Birkenhead vs Port Adelaide
Birkenhead (median $975,000) is roughly 3% cheaper to buy into than Port Adelaide ($1,000,000).
Buying in Birkenhead or Port Adelaide?
Selling in Birkenhead? The free selling guide
Birkenhead and Port Adelaide side by side
| Measure | Birkenhead | Port Adelaide |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $975,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Median unit | $240,480 | $240,480 |
| House price change, 12 months | +21.9% | – |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $550/wk | $635/wk |
| Unit rent | $410/wk | $550/wk |
| Owner occupied | 72.0% | 43.0% |
| Renter occupied | 28.0% | 54.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 991 | 993 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 22 | 100 |
| Transit score | 0 | 20 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 1,798 | 1,338 |
| Median age | 39 | 45 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 401 mm | 401 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.5°C | 29.5°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Port Adelaide scores higher on walkability (22/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Port Adelaide (993) sits above Birkenhead (991). Birkenhead skews owner-occupied (72%), Port Adelaide runs more rental-dense (43% owner).
- For buyers
- Birkenhead is the lower entry point at $975,000 median, 3% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Port Adelaide offers the higher gross rental yield (3.30% vs 2.93%), favouring cash-flow investors.
- For families
- Port Adelaide edges out on average school ICSEA (993 vs 991). Birkenhead also has a higher family-household share (64% vs 51%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Birkenhead vs Port Adelaide: common questions
Is Birkenhead or Port Adelaide cheaper to buy in?
Birkenhead has the lower median house price at $975,000, roughly 3% below Port Adelaide ($1,000,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Birkenhead or Port Adelaide have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Port Adelaide scores 993 vs 991 in Birkenhead. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Birkenhead or Port Adelaide?
Port Adelaide scores 100/100 on walkability vs 22/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Birkenhead or Port Adelaide?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.30% in Port Adelaide vs 2.93% in Birkenhead. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
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The two suburbs
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