Mile End vs Cowandilla

Mile End is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Cowandilla. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Mile End, about half of households rent. In Cowandilla, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Mile End: a median of $1.1 million, against $976,000 in Cowandilla, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Cowandilla tends to suit 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

Cowandilla

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 87/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (75% vs 61%)
  • But Mile End has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Cowandilla

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($425,000 vs $715,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($976,000 vs $1,100,000)
  • But Mile End leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cowandilla

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $345/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mile End

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 82/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Mile End has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 25%)
  • Cowandilla has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 13%)

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

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

Mile End Cowandilla
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.

Mile End Cowandilla
Walkability 96 / 82
Mile End — Walkability: 96/100 Cowandilla — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 13 / 36
Mile End — Safety: 13/100 Cowandilla — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Mile End — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cowandilla — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 85 / 0
Mile End — Low flood risk: 85/100 Cowandilla — Low flood risk: 0/100

Demographics

Mile End has more residents (4,536 vs 1,455); Mile End has higher household incomes ($89,752 vs $68,120).

Mile End Cowandilla
Population 4,536
+68% vs other
 1,455
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.4% +1.5%
Median age 36 41
Median household income $89,752/yr
+24% vs other
 $68,120/yr
Median weekly rent $345/wk
+13% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mile End Cowandilla
0-4 4.2% / 5.3%
Mile End — 0-4: 4.2% Cowandilla — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 8.1% / 7.2%
Mile End — 5-14: 8.1% Cowandilla — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 4.7% / 3.6%
Mile End — 15-19: 4.7% Cowandilla — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 9.5% / 8.0%
Mile End — 20-24: 9.5% Cowandilla — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 21.5% / 16.2%
Mile End — 25-34: 21.5% Cowandilla — 25-34: 16.2%
35-44 13.3% / 12.9%
Mile End — 35-44: 13.3% Cowandilla — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 13.6% / 11.4%
Mile End — 45-54: 13.6% Cowandilla — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 11.8% / 10.4%
Mile End — 55-64: 11.8% Cowandilla — 55-64: 10.4%
65-74 7.1% / 8.5%
Mile End — 65-74: 7.1% Cowandilla — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 3.9% / 8.0%
Mile End — 75-84: 3.9% Cowandilla — 75-84: 8.0%
85+ 2.0% / 8.4%
Mile End — 85+: 2.0% Cowandilla — 85+: 8.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mile End 38.5% lone person
Mile End — Lone Person: 38.5% Mile End — Couple Families: 28.8% Mile End — One Parent Families: 14.5% Mile End — Group Household: 15.1% Mile End — Other Families: 3.1%
Cowandilla 40.8% lone person
Cowandilla — Lone Person: 40.8% Cowandilla — Couple Families: 30.8% Cowandilla — One Parent Families: 14.5% Cowandilla — Group Household: 11.4% Cowandilla — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mile End 45.6% renting
Mile End — Owned Outright: 27.7% Mile End — Mortgage: 26.6% Mile End — Renting: 45.6%
Cowandilla 42.1% renting
Cowandilla — Owned Outright: 28.5% Cowandilla — Mortgage: 29.5% Cowandilla — Renting: 42.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mile End Cowandilla
Bachelor Degree 21.2% / 18.0%
Mile End — Bachelor Degree: 21.2% Cowandilla — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Certificate III & IV 10.1% / 10.3%
Mile End — Certificate III & IV: 10.1% Cowandilla — Certificate III & IV: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 6.0%
Mile End — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Cowandilla — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 6.9%
Mile End — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Cowandilla — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 1.6%
Mile End — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Cowandilla — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Mile End Cowandilla
India 3.7% / 5.6%
Mile End — India: 3.7% Cowandilla — India: 5.6%
Greece 3.5% / 4.2%
Mile End — Greece: 3.5% Cowandilla — Greece: 4.2%
England 2.6% / 2.6%
Mile End — England: 2.6% Cowandilla — England: 2.6%
Italy 1.6% / 1.9%
Mile End — Italy: 1.6% Cowandilla — Italy: 1.9%
Vietnam 1.4% / 2.0%
Mile End — Vietnam: 1.4% Cowandilla — Vietnam: 2.0%
China 2.0% / 1.3%
Mile End — China: 2.0% Cowandilla — China: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mile End 60.6% houses
Mile End — Houses: 60.6% Mile End — Townhouses: 27.8% Mile End — Flats / Apartments: 11.6%
Cowandilla 75.1% houses
Cowandilla — Houses: 75.1% Cowandilla — Townhouses: 11.0% Cowandilla — Flats / Apartments: 13.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mile End Cowandilla
Median house price $1,100,000 $976,000
Median unit price $715,000 $425,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 44 sales
 16 days
from 8 sales

