West Beach vs Lockleys

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Lockleys, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in West Beach: a median of $1.59 million, against $1.39 million in Lockleys, though rent is higher in Lockleys. Lockleys is closer to the city centre: 7.2 km, against 10.5 km.

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

Lockleys

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 66%)
  • But West Beach has more parks and reserves (12 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Lockleys

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,390,000 vs $1,585,500)
  • has cheaper units ($540,000 vs $610,250)
  • But West Beach has cheaper land ($1,226,500 vs $1,650,000)

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

Renters

West Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $350/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

  • West Beach is more walkable (74/100 vs 66/100)
  • Lockleys sits closer to the CBD (7.2 km vs 10.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

West Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (34% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 66/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

West Beach Lockleys
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.

West Beach Lockleys
Walkability 74 / 66
West Beach — Walkability: 74/100 Lockleys — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 48 / 54
West Beach — Safety: 48/100 Lockleys — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
West Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lockleys — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 43 / 46
West Beach — Low flood risk: 43/100 Lockleys — Low flood risk: 46/100

Demographics

West Beach Lockleys
Population 5,175 5,987
+16% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.3% +6.4%
Median age 45 44
Median household income $90,792/yr $97,188/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $350/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Beach Lockleys
0-4 4.8% / 4.7%
West Beach — 0-4: 4.8% Lockleys — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 10.6% / 11.3%
West Beach — 5-14: 10.6% Lockleys — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 5.4% / 4.9%
West Beach — 15-19: 5.4% Lockleys — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 5.9% / 6.0%
West Beach — 20-24: 5.9% Lockleys — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 10.7% / 10.7%
West Beach — 25-34: 10.7% Lockleys — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 12.3% / 12.6%
West Beach — 35-44: 12.3% Lockleys — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 14.0% / 13.3%
West Beach — 45-54: 14.0% Lockleys — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 13.7% / 13.1%
West Beach — 55-64: 13.7% Lockleys — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 10.7% / 10.6%
West Beach — 65-74: 10.7% Lockleys — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 8.3% / 7.9%
West Beach — 75-84: 8.3% Lockleys — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 3.6% / 5.0%
West Beach — 85+: 3.6% Lockleys — 85+: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

West Beach 44.4% couple families
West Beach — Couple Families: 44.4% West Beach — Lone Person: 40.3% West Beach — One Parent Families: 10.8% West Beach — Group Household: 3.2% West Beach — Other Families: 1.3%
Lockleys 45.9% couple families
Lockleys — Couple Families: 45.9% Lockleys — Lone Person: 37.3% Lockleys — One Parent Families: 12.0% Lockleys — Group Household: 3.4% Lockleys — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

West Beach 26.9% renting
West Beach — Owned Outright: 39.9% West Beach — Mortgage: 33.2% West Beach — Renting: 26.9%
Lockleys 21.6% renting
Lockleys — Owned Outright: 43.1% Lockleys — Mortgage: 35.2% Lockleys — Renting: 21.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

West Beach Lockleys
Bachelor Degree 17.3% / 17.2%
West Beach — Bachelor Degree: 17.3% Lockleys — Bachelor Degree: 17.2%
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 12.5%
West Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Lockleys — Certificate III & IV: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.7%
West Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Lockleys — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.5% / 4.8%
West Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5% Lockleys — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.0%
West Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Lockleys — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

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.

West Beach Lockleys
England 6.2% / 3.6%
West Beach — England: 6.2% Lockleys — England: 3.6%
India 1.9% / 2.4%
West Beach — India: 1.9% Lockleys — India: 2.4%
Italy 1.0% / 3.0%
West Beach — Italy: 1.0% Lockleys — Italy: 3.0%
Greece 0.9% / 1.6%
West Beach — Greece: 0.9% Lockleys — Greece: 1.6%
South Africa 1.0% / 0.7%
West Beach — South Africa: 1.0% Lockleys — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 1.1% / —
West Beach — Scotland: 1.1% Lockleys — Scotland: not among its largest
China — / 0.8%
West Beach — China: not among its largest Lockleys — China: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

West Beach 65.7% houses
West Beach — Houses: 65.7% West Beach — Flats / Apartments: 21.7% West Beach — Townhouses: 12.6%
Lockleys 79.8% houses
Lockleys — Houses: 79.8% Lockleys — Flats / Apartments: 10.1% Lockleys — Townhouses: 10.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

West Beach Lockleys
Median house price $1,585,500 $1,390,000
Median unit price $610,250 $540,000
Median land price $1,226,500 $1,650,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 53 sales
 19 days
from 45 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.

