Whyalla Playford vs Mullaquana

Whyalla Playford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 52 in Mullaquana. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Whyalla Playford, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Whyalla Playford tends to suit people living alone.

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

Mullaquana

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 75/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 50%)
  • But Whyalla Playford has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Whyalla Playford

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (23% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $250/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Whyalla Playford

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 8/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (384.7 km vs 389.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Whyalla Playford is more walkable (69/100 vs 8/100)
  • Mullaquana carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 75/100)

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

Investors

Mullaquana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.7% vs -0.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
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.

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Walkability 69 / 8
Whyalla Playford — Walkability: 69/100 Mullaquana — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 25 / 63
Whyalla Playford — Safety: 25/100 Mullaquana — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Whyalla Playford — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mullaquana — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 49 / 6
Whyalla Playford — Low flood risk: 49/100 Mullaquana — Low flood risk: 6/100

Demographics

Whyalla Playford has more residents (2,540 vs 272); Mullaquana rents higher ($250/wk vs $200/wk).

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Population 2,540
+89% vs other
 272
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% +9.7%
Median age 44 52
Median household income $74,308/yr $81,900/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $200/wk $250/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
0-4 5.0% / —
Whyalla Playford — 0-4: 5.0% Mullaquana — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 11.5% / 7.4%
Whyalla Playford — 5-14: 11.5% Mullaquana — 5-14: 7.4%
15-19 4.8% / 10.3%
Whyalla Playford — 15-19: 4.8% Mullaquana — 15-19: 10.3%
20-24 4.3% / 6.6%
Whyalla Playford — 20-24: 4.3% Mullaquana — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 13.4% / 4.0%
Whyalla Playford — 25-34: 13.4% Mullaquana — 25-34: 4.0%
35-44 11.2% / 5.1%
Whyalla Playford — 35-44: 11.2% Mullaquana — 35-44: 5.1%
45-54 13.7% / 23.5%
Whyalla Playford — 45-54: 13.7% Mullaquana — 45-54: 23.5%
55-64 15.1% / 25.7%
Whyalla Playford — 55-64: 15.1% Mullaquana — 55-64: 25.7%
65-74 11.3% / 12.1%
Whyalla Playford — 65-74: 11.3% Mullaquana — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 7.4% / 3.7%
Whyalla Playford — 75-84: 7.4% Mullaquana — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 2.5% / 1.8%
Whyalla Playford — 85+: 2.5% Mullaquana — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Whyalla Playford 47.6% lone person
Whyalla Playford — Lone Person: 47.6% Whyalla Playford — Couple Families: 37.3% Whyalla Playford — One Parent Families: 12.6% Whyalla Playford — Group Household: 2.1% Whyalla Playford — Other Families: 0.4%
Mullaquana 37.5% lone person
Mullaquana — Lone Person: 37.5% Mullaquana — Couple Families: 41.1% Mullaquana — One Parent Families: 21.4% Mullaquana — Group Household: 0.0% Mullaquana — 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.

Whyalla Playford 23.2% renting
Whyalla Playford — Owned Outright: 39.6% Whyalla Playford — Mortgage: 37.2% Whyalla Playford — Renting: 23.2%
Mullaquana 10.7% renting
Mullaquana — Owned Outright: 45.2% Mullaquana — Mortgage: 44.0% Mullaquana — Renting: 10.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Certificate III & IV 23.3% / 20.2%
Whyalla Playford — Certificate III & IV: 23.3% Mullaquana — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.6% / 6.6%
Whyalla Playford — Bachelor Degree: 7.6% Mullaquana — Bachelor Degree: 6.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 6.2%
Whyalla Playford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Mullaquana — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.8%
Whyalla Playford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Mullaquana — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 1.5%
Whyalla Playford — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% Mullaquana — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.3%).

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.

