Payneham vs Royston Park

Payneham is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 45 in Royston Park. In both, most households own their home. In Payneham, about half of households are people living alone. In Royston Park, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Royston Park: a median of $1.93 million, against $1.2 million in Payneham, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Payneham tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Royston Park 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

Royston Park

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 42%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (60% vs 39%)
  • But Payneham has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Payneham

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $1,925,000)
  • has cheaper units ($584,000 vs $687,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Payneham

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $330/wk)
  • But Royston Park leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 21%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Payneham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 22%)

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

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

Payneham Royston Park
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.

Payneham Royston Park
Walkability 84 / 81
Payneham — Walkability: 84/100 Royston Park — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 61 / 56
Payneham — Safety: 61/100 Royston Park — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Payneham — Low fire risk: 100/100 Royston Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 15 / 25
Payneham — Low flood risk: 15/100 Royston Park — Low flood risk: 25/100

Demographics

Payneham has more residents (2,438 vs 1,246); Royston Park has higher household incomes ($109,460 vs $73,528).

Payneham Royston Park
Population 2,438
+49% vs other
 1,246
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.3% +3.6%
Median age 38 45
Median household income $73,528/yr $109,460/yr
+49% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $330/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Payneham Royston Park
0-4 5.3% / 3.9%
Payneham — 0-4: 5.3% Royston Park — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 9.5% / 13.3%
Payneham — 5-14: 9.5% Royston Park — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 2.8% / 5.9%
Payneham — 15-19: 2.8% Royston Park — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.8% / 4.5%
Payneham — 20-24: 6.8% Royston Park — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 19.5% / 9.6%
Payneham — 25-34: 19.5% Royston Park — 25-34: 9.6%
35-44 14.7% / 12.8%
Payneham — 35-44: 14.7% Royston Park — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 10.8% / 13.4%
Payneham — 45-54: 10.8% Royston Park — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 10.5% / 15.1%
Payneham — 55-64: 10.5% Royston Park — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 8.2% / 12.4%
Payneham — 65-74: 8.2% Royston Park — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 7.3% / 7.3%
Payneham — 75-84: 7.3% Royston Park — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 4.3% / 1.9%
Payneham — 85+: 4.3% Royston Park — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Payneham 53.5% lone person
Payneham — Lone Person: 53.5% Payneham — Couple Families: 26.8% Payneham — One Parent Families: 12.1% Payneham — Group Household: 6.0% Payneham — Other Families: 1.6%
Royston Park 34.2% lone person
Royston Park — Lone Person: 34.2% Royston Park — Couple Families: 48.7% Royston Park — One Parent Families: 10.9% Royston Park — Group Household: 4.2% Royston Park — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Payneham 42.0% renting
Payneham — Owned Outright: 28.7% Payneham — Mortgage: 29.3% Payneham — Renting: 42.0%
Royston Park 21.1% renting
Royston Park — Owned Outright: 47.4% Royston Park — Mortgage: 31.5% Royston Park — Renting: 21.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Payneham Royston Park
Bachelor Degree 21.4% / 22.8%
Payneham — Bachelor Degree: 21.4% Royston Park — Bachelor Degree: 22.8%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 10.7%
Payneham — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Royston Park — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 7.1%
Payneham — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Royston Park — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 6.8%
Payneham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Royston Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 4.1%
Payneham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Royston Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

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.

