North Adelaide vs Thorngate

North Adelaide is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 47 in Thorngate. In North Adelaide, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In Thorngate, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Thorngate: a median of $2.15 million, against $1.59 million in North Adelaide. North Adelaide is closer to the city centre: 2.4 km, against 3.8 km. On these figures, North Adelaide tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Thorngate suits couples.

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

North Adelaide

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (27 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • But Thorngate has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 21%)

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

First-home buyers

North Adelaide

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,592,500 vs $2,150,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • North Adelaide has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 17%)
  • Thorngate leaves renters under less rental stress (12% vs 21%)

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

Commuting to the city

North Adelaide

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 79/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

North Adelaide

ahead on 5 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (79% vs 10%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 16%)

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

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

North Adelaide Thorngate
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.

North Adelaide Thorngate
Walkability 88 / 79
North Adelaide — Walkability: 88/100 Thorngate — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 17 / 1
North Adelaide — Safety: 17/100 Thorngate — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Adelaide — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thorngate — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 46 / 62
North Adelaide — Low flood risk: 46/100 Thorngate — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

North Adelaide has more residents (6,823 vs 180); Thorngate has higher household incomes ($162,500 vs $97,084).

North Adelaide Thorngate
Population 6,823
+97% vs other
 180
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.8% -3.2%
Median age 39 47
Median household income $97,084/yr $162,500/yr
+67% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+3% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Adelaide Thorngate
0-4 2.7% / —
North Adelaide — 0-4: 2.7% Thorngate — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 4.8% / 12.8%
North Adelaide — 5-14: 4.8% Thorngate — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 8.3% / 8.9%
North Adelaide — 15-19: 8.3% Thorngate — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 12.2% / 7.8%
North Adelaide — 20-24: 12.2% Thorngate — 20-24: 7.8%
25-34 16.5% / 7.2%
North Adelaide — 25-34: 16.5% Thorngate — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 11.0% / 9.4%
North Adelaide — 35-44: 11.0% Thorngate — 35-44: 9.4%
45-54 9.3% / 13.9%
North Adelaide — 45-54: 9.3% Thorngate — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 10.7% / 18.9%
North Adelaide — 55-64: 10.7% Thorngate — 55-64: 18.9%
65-74 12.6% / 10.6%
North Adelaide — 65-74: 12.6% Thorngate — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 8.0% / 3.9%
North Adelaide — 75-84: 8.0% Thorngate — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 4.2% / 1.7%
North Adelaide — 85+: 4.2% Thorngate — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Adelaide 60.6% lone person
North Adelaide — Lone Person: 60.6% North Adelaide — Couple Families: 20.2% North Adelaide — One Parent Families: 7.7% North Adelaide — Group Household: 9.3% North Adelaide — Other Families: 2.3%
Thorngate 17.1% lone person
Thorngate — Lone Person: 17.1% Thorngate — Couple Families: 56.1% Thorngate — One Parent Families: 14.6% Thorngate — Group Household: 12.2% Thorngate — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Adelaide 48.2% renting
North Adelaide — Owned Outright: 34.1% North Adelaide — Mortgage: 17.7% North Adelaide — Renting: 48.2%
Thorngate 16.7% renting
Thorngate — Owned Outright: 46.7% Thorngate — Mortgage: 36.7% Thorngate — Renting: 16.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Adelaide Thorngate
Bachelor Degree 24.8% / 21.7%
North Adelaide — Bachelor Degree: 24.8% Thorngate — Bachelor Degree: 21.7%
Postgraduate Degree 13.4% / 11.7%
North Adelaide — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4% Thorngate — Postgraduate Degree: 11.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.2% / 10.6%
North Adelaide — Certificate III & IV: 7.2% Thorngate — Certificate III & IV: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 10.6%
North Adelaide — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Thorngate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 6.1%
North Adelaide — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Thorngate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 6.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.8%).

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.

