Overall score
Goolwa Beach
31.8/100
Port Elliot
38.8/100
Port Elliot for retirees and beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Goolwa Beach
31.8/100
Port Elliot
38.8/100
Crime rate
Goolwa Beach
21.3 / 1k
Port Elliot
21.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Goolwa Beach
31
Port Elliot
20
Population
Goolwa Beach
2,222
Port Elliot
2,251
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 | Goolwa Beach | Port Elliot |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 31.8/100 | 38.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 42.3/100 | 42.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 21.3 / 1k | 21.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Public transport stops | — | 2 |
| Walkability | 1.5/100 | 3.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 31 | 20 |
| Planning activity | 31 | 67 |
| Green cover | 1.5% | 5.6% |
| Population | 2,222 | 2,251 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 2/10 | 3/10 |
Put side by side, Goolwa Beach is a coastal smaller community shaped by beach life and outdoor living, and Port Elliot is a coastal smaller community shaped by beach life and outdoor living. Port Elliot sits among greener hillside streets, while Goolwa Beach keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Goolwa Beach pulls ahead on a quieter safety profile, nearby cafés and amenities, and a calmer planning outlook, whereas Port Elliot is the better pick for walkability, tree cover and green space, and overall desirability.
On balance, retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Port Elliot, while Goolwa Beach 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.