Best places to live in Adelaide

Use this Adelaide article to identify the questions and locations worth comparing for your household. This article was published on April 25, 2024. Prices, population figures, service frequencies and market comparisons below belong to that publication context; check current information before making a housing or moving commitment. No neighbourhood description guarantees the conditions at a particular property.

Regularly ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world, Adelaide offers much more than its ‘City of Churches’ tag suggests.

Adelaide is a smaller and more relaxed city than other major Australian capitals like Sydney and Melbourne, while it is also one of the most affordable cities in the country when it comes to cost of living.

But just where are the best places to live in Adelaide?

A study by major accounting firm PwC Australia sought to determine that by analysing suburbs based on a range of factors including amenities, health, housing and crime.

Here are the suburbs which came out as the top-10.

1. Plympton

A south-west suburb of Adelaide, Plympton is said to be ‘close to everything’. It is essentially in between the CBD and the lovely beaches of Glenelg, while also being very close to Adelaide International Airport. It is a popular area with families seeking a comfortable suburban lifestyle and is easy to get around by car, bus or tram.

2. Richmond

Located between the CBD and Adelaide International Airport, this area has plenty of history, having been established in the 1830s. There are still some grand old buildings standing, while parks are nearby and plenty of trendy shops and cafes popped up in more recent years. Tram services provide quick and easy access to the city.

3. Paradise/Newtown

In Adelaide’s north-east, this area is nestled in the scenic Adelaide Hills and offers what is closer to a semi-rural lifestyle with larger blocks and more spread-out housing than the inner suburbs. There are easily-accessible hiking and cycling tails, while there is a sense of belonging in the community. However, the city is still within easy reach.

4. Windsor Gardens

Next door to Paradise in the city’s north-east, Windsor Gardens offers family-friendly living with convenient amenities and reasonable housing affordability. There are lots of playgrounds and reserves around, along with walking and cycling trails. Shopping options are limited within Windsor Gardens, but are available in neighbouring suburbs.

5. Goodwood/Millswood

An inner-city area just south of the CBD, this part of Adelaide attracts families given it has several parks and reserves and good schools. There are a range of housing options to suit different lifestyles and budgets. Goodwood Road offers lots of shops, cafes and restaurants and is also the home of the historic Capri Theatre.

6. Unley/Parkside

Another inner-city area just south of the CBD, this is considered an affluent and trendy neighbourhood. It is known for highly-rated restaurants, cafes and cocktail bars, as well as boutique shopping stores.

7. Prospect

Just north of Adelaide’s CBD, you will find Prospect. An inner-city residential area, this suburb has become known for a hip dining scene, with plenty of cafes, gourmet burger joints and restaurants serving international fare such as Indian and Vietnamese. There are also lots of parks and gardens scattered throughout the suburb.

8. Northgate/Oakden/Gilles Plains

Another north-east area which is next door to Windsor Gardens, these suburbs attract a lot of families and retirees alike. Primarily a residential area, there are not the food and nightlife options of some of the more inner-city suburbs. However, those needing to do some shopping won’t have a problem doing so locally.

9. North Adelaide

Just north of Adelaide’s CBD, this leafy suburb dates back to the 1830s and still has plenty of historic character. It is surrounded by parks and a golf course and is where you will find the Adelaide Oval for sport and major events. There is shopping, pubs and restaurants within North Adelaide, while trams provide quick access to the city centre.

10. Norwood

Just east of Adelaide’s CBD, Norwood is described as an area which has ‘vibrant energy’ and is popular among both families and young professionals. It is known for ‘The Parade’, a precinct with shops, restaurants, bars and trendy cafes. Accessibility is excellent through public transport connections, while there are highly-rated schools in the area.

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Test the Adelaide shortlist against your ordinary week

Start with the places you need to reach regularly: work, education, care, shops and the people or activities important to your household. Compare the actual journey from a candidate address, including the time you need to arrive and return. A suburb's broad description does not establish a convenient commute from every street.

Visit the area at the times you expect to use it where practical. Compare the housing type and layout with your needs rather than choosing only by the suburb's reputation. If you are relying on a school, childcare place or a particular service, check eligibility and availability directly before making a commitment.