Zoning mix

Mile End has more commercially zoned land (15% vs 0%).

Mile End Cowandilla
Residential 72% 98%
Commercial 15% 0%
Parks and recreation 10% 0%
Industrial 3% 2%
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

Mile End Cowandilla
New dwellings approved 578
across West Torrens
same for both
Approvals change year on year +103%
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.

Mile End Cowandilla
Houses 3.2%
$710/wk on $1.15M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Mile End Cowandilla
House price Higher than 45% of SA Higher than 36% of SA
Income Higher than 68% of SA Higher than 36% of SA
Schools Higher than 73% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 100% of SA Higher than 94% of SA
Affordability Higher than 69% of SA Higher than 42% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 60% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of SA
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of SA —

Liveability

Mile End scores higher overall (78 vs 48); Mile End is more walkable (96 vs 82).

Mile End Cowandilla
Grade A C
Score 78/100 48/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Cowandilla carries more flood risk (100 vs 15); Mile End carries more crime risk (87 vs 64).

Mile End Cowandilla
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood Low
15/100
 High
100/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
83/100
 High
91/100
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Mile End Cowandilla
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 2.7 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5% 2.8%

Schools in Mile End

  • Temple Christian College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • St George College - Junior Campus Independent · Combined at peers
  • St George College - Senior Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Cowandilla

  • Cowandilla Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mile End Cowandilla
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Mile End Cowandilla
Walkability score 96/100 82/100
Distance to Adelaide 3.7 km 4 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 147.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 41.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 5031
 0.6%
postcode 5033
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 5031
 42
postcode 5033

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.

Mile End Cowandilla
Car (driver) 62.4% / 68.9%
Mile End — Car (driver): 62.4% Cowandilla — Car (driver): 68.9%
Bus 10.8% / 10.5%
Mile End — Bus: 10.8% Cowandilla — Bus: 10.5%
Worked from Home 10.9% / 9.4%
Mile End — Worked from Home: 10.9% Cowandilla — Worked from Home: 9.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.2%
Mile End — Car (passenger): 5.3% Cowandilla — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 4.7% / 4.2%
Mile End — Walked Only: 4.7% Cowandilla — Walked Only: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.9%).

Setting

Mile End Cowandilla
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 5.3 km

NBN connectivity

Mile End Cowandilla
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
2,386 premises
 1%
670 premises

Climate

Mile End Cowandilla
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mile End Cowandilla
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

Mile End Cowandilla
Average residential rate $1,532/yr
same for both
Council West Torrens
same for both

Federal electorate

Mile End Cowandilla
Division Adelaide
same for both
Member Steve Georganas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mile End Cowandilla
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mile End

Inner Professionals Townhouses

Cowandilla

Inner River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mile End

Mile End vs Adelaide Mile End vs Torrensville Mile End vs Thebarton Mile End vs Hilton

Other comparisons with Cowandilla

Cowandilla vs Brooklyn Park Cowandilla vs Torrensville Cowandilla vs Richmond Cowandilla vs West Richmond Cowandilla vs Hilton
Full data on Mile End Full data on Cowandilla
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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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