Worst Suburbs in Adelaide for Living – 2025 Guide

Thinking of moving to Adelaide? As someone who’s helped families relocate in and out of every corner of this city, I know how exciting a fresh start can be. But Adelaide – known for its festivals and friendly vibe – still has a few areas that might give new residents pause. It may be one of Australia’s more laid-back capitals, but let’s face it: some spots have earned a rough reputation as the worst suburbs in Adelaide. Landing in an unsafe suburb in Adelaide can turn your dream move into a headache quickly.

I’m Joaquin Trapero, owner of North Removals, a five-star rated interstate moving company based in Melbourne that has moved Aussies to and from Adelaide for decades. In over 20 years of running a removals business, I’ve relocated families to nearly every suburb you can imagine. I’ve seen everything – from young couples unknowingly renting on a floodplain, to retirees caught off-guard by bushfire warnings in the hills. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of Adelaide’s neighbourhoods, from the safest havens to the Adelaide crime hotspots you might want to avoid.

In this 2025 guide, I’m sharing that insider knowledge with you. We’ll walk through the red flags when choosing your new Adelaide suburb – whether it’s high crime rates, natural disaster risks, underperforming schools, or just daily quality-of-life issues like traffic and parking. My goal is to help you steer clear of any area that might jeopardise your fresh start. With a bit of local insight (and some hard data), you can make an informed decision and find a community where you’ll feel right at home in Adelaide.

Worst Suburbs in Adelaide by Crime Rate

Crime is a key consideration, especially when compared to major cities like Melbourne and Canberra. Adelaide generally fares well, but some suburbs stand out negatively.

In fact, the City of Adelaide (which includes the CBD) is ranked extremely high in Australia for crime severity – effectively making it the benchmark for high crime. This means that despite Adelaide’s reputation as a liveable city, its downtown area has a disproportionately high volume of offences. Your chances of being a victim of violent crime in the CBD were about 1 in 12 in 2024, compared to 1 in 110 for Australia overall – a striking difference.

So, which suburbs are the worst offenders? Based on the latest police data, here are some of Adelaide’s worst suburbs by reported crime:

Quick-Look Table: Worst Suburbs by Crime Rate

Suburb	Crime Rate Rank	Total Annual Crimes	Primary Offences
Adelaide (CBD)	100/100	8,510	Theft, property damage, assaults
Elizabeth	100/100	1,530	Theft, vandalism, break-ins
Wingfield	100/100	190	Industrial theft, property dmg
Gepps Cross	100/100	423	Theft, burglary
Port Adelaide	100/100	641	Break-ins, assault
Bolivar	100/100	311	Theft, property damage
Glenelg	69/100	727	Petty theft, nightlife scuffles
Oaklands Park	61/100	1,150	Shoplifting, vehicle break-ins
Salisbury	58/100	1,980	Vandalism, youth crime
Davoren Park	55/100	1,210	Burglary, car theft
Paralowie	52/100	890	Robberies, domestic disturbances
Ingle Farm	50/100	770	Assault, disorderly conduct

Source: Red Suburbs

As you can see, the Adelaide CBD tops the list with over 8,500 reported incidents in a single year. That’s not unexpected—city centres tend to attract higher crime numbers due to population density, nightlife, and the constant flow of visitors. What’s more revealing is that smaller or industrial suburbs like Wingfield and Bolivar also receive a perfect 100 crime rank, despite having far fewer total incidents. The reason? Their population is so low that even a couple of hundred offences push their per-capita crime rate through the roof.

Interestingly, crime isn’t exclusive to working-class or fringe suburbs. Glenelg, for example, is a popular coastal destination known for its beach lifestyle and nightlife, yet it still recorded over 700 offences last year—primarily theft. Its crime rank sits around 69, which is relatively high for such a well-known and seemingly upmarket location. If you want to learn more about the cost of living in Adelaide read our blog now.

Further south, Oaklands Park—home to one of Adelaide’s major shopping centres—logged around 1,150 incidents, earning it a moderate crime rank of 61. Much of this can likely be attributed to shoplifting and vehicle break-ins in and around the retail precinct.

