Overall score
American River
51.1/100
Penneshaw
63.8/100
American River vs Penneshaw, SA Suburb Comparison
American River for families; Penneshaw for retirees and beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
American RiverPenneshaw
Crime rate
American River
16.7 / 1k
Penneshaw
17.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
American River
26
Penneshaw
73
Population
American River
280
Penneshaw
269
Metric leadAmerican River 3Penneshaw 53 tiedacross 11 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | American River | Penneshaw |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 51.1/100 | 63.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 42.3/100 | 42.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 16.7 / 1k | 17.5 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | — | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 12 | 4 |
| Walkability | 24.0/100 | 54.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 26 | 73 |
| Planning activity | 9 | 9 |
| Green cover | 14.0% | 16.5% |
| Population | 280 | 269 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 1/10 | 4/10 |
Comparison summary
American River is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Penneshaw is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
On the data, American River is stronger for a quieter safety profile, public transport access, and a calmer planning outlook; Penneshaw answers with walkability, nearby cafés and amenities, and tree cover and green space. American River generally means more approachable housing costs, while Penneshaw leans toward more sought-after housing.
On balance, retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Penneshaw, while American River remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.