Overall score
Cardiff Heights
54.3/100
Kotara South
48.2/100
Cardiff Heights for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Cardiff Heights
54.3/100
Kotara South
48.2/100
Crime rate
Cardiff Heights
46.2 / 1k
Kotara South
87.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Cardiff Heights
25
Kotara South
21
Population
Cardiff Heights
1,384
Kotara South
1,267
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Cardiff Heights | Kotara South |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 54.3/100 | 48.2/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 68.5/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Crime rate | 46.2 / 1k | 87.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 8 | 11 |
| Weather (desirability) | 60.5/100 | 60.5/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 31 | 30 |
| Walkability | 32.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 25 | 21 |
| Planning activity | 6 | 8 |
| Green cover | 24.2% | 9.1% |
| Population | 1,384 | 1,267 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 9/10 |
Cardiff Heights is a leafier hillside smaller community with elevated outlooks, while Kotara South is a metro smaller community with a gently premium housing feel and familiar suburban calm. Cardiff Heights sits among greener hillside streets, while Kotara South keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Cardiff Heights pulls ahead on a quieter safety profile, public transport access, and walkability, whereas Kotara South is the better pick for housing affordability, schools and education options, and overall desirability.
On balance, retirees, families, investors, and value-focused buyers are more likely to prefer Kotara South, while Cardiff Heights 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.