Overall score
Mawson Lakes
47.4/100
Parafield Gardens
37.6/100
Mawson Lakes for families and investment; Parafield Gardens for value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Mawson Lakes
47.4/100
Parafield Gardens
37.6/100
Crime rate
Mawson Lakes
55.7 / 1k
Parafield Gardens
46.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Mawson Lakes
564
Parafield Gardens
171
Population
Mawson Lakes
13,794
Parafield Gardens
18,467
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 | Mawson Lakes | Parafield Gardens |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 47.4/100 | 37.6/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 53.5/100 | 50.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 55.7 / 1k | 46.5 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 2 | 9 |
| Weather (desirability) | 37.3/100 | 37.3/100 |
| Public transport stops | 61 | 73 |
| Walkability | 85.0/100 | 76.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 564 | 171 |
| Planning activity | 51 | 179 |
| Green cover | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Population | 13,794 | 18,467 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 1/10 |
Mawson Lakes is a lively metro established suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by, while Parafield Gardens is a well-serviced metro established suburb with plenty happening nearby.
Mawson Lakes pulls ahead on walkability, nearby cafés and amenities, and a calmer planning outlook, whereas Parafield Gardens is the better pick for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and schools and education options.
Retirees may find Mawson Lakes the better fit, while families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Parafield Gardens.
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.