Pooraka vs Para Hills West

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Pooraka: a median of $825,000, against $736,000 in Para Hills West, and rent is higher there too. Pooraka is closer to the city centre: 13.3 km, against 16.4 km.

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

Pooraka

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 70%)

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

First-home buyers

Para Hills West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($673,500 vs $815,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($735,500 vs $825,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Para Hills West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($275/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Pooraka

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (13.3 km vs 16.4 km)
  • is more walkable (63/100 vs 52/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Pooraka is more walkable (63/100 vs 52/100)
  • Para Hills West has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Para Hills West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Pooraka Para Hills West
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.

Pooraka Para Hills West
Walkability 63 / 52
Pooraka — Walkability: 63/100 Para Hills West — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 16 / 15
Pooraka — Safety: 16/100 Para Hills West — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Pooraka — Low fire risk: 100/100 Para Hills West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 21 / 9
Pooraka — Low flood risk: 21/100 Para Hills West — Low flood risk: 9/100

Demographics

Pooraka has more residents (7,583 vs 3,295).

Pooraka Para Hills West
Population 7,583
+57% vs other
 3,295
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +3.3%
Median age 38
same for both
Median household income $63,700/yr
+8% vs other
 $58,604/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+8% vs other
 $275/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pooraka Para Hills West
0-4 6.5% / 6.3%
Pooraka — 0-4: 6.5% Para Hills West — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 11.7% / 11.7%
Pooraka — 5-14: 11.7% Para Hills West — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 6.0% / 4.6%
Pooraka — 15-19: 6.0% Para Hills West — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.7% / 7.0%
Pooraka — 20-24: 6.7% Para Hills West — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 13.8% / 15.2%
Pooraka — 25-34: 13.8% Para Hills West — 25-34: 15.2%
35-44 13.6% / 13.3%
Pooraka — 35-44: 13.6% Para Hills West — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 12.1% / 11.4%
Pooraka — 45-54: 12.1% Para Hills West — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 11.8% / 12.4%
Pooraka — 55-64: 11.8% Para Hills West — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 9.8% / 10.4%
Pooraka — 65-74: 9.8% Para Hills West — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 5.9% / 5.5%
Pooraka — 75-84: 5.9% Para Hills West — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 2.0% / 2.2%
Pooraka — 85+: 2.0% Para Hills West — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pooraka 36.4% lone person
Pooraka — Lone Person: 36.4% Pooraka — Couple Families: 39.0% Pooraka — One Parent Families: 18.3% Pooraka — Group Household: 4.5% Pooraka — Other Families: 1.8%
Para Hills West 43.3% lone person
Para Hills West — Lone Person: 43.3% Para Hills West — Couple Families: 31.4% Para Hills West — One Parent Families: 20.0% Para Hills West — Group Household: 3.7% Para Hills West — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pooraka 30.5% renting
Pooraka — Owned Outright: 33.9% Pooraka — Mortgage: 35.6% Pooraka — Renting: 30.5%
Para Hills West 38.4% renting
Para Hills West — Owned Outright: 25.6% Para Hills West — Mortgage: 36.0% Para Hills West — Renting: 38.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pooraka Para Hills West
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 16.4%
Pooraka — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Para Hills West — Certificate III & IV: 16.4%
Bachelor Degree 9.1% / 7.3%
Pooraka — Bachelor Degree: 9.1% Para Hills West — Bachelor Degree: 7.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.9% / 5.6%
Pooraka — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9% Para Hills West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 2.7%
Pooraka — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Para Hills West — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.2%
Pooraka — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Para Hills West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

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.

Pooraka Para Hills West
India 6.4% / 7.1%
Pooraka — India: 6.4% Para Hills West — India: 7.1%
England 3.3% / 6.9%
Pooraka — England: 3.3% Para Hills West — England: 6.9%
Afghanistan 4.1% / 4.1%
Pooraka — Afghanistan: 4.1% Para Hills West — Afghanistan: 4.1%
Vietnam 6.0% / 1.0%
Pooraka — Vietnam: 6.0% Para Hills West — Vietnam: 1.0%
Philippines 1.9% / 1.5%
Pooraka — Philippines: 1.9% Para Hills West — Philippines: 1.5%
Iran — / 1.1%
Pooraka — Iran: not among its largest Para Hills West — Iran: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pooraka 85.7% houses
Pooraka — Houses: 85.7% Pooraka — Townhouses: 12.5% Pooraka — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Para Hills West 70.1% houses
Para Hills West — Houses: 70.1% Para Hills West — Townhouses: 28.4% Para Hills West — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pooraka Para Hills West
Median house price $825,000 $735,500
Median unit price $590,500 $574,500
Median land price $815,500 $673,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 64 sales
 18 days
from 18 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Pooraka Para Hills West
2 bed $561K / $596K
Pooraka — 2 bed: $561K (19 sales) Para Hills West — 2 bed: $596K (6 sales)

