Paechtown vs Mount Barker

Mount Barker is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 51 in Paechtown. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Paechtown, most households are couple families. Paechtown is closer to the city centre: 29.5 km, against 34.3 km. On these figures, Paechtown tends to suit couples, while Mount Barker suits people living alone and 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

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 Paechtown carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Barker

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $480/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Paechtown sits closer to the CBD (29.5 km vs 34.3 km)
  • Mount Barker is more walkable (70/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Paechtown carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 59/100)
  • Mount Barker is more walkable (70/100 vs 0/100)

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 -3.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Paechtown Mount Barker
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.

Paechtown Mount Barker
Walkability 0 / 70
Paechtown — Walkability: 0/100 Mount Barker — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 87 / 41
Paechtown — Safety: 87/100 Mount Barker — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 28 / 47
Paechtown — Low fire risk: 28/100 Mount Barker — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Mount Barker has more residents (18,330 vs 204); Paechtown has higher household incomes ($124,072 vs $84,448).

Paechtown Mount Barker
Population 204 18,330
+8885% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.8% +32.4%
Median age 51 36
Median household income $124,072/yr
+32% vs other
 $84,448/yr
Median weekly rent $480/wk
+27% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Paechtown Mount Barker
0-4 6.9% / 6.8%
Paechtown — 0-4: 6.9% Mount Barker — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 7.8% / 13.0%
Paechtown — 5-14: 7.8% Mount Barker — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.9% / 5.9%
Paechtown — 15-19: 5.9% Mount Barker — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 4.9% / 6.6%
Paechtown — 20-24: 4.9% Mount Barker — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 7.4% / 15.0%
Paechtown — 25-34: 7.4% Mount Barker — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 12.7% / 13.5%
Paechtown — 35-44: 12.7% Mount Barker — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 9.8% / 12.1%
Paechtown — 45-54: 9.8% Mount Barker — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 19.6% / 9.8%
Paechtown — 55-64: 19.6% Mount Barker — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 18.6% / 9.6%
Paechtown — 65-74: 18.6% Mount Barker — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 3.9% / 5.5%
Paechtown — 75-84: 3.9% Mount Barker — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ — / 2.1%
Paechtown — 85+: not among its largest Mount Barker — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Paechtown 65.9% couple families
Paechtown — Couple Families: 65.9% Paechtown — Lone Person: 22.7% Paechtown — One Parent Families: 11.4% Paechtown — Group Household: 0.0% Paechtown — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Paechtown 11.8% renting
Paechtown — Owned Outright: 46.1% Paechtown — Mortgage: 42.1% Paechtown — Renting: 11.8%
Mount Barker 30.8% renting
Mount Barker — Owned Outright: 24.5% Mount Barker — Mortgage: 44.7% Mount Barker — Renting: 30.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Paechtown Mount Barker
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 12.3%
Paechtown — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Mount Barker — Bachelor Degree: 12.3%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 16.7%
Paechtown — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Mount Barker — Certificate III & IV: 16.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.8% / 8.6%
Paechtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.8% Mount Barker — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.9% / 2.9%
Paechtown — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9% Mount Barker — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.3%
Paechtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Mount Barker — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

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.

Paechtown Mount Barker
England 3.9% / 5.9%
Paechtown — England: 3.9% Mount Barker — England: 5.9%
Germany 3.4% / 0.6%
Paechtown — Germany: 3.4% Mount Barker — Germany: 0.6%
New Zealand 2.5% / 0.9%
Paechtown — New Zealand: 2.5% Mount Barker — New Zealand: 0.9%
Malaysia 1.5% / —
Paechtown — Malaysia: 1.5% Mount Barker — Malaysia: not among its largest
South Africa — / 1.3%
Paechtown — South Africa: not among its largest Mount Barker — South Africa: 1.3%
India — / 0.8%
Paechtown — India: not among its largest Mount Barker — India: 0.8%
Philippines — / 0.7%
Paechtown — Philippines: not among its largest Mount Barker — Philippines: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Paechtown 100.0% houses
Paechtown — Houses: 100.0% Paechtown — Townhouses: 0.0% Paechtown — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Mount Barker 91.2% houses
Mount Barker — Houses: 91.2% Mount Barker — Townhouses: 7.8% Mount Barker — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Paechtown Mount Barker
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

Paechtown has more rural and farming land (100% vs 38%).

Paechtown Mount Barker
Rural and farming 100% 38%
Residential 0% 53%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Industrial 0% 1%
Commercial 0% 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

Paechtown Mount Barker
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.

Paechtown Mount Barker
Houses — 4.1%
$640/wk on $815K
Units — 6.0%
$625/wk on $545K

Ranking within SA

Paechtown Mount Barker
House price — Higher than 3% of SA
Income Higher than 94% of SA Higher than 59% of SA
Schools — Higher than 9% of SA
Walkability Higher than 6% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
Affordability — Higher than 95% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 80% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 44% of SA Higher than 92% 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).

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

Risk profile

Mount Barker carries more crime risk (59 vs 13); Paechtown carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 53).

Paechtown Mount Barker
Bushfire High
72/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Low
13/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood — Moderate
54/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Paechtown

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

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Mount Barker sits further from the CBD (34.3 km vs 29.5 km).

Paechtown Mount Barker
Walkability score 0/100 70/100
Distance to Adelaide 29.5 km 34.3 km
+16% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 33 min
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 5245
 1.1%
postcode 5251
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 73
postcode 5245
 82
postcode 5251

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.

Paechtown Mount Barker
Car (driver) 73.7% / 76.0%
Paechtown — Car (driver): 73.7% Mount Barker — Car (driver): 76.0%
Worked from Home 13.7% / 12.2%
Paechtown — Worked from Home: 13.7% Mount Barker — Worked from Home: 12.2%
Car (passenger) 8.4% / 4.8%
Paechtown — Car (passenger): 8.4% Mount Barker — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus 4.2% / 4.3%
Paechtown — Bus: 4.2% Mount Barker — Bus: 4.3%
Walked Only — / 2.3%
Paechtown — Walked Only: not among its largest Mount Barker — Walked Only: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.0%).

Setting

Paechtown Mount Barker
Elevation 395 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 328 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 27.4 km 32.0 km

NBN connectivity

Paechtown Mount Barker
Connectivity score 29/100 79/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
80 premises
 61%
10,696 premises

Climate

Paechtown Mount Barker
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

Air quality (annual mean)

Paechtown Mount Barker
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Paechtown

Outer

Mount Barker

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Paechtown

Paechtown vs Hahndorf Paechtown vs Echunga Paechtown vs Totness

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
Full data on Paechtown Full data on Mount Barker
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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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