North Adelaide Thorngate
India 2.5% / 10.6%
North Adelaide — India: 2.5% Thorngate — India: 10.6%
England 5.0% / 2.2%
North Adelaide — England: 5.0% Thorngate — England: 2.2%
Greece — / 3.3%
North Adelaide — Greece: not among its largest Thorngate — Greece: 3.3%
Iran 0.8% / 2.2%
North Adelaide — Iran: 0.8% Thorngate — Iran: 2.2%
China 2.0% / —
North Adelaide — China: 2.0% Thorngate — China: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.7%
North Adelaide — Vietnam: not among its largest Thorngate — Vietnam: 1.7%
Malaysia 1.1% / —
North Adelaide — Malaysia: 1.1% Thorngate — Malaysia: not among its largest
Philippines 0.9% / —
North Adelaide — Philippines: 0.9% Thorngate — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Adelaide 21.3% houses
North Adelaide — Houses: 21.3% North Adelaide — Townhouses: 50.2% North Adelaide — Flats / Apartments: 28.5%
Thorngate 90.5% houses
Thorngate — Houses: 90.5% Thorngate — Townhouses: 6.3% Thorngate — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

North Adelaide Thorngate
Median house price $1,592,500 $2,150,000
Median unit price $648,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 31 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Thorngate has more commercially zoned land (25% vs 4%).

North Adelaide Thorngate
Residential 34% 75%
Parks and recreation 62% 0%
Commercial 4% 25%
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

North Adelaide Thorngate
New dwellings approved 349
across Adelaide
 203
across Prospect
Approvals change year on year +1100% +757%

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.

North Adelaide Thorngate
Houses 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.57M
 —
Units 4.3%
$575/wk on $689K
 —

Ranking within SA

North Adelaide Thorngate
House price Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Income Higher than 74% of SA Higher than 98% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Affordability Higher than 3% of SA Higher than 53% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 87% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of SA Higher than 100% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of SA —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 34% of SA —

Liveability

North Adelaide is more walkable (88 vs 79).

North Adelaide Thorngate
Grade A —
Score 76/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

North Adelaide carries more flood risk (54 vs 38); Thorngate carries more crime risk (99 vs 83).

North Adelaide Thorngate
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
83/100
 High
99/100
Flood Moderate
54/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

North Adelaide Thorngate
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 2.4 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.5 km

Schools in North Adelaide

  • North Adelaide Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Dominic's Priory College Catholic · Combined above peers

Schools in Thorngate

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

Amenities in the suburb

North Adelaide Thorngate
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 52 0
Parks & reserves 27 0
Childcare 5 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

North Adelaide Thorngate
Walkability score 88/100 79/100
Distance to Adelaide 2.4 km 3.8 km
+58% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 6 min 9 min
Public transport score 87/100
Rail · Bus
 56/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 692.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 16.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 5006
 1.5%
postcode 5082
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 5006
 50
postcode 5082

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.

North Adelaide Thorngate
Car (driver) 51.9% / 67.5%
North Adelaide — Car (driver): 51.9% Thorngate — Car (driver): 67.5%
Worked from Home 15.9% / 15.7%
North Adelaide — Worked from Home: 15.9% Thorngate — Worked from Home: 15.7%
Bus 9.7% / 6.0%
North Adelaide — Bus: 9.7% Thorngate — Bus: 6.0%
Walked Only 15.0% / —
North Adelaide — Walked Only: 15.0% Thorngate — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 10.8%
North Adelaide — Car (passenger): 4.0% Thorngate — Car (passenger): 10.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.5%).

Setting

North Adelaide Thorngate
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.5 km 9.8 km

NBN connectivity

North Adelaide Thorngate
Connectivity score 79/100 100/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
4,781 premises
 100%
70 premises

Climate

North Adelaide Thorngate
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)

North Adelaide Thorngate
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

North Adelaide Thorngate
Average residential rate $2,331/yr $2,363/yr
Council Adelaide Prospect

Federal electorate

North Adelaide Thorngate
Division Adelaide
same for both
Member Steve Georganas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Adelaide Thorngate
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Adelaide

Inner Parks Premium Professionals Students Townhouses Transport Hub

Thorngate

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Adelaide

North Adelaide vs Adelaide North Adelaide vs Bowden North Adelaide vs Gilberton North Adelaide vs Medindie North Adelaide vs Fitzroy North Adelaide vs Ovingham

Other comparisons with Thorngate

Thorngate vs Prospect Thorngate vs Medindie Thorngate vs Fitzroy
Full data on North Adelaide Full data on Thorngate
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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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