Virginia vs Penfield

Virginia is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 70 in Penfield. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Virginia, about half of households are couple families. In Penfield, the large majority of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Virginia: a median of $850,000, against $277,000 in Penfield, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Virginia tends to suit families with children and couples, while Penfield suits people living alone, older residents, and 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

Virginia

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 18%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Virginia leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 32%)
  • Penfield has cheaper houses ($277,000 vs $850,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Virginia leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 28%)
  • Penfield has cheaper rent ($180/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Penfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (62% vs 13%)

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

Where they sit

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

Virginia Penfield
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.

Virginia Penfield
Walkability 14 / 15
Virginia — Walkability: 14/100 Penfield — Walkability: 15/100
Safety 20 / 13
Virginia — Safety: 20/100 Penfield — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 85 / 100
Virginia — Low fire risk: 85/100 Penfield — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 7 / 22
Virginia — Low flood risk: 7/100 Penfield — Low flood risk: 22/100

Demographics

Virginia has more residents (2,759 vs 422); Virginia has higher household incomes ($91,624 vs $33,956).

Virginia Penfield
Population 2,759
+85% vs other
 422
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +53.0% —
Median age 34 70
Median household income $91,624/yr
+63% vs other
 $33,956/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+40% vs other
 $180/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Virginia Penfield
0-4 8.2% / 0.7%
Virginia — 0-4: 8.2% Penfield — 0-4: 0.7%
5-14 14.1% / 3.6%
Virginia — 5-14: 14.1% Penfield — 5-14: 3.6%
15-19 4.7% / 2.4%
Virginia — 15-19: 4.7% Penfield — 15-19: 2.4%
20-24 5.0% / 2.8%
Virginia — 20-24: 5.0% Penfield — 20-24: 2.8%
25-34 18.2% / 4.5%
Virginia — 25-34: 18.2% Penfield — 25-34: 4.5%
35-44 13.6% / 6.9%
Virginia — 35-44: 13.6% Penfield — 35-44: 6.9%
45-54 11.9% / 5.9%
Virginia — 45-54: 11.9% Penfield — 45-54: 5.9%
55-64 11.2% / 12.6%
Virginia — 55-64: 11.2% Penfield — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 8.0% / 27.0%
Virginia — 65-74: 8.0% Penfield — 65-74: 27.0%
75-84 3.7% / 27.5%
Virginia — 75-84: 3.7% Penfield — 75-84: 27.5%
85+ 1.3% / 7.6%
Virginia — 85+: 1.3% Penfield — 85+: 7.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Virginia 27.3% lone person
Virginia — Lone Person: 27.3% Virginia — Couple Families: 54.3% Virginia — One Parent Families: 14.7% Virginia — Group Household: 2.3% Virginia — Other Families: 1.3%
Penfield 79.6% lone person
Penfield — Lone Person: 79.6% Penfield — Couple Families: 13.1% Penfield — One Parent Families: 4.4% Penfield — Group Household: 2.9% Penfield — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Virginia 12.4% renting
Virginia — Owned Outright: 35.5% Virginia — Mortgage: 52.1% Virginia — Renting: 12.4%
Penfield 12.4% renting
Penfield — Owned Outright: 80.6% Penfield — Mortgage: 7.0% Penfield — Renting: 12.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Virginia Penfield
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 9.2%
Virginia — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Penfield — Certificate III & IV: 9.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 4.0%
Virginia — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% Penfield — Bachelor Degree: 4.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 2.6%
Virginia — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Penfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 0.9%
Virginia — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Penfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / —
Virginia — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Penfield — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

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.

Virginia Penfield
England 3.5% / 17.1%
Virginia — England: 3.5% Penfield — England: 17.1%
Vietnam 6.9% / 4.5%
Virginia — Vietnam: 6.9% Penfield — Vietnam: 4.5%
Greece 1.9% / 1.4%
Virginia — Greece: 1.9% Penfield — Greece: 1.4%
Netherlands — / 2.8%
Virginia — Netherlands: not among its largest Penfield — Netherlands: 2.8%
Italy 1.1% / 1.2%
Virginia — Italy: 1.1% Penfield — Italy: 1.2%
Sri Lanka — / 2.1%
Virginia — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Penfield — Sri Lanka: 2.1%
Scotland — / 2.1%
Virginia — Scotland: not among its largest Penfield — Scotland: 2.1%
India 1.5% / —
Virginia — India: 1.5% Penfield — India: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Virginia 88.2% houses
Virginia — Houses: 88.2% Virginia — Flats / Apartments: 9.8% Virginia — Townhouses: 2.1%
Penfield 97.2% houses
Penfield — Houses: 97.2% Penfield — Flats / Apartments: 1.4% Penfield — Townhouses: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Virginia Penfield
Median house price $850,000 $277,000
Median unit price — $283,000
Median land price $611,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 81 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Penfield has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 1%).

Virginia Penfield
Rural and farming 75% 71%
Industrial 1% 14%
Other and special use 11% 0%
Residential 9% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 8%
Parks and recreation 3% 2%
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

Virginia Penfield
New dwellings approved 2,475
across Playford
same for both
Approvals change year on year +65%
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.

Virginia Penfield
Houses 3.8%
$660/wk on $899K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Virginia Penfield
House price Higher than 28% of SA —
Income Higher than 70% of SA Higher than 3% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 68% of SA Higher than 69% of SA
Affordability Higher than 87% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 62% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 72% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 43% of SA —

Liveability

Virginia Penfield
Grade D —
Score 24/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Virginia carries more bushfire risk (15 vs 0); Virginia carries more flood risk (93 vs 78).

Virginia Penfield
Bushfire Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
80/100
 High
87/100
Flood High
93/100
 High
78/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
100/100
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Virginia Penfield
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 Virginia

  • Virginia Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Penfield

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

Amenities in the suburb

Virginia Penfield
Supermarkets 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 0
Childcare 4 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Virginia Penfield
Walkability score 14/100 15/100
Distance to Adelaide 34.1 km 35.4 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 32 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 28/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 5120
 0.7%
postcode 5121

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.

Virginia Penfield
Car (driver) 79.7% / 56.3%
Virginia — Car (driver): 79.7% Penfield — Car (driver): 56.3%
Worked from Home 10.9% / 31.0%
Virginia — Worked from Home: 10.9% Penfield — Worked from Home: 31.0%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 12.7%
Virginia — Car (passenger): 5.0% Penfield — Car (passenger): 12.7%
Walked Only 3.4% / —
Virginia — Walked Only: 3.4% Penfield — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 0.7% / —
Virginia — Bus: 0.7% Penfield — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

Virginia Penfield
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.0 km 9.8 km

NBN connectivity

Virginia Penfield
Connectivity score 73/100 43/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
1,660 premises
 1%
275 premises

Climate

Virginia Penfield
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Virginia Penfield
PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.31 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Virginia Penfield
Average residential rate $2,101/yr
same for both
Council Playford
same for both

Federal electorate

Virginia Penfield
Division Spence
same for both
Member Matt Burnell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Virginia Penfield
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Virginia

Acreage Family Outer

Penfield

Acreage Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Virginia

Virginia vs Lewiston Virginia vs Two Wells Virginia vs Waterloo Corner Virginia vs Penfield Gardens Virginia vs Buckland Park

Other comparisons with Penfield

Penfield vs Eyre Penfield vs Waterloo Corner Penfield vs Direk Penfield vs Macdonald Park Penfield vs Edinburgh Penfield vs Penfield Gardens
Full data on Virginia Full data on Penfield
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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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