Rosewater vs Cheltenham

Rosewater is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 44 in Cheltenham. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Cheltenham: a median of $998,000, against $830,000 in Rosewater, and rent is higher there too. Cheltenham is closer to the city centre: 11 km, against 15.2 km. On these figures, Rosewater tends to suit 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

Cheltenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 86/100)

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

First-home buyers

Rosewater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($485,500 vs $590,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($830,500 vs $998,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rosewater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $290/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Rosewater is more walkable (90/100 vs 80/100)
  • Cheltenham sits closer to the CBD (11 km vs 15.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Rosewater is more walkable (90/100 vs 80/100)
  • Cheltenham carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 86/100)

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

Investors

Rosewater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.3% vs 1.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rosewater Cheltenham
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.

Rosewater Cheltenham
Walkability 90 / 80
Rosewater — Walkability: 90/100 Cheltenham — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 14 / 34
Rosewater — Safety: 14/100 Cheltenham — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Rosewater — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cheltenham — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 14 / 24
Rosewater — Low flood risk: 14/100 Cheltenham — Low flood risk: 24/100

Demographics

Rosewater has more residents (3,582 vs 2,236); Cheltenham has higher household incomes ($79,768 vs $68,328).

Rosewater Cheltenham
Population 3,582
+38% vs other
 2,236
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +1.7%
Median age 39 44
Median household income $68,328/yr $79,768/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $260/wk $290/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rosewater Cheltenham
0-4 5.2% / 4.6%
Rosewater — 0-4: 5.2% Cheltenham — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 10.6% / 9.6%
Rosewater — 5-14: 10.6% Cheltenham — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.8% / 5.5%
Rosewater — 15-19: 5.8% Cheltenham — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.4% / 5.9%
Rosewater — 20-24: 6.4% Cheltenham — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 15.3% / 13.6%
Rosewater — 25-34: 15.3% Cheltenham — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 13.9% / 11.3%
Rosewater — 35-44: 13.9% Cheltenham — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 13.4% / 14.3%
Rosewater — 45-54: 13.4% Cheltenham — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 14.1% / 15.6%
Rosewater — 55-64: 14.1% Cheltenham — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 9.7% / 12.5%
Rosewater — 65-74: 9.7% Cheltenham — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 4.1% / 4.8%
Rosewater — 75-84: 4.1% Cheltenham — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 1.5% / 2.7%
Rosewater — 85+: 1.5% Cheltenham — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rosewater 41.6% lone person
Rosewater — Lone Person: 41.6% Rosewater — Couple Families: 31.9% Rosewater — One Parent Families: 19.4% Rosewater — Group Household: 4.4% Rosewater — Other Families: 2.8%
Cheltenham 42.7% lone person
Cheltenham — Lone Person: 42.7% Cheltenham — Couple Families: 37.6% Cheltenham — One Parent Families: 15.7% Cheltenham — Group Household: 3.3% Cheltenham — Other Families: 0.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rosewater 31.7% renting
Rosewater — Owned Outright: 25.3% Rosewater — Mortgage: 43.0% Rosewater — Renting: 31.7%
Cheltenham 21.3% renting
Cheltenham — Owned Outright: 36.7% Cheltenham — Mortgage: 42.0% Cheltenham — Renting: 21.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rosewater Cheltenham
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 16.6%
Rosewater — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Cheltenham — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 13.6%
Rosewater — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Cheltenham — Bachelor Degree: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 7.2%
Rosewater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Cheltenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 3.4%
Rosewater — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Cheltenham — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.7%
Rosewater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Cheltenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

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.

Rosewater Cheltenham
England 3.1% / 3.8%
Rosewater — England: 3.1% Cheltenham — England: 3.8%
Vietnam 4.9% / 0.8%
Rosewater — Vietnam: 4.9% Cheltenham — Vietnam: 0.8%
India 3.3% / 2.0%
Rosewater — India: 3.3% Cheltenham — India: 2.0%
Philippines 2.9% / 0.9%
Rosewater — Philippines: 2.9% Cheltenham — Philippines: 0.9%
China 1.0% / 1.1%
Rosewater — China: 1.0% Cheltenham — China: 1.1%
Greece 1.1% / 0.7%
Rosewater — Greece: 1.1% Cheltenham — Greece: 0.7%
Italy — / 1.4%
Rosewater — Italy: not among its largest Cheltenham — Italy: 1.4%
Germany — / 1.1%
Rosewater — Germany: not among its largest Cheltenham — Germany: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rosewater 76.4% houses
Rosewater — Houses: 76.4% Rosewater — Townhouses: 17.7% Rosewater — Flats / Apartments: 6.0%
Cheltenham 80.5% houses
Cheltenham — Houses: 80.5% Cheltenham — Townhouses: 17.4% Cheltenham — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rosewater Cheltenham
Median house price $830,500 $998,250
Median unit price $485,500 $590,000
Median land price $472,250 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 14 days
from 43 sales
 16 days
from 18 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.

