Port Adelaide vs Semaphore Park

In Port Adelaide, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In Semaphore Park, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Semaphore Park: a median of $1 million, against $824,000 in Port Adelaide, though rent is higher in Port Adelaide. Semaphore Park is closer to the city centre: 15.6 km, against 18.9 km. On these figures, Port Adelaide tends to suit renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Semaphore Park

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (54% vs 28%)

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

First-home buyers

Port Adelaide

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($823,500 vs $1,000,000)
  • has cheaper units ($621,000 vs $722,500)
  • But Semaphore Park has cheaper land ($900,000 vs $1,100,000)

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

Renters

They split

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

  • Port Adelaide has a bigger rental market to choose from (55% vs 39%)
  • Semaphore Park has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $293/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Semaphore Park

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 11/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (15.6 km vs 18.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Semaphore Park

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 11/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 18%)
  • carries lower crime risk (87/100 vs 98/100)
  • But Port Adelaide has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Port Adelaide and Semaphore 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.

Port Adelaide Semaphore 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.

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Walkability 11 / 80
Port Adelaide — Walkability: 11/100 Semaphore Park — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 2 / 13
Port Adelaide — Safety: 2/100 Semaphore Park — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Port Adelaide — Low fire risk: 100/100 Semaphore Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 10 / 38
Port Adelaide — Low flood risk: 10/100 Semaphore Park — Low flood risk: 38/100

Demographics

Semaphore Park has more residents (4,541 vs 1,338); Port Adelaide rents higher ($293/wk vs $250/wk).

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Population 1,338 4,541
+239% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +5.7%
Median age 45 46
Median household income $63,960/yr $65,624/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $293/wk
+15% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
0-4 2.3% / 5.4%
Port Adelaide — 0-4: 2.3% Semaphore Park — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 7.2% / 9.7%
Port Adelaide — 5-14: 7.2% Semaphore Park — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 4.1% / 4.9%
Port Adelaide — 15-19: 4.1% Semaphore Park — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 7.8% / 4.1%
Port Adelaide — 20-24: 7.8% Semaphore Park — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 14.8% / 11.6%
Port Adelaide — 25-34: 14.8% Semaphore Park — 25-34: 11.6%
35-44 13.5% / 12.8%
Port Adelaide — 35-44: 13.5% Semaphore Park — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 14.5% / 12.7%
Port Adelaide — 45-54: 14.5% Semaphore Park — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 17.7% / 13.4%
Port Adelaide — 55-64: 17.7% Semaphore Park — 55-64: 13.4%
65-74 12.7% / 13.8%
Port Adelaide — 65-74: 12.7% Semaphore Park — 65-74: 13.8%
75-84 4.3% / 7.5%
Port Adelaide — 75-84: 4.3% Semaphore Park — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 1.2% / 4.3%
Port Adelaide — 85+: 1.2% Semaphore Park — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Port Adelaide 59.4% lone person
Port Adelaide — Lone Person: 59.4% Port Adelaide — Couple Families: 16.1% Port Adelaide — One Parent Families: 15.0% Port Adelaide — Group Household: 7.9% Port Adelaide — Other Families: 1.5%
Semaphore Park 47.9% lone person
Semaphore Park — Lone Person: 47.9% Semaphore Park — Couple Families: 29.3% Semaphore Park — One Parent Families: 17.9% Semaphore Park — Group Household: 3.5% Semaphore Park — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Port Adelaide 55.4% renting
Port Adelaide — Owned Outright: 20.7% Port Adelaide — Mortgage: 23.8% Port Adelaide — Renting: 55.4%
Semaphore Park 39.0% renting
Semaphore Park — Owned Outright: 31.0% Semaphore Park — Mortgage: 30.1% Semaphore Park — Renting: 39.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 15.5%
Port Adelaide — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Semaphore Park — Certificate III & IV: 15.5%
Bachelor Degree 13.3% / 11.5%
Port Adelaide — Bachelor Degree: 13.3% Semaphore Park — Bachelor Degree: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.4%
Port Adelaide — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Semaphore Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 3.0%
Port Adelaide — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Semaphore Park — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.5%
Port Adelaide — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Semaphore Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

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.

