Noarlunga Centre vs Noarlunga Downs

In Noarlunga Centre, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In Noarlunga Downs, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Noarlunga Downs: a median of $780,000, against $715,000 in Noarlunga Centre, though rent is higher in Noarlunga Centre. Noarlunga Centre is closer to the city centre: 29.1 km, against 33.3 km. On these figures, Noarlunga Centre tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Noarlunga Downs suits families with children.

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

Noarlunga Downs

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 45%)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 100/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Noarlunga Centre has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 35%)
  • Noarlunga Downs has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $293/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Noarlunga Centre

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 48/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (29.1 km vs 33.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Noarlunga Centre

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (55% vs 12%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 48/100)
  • But Noarlunga Downs carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 100/100)

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

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

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
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.

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Walkability 86 / 48
Noarlunga Centre — Walkability: 86/100 Noarlunga Downs — Walkability: 48/100
Safety 0 / 35
Noarlunga Centre — Safety: 0/100 Noarlunga Downs — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 62
Noarlunga Centre — Low fire risk: 100/100 Noarlunga Downs — Low fire risk: 62/100

Demographics

Noarlunga Downs has more residents (4,031 vs 203); Noarlunga Centre rents higher ($293/wk vs $250/wk).

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Population 203 4,031
+1886% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% +4.8%
Median age 40 39
Median household income $59,020/yr $61,828/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $293/wk
+15% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
0-4 2.5% / 5.4%
Noarlunga Centre — 0-4: 2.5% Noarlunga Downs — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 4.4% / 13.0%
Noarlunga Centre — 5-14: 4.4% Noarlunga Downs — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 6.4% / 5.5%
Noarlunga Centre — 15-19: 6.4% Noarlunga Downs — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 9.4% / 6.5%
Noarlunga Centre — 20-24: 9.4% Noarlunga Downs — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 15.8% / 12.9%
Noarlunga Centre — 25-34: 15.8% Noarlunga Downs — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 20.2% / 12.4%
Noarlunga Centre — 35-44: 20.2% Noarlunga Downs — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 12.8% / 12.7%
Noarlunga Centre — 45-54: 12.8% Noarlunga Downs — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 11.8% / 13.2%
Noarlunga Centre — 55-64: 11.8% Noarlunga Downs — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 12.3% / 11.0%
Noarlunga Centre — 65-74: 12.3% Noarlunga Downs — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 4.9% / 6.1%
Noarlunga Centre — 75-84: 4.9% Noarlunga Downs — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 7.4% / 1.4%
Noarlunga Centre — 85+: 7.4% Noarlunga Downs — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Noarlunga Centre 55.9% lone person
Noarlunga Centre — Lone Person: 55.9% Noarlunga Centre — Couple Families: 20.6% Noarlunga Centre — One Parent Families: 14.7% Noarlunga Centre — Group Household: 8.8% Noarlunga Centre — Other Families: 0.0%
Noarlunga Downs 42.0% lone person
Noarlunga Downs — Lone Person: 42.0% Noarlunga Downs — Couple Families: 31.5% Noarlunga Downs — One Parent Families: 20.9% Noarlunga Downs — Group Household: 4.0% Noarlunga Downs — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Noarlunga Centre 53.6% renting
Noarlunga Centre — Owned Outright: 14.3% Noarlunga Centre — Mortgage: 32.1% Noarlunga Centre — Renting: 53.6%
Noarlunga Downs 34.7% renting
Noarlunga Downs — Owned Outright: 21.8% Noarlunga Downs — Mortgage: 43.6% Noarlunga Downs — Renting: 34.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 19.7%
Noarlunga Centre — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Noarlunga Downs — Certificate III & IV: 19.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 6.7%
Noarlunga Centre — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Noarlunga Downs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 7.8%
Noarlunga Centre — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Noarlunga Downs — Bachelor Degree: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.1%
Noarlunga Centre — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Noarlunga Downs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%
Postgraduate Degree — / 2.0%
Noarlunga Centre — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Noarlunga Downs — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
England 9.9% / 9.4%
Noarlunga Centre — England: 9.9% Noarlunga Downs — England: 9.4%
Germany 3.0% / 0.8%
Noarlunga Centre — Germany: 3.0% Noarlunga Downs — Germany: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.1%
Noarlunga Centre — New Zealand: 1.5% Noarlunga Downs — New Zealand: 1.1%
Fiji 2.5% / —
Noarlunga Centre — Fiji: 2.5% Noarlunga Downs — Fiji: not among its largest
Philippines 1.5% / 0.8%
Noarlunga Centre — Philippines: 1.5% Noarlunga Downs — Philippines: 0.8%
Vietnam 2.0% / —
Noarlunga Centre — Vietnam: 2.0% Noarlunga Downs — Vietnam: not among its largest
Scotland — / 1.1%
Noarlunga Centre — Scotland: not among its largest Noarlunga Downs — Scotland: 1.1%
India — / 0.9%
Noarlunga Centre — India: not among its largest Noarlunga Downs — India: 0.9%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Noarlunga Centre 44.9% houses
Noarlunga Centre — Houses: 44.9% Noarlunga Centre — Flats / Apartments: 31.5% Noarlunga Centre — Townhouses: 23.6%
Noarlunga Downs 88.5% houses
Noarlunga Downs — Houses: 88.5% Noarlunga Downs — Flats / Apartments: 4.1% Noarlunga Downs — Townhouses: 7.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Median house price $715,000 $780,000
Median unit price — $590,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 24 days
from 25 sales

