Waterloo Corner vs Penfield Gardens

Penfield Gardens is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 58 in Waterloo Corner. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Waterloo Corner, about half of households are people living alone. In Penfield Gardens, most households are couple families. Waterloo Corner is closer to the city centre: 29.2 km, against 36.9 km. On these figures, Waterloo Corner tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Penfield Gardens suits couples.

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

Penfield Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

Penfield Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 42%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Waterloo Corner

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($225/wk vs $383/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Waterloo Corner

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (29.2 km vs 36.9 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (29 min vs 35 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Waterloo Corner

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (40% vs 27%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
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.

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Walkability 10 / 0
Waterloo Corner — Walkability: 10/100 Penfield Gardens — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 16 / 11
Waterloo Corner — Safety: 16/100 Penfield Gardens — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 83 / 100
Waterloo Corner — Low fire risk: 83/100 Penfield Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 10 / 11
Waterloo Corner — Low flood risk: 10/100 Penfield Gardens — Low flood risk: 11/100

Demographics

Waterloo Corner has more residents (1,103 vs 304); Penfield Gardens rents higher ($383/wk vs $225/wk).

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Population 1,103
+72% vs other
 304
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -10.0% -9.3%
Median age 58 48
Median household income $48,672/yr $82,836/yr
+70% vs other
Median weekly rent $225/wk $383/wk
+70% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
0-4 3.1% / 3.3%
Waterloo Corner — 0-4: 3.1% Penfield Gardens — 0-4: 3.3%
5-14 7.8% / 10.9%
Waterloo Corner — 5-14: 7.8% Penfield Gardens — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 3.8% / 4.9%
Waterloo Corner — 15-19: 3.8% Penfield Gardens — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 5.0% / 7.6%
Waterloo Corner — 20-24: 5.0% Penfield Gardens — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 6.9% / 8.6%
Waterloo Corner — 25-34: 6.9% Penfield Gardens — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 8.2% / 11.5%
Waterloo Corner — 35-44: 8.2% Penfield Gardens — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 10.9% / 13.5%
Waterloo Corner — 45-54: 10.9% Penfield Gardens — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 15.0% / 11.8%
Waterloo Corner — 55-64: 15.0% Penfield Gardens — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 22.1% / 13.2%
Waterloo Corner — 65-74: 22.1% Penfield Gardens — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 13.2% / 9.9%
Waterloo Corner — 75-84: 13.2% Penfield Gardens — 75-84: 9.9%
85+ 4.5% / 3.9%
Waterloo Corner — 85+: 4.5% Penfield Gardens — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Waterloo Corner 38.8% couple families
Waterloo Corner — Couple Families: 38.8% Waterloo Corner — Lone Person: 47.9% Waterloo Corner — One Parent Families: 8.0% Waterloo Corner — Group Household: 3.0% Waterloo Corner — Other Families: 2.3%
Penfield Gardens 65.6% couple families
Penfield Gardens — Couple Families: 65.6% Penfield Gardens — Lone Person: 26.2% Penfield Gardens — One Parent Families: 8.2% Penfield Gardens — Group Household: 0.0% Penfield Gardens — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Waterloo Corner 12.7% renting
Waterloo Corner — Owned Outright: 68.1% Waterloo Corner — Mortgage: 19.2% Waterloo Corner — Renting: 12.7%
Penfield Gardens 10.0% renting
Penfield Gardens — Owned Outright: 60.0% Penfield Gardens — Mortgage: 30.0% Penfield Gardens — Renting: 10.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Certificate III & IV 11.1% / 11.8%
Waterloo Corner — Certificate III & IV: 11.1% Penfield Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 3.6% / 4.9%
Waterloo Corner — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.6% Penfield Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Bachelor Degree 4.1% / 3.6%
Waterloo Corner — Bachelor Degree: 4.1% Penfield Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 3.6%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / —
Waterloo Corner — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Penfield Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.8%).

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.

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Vietnam 8.9% / 8.6%
Waterloo Corner — Vietnam: 8.9% Penfield Gardens — Vietnam: 8.6%
England 10.4% / 3.3%
Waterloo Corner — England: 10.4% Penfield Gardens — England: 3.3%
Italy 3.5% / 8.6%
Waterloo Corner — Italy: 3.5% Penfield Gardens — Italy: 8.6%
Malaysia — / 6.2%
Waterloo Corner — Malaysia: not among its largest Penfield Gardens — Malaysia: 6.2%
Greece 0.9% / 3.0%
Waterloo Corner — Greece: 0.9% Penfield Gardens — Greece: 3.0%
Afghanistan 1.2% / —
Waterloo Corner — Afghanistan: 1.2% Penfield Gardens — Afghanistan: not among its largest
Scotland 1.1% / —
Waterloo Corner — Scotland: 1.1% Penfield Gardens — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Waterloo Corner 96.7% houses
Waterloo Corner — Houses: 96.7% Waterloo Corner — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Penfield Gardens 100.0% houses
Penfield Gardens — Houses: 100.0% Penfield Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Median house price $1,364,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $2,599,992 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 6 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Penfield Gardens has more rural and farming land (94% vs 84%).

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Rural and farming 84% 94%
Parks and recreation 8% 6%
Industrial 7% 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

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
New dwellings approved 2,475
across Playford
same for both
Approvals change year on year +65%
same for both

Ranking within SA

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 14% of SA Higher than 58% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 64% of SA Higher than 49% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 31% of SA Higher than 62% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of SA Higher than 67% of SA

Liveability

Waterloo Corner is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Grade D —
Score 13/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Waterloo Corner carries more bushfire risk (17 vs 0).

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Bushfire Low
17/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
84/100
 High
89/100
Flood High
90/100
 High
89/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Penfield Gardens sits further from the CBD (36.9 km vs 29.2 km).

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Walkability score 10/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 29.2 km 36.9 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 35 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 5110
 0.7%
postcode 5121
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 72
postcode 5110
 —
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.

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Car (driver) 65.2% / 60.0%
Waterloo Corner — Car (driver): 65.2% Penfield Gardens — Car (driver): 60.0%
Worked from Home 22.3% / 25.4%
Waterloo Corner — Worked from Home: 22.3% Penfield Gardens — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 9.2%
Waterloo Corner — Car (passenger): 5.3% Penfield Gardens — Car (passenger): 9.2%
Walked Only 7.2% / 5.4%
Waterloo Corner — Walked Only: 7.2% Penfield Gardens — Walked Only: 5.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.2%).

Setting

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km
4.3 km to a named beach
 11.5 km

NBN connectivity

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Connectivity score 32/100 30/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
455 premises
 0%
130 premises

Climate

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
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)

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
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

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Average residential rate $2,101/yr
same for both
Council Playford
same for both

Federal electorate

Waterloo Corner Penfield Gardens
Division Spence
same for both
Member Matt Burnell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Waterloo Corner

Acreage Multicultural Outer Retirees

Penfield Gardens

Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Waterloo Corner

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Other comparisons with Penfield Gardens

Penfield Gardens vs Angle Vale Penfield Gardens vs Lewiston Penfield Gardens vs Virginia Penfield Gardens vs Macdonald Park Penfield Gardens vs Penfield
Full data on Waterloo Corner Full data on Penfield Gardens
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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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