Northfield vs Walkley Heights

Northfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 42 in Walkley Heights. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Walkley Heights, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Walkley Heights: a median of $1.04 million, against $868,000 in Northfield, and rent is higher there too. Northfield is closer to the city centre: 11.1 km, against 13.5 km. On these figures, Northfield tends to suit young adults and buyers on a tighter budget, while Walkley Heights suits couples and 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

Walkley Heights

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 88/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 57%)
  • But Northfield 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

Northfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($633,500 vs $1,131,250)
  • has cheaper houses ($867,500 vs $1,045,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Northfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($307/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Northfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (18 min vs 23 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (11.1 km vs 13.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Walkley Heights

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 88/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Northfield

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.8% vs 0.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Northfield Walkley Heights
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.

Northfield Walkley Heights
Walkability 58 / 61
Northfield — Walkability: 58/100 Walkley Heights — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 12 / 55
Northfield — Safety: 12/100 Walkley Heights — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Northfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Walkley Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 58 / 42
Northfield — Low flood risk: 58/100 Walkley Heights — Low flood risk: 42/100

Demographics

Northfield has more residents (5,043 vs 3,513); Walkley Heights has higher household incomes ($92,196 vs $73,840).

Northfield Walkley Heights
Population 5,043
+30% vs other
 3,513
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.8% +0.5%
Median age 35 42
Median household income $73,840/yr $92,196/yr
+25% vs other
Median weekly rent $307/wk $370/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Northfield Walkley Heights
0-4 6.3% / 4.1%
Northfield — 0-4: 6.3% Walkley Heights — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 11.0% / 14.5%
Northfield — 5-14: 11.0% Walkley Heights — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 4.1% / 6.2%
Northfield — 15-19: 4.1% Walkley Heights — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 7.0% / 6.2%
Northfield — 20-24: 7.0% Walkley Heights — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 20.9% / 8.2%
Northfield — 25-34: 20.9% Walkley Heights — 25-34: 8.2%
35-44 20.1% / 13.7%
Northfield — 35-44: 20.1% Walkley Heights — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 10.9% / 15.1%
Northfield — 45-54: 10.9% Walkley Heights — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 8.1% / 10.2%
Northfield — 55-64: 8.1% Walkley Heights — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 6.2% / 8.9%
Northfield — 65-74: 6.2% Walkley Heights — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 3.9% / 8.4%
Northfield — 75-84: 3.9% Walkley Heights — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 1.4% / 4.5%
Northfield — 85+: 1.4% Walkley Heights — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Northfield 42.5% couple families
Northfield — Couple Families: 42.5% Northfield — Lone Person: 34.3% Northfield — One Parent Families: 14.6% Northfield — Group Household: 5.6% Northfield — Other Families: 2.9%
Walkley Heights 52.7% couple families
Walkley Heights — Couple Families: 52.7% Walkley Heights — Lone Person: 30.4% Walkley Heights — One Parent Families: 15.0% Walkley Heights — Group Household: 1.6% Walkley Heights — Other Families: 0.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Northfield 41.9% renting
Northfield — Owned Outright: 20.6% Northfield — Mortgage: 37.5% Northfield — Renting: 41.9%
Walkley Heights 14.3% renting
Walkley Heights — Owned Outright: 35.2% Walkley Heights — Mortgage: 50.5% Walkley Heights — Renting: 14.3%
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.

Northfield Walkley Heights
India 15.3% / 7.5%
Northfield — India: 15.3% Walkley Heights — India: 7.5%
England 2.1% / 5.5%
Northfield — England: 2.1% Walkley Heights — England: 5.5%
Afghanistan 2.8% / 1.6%
Northfield — Afghanistan: 2.8% Walkley Heights — Afghanistan: 1.6%
Vietnam 1.6% / 1.8%
Northfield — Vietnam: 1.6% Walkley Heights — Vietnam: 1.8%
Philippines 1.9% / 1.1%
Northfield — Philippines: 1.9% Walkley Heights — Philippines: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Qualifications

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

Northfield Walkley Heights
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 12.8%
Northfield — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% Walkley Heights — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 12.6%
Northfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Walkley Heights — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 7.7%
Northfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% Walkley Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.4% / 4.0%
Northfield — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4% Walkley Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.9%
Northfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Walkley Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Northfield 80.6% houses
Northfield — Houses: 80.6% Northfield — Townhouses: 16.8% Northfield — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Walkley Heights 81.0% houses
Walkley Heights — Houses: 81.0% Walkley Heights — Townhouses: 17.8% Walkley Heights — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Northfield Walkley Heights
Median house price $867,500 $1,045,000
Median unit price $610,500 —
Median land price $633,500 $1,131,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 51 sales
 17 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.

