Mount Barker vs Nairne

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Nairne, about half of households are couple families. Mount Barker is closer to the city centre: 34.3 km, against 39.2 km.

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

Mount Barker

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 4)
  • But Nairne carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Mount Barker has cheaper units ($590,000 vs $665,000)
  • Nairne has cheaper land ($279,500 vs $730,000)

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

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Barker

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 52/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (34.3 km vs 39.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Barker

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 52/100)
  • But Nairne carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 59/100)

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

Investors

Mount Barker

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (32.4% vs 5.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mount Barker Nairne
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.

Mount Barker Nairne
Walkability 70 / 52
Mount Barker — Walkability: 70/100 Nairne — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 41 / 76
Mount Barker — Safety: 41/100 Nairne — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 47 / 88
Mount Barker — Low fire risk: 47/100 Nairne — Low fire risk: 88/100

Demographics

Mount Barker has more residents (18,330 vs 5,327).

Mount Barker Nairne
Population 18,330
+71% vs other
 5,327
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +32.4% +5.7%
Median age 36
same for both
Median household income $84,448/yr $92,352/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Barker Nairne
0-4 6.8% / 7.6%
Mount Barker — 0-4: 6.8% Nairne — 0-4: 7.6%
5-14 13.0% / 14.3%
Mount Barker — 5-14: 13.0% Nairne — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 5.9% / 5.8%
Mount Barker — 15-19: 5.9% Nairne — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 6.6% / 5.7%
Mount Barker — 20-24: 6.6% Nairne — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 15.0% / 14.7%
Mount Barker — 25-34: 15.0% Nairne — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 13.5% / 13.0%
Mount Barker — 35-44: 13.5% Nairne — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 12.1% / 14.0%
Mount Barker — 45-54: 12.1% Nairne — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 9.8% / 11.7%
Mount Barker — 55-64: 9.8% Nairne — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 9.6% / 9.3%
Mount Barker — 65-74: 9.6% Nairne — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 5.5% / 3.2%
Mount Barker — 75-84: 5.5% Nairne — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 2.1% / 0.6%
Mount Barker — 85+: 2.1% Nairne — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Barker 42.4% couple families
Mount Barker — Couple Families: 42.4% Mount Barker — Lone Person: 34.6% Mount Barker — One Parent Families: 17.9% Mount Barker — Group Household: 3.9% Mount Barker — Other Families: 1.2%
Nairne 49.8% couple families
Nairne — Couple Families: 49.8% Nairne — Lone Person: 28.3% Nairne — One Parent Families: 17.9% Nairne — Group Household: 2.7% Nairne — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mount Barker 30.8% renting
Mount Barker — Owned Outright: 24.5% Mount Barker — Mortgage: 44.7% Mount Barker — Renting: 30.8%
Nairne 21.0% renting
Nairne — Owned Outright: 25.0% Nairne — Mortgage: 54.0% Nairne — Renting: 21.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Barker Nairne
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 17.6%
Mount Barker — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Nairne — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 12.1%
Mount Barker — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Nairne — Bachelor Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.3%
Mount Barker — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Nairne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 2.7%
Mount Barker — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Nairne — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.8%
Mount Barker — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Nairne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Mount Barker Nairne
England 5.9% / 5.4%
Mount Barker — England: 5.9% Nairne — England: 5.4%
South Africa 1.3% / 0.6%
Mount Barker — South Africa: 1.3% Nairne — South Africa: 0.6%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.8%
Mount Barker — New Zealand: 0.9% Nairne — New Zealand: 0.8%
Germany 0.6% / 0.6%
Mount Barker — Germany: 0.6% Nairne — Germany: 0.6%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.3%
Mount Barker — Philippines: 0.7% Nairne — Philippines: 0.3%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.5%
Mount Barker — Netherlands: 0.5% Nairne — Netherlands: 0.5%
India 0.8% / —
Mount Barker — India: 0.8% Nairne — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Barker 91.2% houses
Mount Barker — Houses: 91.2% Mount Barker — Townhouses: 7.8% Mount Barker — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Nairne 98.0% houses
Nairne — Houses: 98.0% Nairne — Townhouses: 1.5% Nairne — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Barker Nairne
Median house price $821,250 $837,000
Median unit price $590,000 $665,000
Median land price $730,000 $279,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 421 sales
 21 days
from 44 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Mount Barker Nairne
2 bed $550K / $630K
Mount Barker — 2 bed: $550K (11 sales) Nairne — 2 bed: $630K (5 sales)

11 vs 5 sales

3 bed $635K / $700K
Mount Barker — 3 bed: $635K (6 sales) Nairne — 3 bed: $700K (5 sales)

6 vs 5 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.

