Overall score
Houghton
45.6/100
Paracombe
47.7/100
Houghton vs Paracombe, SA Suburb Comparison
Houghton for retirees and families; Paracombe for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
HoughtonParacombe
Crime rate
Houghton
25.9 / 1k
Paracombe
15.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Houghton
5
Paracombe
4
Population
Houghton
511
Paracombe
435
Metric leadHoughton 5Paracombe 42 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 | Houghton | Paracombe |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 45.6/100 | 47.7/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 56.9/100 | 49.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 25.9 / 1k | 15.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 37.3/100 | 37.3/100 |
| Public transport stops | 1 | 2 |
| Walkability | 1.5/100 | 3.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 5 | 4 |
| Planning activity | 9 | 10 |
| Green cover | 18.8% | 3.5% |
| Population | 511 | 435 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 9/10 |
Comparison summary
Houghton is a leafier hillside smaller community with elevated outlooks, while Paracombe is a hillside smaller community with greener streets and a quieter pace. Houghton sits in a middle-ring position, whereas Paracombe is within day-trip reach of the capital.
Houghton tends to lead on nearby cafés and amenities, tree cover and green space, and a larger local community, while Paracombe stands out for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and public transport access.
On balance, retirees, families, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Paracombe, while Houghton 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.