Port Noarlunga vs Noarlunga Downs

Noarlunga Downs is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 46 in Port Noarlunga. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Port Noarlunga: a median of $870,000, against $780,000 in Noarlunga Downs, and rent is higher there too.

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

Noarlunga Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Noarlunga Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($780,000 vs $870,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Noarlunga Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Port Noarlunga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.2% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Port Noarlunga and Noarlunga Downs 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 Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
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 Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Walkability 50 / 48
Port Noarlunga — Walkability: 50/100 Noarlunga Downs — Walkability: 48/100
Safety 33 / 35
Port Noarlunga — Safety: 33/100 Noarlunga Downs — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 81 / 62
Port Noarlunga — Low fire risk: 81/100 Noarlunga Downs — Low fire risk: 62/100
Low flood risk 20 / 18
Port Noarlunga — Low flood risk: 20/100 Noarlunga Downs — Low flood risk: 18/100

Demographics

Port Noarlunga rents higher ($320/wk vs $250/wk); Port Noarlunga skews older (46 vs 39).

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Population 3,245 4,031
+24% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.2% +4.8%
Median age 46 39
Median household income $71,188/yr
+13% vs other
 $61,828/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+22% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
0-4 4.3% / 5.4%
Port Noarlunga — 0-4: 4.3% Noarlunga Downs — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 10.6% / 13.0%
Port Noarlunga — 5-14: 10.6% Noarlunga Downs — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.7% / 5.5%
Port Noarlunga — 15-19: 5.7% Noarlunga Downs — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.5% / 6.5%
Port Noarlunga — 20-24: 4.5% Noarlunga Downs — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 11.7% / 12.9%
Port Noarlunga — 25-34: 11.7% Noarlunga Downs — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 11.1% / 12.4%
Port Noarlunga — 35-44: 11.1% Noarlunga Downs — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 15.1% / 12.7%
Port Noarlunga — 45-54: 15.1% Noarlunga Downs — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 14.2% / 13.2%
Port Noarlunga — 55-64: 14.2% Noarlunga Downs — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 11.5% / 11.0%
Port Noarlunga — 65-74: 11.5% Noarlunga Downs — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 6.2% / 6.1%
Port Noarlunga — 75-84: 6.2% Noarlunga Downs — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 4.7% / 1.4%
Port Noarlunga — 85+: 4.7% Noarlunga Downs — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Port Noarlunga 43.3% lone person
Port Noarlunga — Lone Person: 43.3% Port Noarlunga — Couple Families: 35.1% Port Noarlunga — One Parent Families: 16.6% Port Noarlunga — Group Household: 3.2% Port Noarlunga — Other Families: 1.8%
Noarlunga Downs 42.0% lone person
Noarlunga Downs — Lone Person: 42.0% Noarlunga Downs — Couple Families: 31.5% Noarlunga Downs — One Parent Families: 20.9% Noarlunga Downs — Group Household: 4.0% Noarlunga Downs — 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.

Port Noarlunga 27.9% renting
Port Noarlunga — Owned Outright: 32.2% Port Noarlunga — Mortgage: 39.9% Port Noarlunga — Renting: 27.9%
Noarlunga Downs 34.7% renting
Noarlunga Downs — Owned Outright: 21.8% Noarlunga Downs — Mortgage: 43.6% Noarlunga Downs — Renting: 34.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Certificate III & IV 18.7% / 19.7%
Port Noarlunga — Certificate III & IV: 18.7% Noarlunga Downs — Certificate III & IV: 19.7%
Bachelor Degree 11.3% / 7.8%
Port Noarlunga — Bachelor Degree: 11.3% Noarlunga Downs — Bachelor Degree: 7.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 6.7%
Port Noarlunga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Noarlunga Downs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 2.0%
Port Noarlunga — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Noarlunga Downs — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.1%
Port Noarlunga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Noarlunga Downs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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 Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
England 14.8% / 9.4%
Port Noarlunga — England: 14.8% Noarlunga Downs — England: 9.4%
Scotland 1.7% / 1.1%
Port Noarlunga — Scotland: 1.7% Noarlunga Downs — Scotland: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.1%
Port Noarlunga — New Zealand: 1.0% Noarlunga Downs — New Zealand: 1.1%
Netherlands 1.0% / 0.6%
Port Noarlunga — Netherlands: 1.0% Noarlunga Downs — Netherlands: 0.6%
India 0.4% / 0.9%
Port Noarlunga — India: 0.4% Noarlunga Downs — India: 0.9%
South Africa 1.1% / —
Port Noarlunga — South Africa: 1.1% Noarlunga Downs — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.8%
Port Noarlunga — Philippines: not among its largest Noarlunga Downs — Philippines: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Port Noarlunga 78.9% houses
Port Noarlunga — Houses: 78.9% Port Noarlunga — Flats / Apartments: 13.0% Port Noarlunga — Townhouses: 8.1%
Noarlunga Downs 88.5% houses
Noarlunga Downs — Houses: 88.5% Noarlunga Downs — Flats / Apartments: 4.1% Noarlunga Downs — Townhouses: 7.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Median house price $870,000 $780,000
Median unit price $570,000 $590,000
Median land price $966,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 14 days
from 22 sales
 24 days
from 25 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 Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
3 bed $830K / $740K
Port Noarlunga — 3 bed: $830K (38 sales) Noarlunga Downs — 3 bed: $740K (43 sales)