Mount Barker Nairne
3 bed $740K / $748K
Mount Barker — 3 bed: $740K (311 sales) Nairne — 3 bed: $748K (52 sales)

311 vs 52 sales

4 bed $900K / $889K
Mount Barker — 4 bed: $900K (266 sales) Nairne — 4 bed: $889K (50 sales)

266 vs 50 sales

5 bed $1.08M / $935K
Mount Barker — 5 bed: $1.08M (44 sales) Nairne — 5 bed: $935K (8 sales)

44 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Nairne has more rural and farming land (84% vs 38%).

Mount Barker Nairne
Rural and farming 38% 84%
Residential 53% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 1%
Industrial 1% 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

Mount Barker Nairne
New dwellings approved 657
across Mount Barker
same for both
Approvals change year on year -7%
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.

Mount Barker Nairne
Houses 4.1%
$640/wk on $815K
 3.9%
$622/wk on $822K
Units 6.0%
$625/wk on $545K
 —

Ranking within SA

Mount Barker Nairne
House price Higher than 3% of SA Higher than 1% of SA
Income Higher than 59% of SA Higher than 71% of SA
Schools Higher than 9% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 88% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
Affordability Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 98% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of SA Higher than 52% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of SA —

Liveability

Nairne scores higher overall (62 vs 34); Mount Barker is more walkable (70 vs 52).

Mount Barker Nairne
Grade C B
Score 34/100 62/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mount Barker carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 12); Mount Barker carries more crime risk (59 vs 24).

Mount Barker Nairne
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 Low
12/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Low
24/100
Flood Moderate
54/100
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Barker Nairne
Inside the suburb 8 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 4 1

Schools in Mount Barker

  • Cornerstone College Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Mount Barker High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Francis de Sales College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Mount Barker Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Mount Barker South Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Mount Barker Waldorf School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Nairne

  • Nairne School - Preschool and Primary Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Barker Nairne
Supermarkets 6 1
Cafes & restaurants 17 5
Parks & reserves 8 4
Childcare 18 3
GPs 9 1
Pharmacies 7 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 1
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Nairne sits further from the CBD (39.2 km vs 34.3 km).

Mount Barker Nairne
Walkability score 70/100 52/100
Distance to Adelaide 34.3 km 39.2 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 37 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 71/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 207.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 5251
 0.9%
postcode 5252
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 82
postcode 5251
 73
postcode 5252

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.

Mount Barker Nairne
Car (driver) 76.0% / 77.9%
Mount Barker — Car (driver): 76.0% Nairne — Car (driver): 77.9%
Worked from Home 12.2% / 13.2%
Mount Barker — Worked from Home: 12.2% Nairne — Worked from Home: 13.2%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 4.3%
Mount Barker — Car (passenger): 4.8% Nairne — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Bus 4.3% / 3.3%
Mount Barker — Bus: 4.3% Nairne — Bus: 3.3%
Walked Only 2.3% / 1.1%
Mount Barker — Walked Only: 2.3% Nairne — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.9%).

Setting

Mount Barker Nairne
Elevation 328 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 380 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.0 km 36.3 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Barker Nairne
Connectivity score 79/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 61%
10,696 premises
 51%
2,295 premises

Climate

Mount Barker Nairne
Annual rainfall 730 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Mount Barker Nairne
Average residential rate $2,485/yr
same for both
Council Mount Barker
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Barker Nairne
Division Mayo
same for both
Member Rebekha Sharkie
same for both
Party Centre Alliance
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Barker Nairne
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Barker

Acreage Outer

Nairne

Acreage Outer Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Barker

Mount Barker vs Littlehampton Mount Barker vs Hahndorf Mount Barker vs Echunga Mount Barker vs Blakiston Mount Barker vs Bugle Ranges Mount Barker vs Wistow

Other comparisons with Nairne

Nairne vs Littlehampton Nairne vs Brukunga Nairne vs Blakiston Nairne vs Dawesley Nairne vs Mount Barker Summit Nairne vs Petwood
Full data on Mount Barker Full data on Nairne
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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