Zoning mix

Noarlunga Centre has more commercially zoned land (90% vs 0%); Noarlunga Downs has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 0%).

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Commercial 90% 0%
Residential 10% 66%
Environmental 0% 33%
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

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
New dwellings approved 1,367
across Onkaparinga
same for both
Approvals change year on year +58%
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.

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Houses — 4.0%
$600/wk on $786K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
House price Higher than 8% of SA Higher than 12% of SA
Income Higher than 27% of SA Higher than 30% of SA
Schools — Higher than 19% of SA
Walkability Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 80% of SA
Affordability Higher than 64% of SA Higher than 62% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 54% of SA

Liveability

Noarlunga Centre is more walkable (86 vs 48).

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Grade — D
Score — 20/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Noarlunga Downs carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 0); Noarlunga Centre carries more crime risk (100 vs 65).

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
38/100
Crime High
100/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood — High
82/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Noarlunga Centre

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

Schools in Noarlunga Downs

  • Cardijn College - Marian Campus Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Noarlunga Downs Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sports College South Australia - South Adelaide Football Club Campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 1 2
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 2
same for both
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Noarlunga Downs sits further from the CBD (33.3 km vs 29.1 km).

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Walkability score 86/100 48/100
Distance to Adelaide 29.1 km 33.3 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 33 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 178.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5168
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 5168
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.

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Car (driver) 82.9% / 81.2%
Noarlunga Centre — Car (driver): 82.9% Noarlunga Downs — Car (driver): 81.2%
Worked from Home 11.8% / 7.0%
Noarlunga Centre — Worked from Home: 11.8% Noarlunga Downs — Worked from Home: 7.0%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.3%
Noarlunga Centre — Car (passenger): 5.3% Noarlunga Downs — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Train — / 4.1%
Noarlunga Centre — Train: not among its largest Noarlunga Downs — Train: 4.1%
Bus — / 1.4%
Noarlunga Centre — Bus: not among its largest Noarlunga Downs — Bus: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.9%).

Setting

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Elevation 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Connectivity score 62/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 10%
495 premises
 50%
1,843 premises

Climate

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Annual rainfall 394 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 19.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.34 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Average residential rate $2,008/yr
same for both
Council Onkaparinga
same for both

Federal electorate

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Division Kingston
same for both
Member Amanda Rishworth
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Downs
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Noarlunga Centre

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Outer Townhouses Transport Hub

Noarlunga Downs

Coastal Large Blocks Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Noarlunga Centre

Noarlunga Centre vs Morphett Vale Noarlunga Centre vs Christies Beach Noarlunga Centre vs Christie Downs Noarlunga Centre vs Hackham West Noarlunga Centre vs Port Noarlunga

Other comparisons with Noarlunga Downs

Noarlunga Downs vs Seaford Meadows Noarlunga Downs vs Huntfield Heights Noarlunga Downs vs Hackham West Noarlunga Downs vs Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs vs Port Noarlunga South Noarlunga Downs vs Old Noarlunga
Full data on Noarlunga Centre Full data on Noarlunga Downs
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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