38 vs 43 sales

4 bed $1.02M / $875K
Port Noarlunga — 4 bed: $1.02M (22 sales) Noarlunga Downs — 4 bed: $875K (25 sales)

22 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Residential 54% 66%
Environmental 29% 33%
Parks and recreation 14% 0%
Commercial 4% 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

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
New dwellings approved 1,367
across Onkaparinga
same for both
Approvals change year on year +58%
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.

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Houses 4.1%
$690/wk on $874K
 4.0%
$600/wk on $786K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
House price Higher than 29% of SA Higher than 12% of SA
Income Higher than 40% of SA Higher than 30% of SA
Schools — Higher than 19% of SA
Walkability Higher than 80% of SA
same for both
Affordability Higher than 60% of SA Higher than 62% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 78% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of SA Higher than 54% of SA

Liveability

Port Noarlunga scores higher overall (31 vs 20).

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Grade D
same for both
Score 31/100 20/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Noarlunga Downs carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 19).

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Bushfire Low
19/100
 Low
38/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood High
80/100
 High
82/100
Coastal erosion Low
19/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Port Noarlunga

  • Port Noarlunga Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Noarlunga Downs

  • Cardijn College - Marian Campus Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Noarlunga Downs Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sports College South Australia - South Adelaide Football Club Campus Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Cafes & restaurants 6 0
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Walkability score 50/100 48/100
Distance to Adelaide 32.5 km 33.3 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 33 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 47.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5167
 1.0%
postcode 5168
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 5167
 69
postcode 5168

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 Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Car (driver) 78.8% / 81.2%
Port Noarlunga — Car (driver): 78.8% Noarlunga Downs — Car (driver): 81.2%
Worked from Home 11.3% / 7.0%
Port Noarlunga — Worked from Home: 11.3% Noarlunga Downs — Worked from Home: 7.0%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 5.3%
Port Noarlunga — Car (passenger): 3.9% Noarlunga Downs — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Train 3.6% / 4.1%
Port Noarlunga — Train: 3.6% Noarlunga Downs — Train: 4.1%
Walked Only 1.9% / 0.7%
Port Noarlunga — Walked Only: 1.9% Noarlunga Downs — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 0.6% / 1.4%
Port Noarlunga — Bus: 0.6% Noarlunga Downs — Bus: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.2%).

Setting

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 200 m 2.4 km

NBN connectivity

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Connectivity score 64/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
1,677 premises
 50%
1,843 premises

Climate

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Annual rainfall 394 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 19.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.34 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Average residential rate $2,008/yr
same for both
Council Onkaparinga
same for both

Federal electorate

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Division Kingston
same for both
Member Amanda Rishworth
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Port Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Port Noarlunga

Coastal Outer

Noarlunga Downs

Coastal Large Blocks Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Noarlunga

Port Noarlunga vs Christies Beach Port Noarlunga vs Port Noarlunga South Port Noarlunga vs Noarlunga Centre

Other comparisons with Noarlunga Downs

Noarlunga Downs vs Seaford Meadows Noarlunga Downs vs Huntfield Heights Noarlunga Downs vs Hackham West Noarlunga Downs vs Port Noarlunga South Noarlunga Downs vs Old Noarlunga Noarlunga Downs vs Noarlunga Centre
Full data on Port Noarlunga Full data on Noarlunga Downs
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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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