For schools, confirm the current enrolment or catchment position for the exact address. For property conditions and local hazards, use the relevant council, planning and other official information and obtain the property checks appropriate to the decision. A list of attractive features is not a substitute for checking the building and address.

Keep lifestyle descriptions separate from current market facts

Descriptions such as family-friendly, lively or relaxed help express the article's intended comparison, but different households value those qualities differently. Use the named places as a starting list and decide which features actually matter to you.

Historical rent, house-price, population, employment or cost-of-living figures should not be treated as current quotations or predictions. Check the date and scope of a comparison before using it. A broad claim that one city is cheaper or offers more opportunities does not settle your own housing, work or travel costs.

If two areas remain suitable, compare the practical trade-offs: the type of home, everyday travel, proximity to the services you need and the budget for that specific property. Record what still needs verification instead of treating an unanswered question as a positive feature.

Turn a property choice into a moving plan

Once you have an address, check the access before confirming the removal booking. Describe stairs, lifts, narrow entrances, parking and any restricted delivery hours. Check whether larger furniture can follow the route into the property and whether dismantling has been agreed.

Distinguish the date you receive keys from the expected arrival of your goods. For a journey between states, ask for collection and delivery windows and keep essentials accessible for the gap. If the property will not be ready, discuss storage options before fixing the delivery.

Use How to Choose a Good Removalist to compare written offers and the moving timeline to organise preparation. Update the team if the address, dates or access change after the quote.

For the transport stage, review Adelaide moving services and request a detailed quote. Use the moving advice index for the next preparation decision.

Are the Adelaide prices and comparisons current quotes?

No. The figures and comparisons in “Best places to live in Adelaide” belong to the article’s publication context. Its stated publication date is April 25, 2024. Use them to identify questions, then check current information for the actual home and services you are considering. Compare the date, household size, dwelling type and included costs before using a figure. A historical ranking or city-wide comparison cannot establish today’s cost or suitability at one address. Keep the updated assumptions with your shortlist so the decision can be checked.

What should I check for a particular address?

Check the exact Adelaide home, its layout and access, the full commute and the services your household needs. Verify important school or service arrangements directly rather than relying on a suburb’s reputation. Inspect the property where practical and compare travel at the times you will actually use it. Compare central convenience with the amount and type of housing you need. An address near a preferred precinct is only useful if the daily trip to work, education and regular appointments also works. Record unresolved questions before committing so the shortlist reflects usable homes rather than only appealing area descriptions.

What should I give the removalist after choosing a property?

Provide both addresses, the furniture and carton inventory, dates and the first confirmed day you can receive goods. For an inner-area shortlist such as Goodwood or North Adelaide, assess the actual doorway, street loading and furniture fit rather than assuming the suburb label describes access. Explain stairs, lifts, parking, loading restrictions and unusual items, with photographs or measurements if requested. Have packing, dismantling, storage and placement included explicitly where needed. Keep provisional details marked and update the coordinator before the final scope and price are agreed.

How should I use the Adelaide liveability ranking?

Use the ranking as a set of places to investigate, then choose your own priorities. A published score combines selected measures and does not describe the condition, cost or suitability of an individual dwelling. For example, compare the central locations on the list with the more residential options against your actual commute and space requirements. Visit shortlisted streets, check current property information and record trade-offs before narrowing the search.

Which places or themes does this Adelaide article help me compare?

The article’s shortlist includes Plympton, Richmond, Goodwood/Millswood, Unley/Parkside, Prospect, North Adelaide and Norwood, alongside several north-eastern areas. Use those examples to create a small shortlist rather than trying to inspect every possibility at once. Identify three or four requirements that matter most, then record how each candidate meets them. Recheck current housing, travel and service information before making a commitment. A location can suit a general lifestyle description while a particular dwelling has unsuitable access, layout or ongoing costs. Keep both levels of the decision visible.

How can I turn a shortlist into a practical relocation budget?

Separate ongoing household expenses from the one-off move. Compare homes serving the same daily destinations before deciding whether a lower housing cost offsets a less convenient journey. Add the removal quote, packing, travel and any temporary accommodation or storage to the transition costs. Check that furniture fits the chosen home and its access before paying to transport it. Give movers the same inventory and requested work when comparing prices, and revise the figures when the property, dates or services change.