Port Adelaide vs Birkenhead

Birkenhead (median $975,000) is roughly 3% cheaper to buy into than Port Adelaide ($1,000,000).

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Port Adelaide and Birkenhead side by side

MeasurePort AdelaideBirkenhead
Price and market
Median house$1,000,000$975,000
Median unit$240,480$240,480
House price change, 12 months–+21.9%
Renting
House rent$635/wk$550/wk
Unit rent$550/wk$410/wk
Owner occupied43.0%72.0%
Renter occupied54.0%28.0%
Schools
Schools nearby2020
Average ICSEA993991
Lifestyle and people
Walk score10022
Transit score200
Bike score100100
Population1,3381,798
Median age4539
Climate
Annual rainfall401 mm401 mm
Mean max, January29.5°C29.5°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 (100/100 vs 22/100 ), 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.

Port Adelaide vs Birkenhead: common questions

Is Port Adelaide or Birkenhead 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 Port Adelaide or Birkenhead 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, Port Adelaide or Birkenhead?

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, Port Adelaide or Birkenhead?

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.