19 vs 6 sales

3 bed $698K / $520K
Pooraka — 3 bed: $698K (6 sales) Para Hills West — 3 bed: $520K (9 sales)

6 vs 9 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.

Pooraka Para Hills West
2 bed $609K / $648K
Pooraka — 2 bed: $609K (11 sales) Para Hills West — 2 bed: $648K (5 sales)

11 vs 5 sales

3 bed $811K / $752K
Pooraka — 3 bed: $811K (101 sales) Para Hills West — 3 bed: $752K (39 sales)

101 vs 39 sales

4 bed $910K / $737K
Pooraka — 4 bed: $910K (40 sales) Para Hills West — 4 bed: $737K (5 sales)

40 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Pooraka Para Hills West
Residential 51% 48%
Industrial 39% 34%
Parks and recreation 8% 18%
Commercial 1% 0%
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

Pooraka Para Hills West
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.

Pooraka Para Hills West
Houses 3.8%
$600/wk on $820K
 4.4%
$632/wk on $755K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Pooraka Para Hills West
House price Higher than 30% of SA Higher than 27% of SA
Income Higher than 32% of SA Higher than 26% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
Affordability Higher than 42% of SA Higher than 36% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 59% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of SA Higher than 88% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of SA Higher than 83% of SA

Liveability

Pooraka scores higher overall (29 vs 20); Pooraka is more walkable (63 vs 52).

Pooraka Para Hills West
Grade D
same for both
Score 29/100 20/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Para Hills West carries more flood risk (91 vs 79).

Pooraka Para Hills West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
84/100
 High
85/100
Flood High
79/100
 High
91/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 22
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Pooraka Para Hills West
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 2.0 km
 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 1.9%

Schools in Pooraka

  • Pooraka Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Para Hills West

  • Para Hills High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Para Hills West Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Pooraka Para Hills West
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 6 4
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 4 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Para Hills West sits further from the CBD (16.4 km vs 13.3 km).

Pooraka Para Hills West
Walkability score 63/100 52/100
Distance to Adelaide 13.3 km 16.4 km
+23% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 189.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 85.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5095
 0.6%
postcode 5096
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 57
postcode 5095
 71
postcode 5096

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.

Pooraka Para Hills West
Car (driver) 79.6% / 82.3%
Pooraka — Car (driver): 79.6% Para Hills West — Car (driver): 82.3%
Worked from Home 6.6% / 6.2%
Pooraka — Worked from Home: 6.6% Para Hills West — Worked from Home: 6.2%
Bus 6.1% / 5.2%
Pooraka — Bus: 6.1% Para Hills West — Bus: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 5.1%
Pooraka — Car (passenger): 6.0% Para Hills West — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 1.0% / 0.9%
Pooraka — Walked Only: 1.0% Para Hills West — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.3%).

Setting

Pooraka Para Hills West
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 8.0 km

NBN connectivity

Pooraka Para Hills West
Connectivity score 67/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
3,775 premises
 33%
1,772 premises

Climate

Pooraka Para Hills West
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)

Pooraka Para Hills West
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.51 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Pooraka Para Hills West
Average residential rate $1,722/yr
same for both
Council Salisbury
same for both

Federal electorate

Pooraka Para Hills West
Division Makin
same for both
Member Tony Zappia
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Pooraka Para Hills West
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Pooraka

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural River

Para Hills West

Middle-Ring Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pooraka

Pooraka vs Mawson Lakes Pooraka vs Ingle Farm Pooraka vs Para Hills Pooraka vs Northfield Pooraka vs Walkley Heights Pooraka vs Gepps Cross

Other comparisons with Para Hills West

Para Hills West vs Ingle Farm Para Hills West vs Salisbury East Para Hills West vs Para Hills Para Hills West vs Gulfview Heights Para Hills West vs Salisbury South
Full data on Pooraka Full data on Para Hills West
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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