From my side, whenever I help clients move into these areas, I usually recommend factoring in the cost of a decent alarm system or at least some window security screens. It’s not about fear—it’s about peace of mind. A little preparation goes a long way in feeling safe and settled, no matter where you call home.

While some Adelaide suburbs clearly struggle with crime, it’s important to ask: how does the city stack up against other major Australian capitals overall? Let’s take a step back and see where Adelaide really sits on the national safety scale.

Adelaide Crime in Context: How It Compares to Other Cities

You might be wondering, is Adelaide really that dangerous compared to other cities? The answer is no – overall, Adelaide is relatively safe by Australian standards. The high crime rates in certain suburbs don’t tell the whole city’s story. Interestingly, Adelaide offers more affordable living compared to Melbourne or Sydney, as detailed in our Melbourne vs Sydney cost of living comparison.

To put things in perspective, let’s compare Adelaide’s crime and safety index to other major Australian cities. These figures provide a clearer snapshot of how residents perceive safety across the country:

Crime & Safety Comparison – 2025 (Top 10 Australian Cities)

City	Crime Index(Approx.)	Safety Index(Approx.)	Notes
Melbourne	~44	~56	Larger population, multiple crime hotspots
Sydney	~34	~66	Busy city, moderate perceived crime
Brisbane	~36	~64	Rapid growth, mixed suburban safety
Perth	~42	~58	Steady crime levels, some northern suburbs are higher risk
Gold Coast	~46	~54	Tourist hub, nightlife-related offences inflate stats
Hobart	~32	~68	Generally low crime, small population
Darwin	~60	~40	Smaller city but high rates of assault, property crime
Adelaide	~33	~67	Overall calmer city, localised high-risk suburbs
Canberra	~23	~77	Typically safest among Aussie capitals
Geelong	~56*	~44*	Regional city, some suburbs with higher crime (Corio, Norlane)

*Geelong suburbs are included for regional comparison. Source: Australia Institute of Criminology

As the table shows, Adelaide ranks closely with Hobart and Sydney in terms of crime perception—lower than Melbourne, Perth, or the Gold Coast. While cities like Darwin and Geelong show significantly higher indexes, Adelaide’s overall safety remains one of its strong points.

What does this mean in plain language? It means that on the whole, Adelaide residents feel safer and encounter crime less often than folks in Melbourne, for example. The average person in Adelaide isn’t living in fear – far from it. Many suburbs not mentioned in this guide are very safe, family-friendly communities. Even the city centre, despite those daunting statistics, has a strong police presence and a lot of its incidents are non-violent (like property theft).

That said, localised crime pockets do exist, as we identified above. Adelaide’s crime rate, while lower overall, is a bit of a patchwork: a few problematic areas surrounded by mostly quiet, low-crime suburbs. For someone relocating, the key takeaway is to do your homework on the specific suburb. Don’t write off Adelaide by any means – just be choosy about neighbourhoods. A 20-minute drive can make a big difference in your experience.

Of course, crime isn’t the only factor affecting liveability. Adelaide’s natural landscape brings another set of risks—floods and bushfires—that can be just as disruptive if overlooked.

Flood-Prone and Bushfire-Prone Areas in Adelaide

Natural disasters are another factor that can make a suburb less desirable – or even downright dangerous during certain seasons. In Adelaide, the main concerns are floods in some low-lying areas and bushfires on the city’s fringes. South Australia’s climate means we get dry, hot summers (fire risk) and occasional heavy downpours in winter that can cause flash floods. Choosing the wrong suburb without realising these risks could put your property and safety at risk, especially if you’re not familiar with local weather patterns.

To help you visualise the areas most affected, here’s a table showing ten Adelaide suburbs and zones with known flood or bushfire risk, including the type of threat and key concerns associated with each.