Northfield Walkley Heights
3 bed $850K / $889K
Northfield — 3 bed: $850K (90 sales) Walkley Heights — 3 bed: $889K (20 sales)

90 vs 20 sales

4 bed $1.01M / $1.2M
Northfield — 4 bed: $1.01M (18 sales) Walkley Heights — 4 bed: $1.2M (24 sales)

18 vs 24 sales

Zoning mix

Northfield Walkley Heights
Residential 94% 65%
Parks and recreation 3% 24%
Industrial 1% 11%
Commercial 2% 1%
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

Northfield Walkley Heights
New dwellings approved 1,176
across Port Adelaide Enfield
 949
across Salisbury
Approvals change year on year +23% -30%

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.

Northfield Walkley Heights
Houses 3.6%
$650/wk on $945K
 3.1%
$715/wk on $1.19M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Northfield Walkley Heights
House price Higher than 28% of SA Higher than 63% of SA
Income Higher than 48% of SA Higher than 71% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of SA
same for both
Affordability Higher than 65% of SA Higher than 47% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 52% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 32% of SA Higher than 18% of SA

Liveability

Walkley Heights scores higher overall (63 vs 42).

Northfield Walkley Heights
Grade C B
Score 42/100 63/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Northfield carries more crime risk (88 vs 45); Walkley Heights carries more flood risk (58 vs 42).

Northfield Walkley Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
58/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Northfield Walkley Heights
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 4.6 km
 2
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 3.4%

Schools in Northfield

  • Northfield Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Walkley Heights

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

Amenities in the suburb

Northfield Walkley Heights
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 1
Childcare 2 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Walkley Heights sits further from the CBD (13.5 km vs 11.1 km).

Northfield Walkley Heights
Walkability score 58/100 61/100
Distance to Adelaide 11.1 km 13.5 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 23 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 48.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 51.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 5085
 0.5%
postcode 5098
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 62
postcode 5085
 70
postcode 5098

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.

Northfield Walkley Heights
Car (driver) 76.4% / 78.5%
Northfield — Car (driver): 76.4% Walkley Heights — Car (driver): 78.5%
Worked from Home 7.5% / 8.7%
Northfield — Worked from Home: 7.5% Walkley Heights — Worked from Home: 8.7%
Bus 8.6% / 6.8%
Northfield — Bus: 8.6% Walkley Heights — Bus: 6.8%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 5.1%
Northfield — Car (passenger): 5.5% Walkley Heights — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 0.9% / 0.5%
Northfield — Walked Only: 0.9% Walkley Heights — Walked Only: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.5%).

Setting

Northfield Walkley Heights
Elevation 81 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.2 km 8.5 km

NBN connectivity

Northfield Walkley Heights
Connectivity score 70/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
1,874 premises
 37%
1,389 premises

Climate

Northfield Walkley Heights
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Northfield Walkley Heights
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Northfield Walkley Heights
Average residential rate $1,311/yr $1,722/yr
Council Port Adelaide Enfield Salisbury

Federal electorate

Northfield Walkley Heights
Division Adelaide Makin
Member Steve Georganas Tony Zappia
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Northfield Walkley Heights
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Northfield

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks

Walkley Heights

Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Northfield

Northfield vs Pooraka Northfield vs Lightsview Northfield vs Clearview Northfield vs Oakden Northfield vs Northgate Northfield vs Gepps Cross

Other comparisons with Walkley Heights

Walkley Heights vs Ingle Farm Walkley Heights vs Pooraka Walkley Heights vs Valley View Walkley Heights vs Gilles Plains Walkley Heights vs Oakden Walkley Heights vs Gepps Cross
Full data on Northfield Full data on Walkley Heights
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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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