Port Adelaide vs West Lakes

Port Adelaide is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 54 in West Lakes. In Port Adelaide, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In West Lakes, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in West Lakes: a median of $1.34 million, against $824,000 in Port Adelaide, and rent is higher there too. West Lakes is closer to the city centre: 14.4 km, against 18.9 km. On these figures, Port Adelaide tends to suit renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, while West Lakes suits 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

West Lakes

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (58% vs 28%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 31%)

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 $1,337,500)
  • has cheaper units ($621,000 vs $797,500)

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

Renters

Port Adelaide

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (55% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($293/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Lakes

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 11/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (14.4 km vs 18.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

West Lakes

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 11/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (36% 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

West Lakes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (17.0% vs 9.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Port Adelaide and West Lakes 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 West Lakes
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 West Lakes
Walkability 11 / 59
Port Adelaide — Walkability: 11/100 West Lakes — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 2 / 13
Port Adelaide — Safety: 2/100 West Lakes — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Port Adelaide — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Lakes — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 10 / 58
Port Adelaide — Low flood risk: 10/100 West Lakes — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

West Lakes has more residents (6,768 vs 1,338); West Lakes rents higher ($370/wk vs $293/wk).

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Population 1,338 6,768
+406% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +17.0%
Median age 45 54
Median household income $63,960/yr $80,496/yr
+26% vs other
Median weekly rent $293/wk $370/wk
+26% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Adelaide West Lakes
0-4 2.3% / 3.4%
Port Adelaide — 0-4: 2.3% West Lakes — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 7.2% / 7.9%
Port Adelaide — 5-14: 7.2% West Lakes — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 4.1% / 4.0%
Port Adelaide — 15-19: 4.1% West Lakes — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 7.8% / 4.6%
Port Adelaide — 20-24: 7.8% West Lakes — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 14.8% / 9.8%
Port Adelaide — 25-34: 14.8% West Lakes — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 13.5% / 9.5%
Port Adelaide — 35-44: 13.5% West Lakes — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 14.5% / 10.8%
Port Adelaide — 45-54: 14.5% West Lakes — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 17.7% / 14.0%
Port Adelaide — 55-64: 17.7% West Lakes — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 12.7% / 17.7%
Port Adelaide — 65-74: 12.7% West Lakes — 65-74: 17.7%
75-84 4.3% / 12.3%
Port Adelaide — 75-84: 4.3% West Lakes — 75-84: 12.3%
85+ 1.2% / 6.0%
Port Adelaide — 85+: 1.2% West Lakes — 85+: 6.0%

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%
West Lakes 47.2% lone person
West Lakes — Lone Person: 47.2% West Lakes — Couple Families: 35.8% West Lakes — One Parent Families: 12.4% West Lakes — Group Household: 3.3% West Lakes — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
West Lakes 16.9% renting
West Lakes — Owned Outright: 54.4% West Lakes — Mortgage: 28.7% West Lakes — Renting: 16.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 14.0%
Port Adelaide — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% West Lakes — Certificate III & IV: 14.0%
Bachelor Degree 13.3% / 14.2%
Port Adelaide — Bachelor Degree: 13.3% West Lakes — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 9.3%
Port Adelaide — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% West Lakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 4.5%
Port Adelaide — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% West Lakes — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.1%
Port Adelaide — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% West Lakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

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 West Lakes
England 5.6% / 5.7%
Port Adelaide — England: 5.6% West Lakes — England: 5.7%
Italy 0.9% / 2.0%
Port Adelaide — Italy: 0.9% West Lakes — Italy: 2.0%
China 1.1% / 1.7%
Port Adelaide — China: 1.1% West Lakes — China: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.5% / —
Port Adelaide — New Zealand: 1.5% West Lakes — New Zealand: not among its largest
Vietnam 1.3% / —
Port Adelaide — Vietnam: 1.3% West Lakes — Vietnam: not among its largest
Afghanistan 1.2% / —
Port Adelaide — Afghanistan: 1.2% West Lakes — Afghanistan: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.2%
Port Adelaide — Germany: not among its largest West Lakes — Germany: 1.2%
Greece — / 1.1%
Port Adelaide — Greece: not among its largest West Lakes — Greece: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