Area or Suburb	Flood Risk	Bushfire Risk	Key Notes
Virginia / Angle Vale	High (river flooding)	Low	Affected by Gawler River overflow in 2016
Port Adelaide / West Lakes	Storm surge, tidal	Low	Built on former wetlands, vulnerable in major storms
Old Noarlunga	Moderate to high	Moderate	Located along lower Onkaparinga River
Unley / Goodwood / Forestville	Flash flooding (creeks)	Low	Brown Hill Creek corridor – possible 1-in-100 year floods
Smithfield	Occasional overflow	Low	Affected in past by northern catchment floods
Flagstaff Hill / Happy Valley	Low	High	Leafy foothills prone to fast-moving summer fires
Beaumont / Burnside	Minimal flooding	Very high	Wealthy eastern suburbs bordering forested hills
Hillbank / Salisbury East	Low	Moderate	Bushland fringe; exposed during hot, dry summers
Mitcham / Rostrevor	Low	Ember attack potential	Threatened during the 2019 Cudlee Creek fire
Cudlee Creek / Balhannah	Low	Extreme	Hills zone hit hard in 2019 bushfires

Source: Environment SA

As you can see, flood risk tends to concentrate in the north and coastal west, especially around low-lying rivers and creeks. Meanwhile, bushfire risk climbs the closer you get to the Adelaide Hills and greenbelt suburbs, particularly in the east and south.

Flood-Prone Suburbs in Adelaide

Let’s talk flood-prone areas in Adelaide first. You might assume major flooding is only a rural problem, but parts of the Adelaide metropolitan area are indeed flood hotspots. Known flood-risk zones include the Gawler River catchment up north, the Brown Hill and Keswick Creeks catchment in the inner south, Port Adelaide and its surrounding low-lying suburbs, and the lower Onkaparinga River in the far south. In practical terms, this means places like Virginia/Angle Vale in the north and Old Noarlunga in the south have seen serious flooding in the past. Even some western suburbs built on former wetlands – around Port Adelaide and West Lakes – could face inundation in extreme weather or storm surges.

Bushfire-Prone Suburbs in Adelaide

Now onto bushfire-prone suburbs. Adelaide is famously nestled between the Gulf and the hills, which means beautiful scenery – and serious fire risk. Suburbs like Flagstaff Hill, Craigburn Farm, and Eden Hills lie within high-risk zones due to nearby conservation land. Even affluent suburbs such as Beaumont and Burnside, right up against the forest edge, have seen bushfires threaten homes. And while places like Hillbank or Salisbury East seem suburban, they border grassland that burns quickly in summer. The 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfire proved how far embers can travel—reaching areas like Mitcham, Rostrevor, and Golden Grove.

To sum up these sections: floods and fires aren’t daily problems, but they’re frequent enough to influence where you choose to live. A suburb with higher natural hazard exposure isn’t necessarily bad, but it does require planning. Some people love living by the river or among the trees, and there’s no reason not to—just do it with full awareness of the risks and how to prepare.

Beyond safety and environmental risks, many families place school quality at the top of their list when choosing where to live. So, how do Adelaide’s suburbs compare when it comes to education?

Which Adelaide Suburbs Have the Worst Schools?

For families (or future families), school quality is a crucial factor in deciding where to live. Adelaide generally has a solid education system, but there are definitely some suburbs where schools struggle – often reflecting broader socio-economic challenges. Now, it’s important to approach this topic with care. “Worst schools” doesn’t mean the teachers aren’t trying; it usually means the schools are under-resourced, or serving communities doing it tough.

To give you a clearer view, here’s a table highlighting ten Adelaide suburbs often associated with lower academic performance. These observations are based on NAPLAN outcomes, community feedback, and overall school reputation:

Underperforming School Zones in Adelaide

Suburb	Public School Areas	Common Challenges	NAPLAN / Outcome Trends
Elizabeth	Elizabeth Vale, Elizabeth Downs	Low literacy, high dropout rates	Consistently below average
Davoren Park	Northern Playford	Socio-economic disadvantage, funding gaps	Struggling across multiple years
Smithfield Plains	Public P-12 schools	Staff turnover, attendance issues	Poor retention and NAPLAN scores
Hackham West	Hackham West R-7, local HS	Absenteeism, behavioural issues	Improvement programs in place
Christie Downs	Christie Downs Primary, HS	Limited resources, low graduation rate	Persistently below state average
Salisbury North	Cluster of northern schools	Learning gaps, fewer support programs	Mixed, but trending below state
Mansfield Park	Inner northwest zone	Language barriers, economic hardship	Improving, still under average
Para Hills West	North-eastern corridor	Inconsistent performance, outdated facilities	Test scores lagging
Ottoway	Port Adelaide Enfield district	Low engagement, underfunded programs	Outcomes weaker than nearby zones
Angle Park	Western metro fringe	Fewer enrichment options, high turnover	Below average in most indicators