Rosewater Cheltenham
2 bed $690K / $1.01M
Rosewater — 2 bed: $690K (11 sales) Cheltenham — 2 bed: $1.01M (5 sales)

11 vs 5 sales

3 bed $830K / $950K
Rosewater — 3 bed: $830K (53 sales) Cheltenham — 3 bed: $950K (21 sales)

53 vs 21 sales

4 bed $942K / $1.29M
Rosewater — 4 bed: $942K (17 sales) Cheltenham — 4 bed: $1.29M (14 sales)

17 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Rosewater Cheltenham
Residential 92% 75%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 11%
Industrial 7% 5%
Parks and recreation 0% 5%
Commercial 1% 5%
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

Rosewater Cheltenham
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.

Rosewater Cheltenham
Houses 4.5%
$625/wk on $714K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Rosewater Cheltenham
House price Higher than 29% of SA Higher than 52% of SA
Income Higher than 38% of SA Higher than 54% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Affordability Higher than 54% of SA Higher than 43% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 47% of SA Higher than 77% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of SA —

Liveability

Cheltenham scores higher overall (54 vs 37); Rosewater is more walkable (90 vs 80).

Rosewater Cheltenham
Grade C B
Score 37/100 54/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Rosewater carries more crime risk (86 vs 66); Rosewater carries more flood risk (86 vs 76).

Rosewater Cheltenham
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
86/100
 Moderate
66/100
Flood High
86/100
 High
76/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 26
within 5 km
 25
within 5 km

Schools

Rosewater Cheltenham
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus, 9.4 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 9.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.3%

Schools in Rosewater

  • Mount Carmel College Secondary Campus Catholic · Secondary below peers

Schools in Cheltenham

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

Amenities in the suburb

Rosewater Cheltenham
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Rosewater sits further from the CBD (15.2 km vs 11 km).

Rosewater Cheltenham
Walkability score 90/100 80/100
Distance to Adelaide 15.2 km
+28% vs other
 11 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 19 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 86/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 75.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 5013
 0.9%
postcode 5014
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 61
postcode 5013
 48
postcode 5014

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.

Rosewater Cheltenham
Car (driver) 77.8% / 75.2%
Rosewater — Car (driver): 77.8% Cheltenham — Car (driver): 75.2%
Worked from Home 7.2% / 9.9%
Rosewater — Worked from Home: 7.2% Cheltenham — Worked from Home: 9.9%
Train 4.2% / 6.0%
Rosewater — Train: 4.2% Cheltenham — Train: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.5%
Rosewater — Car (passenger): 4.7% Cheltenham — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bus 3.4% / 2.2%
Rosewater — Bus: 3.4% Cheltenham — Bus: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.8%).

Setting

Rosewater Cheltenham
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 4.1 km
4.2 km to a named beach
 4.3 km
4.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Rosewater Cheltenham
Connectivity score 72/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
1,833 premises
 45%
1,078 premises

Climate

Rosewater Cheltenham
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Rosewater Cheltenham
PM2.5 4.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Rosewater Cheltenham
Division Hindmarsh
same for both
Member Mark Butler
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rosewater Cheltenham
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rosewater

Middle-Ring Parks

Cheltenham

Middle-Ring Trains Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rosewater

Rosewater vs Pennington Rosewater vs Ottoway Rosewater vs Alberton Rosewater vs Port Adelaide Rosewater vs Gillman

Other comparisons with Cheltenham

Cheltenham vs Pennington Cheltenham vs St Clair Cheltenham vs Woodville Cheltenham vs Queenstown Cheltenham vs Alberton Cheltenham vs Albert Park
Full data on Rosewater Full data on Cheltenham
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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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