Paralowie vs Bolivar

Paralowie is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 61 in Bolivar. In both, most households own their home. In Paralowie, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In Bolivar, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and the large majority of households are people living alone. Paralowie is closer to the city centre: 24 km, against 32.7 km. On these figures, Paralowie tends to suit families with children and couples, while Bolivar suits 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

Paralowie

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 11%)

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

First-home buyers

Paralowie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 32%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Bolivar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($240/wk vs $305/wk)
  • But Paralowie leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Paralowie

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (26 min vs 61 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (24 km vs 32.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Paralowie

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 97/100)
  • But Bolivar has more units and townhouses to downsize into (89% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Bolivar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (32.7% vs 5.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Paralowie Bolivar
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.

Paralowie Bolivar
Walkability 72 / 0
Paralowie — Walkability: 72/100 Bolivar — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 26 / 3
Paralowie — Safety: 26/100 Bolivar — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Paralowie — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bolivar — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 18 / 15
Paralowie — Low flood risk: 18/100 Bolivar — Low flood risk: 15/100

Demographics

Paralowie has more residents (17,504 vs 357); Paralowie has higher household incomes ($76,908 vs $39,312).

Paralowie Bolivar
Population 17,504
+98% vs other
 357
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.9% +32.7%
Median age 35 61
Median household income $76,908/yr
+49% vs other
 $39,312/yr
Median weekly rent $305/wk
+21% vs other
 $240/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Paralowie Bolivar
0-4 6.5% / 2.2%
Paralowie — 0-4: 6.5% Bolivar — 0-4: 2.2%
5-14 14.7% / 2.8%
Paralowie — 5-14: 14.7% Bolivar — 5-14: 2.8%
15-19 6.8% / 1.7%
Paralowie — 15-19: 6.8% Bolivar — 15-19: 1.7%
20-24 7.2% / 2.8%
Paralowie — 20-24: 7.2% Bolivar — 20-24: 2.8%
25-34 14.5% / 7.3%
Paralowie — 25-34: 14.5% Bolivar — 25-34: 7.3%
35-44 14.3% / 9.5%
Paralowie — 35-44: 14.3% Bolivar — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 13.4% / 16.0%
Paralowie — 45-54: 13.4% Bolivar — 45-54: 16.0%
55-64 12.2% / 19.0%
Paralowie — 55-64: 12.2% Bolivar — 55-64: 19.0%
65-74 7.4% / 28.3%
Paralowie — 65-74: 7.4% Bolivar — 65-74: 28.3%
75-84 2.5% / 10.9%
Paralowie — 75-84: 2.5% Bolivar — 75-84: 10.9%
85+ 0.5% / 0.8%
Paralowie — 85+: 0.5% Bolivar — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Paralowie 26.2% lone person
Paralowie — Lone Person: 26.2% Paralowie — Couple Families: 46.6% Paralowie — One Parent Families: 21.9% Paralowie — Group Household: 3.6% Paralowie — Other Families: 1.7%
Bolivar 79.6% lone person
Bolivar — Lone Person: 79.6% Bolivar — Couple Families: 7.1% Bolivar — One Parent Families: 5.3% Bolivar — Group Household: 8.0% Bolivar — 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.

Paralowie 24.8% renting
Paralowie — Owned Outright: 24.6% Paralowie — Mortgage: 50.6% Paralowie — Renting: 24.8%
Bolivar 38.7% renting
Bolivar — Owned Outright: 56.8% Bolivar — Mortgage: 4.5% Bolivar — Renting: 38.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Paralowie Bolivar
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 14.3%
Paralowie — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Bolivar — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 4.5%
Paralowie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Bolivar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 2.8%
Paralowie — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% Bolivar — Bachelor Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 1.4%
Paralowie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Bolivar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / —
Paralowie — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Bolivar — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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.

