Queenstown vs West Lakes

Queenstown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 54 in West Lakes. In both, most 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 $914,000 in Queenstown, and rent is higher there too. Queenstown is closer to the city centre: 12.3 km, against 14.4 km. On these figures, Queenstown tends to suit 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Queenstown has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • West Lakes has more parks and reserves (33 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Queenstown

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($642,500 vs $970,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($914,000 vs $1,337,500)
  • has cheaper units ($660,000 vs $797,500)

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

Renters

Queenstown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($270/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Queenstown

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 59/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (12.3 km vs 14.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Queenstown

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 59/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 87/100)
  • But West Lakes has more residents already 65 and over (36% vs 22%)

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

Investors

West Lakes

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (17.0% vs 3.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Queenstown 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.

Queenstown 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.

Queenstown West Lakes
Walkability 88 / 59
Queenstown — Walkability: 88/100 West Lakes — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 28 / 13
Queenstown — Safety: 28/100 West Lakes — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Queenstown — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Lakes — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 58
Queenstown — Low flood risk: 36/100 West Lakes — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

West Lakes has more residents (6,768 vs 1,943); West Lakes has higher household incomes ($80,496 vs $57,980).

Queenstown West Lakes
Population 1,943 6,768
+248% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.2% +17.0%
Median age 43 54
Median household income $57,980/yr $80,496/yr
+39% vs other
Median weekly rent $270/wk $370/wk
+37% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Queenstown West Lakes
0-4 5.5% / 3.4%
Queenstown — 0-4: 5.5% West Lakes — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 8.2% / 7.9%
Queenstown — 5-14: 8.2% West Lakes — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 4.6% / 4.0%
Queenstown — 15-19: 4.6% West Lakes — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 5.8% / 4.6%
Queenstown — 20-24: 5.8% West Lakes — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 13.3% / 9.8%
Queenstown — 25-34: 13.3% West Lakes — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 14.1% / 9.5%
Queenstown — 35-44: 14.1% West Lakes — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 11.5% / 10.8%
Queenstown — 45-54: 11.5% West Lakes — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 15.2% / 14.0%
Queenstown — 55-64: 15.2% West Lakes — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 10.9% / 17.7%
Queenstown — 65-74: 10.9% West Lakes — 65-74: 17.7%
75-84 7.9% / 12.3%
Queenstown — 75-84: 7.9% West Lakes — 75-84: 12.3%
85+ 3.2% / 6.0%
Queenstown — 85+: 3.2% West Lakes — 85+: 6.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Queenstown 52.0% lone person
Queenstown — Lone Person: 52.0% Queenstown — Couple Families: 25.0% Queenstown — One Parent Families: 14.9% Queenstown — Group Household: 5.1% Queenstown — Other Families: 3.0%
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.

Queenstown 38.5% renting
Queenstown — Owned Outright: 28.1% Queenstown — Mortgage: 33.4% Queenstown — Renting: 38.5%
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.

Queenstown West Lakes
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 14.0%
Queenstown — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% West Lakes — Certificate III & IV: 14.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.6% / 14.2%
Queenstown — Bachelor Degree: 10.6% West Lakes — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.0% / 9.3%
Queenstown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0% West Lakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 4.5%
Queenstown — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% West Lakes — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 2.1%
Queenstown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% West Lakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

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.

Queenstown West Lakes
England 3.2% / 5.7%
Queenstown — England: 3.2% West Lakes — England: 5.7%
China 2.5% / 1.7%
Queenstown — China: 2.5% West Lakes — China: 1.7%
Italy 1.2% / 2.0%
Queenstown — Italy: 1.2% West Lakes — Italy: 2.0%
India 2.1% / 0.9%
Queenstown — India: 2.1% West Lakes — India: 0.9%
Greece 1.2% / 1.1%
Queenstown — Greece: 1.2% West Lakes — Greece: 1.1%
Philippines 1.3% / —
Queenstown — Philippines: 1.3% West Lakes — Philippines: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.2% / —
Queenstown — New Zealand: 1.2% West Lakes — New Zealand: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.2%
Queenstown — Germany: not among its largest West Lakes — Germany: 1.2%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Queenstown 56.7% houses
Queenstown — Houses: 56.7% Queenstown — Townhouses: 39.4% Queenstown — Flats / Apartments: 4.0%
West Lakes 57.9% houses
West Lakes — Houses: 57.9% West Lakes — Townhouses: 32.5% West Lakes — Flats / Apartments: 9.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Queenstown West Lakes
Median house price $914,000 $1,337,500
Median unit price $660,000 $797,500
Median land price $642,500 $970,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 21 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.

Queenstown West Lakes
3 bed $902K / $1.26M
Queenstown — 3 bed: $902K (20 sales) West Lakes — 3 bed: $1.26M (38 sales)

20 vs 38 sales

4 bed $968K / $1.43M
Queenstown — 4 bed: $968K (7 sales) West Lakes — 4 bed: $1.43M (53 sales)

7 vs 53 sales

Zoning mix

Queenstown West Lakes
Residential 92% 82%
Commercial 3% 9%
Parks and recreation 1% 8%
Industrial 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

Queenstown 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.

Queenstown West Lakes
Houses 3.7%
$600/wk on $840K
 4.9%
$850/wk on $899K
Units — 4.7%
$680/wk on $757K

Ranking within SA

Queenstown West Lakes
House price Higher than 13% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Income Higher than 23% of SA —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Affordability Higher than 50% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of SA Higher than 95% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 59% of SA

Liveability

Queenstown is more walkable (88 vs 59); West Lakes scores higher overall (59 vs 48).

Queenstown West Lakes
Grade C B
Score 48/100 59/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Queenstown carries more flood risk (64 vs 42); West Lakes carries more crime risk (87 vs 72).

Queenstown West Lakes
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 High
87/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 20
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Queenstown West Lakes
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Queenstown

  • Alberton Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in West Lakes

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

Amenities in the suburb

Queenstown West Lakes
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 1 33
Childcare 2 3
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 3 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

West Lakes sits further from the CBD (14.4 km vs 12.3 km).

Queenstown West Lakes
Walkability score 88/100 59/100
Distance to Adelaide 12.3 km 14.4 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 24 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 176.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 5014
 0.9%
postcode 5021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 5014
 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.

Queenstown West Lakes
Car (driver) 79.3% / 76.6%
Queenstown — Car (driver): 79.3% West Lakes — Car (driver): 76.6%
Worked from Home 7.9% / 13.2%
Queenstown — Worked from Home: 7.9% West Lakes — Worked from Home: 13.2%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.6%
Queenstown — Car (passenger): 4.1% West Lakes — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Bus 2.8% / 3.0%
Queenstown — Bus: 2.8% West Lakes — Bus: 3.0%
Walked Only 2.5% / 1.1%
Queenstown — Walked Only: 2.5% West Lakes — Walked Only: 1.1%
Train 2.3% / 1.2%
Queenstown — Train: 2.3% West Lakes — Train: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.3%).

Setting

Queenstown West Lakes
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.0 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 1.3 km
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Queenstown West Lakes
Connectivity score 62/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
1,108 premises
 33%
3,394 premises

Climate

Queenstown West Lakes
Annual rainfall 457 mm 394 mm
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C 28.1°C
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C 7.8°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Queenstown 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Queenstown West Lakes
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Queenstown

Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses

West Lakes

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Queenstown

Queenstown vs Royal Park Queenstown vs Cheltenham Queenstown vs Alberton Queenstown vs Albert Park Queenstown vs Port Adelaide Queenstown vs Hendon

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 Port Adelaide
Full data on Queenstown 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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