Monash vs Barmera

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Monash, about half of households are couple families. In Barmera, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Monash: a median of $600,000, against $420,000 in Barmera, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Monash tends to suit couples, while Barmera suits 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

Monash

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 65/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 44%)
  • But Barmera has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Monash leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 23%)
  • Barmera has cheaper houses ($420,000 vs $600,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Barmera

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $230/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Barmera

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (63/100 vs 32/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (228.2 km vs 238.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (152 min vs 158 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Barmera

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (63/100 vs 32/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 18%)
  • But Monash carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 65/100)

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

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

Monash Barmera
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.

Monash Barmera
Walkability 32 / 63
Monash — Walkability: 32/100 Barmera — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 57 / 35
Monash — Safety: 57/100 Barmera — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 20 / 100
Monash — Low fire risk: 20/100 Barmera — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Barmera has more residents (2,884 vs 1,110); Monash has higher household incomes ($77,376 vs $53,924).

Monash Barmera
Population 1,110 2,884
+160% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.2% -2.4%
Median age 47 49
Median household income $77,376/yr
+30% vs other
 $53,924/yr
Median weekly rent $230/wk
+13% vs other
 $200/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Monash Barmera
0-4 3.6% / 4.1%
Monash — 0-4: 3.6% Barmera — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 12.0% / 11.3%
Monash — 5-14: 12.0% Barmera — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 6.6% / 5.3%
Monash — 15-19: 6.6% Barmera — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 5.3% / 4.1%
Monash — 20-24: 5.3% Barmera — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 9.5% / 10.9%
Monash — 25-34: 9.5% Barmera — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 9.8% / 9.7%
Monash — 35-44: 9.8% Barmera — 35-44: 9.7%
45-54 16.2% / 11.7%
Monash — 45-54: 16.2% Barmera — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 19.0% / 13.2%
Monash — 55-64: 19.0% Barmera — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 12.2% / 15.6%
Monash — 65-74: 12.2% Barmera — 65-74: 15.6%
75-84 4.9% / 9.3%
Monash — 75-84: 4.9% Barmera — 75-84: 9.3%
85+ 0.8% / 5.2%
Monash — 85+: 0.8% Barmera — 85+: 5.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Monash 31.7% lone person
Monash — Lone Person: 31.7% Monash — Couple Families: 45.6% Monash — One Parent Families: 17.8% Monash — Group Household: 5.0% Monash — Other Families: 0.0%
Barmera 51.8% lone person
Barmera — Lone Person: 51.8% Barmera — Couple Families: 26.8% Barmera — One Parent Families: 17.7% Barmera — Group Household: 2.9% Barmera — Other Families: 0.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Monash 12.9% renting
Monash — Owned Outright: 40.9% Monash — Mortgage: 46.2% Monash — Renting: 12.9%
Barmera 30.4% renting
Barmera — Owned Outright: 39.5% Barmera — Mortgage: 30.1% Barmera — Renting: 30.4%
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.

Monash Barmera
England 2.6% / 3.1%
Monash — England: 2.6% Barmera — England: 3.1%
India 2.2% / 1.7%
Monash — India: 2.2% Barmera — India: 1.7%
Greece 1.2% / 2.2%
Monash — Greece: 1.2% Barmera — Greece: 2.2%
Philippines 0.5% / 1.4%
Monash — Philippines: 0.5% Barmera — Philippines: 1.4%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.7%
Monash — New Zealand: 0.9% Barmera — New Zealand: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

Qualifications

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

Monash Barmera
Certificate III & IV 21.3% / 16.6%
Monash — Certificate III & IV: 21.3% Barmera — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 6.6%
Monash — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% Barmera — Bachelor Degree: 6.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 5.3%
Monash — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Barmera — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 1.4%
Monash — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Barmera — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 0.6%
Monash — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Barmera — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Monash 96.0% houses
Monash — Houses: 96.0% Monash — Townhouses: 3.5% Monash — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Barmera 84.0% houses
Barmera — Houses: 84.0% Barmera — Townhouses: 13.1% Barmera — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Monash Barmera
Median house price $600,000 $420,000
Median unit price — $305,000
Median land price — $181,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 13 sales
 31 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.

Monash Barmera
3 bed $418K / $438K
Monash — 3 bed: $418K (10 sales) Barmera — 3 bed: $438K (46 sales)

10 vs 46 sales

4 bed $635K / $482K
Monash — 4 bed: $635K (7 sales) Barmera — 4 bed: $482K (14 sales)

7 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Monash has more rural and farming land (82% vs 65%); Barmera has more land zoned for conservation (30% vs 16%).

Monash Barmera
Rural and farming 82% 65%
Environmental 16% 30%
Residential 0% 3%
Parks and recreation 0% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Monash Barmera
New dwellings approved 23
across Berri Barmera
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

Monash Barmera
Houses — 3.1%
$350/wk on $585K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Monash Barmera
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 52% of SA Higher than 19% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 75% of SA Higher than 85% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption — Higher than 28% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 60% of SA Higher than 73% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 18% of SA

Liveability

Barmera scores higher overall (41 vs 17); Barmera is more walkable (63 vs 32).

Monash Barmera
Grade D C
Score 17/100 41/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Monash carries more bushfire risk (80 vs 0); Barmera carries more crime risk (65 vs 43).

Monash Barmera
Bushfire High
80/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Monash Barmera
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Monash

  • Monash Primary and Preschool Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Barmera

  • Barmera Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Monash Barmera
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 7 4
Childcare 2 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Monash sits further from the CBD (238.1 km vs 228.2 km).

Monash Barmera
Walkability score 32/100 63/100
Distance to Adelaide 238.1 km
+4% vs other
 228.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 158 min 152 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 5342
 0.2%
postcode 5345
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 76
postcode 5342
 67
postcode 5345

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.

Monash Barmera
Car (driver) 85.1% / 82.3%
Monash — Car (driver): 85.1% Barmera — Car (driver): 82.3%
Worked from Home 8.6% / 8.0%
Monash — Worked from Home: 8.6% Barmera — Worked from Home: 8.0%
Walked Only 3.6% / 4.8%
Monash — Walked Only: 3.6% Barmera — Walked Only: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 4.9%
Monash — Car (passenger): 2.7% Barmera — Car (passenger): 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.1%).

Setting

Monash Barmera
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Monash Barmera
Connectivity score 30/100 43/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
532 premises
 4%
1,626 premises

Climate

Monash Barmera
Annual rainfall 256 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 32.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Monash Barmera
Average residential rate $1,770/yr
same for both
Council Berri Barmera
same for both

Federal electorate

Monash Barmera
Division Barker
same for both
Member Tony Pasin
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Monash Barmera
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Monash

Affordable Rural

Barmera

Affordable Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Monash

Monash vs Berri Monash vs Renmark West Monash vs Glossop Monash vs Lyrup Monash vs Cooltong Monash vs Overland Corner

Other comparisons with Barmera

Barmera vs Glossop Barmera vs Loveday Barmera vs Cobdogla Barmera vs Winkie Barmera vs Overland Corner
Full data on Monash Full data on Barmera
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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