West Beach Lockleys
3 bed $1.43M / $1.31M
West Beach — 3 bed: $1.43M (35 sales) Lockleys — 3 bed: $1.31M (40 sales)

35 vs 40 sales

4 bed $1.8M / $1.58M
West Beach — 4 bed: $1.8M (38 sales) Lockleys — 4 bed: $1.58M (30 sales)

38 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

West Beach Lockleys
Residential 39% 73%
Parks and recreation 34% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 21% 0%
Commercial 6% 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

West Beach Lockleys
New dwellings approved 578
across West Torrens
same for both
Approvals change year on year +103%
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.

West Beach Lockleys
Houses 2.8%
$780/wk on $1.43M
 2.6%
$850/wk on $1.69M
Units — 5.3%
$560/wk on $549K

Ranking within SA

West Beach Lockleys
House price Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 71% of SA
Income Higher than 69% of SA —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of SA Higher than 86% of SA
Affordability Higher than 22% of SA —
EV adoption Higher than 75% of SA Higher than 77% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of SA Higher than 87% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 12% of SA Higher than 9% of SA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 82% of SA

Liveability

West Beach is more walkable (74 vs 66).

West Beach Lockleys
Grade A
same for both
Score 72/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

West Beach Lockleys
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
54/100
Coastal erosion High
76/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise High
91/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

West Beach Lockleys
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Tonsley, 8.2 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8%
same for both

Schools in West Beach

  • West Beach Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Lockleys

  • St Francis School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Lockleys North Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

West Beach Lockleys
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 1
Parks & reserves 12 3
Childcare 3 7
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

West Beach sits further from the CBD (10.5 km vs 7.2 km).

West Beach Lockleys
Walkability score 74/100 66/100
Distance to Adelaide 10.5 km
+31% vs other
 7.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 13 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 135.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 143.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 5024
 0.9%
postcode 5032
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 5024
 47
postcode 5032

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.

West Beach Lockleys
Car (driver) 74.2% / 72.8%
West Beach — Car (driver): 74.2% Lockleys — Car (driver): 72.8%
Worked from Home 14.8% / 13.6%
West Beach — Worked from Home: 14.8% Lockleys — Worked from Home: 13.6%
Bus 3.8% / 5.3%
West Beach — Bus: 3.8% Lockleys — Bus: 5.3%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 5.0%
West Beach — Car (passenger): 4.0% Lockleys — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Bicycle 1.9% / 1.5%
West Beach — Bicycle: 1.9% Lockleys — Bicycle: 1.5%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.5%
West Beach — Walked Only: 1.1% Lockleys — Walked Only: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.2%).

Setting

West Beach Lockleys
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 710 m
2.9 km to a named beach
 3.2 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

West Beach Lockleys
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
2,466 premises
 6%
2,654 premises

Climate

West Beach Lockleys
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)

West Beach Lockleys
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

West Beach Lockleys
Average residential rate $1,532/yr
same for both
Council West Torrens
same for both

Federal electorate

West Beach Lockleys
Division Hindmarsh
same for both
Member Mark Butler
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

West Beach

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet

Lockleys

Inner Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with West Beach

West Beach vs Glenelg North West Beach vs Fulham West Beach vs Henley Beach South

Other comparisons with Lockleys

Lockleys vs Fulham Gardens Lockleys vs Flinders Park Lockleys vs Brooklyn Park Lockleys vs Kidman Park Lockleys vs Fulham Lockleys vs Underdale
Full data on West Beach Full data on Lockleys
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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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