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
England 5.8% / 3.7%
Whyalla Playford — England: 5.8% Mullaquana — England: 3.7%
Scotland 1.7% / 1.1%
Whyalla Playford — Scotland: 1.7% Mullaquana — Scotland: 1.1%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.8%
Whyalla Playford — New Zealand: 0.6% Mullaquana — New Zealand: 1.8%
Ireland — / 1.5%
Whyalla Playford — Ireland: not among its largest Mullaquana — Ireland: 1.5%
Netherlands 0.4% / 1.1%
Whyalla Playford — Netherlands: 0.4% Mullaquana — Netherlands: 1.1%
India 0.9% / —
Whyalla Playford — India: 0.9% Mullaquana — India: not among its largest
Philippines 0.8% / —
Whyalla Playford — Philippines: 0.8% Mullaquana — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 0.7% / —
Whyalla Playford — Germany: 0.7% Mullaquana — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Whyalla Playford 85.9% houses
Whyalla Playford — Houses: 85.9% Whyalla Playford — Flats / Apartments: 4.8% Whyalla Playford — Townhouses: 9.3%
Mullaquana 81.8% houses
Mullaquana — Houses: 81.8% Mullaquana — Flats / Apartments: 18.2% Mullaquana — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Median house price $377,500 —
Median unit price $211,250 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 47 days
from 17 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Mullaquana has more land zoned for conservation (30% vs 0%); Mullaquana has more rural and farming land (18% vs 0%).

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Residential 70% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 50%
Environmental 0% 30%
Rural and farming 0% 18%
Industrial 17% 1%
Parks and recreation 10% 0%
Commercial 2% 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

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
New dwellings approved 18
across Whyalla
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.

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Houses 5.0%
$425/wk on $442K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 57% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of SA Higher than 61% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 26% of SA Higher than 14% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of SA Higher than 3% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of SA —

Liveability

Whyalla Playford is more walkable (69 vs 8).

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Grade C —
Score 42/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Whyalla Playford carries more crime risk (75 vs 37); Mullaquana carries more flood risk (94 vs 51).

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
75/100
 Low
37/100
Flood Moderate
51/100
 High
94/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Whyalla Playford

  • Samaritan College - St John's Campus Catholic · Combined

Schools in Mullaquana

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

Amenities in the suburb

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Mullaquana sits further from the CBD (389.2 km vs 384.7 km).

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Walkability score 69/100 8/100
Distance to Adelaide 384.7 km 389.2 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 255 min 259 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 5600
 0.1%
postcode 5608
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 71
postcode 5600
 42
postcode 5608

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.

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Car (driver) 83.3% / 81.4%
Whyalla Playford — Car (driver): 83.3% Mullaquana — Car (driver): 81.4%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 4.2%
Whyalla Playford — Car (passenger): 6.1% Mullaquana — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Bicycle 1.5% / 5.9%
Whyalla Playford — Bicycle: 1.5% Mullaquana — Bicycle: 5.9%
Walked Only 3.2% / 3.4%
Whyalla Playford — Walked Only: 3.2% Mullaquana — Walked Only: 3.4%
Bus 3.4% / 2.5%
Whyalla Playford — Bus: 3.4% Mullaquana — Bus: 2.5%
Worked from Home 2.5% / 2.5%
Whyalla Playford — Worked from Home: 2.5% Mullaquana — Worked from Home: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.3%).

Setting

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 2.7 km

NBN connectivity

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Connectivity score 54/100 15/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
1,457 premises
 0%
23 premises

Climate

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Annual rainfall 259 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 19.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Average residential rate $2,104/yr
same for both
Council Whyalla
same for both

Federal electorate

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Division Grey
same for both
Member Tom Venning
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Whyalla Playford Mullaquana
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Whyalla Playford

Affordable Coastal Large Blocks Parks Quiet

Mullaquana

Coastal Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Whyalla Playford

Whyalla Playford vs Whyalla Norrie Whyalla Playford vs Whyalla

Other comparisons with Mullaquana

Mullaquana vs Whyalla Stuart Mullaquana vs Whyalla Norrie Mullaquana vs Whyalla
Full data on Whyalla Playford Full data on Mullaquana
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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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