 65-74: 21.0%
75-84 7.0% / 13.2%
Middleton — 75-84: 7.0% Goolwa Beach — 75-84: 13.2%
85+ 1.5% / 4.3%
Middleton — 85+: 1.5% Goolwa Beach — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Middleton 43.3% lone person
Middleton — Lone Person: 43.3% Middleton — Couple Families: 41.8% Middleton — One Parent Families: 10.1% Middleton — Group Household: 4.9% Middleton — Other Families: 0.0%
Goolwa Beach 54.8% lone person
Goolwa Beach — Lone Person: 54.8% Goolwa Beach — Couple Families: 26.5% Goolwa Beach — One Parent Families: 13.6% Goolwa Beach — Group Household: 3.0% Goolwa Beach — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Middleton 18.0% renting
Middleton — Owned Outright: 46.6% Middleton — Mortgage: 35.4% Middleton — Renting: 18.0%
Goolwa Beach 21.8% renting
Goolwa Beach — Owned Outright: 46.3% Goolwa Beach — Mortgage: 31.8% Goolwa Beach — Renting: 21.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Certificate III & IV 19.0% / 18.9%
Middleton — Certificate III & IV: 19.0% Goolwa Beach — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 13.6% / 7.7%
Middleton — Bachelor Degree: 13.6% Goolwa Beach — Bachelor Degree: 7.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.6%
Middleton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Goolwa Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 1.6%
Middleton — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Goolwa Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 1.5%
Middleton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Goolwa Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

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.

Middleton Goolwa Beach
England 7.9% / 9.9%
Middleton — England: 7.9% Goolwa Beach — England: 9.9%
Netherlands 0.9% / 1.0%
Middleton — Netherlands: 0.9% Goolwa Beach — Netherlands: 1.0%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.4%
Middleton — Scotland: 1.0% Goolwa Beach — Scotland: 0.4%
New Zealand 0.5% / 0.9%
Middleton — New Zealand: 0.5% Goolwa Beach — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.4%
Middleton — Philippines: 0.7% Goolwa Beach — Philippines: 0.4%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Middleton — Germany: 0.5% Goolwa Beach — Germany: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.4%
Middleton — South Africa: not among its largest Goolwa Beach — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Middleton 98.1% houses
Middleton — Houses: 98.1% Middleton — Townhouses: 1.3% Middleton — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Goolwa Beach 89.2% houses
Goolwa Beach — Houses: 89.2% Goolwa Beach — Townhouses: 10.0% Goolwa Beach — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Median house price $1,060,000 $706,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,275,000 $545,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 31 sales
 18 days
from 18 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.

Middleton Goolwa Beach
2 bed $1.26M / $632K
Middleton — 2 bed: $1.26M (12 sales) Goolwa Beach — 2 bed: $632K (12 sales)

12 vs 12 sales

3 bed $918K / $686K
Middleton — 3 bed: $918K (28 sales) Goolwa Beach — 3 bed: $686K (37 sales)

28 vs 37 sales

4 bed $1.19M / $792K
Middleton — 4 bed: $1.19M (12 sales) Goolwa Beach — 4 bed: $792K (17 sales)

12 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Middleton has more rural and farming land (94% vs 41%).

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Rural and farming 94% 41%
Residential 5% 48%
Environmental 1% 11%
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

Middleton Goolwa Beach
New dwellings approved 429
across Alexandrina
same for both
Approvals change year on year +25%
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.

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Houses 2.2%
$600/wk on $1.42M
 3.9%
$538/wk on $710K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Middleton Goolwa Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of SA Higher than 14% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 47% of SA Higher than 70% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 69% of SA Higher than 59% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of SA Higher than 53% of SA

Liveability

Goolwa Beach is more walkable (17 vs 0); Middleton scores higher overall (54 vs 38).

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Grade B C
Score 54/100 38/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Goolwa Beach carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0).

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
21/100
Crime Low
36/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Parks & reserves 0 6
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 1 0

Mobility

Goolwa Beach sits further from the CBD (85 km vs 78.5 km).

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Walkability score 0/100 17/100
Distance to Adelaide 78.5 km 85 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min 77 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 5213
 0.6%
postcode 5214
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 5213
 73
postcode 5214

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.

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Car (driver) 76.0% / 79.2%
Middleton — Car (driver): 76.0% Goolwa Beach — Car (driver): 79.2%
Worked from Home 15.8% / 11.4%
Middleton — Worked from Home: 15.8% Goolwa Beach — Worked from Home: 11.4%
Walked Only 5.0% / 3.2%
Middleton — Walked Only: 5.0% Goolwa Beach — Walked Only: 3.2%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 4.6%
Middleton — Car (passenger): 3.2% Goolwa Beach — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bicycle — / 1.1%
Middleton — Bicycle: not among its largest Goolwa Beach — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.2%).

Setting

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Elevation 84 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.7 km to a named beach
 802 m
784 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Connectivity score 67/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
1,309 premises
 37%
1,664 premises

Climate

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Annual rainfall 786 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Average residential rate $2,523/yr
same for both
Council Alexandrina
same for both

Federal electorate

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Middleton Goolwa Beach
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Middleton

Acreage Retirees

Goolwa Beach

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Middleton

Middleton vs Goolwa Middleton vs Port Elliot Middleton vs Currency Creek Middleton vs Mount Jagged Middleton vs Mosquito Hill

Other comparisons with Goolwa Beach

Goolwa Beach vs Goolwa Goolwa Beach vs Goolwa South
Full data on Middleton Full data on Goolwa Beach
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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