Old Noarlunga vs Onkaparinga Heights.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $830,500 and $800,000. Old Noarlunga edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Onkaparinga Heights (median $800,000) is roughly 4% cheaper to buy into than Old Noarlunga ($830,500). Over the past year, Old Noarlunga (+24.9%) ran 22.3 percentage points ahead of Onkaparinga Heights (+2.6%) on house-price growth.
Old Noarlunga scores higher on walkability (28/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Old Noarlunga (964) sits above Onkaparinga Heights (946).
For buyers
Onkaparinga Heights is the lower entry point at $800,000 median, 4% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Onkaparinga Heights delivers the better gross yield (4.09% vs 3.77%), but Old Noarlunga has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
Old Noarlunga edges out on average school ICSEA (964 vs 946).
Common questions
Is Old Noarlunga or Onkaparinga Heights cheaper to buy in?
Onkaparinga Heights has the lower median house price at $800,000, roughly 4% below Old Noarlunga ($830,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Old Noarlunga or Onkaparinga Heights?
Over the past 12 months, Old Noarlunga grew +24.9% vs +2.6% in Onkaparinga Heights, a gap of 22.3 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Old Noarlunga or Onkaparinga Heights have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Old Noarlunga scores 964 vs 946 in Onkaparinga Heights. 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, Old Noarlunga or Onkaparinga Heights?
Old Noarlunga scores 28/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Old Noarlunga or Onkaparinga Heights?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.09% in Onkaparinga Heights vs 3.77% in Old Noarlunga. 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.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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