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
England 5.6% / 6.1%
Port Adelaide — England: 5.6% Semaphore Park — England: 6.1%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.0%
Port Adelaide — New Zealand: 1.5% Semaphore Park — New Zealand: 1.0%
Italy 0.9% / 1.2%
Port Adelaide — Italy: 0.9% Semaphore Park — Italy: 1.2%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.8%
Port Adelaide — Scotland: 0.9% Semaphore Park — Scotland: 0.8%
Vietnam 1.3% / —
Port Adelaide — Vietnam: 1.3% Semaphore Park — Vietnam: not among its largest
Afghanistan 1.2% / —
Port Adelaide — Afghanistan: 1.2% Semaphore Park — Afghanistan: not among its largest
China 1.1% / —
Port Adelaide — China: 1.1% Semaphore Park — China: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.8%
Port Adelaide — South Africa: not among its largest Semaphore Park — South Africa: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Port Adelaide 58.4% townhouses
Port Adelaide — Townhouses: 58.4% Port Adelaide — Houses: 28.1% Port Adelaide — Flats / Apartments: 13.5%
Semaphore Park 39.8% townhouses
Semaphore Park — Townhouses: 39.8% Semaphore Park — Houses: 53.9% Semaphore Park — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Townhouses Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Median house price $823,500 $1,000,000
Median unit price $621,000 $722,500
Median land price $1,100,000 $900,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 14 sales
 19 days
from 36 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.

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
2 bed $719K / $865K
Port Adelaide — 2 bed: $719K (11 sales) Semaphore Park — 2 bed: $865K (6 sales)

11 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.01M / $910K
Port Adelaide — 3 bed: $1.01M (18 sales) Semaphore Park — 3 bed: $910K (53 sales)

18 vs 53 sales

Zoning mix

Port Adelaide has more industrially zoned land (59% vs 0%); Port Adelaide has more commercially zoned land (35% vs 0%).

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Residential 2% 86%
Industrial 59% 0%
Commercial 35% 0%
Parks and recreation 4% 11%
Environmental 0% 3%
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

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
New dwellings approved 1,176
across Port Adelaide Enfield
 1,636
across Charles Sturt
Approvals change year on year +23% +109%

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.

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Houses — 3.4%
$620/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
House price Higher than 8% of SA Higher than 51% of SA
Income Higher than 32% of SA Higher than 33% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 66% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Affordability Higher than 73% of SA Higher than 22% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 27% of SA

Liveability

Semaphore Park is more walkable (80 vs 11); Semaphore Park scores higher overall (44 vs 21).

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Grade D C
Score 21/100 44/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Port Adelaide carries more flood risk (90 vs 62); Port Adelaide carries more crime risk (98 vs 87).

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
87/100
Flood High
90/100
 Moderate
62/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
47/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 9.4 km
 None

Schools in Port Adelaide

  • Indie School Port Adelaide Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in Semaphore Park

  • Westport Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 25 1
Parks & reserves 3 6
Childcare 4 3
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Port Adelaide sits further from the CBD (18.9 km vs 15.6 km).

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Walkability score 11/100 80/100
Distance to Adelaide 18.9 km
+17% vs other
 15.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 25 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 176.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5015
 1.2%
postcode 5019
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 5015
 52
postcode 5019

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.

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Car (driver) 70.5% / 76.7%
Port Adelaide — Car (driver): 70.5% Semaphore Park — Car (driver): 76.7%
Worked from Home 12.1% / 12.8%
Port Adelaide — Worked from Home: 12.1% Semaphore Park — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Walked Only 7.2% / 1.3%
Port Adelaide — Walked Only: 7.2% Semaphore Park — Walked Only: 1.3%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 4.3%
Port Adelaide — Car (passenger): 3.5% Semaphore Park — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Train 3.7% / 2.2%
Port Adelaide — Train: 3.7% Semaphore Park — Train: 2.2%
Bus 1.7% / 2.2%
Port Adelaide — Bus: 1.7% Semaphore Park — Bus: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.7%).

Setting

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
4.1 km to a named beach
 848 m
868 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Connectivity score 72/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
1,947 premises
 44%
2,251 premises

Climate

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Annual rainfall 404 mm 394 mm
Summer max (Jan) 30.4°C 28.1°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 7.8°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
PM2.5 4.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Average residential rate $1,311/yr $1,726/yr
Council Port Adelaide Enfield Charles Sturt

Federal electorate

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Division Hindmarsh
same for both
Member Mark Butler
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Port Adelaide Semaphore Park
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Port Adelaide

Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring River Townhouses Transport Hub

Semaphore Park

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide vs West Lakes Port Adelaide vs Largs Bay Port Adelaide vs Largs North Port Adelaide vs Rosewater Port Adelaide vs Taperoo Port Adelaide vs Queenstown

Other comparisons with Semaphore Park

Semaphore Park vs West Lakes Semaphore Park vs West Lakes Shore Semaphore Park vs Ethelton Semaphore Park vs Semaphore South Semaphore Park vs New Port
Full data on Port Adelaide Full data on Semaphore Park
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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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