Source: Better Education

As a father of two school-aged kids myself, I understand why parents research this to death. You want the best for your children, and moving to a suburb with an underperforming school can be a deal-breaker. In Adelaide, school performance often mirrors the city’s socio-economic layout. Broadly speaking, the northern outskirts and some far southern areas have schools with lower academic results (NAPLAN scores, Year 12 outcomes), whereas the eastern and inner southern suburbs boast many of the top performers.

Some concrete indicators: In the 2024 NAPLAN results, South Australia saw a continuation of the achievement gap between affluent and poorer areas. While that report doesn’t name and shame specific suburbs, the trend is clear – schools in well-off areas outperformed, and those in low socio-economic zones lagged. Translation for Adelaide: schools in Glenunga or Norwood (affluent east) shine, whereas schools in Smithfield or Davoren Park (far north) tend to post lower scores.

As a removalist, I’ve had clients explicitly move from north to south or east Adelaide for this reason – they wanted to be in a better school catchment. One family I moved from Salisbury to Magill joked that their moving costs would “pay for themselves” by the better public school, saving them from considering private school tuition.

Even if schools aren’t a priority, day-to-day liveability matters. And in some suburbs, that means dealing with traffic congestion, limited parking, and the realities of high-density living.

Adelaide’s High-Density Apartment Zones (and Parking Nightmares)

Not all “worst suburbs” issues are dramatic like crime or fires. Some are more mundane yet frustrating, affecting day-to-day liveability. One such issue in Adelaide is the rise of high-density apartment living in certain pockets – and the accompanying parking and traffic problems.

To help you identify which suburbs might pose these challenges, the following table lists ten areas in Adelaide known for their density, limited parking, or congestion risks:

High-Density Zones and Parking Issues in Adelaide

Suburb or Area	Density Profile	Parking Availability	Common Complaints
Adelaide CBD	Apartment towers, student housing	Limited, expensive permits	Circling blocks, paid garages, no visitor spots
North Adelaide	Older cottages + apartments	Tight, metered kerb spaces	Popular dining strips, limited private space
Bowden	Walkable, master-planned apartments	1 spot per unit (max)	Spillover to neighbouring Brompton
Glenelg	Foreshore high-rises	Restricted in summer	Tourists overrun local parking
Mawson Lakes	Mixed-use apartments + student areas	Busy during weekdays	Commuter and student competition
Prospect	New builds near shops and cafés	Street parking only	Traffic congestion, infill squeeze
Norwood	Townhouses + boutique apartments	Inconsistent permit zones	Visitors struggle during events
Kent Town	Office + apartment mix	Commercial spillover	Rarely enough off-street options
Henley Beach	Apartments along beachfront	Crowded in summer	Same-day parking nearly impossible
Campbelltown (infill pockets)	Densifying with townhouses	Kerbside only in narrow streets	Locals report blocked driveways

Compared to Sydney or Melbourne, Adelaide’s urban density remains modest, but apartment development has accelerated—especially in and around the CBD. If you’re moving into one of these zones, owning a car may start to feel more like a burden than a convenience.

The classic example is the Adelaide CBD itself. Many new apartment buildings (particularly around the West End) come with limited or no parking spaces. Street parking is scarce, often timed or paid, and rarely close to home. For many residents, this means renting an off-site spot or doing loops after work hoping to grab a free curb space.

If you cherish easy parking, a private driveway, and quiet streets, you might find these areas frustrating. Plenty of people love the walkability and café culture, but others feel the constant parking hunt and construction noise wear them down over time.

From the removalist perspective, I always advise clients to schedule moves strategically. If you’re moving into the city or Glenelg, aim for a weekday morning—not a Saturday afternoon. You’ll face less traffic, have more chance of finding a loading zone, and reduce the chances of a stressful first day in your new home.

Interestingly, some of these same high-density areas are also undergoing rapid gentrification—bringing new life and opportunity, but not without their own set of growing pains.

