Old Noarlunga vs Mclaren Vale

Old Noarlunga is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 54 in McLaren Vale. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in McLaren Vale: a median of $955,000, against $835,000 in Old Noarlunga, and rent is higher there too. Old Noarlunga is closer to the city centre: 33.5 km, against 40.1 km. On these figures, McLaren Vale tends to suit people living alone 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

McLaren Vale

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 87/100)

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

First-home buyers

Old Noarlunga

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper houses ($835,000 vs $955,000)
  • But McLaren Vale has cheaper land ($585,000 vs $737,500)

Weighs house 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

Old Noarlunga

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (33.5 km vs 40.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (35 min vs 41 min)
  • But McLaren Vale is more walkable (55/100 vs 44/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

McLaren Vale

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 18%)
  • carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 87/100)

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

Investors

Old Noarlunga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
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.

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Walkability 44 / 55
Old Noarlunga — Walkability: 44/100 Mclaren Vale — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 13 / 47
Old Noarlunga — Safety: 13/100 Mclaren Vale — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 46 / 31
Old Noarlunga — Low fire risk: 46/100 Mclaren Vale — Low fire risk: 31/100
Low flood risk 29 / 61
Old Noarlunga — Low flood risk: 29/100 Mclaren Vale — Low flood risk: 61/100

Demographics

McLaren Vale has more residents (4,061 vs 1,531); McLaren Vale skews older (54 vs 41).

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Population 1,531 4,061
+165% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7%
same for both
Median age 41 54
Median household income $77,220/yr
+10% vs other
 $69,212/yr
Median weekly rent $305/wk $328/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
0-4 4.6% / 3.5%
Old Noarlunga — 0-4: 4.6% Mclaren Vale — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 13.1% / 10.0%
Old Noarlunga — 5-14: 13.1% Mclaren Vale — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 5.5% / 4.6%
Old Noarlunga — 15-19: 5.5% Mclaren Vale — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.5% / 4.1%
Old Noarlunga — 20-24: 6.5% Mclaren Vale — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 13.1% / 6.9%
Old Noarlunga — 25-34: 13.1% Mclaren Vale — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 12.2% / 9.8%
Old Noarlunga — 35-44: 12.2% Mclaren Vale — 35-44: 9.8%
45-54 13.3% / 12.6%
Old Noarlunga — 45-54: 13.3% Mclaren Vale — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 13.5% / 15.6%
Old Noarlunga — 55-64: 13.5% Mclaren Vale — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 11.0% / 15.8%
Old Noarlunga — 65-74: 11.0% Mclaren Vale — 65-74: 15.8%
75-84 5.4% / 12.4%
Old Noarlunga — 75-84: 5.4% Mclaren Vale — 75-84: 12.4%
85+ 1.5% / 4.8%
Old Noarlunga — 85+: 1.5% Mclaren Vale — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Old Noarlunga 43.6% couple families
Old Noarlunga — Couple Families: 43.6% Old Noarlunga — Lone Person: 33.9% Old Noarlunga — One Parent Families: 17.9% Old Noarlunga — Group Household: 3.1% Old Noarlunga — Other Families: 1.5%
Mclaren Vale 39.9% couple families
Mclaren Vale — Couple Families: 39.9% Mclaren Vale — Lone Person: 43.1% Mclaren Vale — One Parent Families: 14.2% Mclaren Vale — Group Household: 2.0% Mclaren Vale — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Old Noarlunga 18.5% renting
Old Noarlunga — Owned Outright: 32.3% Old Noarlunga — Mortgage: 49.2% Old Noarlunga — Renting: 18.5%
Mclaren Vale 16.7% renting
Mclaren Vale — Owned Outright: 48.3% Mclaren Vale — Mortgage: 35.0% Mclaren Vale — Renting: 16.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Certificate III & IV 23.2% / 16.3%
Old Noarlunga — Certificate III & IV: 23.2% Mclaren Vale — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 7.1% / 11.1%
Old Noarlunga — Bachelor Degree: 7.1% Mclaren Vale — Bachelor Degree: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 9.4%
Old Noarlunga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Mclaren Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 2.6%
Old Noarlunga — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Mclaren Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 2.3%
Old Noarlunga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Mclaren Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.2%).

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.