Paralowie Bolivar
England 3.7% / 5.0%
Paralowie — England: 3.7% Bolivar — England: 5.0%
Vietnam 3.4% / —
Paralowie — Vietnam: 3.4% Bolivar — Vietnam: not among its largest
Afghanistan 3.2% / —
Paralowie — Afghanistan: 3.2% Bolivar — Afghanistan: not among its largest
India 2.6% / —
Paralowie — India: 2.6% Bolivar — India: not among its largest
Italy — / 2.0%
Paralowie — Italy: not among its largest Bolivar — Italy: 2.0%
Philippines 1.8% / —
Paralowie — Philippines: 1.8% Bolivar — Philippines: not among its largest
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.8%
Paralowie — New Zealand: 0.7% Bolivar — New Zealand: 0.8%
Netherlands — / 1.1%
Paralowie — Netherlands: not among its largest Bolivar — Netherlands: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Paralowie 94.1% houses
Paralowie — Houses: 94.1% Paralowie — Flats / Apartments: 1.2% Paralowie — Townhouses: 4.6%
Bolivar 10.7% houses
Bolivar — Houses: 10.7% Bolivar — Flats / Apartments: 86.2% Bolivar — Townhouses: 3.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Paralowie Bolivar
Median house price $735,000 —
Median unit price $480,000 —
Median land price $492,750 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 189 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Bolivar has more industrially zoned land (36% vs 0%).

Paralowie Bolivar
Residential 89% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 39%
Industrial 0% 36%
Environmental 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 7% 3%
Other and special use 0% 7%
Rural and farming 0% 5%
Commercial 4% 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

Paralowie Bolivar
New dwellings approved 949
across Salisbury
same for both
Approvals change year on year -30%
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.

Paralowie Bolivar
Houses 4.5%
$620/wk on $724K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Paralowie Bolivar
House price Higher than 14% of SA —
Income Higher than 52% of SA Higher than 6% of SA
Schools Higher than 23% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 29% of SA
Affordability Higher than 84% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 40% of SA Higher than 31% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 78% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of SA —

Liveability

Paralowie is more walkable (72 vs 0).

Paralowie Bolivar
Grade D —
Score 28/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bolivar carries more crime risk (97 vs 74).

Paralowie Bolivar
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
97/100
Flood High
82/100
 High
85/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
15/100
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Paralowie Bolivar
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 5.9 km
 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 0.0%

Schools in Paralowie

  • Bethany Christian School Incorporated Independent · Primary at peers
  • Paralowie School Government · Combined at peers
  • Settlers Farm Campus R-6 Government · Primary at peers
  • Temple Christian College - Bethany Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in Bolivar

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

Amenities in the suburb

Paralowie Bolivar
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 17 0
Childcare 10 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Fuel stations 2
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Bolivar sits further from the CBD (32.7 km vs 24 km).

Paralowie Bolivar
Walkability score 72/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 24 km 32.7 km
+36% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 61 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 5108
 0.2%
postcode 5110
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 59
postcode 5108
 72
postcode 5110

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.

Paralowie Bolivar
Car (driver) 85.3% / 67.4%
Paralowie — Car (driver): 85.3% Bolivar — Car (driver): 67.4%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 11.6%
Paralowie — Car (passenger): 6.0% Bolivar — Car (passenger): 11.6%
Worked from Home 4.4% / 8.1%
Paralowie — Worked from Home: 4.4% Bolivar — Worked from Home: 8.1%
Bus 2.8% / 9.3%
Paralowie — Bus: 2.8% Bolivar — Bus: 9.3%
Walked Only 0.8% / 3.5%
Paralowie — Walked Only: 0.8% Bolivar — Walked Only: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.3%).

Setting

Paralowie Bolivar
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.7 km 2.6 km

NBN connectivity

Paralowie Bolivar
Connectivity score 78/100 63/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
6,453 premises
 29%
66 premises

Climate

Paralowie Bolivar
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)

Paralowie Bolivar
PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³ 4.6 µg/m³
PM10 18.7 µg/m³ 18.3 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.31 pphm 0.51 pphm

Council rates

Paralowie Bolivar
Average residential rate $1,722/yr
same for both
Council Salisbury
same for both

Federal electorate

Paralowie Bolivar
Division Spence
same for both
Member Matt Burnell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Paralowie Bolivar
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Paralowie

Middle-Ring Parks

Bolivar

Coastal Middle-Ring Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Paralowie

Paralowie vs Parafield Gardens Paralowie vs Salisbury North Paralowie vs Salisbury Paralowie vs Burton Paralowie vs Salisbury Downs Paralowie vs Globe Derby Park

Other comparisons with Bolivar

Bolivar vs Burton Bolivar vs Waterloo Corner Bolivar vs Globe Derby Park Bolivar vs Dry Creek Bolivar vs St Kilda
Full data on Paralowie Full data on Bolivar
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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