Semaphore Park vs West Lakes

Semaphore Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 54 in West Lakes. In both, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In West Lakes, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in West Lakes: a median of $1.34 million, against $1 million in Semaphore Park, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Semaphore Park 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

  • Semaphore Park has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • West Lakes has more parks and reserves (33 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Semaphore Park

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,000,000 vs $1,337,500)
  • has cheaper units ($722,500 vs $797,500)
  • But West Lakes leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 33%)

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

Renters

Semaphore Park

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Semaphore Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 59/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Semaphore Park is more walkable (80/100 vs 59/100)
  • West Lakes has more residents already 65 and over (36% vs 26%)

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 5.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Semaphore Park 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.

Semaphore Park 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.

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Walkability 80 / 59
Semaphore Park — Walkability: 80/100 West Lakes — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 13 / 13
Semaphore Park — Safety: 13/100 West Lakes — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Semaphore Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Lakes — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 38 / 58
Semaphore Park — Low flood risk: 38/100 West Lakes — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

West Lakes has more residents (6,768 vs 4,541); West Lakes rents higher ($370/wk vs $250/wk).

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Population 4,541 6,768
+49% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +17.0%
Median age 46 54
Median household income $65,624/yr $80,496/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $370/wk
+48% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Semaphore Park West Lakes
0-4 5.4% / 3.4%
Semaphore Park — 0-4: 5.4% West Lakes — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 9.7% / 7.9%
Semaphore Park — 5-14: 9.7% West Lakes — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 4.9% / 4.0%
Semaphore Park — 15-19: 4.9% West Lakes — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 4.1% / 4.6%
Semaphore Park — 20-24: 4.1% West Lakes — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 11.6% / 9.8%
Semaphore Park — 25-34: 11.6% West Lakes — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 12.8% / 9.5%
Semaphore Park — 35-44: 12.8% West Lakes — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 12.7% / 10.8%
Semaphore Park — 45-54: 12.7% West Lakes — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 13.4% / 14.0%
Semaphore Park — 55-64: 13.4% West Lakes — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 13.8% / 17.7%
Semaphore Park — 65-74: 13.8% West Lakes — 65-74: 17.7%
75-84 7.5% / 12.3%
Semaphore Park — 75-84: 7.5% West Lakes — 75-84: 12.3%
85+ 4.3% / 6.0%
Semaphore Park — 85+: 4.3% West Lakes — 85+: 6.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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.

Semaphore Park 39.0% renting
Semaphore Park — Owned Outright: 31.0% Semaphore Park — Mortgage: 30.1% Semaphore Park — Renting: 39.0%
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.

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Certificate III & IV 15.5% / 14.0%
Semaphore Park — Certificate III & IV: 15.5% West Lakes — Certificate III & IV: 14.0%
Bachelor Degree 11.5% / 14.2%
Semaphore Park — Bachelor Degree: 11.5% West Lakes — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 9.3%
Semaphore Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% West Lakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.0% / 4.5%
Semaphore Park — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0% West Lakes — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.1%
Semaphore Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% West Lakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

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.

Semaphore Park West Lakes
England 6.1% / 5.7%
Semaphore Park — England: 6.1% West Lakes — England: 5.7%
Italy 1.2% / 2.0%
Semaphore Park — Italy: 1.2% West Lakes — Italy: 2.0%
Greece 0.6% / 1.1%
Semaphore Park — Greece: 0.6% West Lakes — Greece: 1.1%
China — / 1.7%
Semaphore Park — China: not among its largest West Lakes — China: 1.7%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.7%
Semaphore Park — South Africa: 0.8% West Lakes — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.6%
Semaphore Park — Scotland: 0.8% West Lakes — Scotland: 0.6%
Germany — / 1.2%
Semaphore Park — Germany: not among its largest West Lakes — Germany: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.0% / —
Semaphore Park — New Zealand: 1.0% West Lakes — New Zealand: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Semaphore Park 53.9% houses
Semaphore Park — Houses: 53.9% Semaphore Park — Townhouses: 39.8% Semaphore Park — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
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

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Median house price $1,000,000 $1,337,500
Median unit price $722,500 $797,500
Median land price $900,000 $970,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 36 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.

Semaphore Park West Lakes
2 bed $865K / $820K
Semaphore Park — 2 bed: $865K (6 sales) West Lakes — 2 bed: $820K (17 sales)

6 vs 17 sales

3 bed $910K / $1.26M
Semaphore Park — 3 bed: $910K (53 sales) West Lakes — 3 bed: $1.26M (38 sales)

53 vs 38 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $1.43M
Semaphore Park — 4 bed: $1.36M (22 sales) West Lakes — 4 bed: $1.43M (53 sales)

22 vs 53 sales

5 bed $1.27M / $2.05M
Semaphore Park — 5 bed: $1.27M (7 sales) West Lakes — 5 bed: $2.05M (8 sales)

7 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Residential 86% 82%
Parks and recreation 11% 8%
Commercial 0% 9%
Environmental 3% 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

Semaphore Park West Lakes
New dwellings approved 1,636
across Charles Sturt
same for both
Approvals change year on year +109%
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.

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Houses 3.4%
$620/wk on $950K
 4.9%
$850/wk on $899K
Units — 4.7%
$680/wk on $757K

Ranking within SA

Semaphore Park West Lakes
House price Higher than 51% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Income Higher than 33% of SA —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 92% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Affordability Higher than 22% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of SA Higher than 95% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 59% of SA

Liveability

Semaphore Park is more walkable (80 vs 59); West Lakes scores higher overall (59 vs 44).

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Grade C B
Score 44/100 59/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Semaphore Park carries more flood risk (62 vs 42).

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
same for both
Flood Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
47/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 14
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Semaphore Park 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 Semaphore Park

  • Westport 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

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

Mobility

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Walkability score 80/100 59/100
Distance to Adelaide 15.6 km
+8% vs other
 14.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 24 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 35.0
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 1.2%
postcode 5019
 0.9%
postcode 5021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 5019
 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.

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Car (driver) 76.7% / 76.6%
Semaphore Park — Car (driver): 76.7% West Lakes — Car (driver): 76.6%
Worked from Home 12.8% / 13.2%
Semaphore Park — Worked from Home: 12.8% West Lakes — Worked from Home: 13.2%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 3.6%
Semaphore Park — Car (passenger): 4.3% West Lakes — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Bus 2.2% / 3.0%
Semaphore Park — Bus: 2.2% West Lakes — Bus: 3.0%
Train 2.2% / 1.2%
Semaphore Park — Train: 2.2% West Lakes — Train: 1.2%

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

Setting

Semaphore Park 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 848 m
868 m to a named beach
 1.3 km
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Connectivity score 69/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
2,251 premises
 33%
3,394 premises

Climate

Semaphore Park West Lakes
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)

Semaphore Park 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

Semaphore Park West Lakes
Average residential rate $1,726/yr
same for both
Council Charles Sturt
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Semaphore Park

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Townhouses

West Lakes

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Semaphore Park

Semaphore Park vs West Lakes Shore Semaphore Park vs Ethelton Semaphore Park vs Port Adelaide Semaphore Park vs Semaphore South Semaphore Park vs New Port

Other comparisons with West Lakes

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

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or