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
England 10.8% / 14.9%
Old Noarlunga — England: 10.8% Mclaren Vale — England: 14.9%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.2%
Old Noarlunga — New Zealand: 1.9% Mclaren Vale — New Zealand: 1.2%
Scotland 1.0% / 1.8%
Old Noarlunga — Scotland: 1.0% Mclaren Vale — Scotland: 1.8%
Germany 0.7% / 0.9%
Old Noarlunga — Germany: 0.7% Mclaren Vale — Germany: 0.9%
Italy — / 1.1%
Old Noarlunga — Italy: not among its largest Mclaren Vale — Italy: 1.1%
India 0.5% / —
Old Noarlunga — India: 0.5% Mclaren Vale — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Old Noarlunga 94.1% houses
Old Noarlunga — Houses: 94.1% Old Noarlunga — Townhouses: 0.5% Old Noarlunga — Flats / Apartments: 5.4%
Mclaren Vale 84.8% houses
Mclaren Vale — Houses: 84.8% Mclaren Vale — Townhouses: 10.5% Mclaren Vale — Flats / Apartments: 4.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Median house price $835,000 $955,000
Median unit price — $627,500
Median land price $737,500 $585,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 13 sales
 29 days
from 44 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.

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
3 bed $828K / $886K
Old Noarlunga — 3 bed: $828K (23 sales) Mclaren Vale — 3 bed: $886K (33 sales)

23 vs 33 sales

4 bed $960K / $1.15M
Old Noarlunga — 4 bed: $960K (7 sales) Mclaren Vale — 4 bed: $1.15M (27 sales)

7 vs 27 sales

Zoning mix

McLaren Vale has more rural and farming land (70% vs 6%); Old Noarlunga has more land zoned for conservation (51% vs 20%).

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Rural and farming 6% 70%
Environmental 51% 20%
Residential 28% 3%
Industrial 13% 2%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
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.

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Houses 4.0%
$660/wk on $864K
 3.3%
$630/wk on $999K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
House price Higher than 19% of SA Higher than 36% of SA
Income Higher than 52% of SA Higher than 38% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Affordability Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 47% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 68% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of SA Higher than 96% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 55% of SA Higher than 25% of SA

Liveability

McLaren Vale scores higher overall (38 vs 19); McLaren Vale is more walkable (55 vs 44).

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Grade D C
Score 19/100 38/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Old Noarlunga carries more flood risk (71 vs 39); Old Noarlunga carries more crime risk (87 vs 53).

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Bushfire Moderate
54/100
 Moderate
69/100
Crime High
87/100
 Moderate
53/100
Flood High
71/100
 Low
39/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Old Noarlunga

  • Old Noarlunga Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mclaren Vale

  • McLaren Vale Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 4 17
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 2 6
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 0 3

Mobility

McLaren Vale sits further from the CBD (40.1 km vs 33.5 km).

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Walkability score 44/100 55/100
Distance to Adelaide 33.5 km 40.1 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 41 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 36.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 45.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5168
 0.7%
postcode 5171
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 5168
 90
postcode 5171

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.

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Car (driver) 80.6% / 73.7%
Old Noarlunga — Car (driver): 80.6% Mclaren Vale — Car (driver): 73.7%
Worked from Home 9.3% / 15.6%
Old Noarlunga — Worked from Home: 9.3% Mclaren Vale — Worked from Home: 15.6%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.2%
Old Noarlunga — Car (passenger): 4.4% Mclaren Vale — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Train 3.6% / 2.6%
Old Noarlunga — Train: 3.6% Mclaren Vale — Train: 2.6%
Walked Only 1.6% / 4.5%
Old Noarlunga — Walked Only: 1.6% Mclaren Vale — Walked Only: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.6%).

Setting

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
4.7 km to a named beach
 6.6 km

NBN connectivity

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Connectivity score 100/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
680 premises
 83%
2,247 premises

Climate

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Annual rainfall 786 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 19.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.34 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Average residential rate $2,008/yr
same for both
Council Onkaparinga
same for both

Federal electorate

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Division Kingston Mayo
Member Amanda Rishworth Rebekha Sharkie
Party Australian Labor Party Centre Alliance

First Home Owner Grant

Old Noarlunga Mclaren Vale
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Old Noarlunga

Acreage Outer Quiet

Mclaren Vale

Outer Retirees Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Old Noarlunga

Old Noarlunga vs Seaford Rise Old Noarlunga vs Seaford Meadows Old Noarlunga vs Seaford Old Noarlunga vs Noarlunga Downs Old Noarlunga vs Onkaparinga Hills Old Noarlunga vs Seaford Heights

Other comparisons with Mclaren Vale

Mclaren Vale vs Seaford Rise Mclaren Vale vs Onkaparinga Hills Mclaren Vale vs Willunga Mclaren Vale vs McLaren Flat Mclaren Vale vs Maslin Beach Mclaren Vale vs Seaford Heights
Full data on Old Noarlunga Full data on Mclaren Vale
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