Adelaide Gentrification Hotspots (and Their Growing Pains)

Gentrification revitalises tired suburbs, bringing in new cafes, bars, and rising property values. But it can also price out long-time residents and turn once-quiet streets into construction zones. Adelaide has been slower to gentrify than Melbourne, but it’s definitely happening in pockets of the city.

Suburbs undergoing gentrification might not be “worst” in the traditional sense; they’re often up-and-coming and quite trendy. The reason to include them in this guide is the transition period – living through gentrification can be chaotic and, for some, frustrating.

To get a clearer picture, here’s a table outlining ten Adelaide suburbs currently undergoing change. Each is at a different stage of transformation and comes with its own blend of opportunity and growing pains:

Gentrification Hotspots in Adelaide

Suburb	Gentrification Stage	Key Attractions	Common Drawbacks
Thebarton	Rapid transformation	Craft breweries, warehouses converted to cafés	Construction noise, rising home prices
Kilkenny	Early-mid stage	Affordable post-war homes, close to city	Mixed streetscapes, weekend renovation chaos
Prospect	Mostly complete	Artsy, full of cafés and restored homes	Gentrification fatigue, expensive rent
Bowden	Late stage	Walkability, murals, new apartments	Parking pressure, little green space
Brompton	Mid-late stage	Modern apartments, bike-friendly streets	Still some industrial zones nearby
Port Adelaide	Ongoing / slow	Heritage buildings, waterfront potential	Empty shops, lingering crime issues
Croydon	Mid stage	Character homes, family vibe	Construction traffic, rising rates
Hindmarsh	Early stage	Entertainment precinct, proximity to CBD	Stadium noise, limited retail
Semaphore	Steady transition	Beach lifestyle, historic housing	Seasonal congestion, mixed development pace
Allenby Gardens	Early stage	Close to redevelopment corridors	Construction overflow from neighbouring areas

These ten suburbs reflect the layered nature of gentrification in Adelaide—an evolving mix of promise, pressure, and potential. Areas like Thebarton and Kilkenny are perfect examples of inner-west suburbs finding new life, where industrial relics and tired façades are being swapped for cafés, home studios, and renovated bungalows. 

In places like Bowden or Brompton, the transformation feels more complete on the surface—bike lanes, modern apartments, and curated street art—but scratch beneath that and you’ll still find the growing pains of limited parking, construction zones, or infrastructure catching up with demand.

In each of these suburbs, the process unfolds differently. Some are seeing rapid change, others move at a slower, uneven pace. But what ties them together is that sense of transition—you’re not just moving into a place, you’re moving into a phase. 

If you’re considering one of these areas, timing and temperament matter. A bit of research—checking local development plans, talking to neighbours, walking the streets at different times of day—can make all the difference. These suburbs are full of opportunity, but also full of movement. You’ll want to be sure that their future matches your expectations before you roll the truck in and unpack your life.

Decided on Your Adelaide New Suburb? North Removals Makes Moving Easy!

All in all, I hope these insights give you a clearer picture of how to avoid the common pitfalls when moving interstate (like from Sydney to Adelaide). We’ve covered everything from crime stats and safety concerns to school quality, natural disasters, and even parking woes – the key factors that can turn a neighbourhood sour. By doing your homework, you’ll be much better prepared to steer clear of any major regrets and choose a suburb that truly suits your needs.

The good news is that Adelaide, for the most part, lives up to its reputation as a pleasant and liveable city. Once you’ve zeroed in on your ideal suburb (hopefully avoiding the worst of the worst), you can focus on the fun part – settling into your new home and community. And when it comes to the actual moving day, North Removals is the best rated interstate company in Australia. 

As a removals company that prides itself on being friendly, efficient, and ultra-careful, my team and I handle the heavy lifting so you don’t have to worry. We’ve helped countless families make a fresh start in Adelaide, from the hills to the beach and everywhere in between.For those relocating from Victoria, don’t forget to check our guide on how to transfer vehicle registration from VIC to SA. If budget management is essential, read our guide on saving money for interstate moves.

After all, you deserve to start this next chapter on the right foot – and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of stepping into your new Adelaide home, knowing you’ve made a well-informed choice. Welcome to Adelaide, and happy moving!