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%
West Lakes 32.5% townhouses
West Lakes — Townhouses: 32.5% West Lakes — Houses: 57.9% West Lakes — Flats / Apartments: 9.6%
Townhouses Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Median house price $823,500 $1,337,500
Median unit price $621,000 $797,500
Median land price $1,100,000 $970,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 14 sales
 19 days
from 74 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 West Lakes
2 bed $719K / $820K
Port Adelaide — 2 bed: $719K (11 sales) West Lakes — 2 bed: $820K (17 sales)

11 vs 17 sales

3 bed $1.01M / $1.26M
Port Adelaide — 3 bed: $1.01M (18 sales) West Lakes — 3 bed: $1.26M (38 sales)

18 vs 38 sales

Zoning mix

Port Adelaide has more industrially zoned land (59% vs 0%); Port Adelaide has more commercially zoned land (35% vs 9%).

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Residential 2% 82%
Industrial 59% 0%
Commercial 35% 9%
Parks and recreation 4% 8%
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 West Lakes
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 West Lakes
Houses — 4.9%
$850/wk on $899K
Units — 4.7%
$680/wk on $757K

Ranking within SA

Port Adelaide West Lakes
House price Higher than 8% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Income Higher than 32% of SA —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 66% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Affordability Higher than 73% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 95% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 59% of SA

Liveability

West Lakes is more walkable (59 vs 11); West Lakes scores higher overall (59 vs 21).

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Grade D B
Score 21/100 59/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Port Adelaide carries more flood risk (90 vs 42); Port Adelaide carries more crime risk (98 vs 87).

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
87/100
Flood High
90/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Inside the suburb 1 0
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 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 9.4 km
 None

Schools in Port Adelaide

  • Indie School Port Adelaide Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in West Lakes

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

Amenities in the suburb

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Supermarkets 5 3
Cafes & restaurants 25 7
Parks & reserves 3 33
Childcare 4 3
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 4
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 6
Fuel stations 4 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Port Adelaide sits further from the CBD (18.9 km vs 14.4 km).

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Walkability score 11/100 59/100
Distance to Adelaide 18.9 km
+24% vs other
 14.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 24 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 176.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
same for both
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5015
 0.9%
postcode 5021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 5015
 58
postcode 5021

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 West Lakes
Car (driver) 70.5% / 76.6%
Port Adelaide — Car (driver): 70.5% West Lakes — Car (driver): 76.6%
Worked from Home 12.1% / 13.2%
Port Adelaide — Worked from Home: 12.1% West Lakes — Worked from Home: 13.2%
Walked Only 7.2% / 1.1%
Port Adelaide — Walked Only: 7.2% West Lakes — Walked Only: 1.1%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.6%
Port Adelaide — Car (passenger): 3.5% West Lakes — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 3.7% / 1.2%
Port Adelaide — Train: 3.7% West Lakes — Train: 1.2%
Bus 1.7% / 3.0%
Port Adelaide — Bus: 1.7% West Lakes — Bus: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
4.1 km to a named beach
 1.3 km
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Connectivity score 72/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
1,947 premises
 33%
3,394 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Port Adelaide West Lakes
Division Hindmarsh
same for both
Member Mark Butler
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Port Adelaide West Lakes
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

West Lakes

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide vs Semaphore Park 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 West Lakes

West Lakes vs Seaton West Lakes vs Grange West Lakes vs Semaphore Park West Lakes vs Royal Park West Lakes vs West Lakes Shore West Lakes vs Queenstown
Full data on Port Adelaide Full data on West Lakes
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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