Mount Barker vs Wistow

Mount Barker is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 50 in Wistow. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wistow, about half of households are couple families. Mount Barker is closer to the city centre: 34.3 km, against 43.5 km. On these figures, Mount Barker tends to suit families with children, while Wistow suits 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

Mount Barker

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (18 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 0)
  • But Wistow carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Barker

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 30%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Mount Barker has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 7%)
  • Wistow has cheaper rent ($295/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Barker

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (33 min vs 45 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (34.3 km vs 43.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Mount Barker is more walkable (70/100 vs 0/100)
  • Wistow carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 59/100)

Weighs 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 4.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Mount Barker and Wistow 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 Wistow
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 Wistow
Walkability 70 / 0
Mount Barker — Walkability: 70/100 Wistow — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 41 / 76
Mount Barker — Safety: 41/100 Wistow — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 47 / 42
Mount Barker — Low fire risk: 47/100 Wistow — Low fire risk: 42/100
Low flood risk 46 / 81
Mount Barker — Low flood risk: 46/100 Wistow — Low flood risk: 81/100

Demographics

Mount Barker has more residents (18,330 vs 285); Wistow skews older (50 vs 36).

Mount Barker Wistow
Population 18,330
+98% vs other
 285
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +32.4% +4.0%
Median age 36 50
Median household income $84,448/yr
+6% vs other
 $79,248/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+16% vs other
 $295/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Barker Wistow
0-4 6.8% / 3.2%
Mount Barker — 0-4: 6.8% Wistow — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 13.0% / 9.8%
Mount Barker — 5-14: 13.0% Wistow — 5-14: 9.8%
15-19 5.9% / 8.4%
Mount Barker — 15-19: 5.9% Wistow — 15-19: 8.4%
20-24 6.6% / 2.5%
Mount Barker — 20-24: 6.6% Wistow — 20-24: 2.5%
25-34 15.0% / 6.0%
Mount Barker — 25-34: 15.0% Wistow — 25-34: 6.0%
35-44 13.5% / 6.3%
Mount Barker — 35-44: 13.5% Wistow — 35-44: 6.3%
45-54 12.1% / 17.2%
Mount Barker — 45-54: 12.1% Wistow — 45-54: 17.2%
55-64 9.8% / 15.4%
Mount Barker — 55-64: 9.8% Wistow — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 9.6% / 20.4%
Mount Barker — 65-74: 9.6% Wistow — 65-74: 20.4%
75-84 5.5% / 6.3%
Mount Barker — 75-84: 5.5% Wistow — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 2.1% / 1.4%
Mount Barker — 85+: 2.1% Wistow — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

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%
Wistow 48.3% couple families
Wistow — Couple Families: 48.3% Wistow — Lone Person: 40.0% Wistow — One Parent Families: 11.7% Wistow — Group Household: 0.0% Wistow — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Wistow 7.1% renting
Wistow — Owned Outright: 52.0% Wistow — Mortgage: 40.8% Wistow — Renting: 7.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Barker Wistow
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 17.9%
Mount Barker — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Wistow — Certificate III & IV: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 10.5%
Mount Barker — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Wistow — Bachelor Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 7.0%
Mount Barker — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Wistow — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 4.9%
Mount Barker — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Wistow — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.2%
Mount Barker — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Wistow — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

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 Wistow
England 5.9% / 7.7%
Mount Barker — England: 5.9% Wistow — England: 7.7%
Netherlands 0.5% / 1.8%
Mount Barker — Netherlands: 0.5% Wistow — Netherlands: 1.8%
Scotland 0.7% / 1.1%
Mount Barker — Scotland: 0.7% Wistow — Scotland: 1.1%
South Africa 1.3% / —
Mount Barker — South Africa: 1.3% Wistow — South Africa: not among its largest
New Zealand 0.9% / —
Mount Barker — New Zealand: 0.9% Wistow — New Zealand: not among its largest
India 0.8% / —
Mount Barker — India: 0.8% Wistow — India: not among its largest
Philippines 0.7% / —
Mount Barker — Philippines: 0.7% Wistow — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

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%
Wistow 100.0% houses
Wistow — Houses: 100.0% Wistow — Townhouses: 0.0% Wistow — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Barker Wistow
Median house price $821,250 —
Median unit price $590,000 —
Median land price $730,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 421 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Wistow has more rural and farming land (96% vs 38%).

Mount Barker Wistow
Rural and farming 38% 96%
Residential 53% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
Industrial 1% 2%
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 Wistow
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 Wistow
Houses 4.1%
$640/wk on $815K
 —
Units 6.0%
$625/wk on $545K
 —

Ranking within SA

Mount Barker Wistow
House price Higher than 3% of SA —
Income Higher than 59% of SA Higher than 54% of SA
Schools Higher than 9% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 88% of SA Higher than 6% of SA
Affordability Higher than 95% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 80% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of SA Higher than 51% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of SA —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of SA —

Liveability

Mount Barker is more walkable (70 vs 0).

Mount Barker Wistow
Grade C —
Score 34/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Mount Barker carries more flood risk (54 vs 19); Mount Barker carries more crime risk (59 vs 24).

Mount Barker Wistow
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
58/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Low
24/100
Flood Moderate
54/100
 Low
19/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

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

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 Wistow

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Wistow sits further from the CBD (43.5 km vs 34.3 km).

Mount Barker Wistow
Walkability score 70/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 34.3 km 43.5 km
+27% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 45 min
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 5251
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 82
postcode 5251
same for both

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 Wistow
Car (driver) 76.0% / 85.1%
Mount Barker — Car (driver): 76.0% Wistow — Car (driver): 85.1%
Worked from Home 12.2% / 14.9%
Mount Barker — Worked from Home: 12.2% Wistow — Worked from Home: 14.9%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / —
Mount Barker — Car (passenger): 4.8% Wistow — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 4.3% / —
Mount Barker — Bus: 4.3% Wistow — Bus: not among its largest
Walked Only 2.3% / —
Mount Barker — Walked Only: 2.3% Wistow — Walked Only: not among its largest

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

Setting

Mount Barker Wistow
Elevation 328 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 293 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.0 km 37.2 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Barker Wistow
Connectivity score 79/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 61%
10,696 premises
 0%
126 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mount Barker

Acreage Outer

Wistow

Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Barker

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

Other comparisons with Wistow

Wistow vs Highland Valley Wistow vs Bugle Ranges Wistow vs Mount Barker Springs Wistow vs Red Creek Wistow vs Petwood
Full data on Mount Barker Full data on Wistow
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or