Payneham Royston Park
Italy 5.5% / 2.2%
Payneham — Italy: 5.5% Royston Park — Italy: 2.2%
England 3.4% / 3.9%
Payneham — England: 3.4% Royston Park — England: 3.9%
India 4.5% / 2.6%
Payneham — India: 4.5% Royston Park — India: 2.6%
China 4.2% / 2.5%
Payneham — China: 4.2% Royston Park — China: 2.5%
Malaysia 1.3% / 1.8%
Payneham — Malaysia: 1.3% Royston Park — Malaysia: 1.8%
Nepal 2.1% / —
Payneham — Nepal: 2.1% Royston Park — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Payneham 41.6% houses
Payneham — Houses: 41.6% Payneham — Flats / Apartments: 35.0% Payneham — Townhouses: 23.4%
Royston Park 78.3% houses
Royston Park — Houses: 78.3% Royston Park — Flats / Apartments: 13.2% Royston Park — Townhouses: 8.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Payneham Royston Park
Median house price $1,200,000 $1,925,000
Median unit price $584,000 $687,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 32 sales
 34 days
from 15 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.

Payneham Royston Park
3 bed $1.18M / $1.58M
Payneham — 3 bed: $1.18M (37 sales) Royston Park — 3 bed: $1.58M (11 sales)

37 vs 11 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $2.48M
Payneham — 4 bed: $1.6M (14 sales) Royston Park — 4 bed: $2.48M (8 sales)

14 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Payneham Royston Park
Residential 98% 85%
Parks and recreation 0% 10%
Commercial 2% 5%
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

Payneham Royston Park
New dwellings approved 227
across Norwood Payneham and St Peters
same for both
Approvals change year on year +141%
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.

Payneham Royston Park
Houses 2.2%
$550/wk on $1.3M
 —
Units 4.3%
$550/wk on $662K
 —

Ranking within SA

Payneham Royston Park
House price Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 83% of SA
Income Higher than 47% of SA Higher than 86% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of SA Higher than 93% of SA
Affordability Higher than 8% of SA Higher than 35% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 86% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 96% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of SA —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of SA —

Liveability

Royston Park scores higher overall (77 vs 69).

Payneham Royston Park
Grade A
same for both
Score 69/100 77/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Payneham carries more flood risk (85 vs 75).

Payneham Royston Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
39/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood High
85/100
 High
75/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Payneham Royston Park
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 3.2 km
 3
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 4.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 3.5%

Amenities in the suburb

Payneham Royston Park
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 0
GPs 1 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 11 0

Mobility

Payneham Royston Park
Walkability score 84/100 81/100
Distance to Adelaide 6.2 km
+8% vs other
 5.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 12 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 67/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 5070
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 5070
same for both

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.

Payneham Royston Park
Car (driver) 70.2% / 67.4%
Payneham — Car (driver): 70.2% Royston Park — Car (driver): 67.4%
Worked from Home 10.2% / 14.1%
Payneham — Worked from Home: 10.2% Royston Park — Worked from Home: 14.1%
Bus 9.7% / 6.4%
Payneham — Bus: 9.7% Royston Park — Bus: 6.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.7%
Payneham — Car (passenger): 5.3% Royston Park — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Bicycle 2.0% / 4.4%
Payneham — Bicycle: 2.0% Royston Park — Bicycle: 4.4%
Walked Only 2.3% / 2.0%
Payneham — Walked Only: 2.3% Royston Park — Walked Only: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.2%).

Setting

Payneham Royston Park
Elevation 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.2 km 12.4 km

NBN connectivity

Payneham Royston Park
Connectivity score 78/100 88/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
1,422 premises
 39%
578 premises

Climate

Payneham Royston Park
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)

Payneham Royston Park
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Payneham Royston Park
Average residential rate $1,995/yr
same for both
Council Norwood Payneham and St Peters
same for both

Federal electorate

Payneham Royston Park
Division Sturt
same for both
Member Claire Clutterham
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Payneham Royston Park
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Payneham

Apartments Inner Parks River Townhouses Urban

Royston Park

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Payneham

Payneham vs Marden Payneham vs Felixstow Payneham vs Glynde Payneham vs Payneham South Payneham vs Firle Payneham vs Evandale

Other comparisons with Royston Park

Royston Park vs Walkerville Royston Park vs Marden Royston Park vs Vale Park Royston Park vs Joslin
Full data on Payneham Full data on Royston Park
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