Wakefield - Barunga West

Wakefield - Barunga West is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Wakefield - Barunga West's population is around 9,988 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 488 people (5.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,500 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,756 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 145 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1.9 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Wakefield - Barunga West's 5.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.5%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 51.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to expand by 943 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 7.1% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Wakefield - Barunga West according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Wakefield - Barunga West has averaged around 35 new dwelling approvals each year, with 175 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 17 so far in FY-26. At an average of just 0.6 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $252,000. There have also been $25.9 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development.

Relative to the Rest of SA, Wakefield - Barunga West maintains similar construction rates (per person), maintaining a market balance consistent with the broader area. This activity is similarly below the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. Meanwhile, new construction has been completely comprised of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. At around 257 people per approval, Wakefield - Barunga West reflects a low density area.

Population forecasts indicate Wakefield - Barunga West will gain 711 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Wakefield - Barunga West has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 16 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Blyth Battery, Kulpara Quarry Operations, Kadina Northeastern Fringe Rezoning (Daddow Court / Abbott Drive), and Daddow Court and Abbott Drive Residential Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Wakefield - Barunga West faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Wakefield - Barunga West features a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 6.9%, and 1.6% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 4,114 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.2% above Regional SA's rate of 5.7%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (55.1% compared to Regional SA's 58.8%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 13.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area has particular employment specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level. In contrast, retail trade employs just 7.3% of local workers, below Regional SA's 9.9%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.6% while labour force increased by 3.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 3.1%, with a 2.2 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Wakefield - Barunga West. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wakefield - Barunga West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.0% over five years and 11.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Wakefield - Barunga West SA2's median income among taxpayers is $48,675, with an average of $62,593. This is lower than average on a national basis, and compares to Regional SA's median of $48,920 and average of $58,933. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $52,958 (median) and $68,101 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Wakefield - Barunga West all fall between the 6th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 28.7% of the population (2,866 individuals) fall within the $400 - 799 income range, unlike trends in the region where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. While housing costs are modest with 89.4% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 12th percentile nationally.

Wakefield - Barunga West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Wakefield - Barunga West, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Wakefield - Barunga West was well beyond that of Regional SA, at 47.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (30.6%) or rented (21.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional SA average at $965, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $220, compared to Regional SA's $1,153 and $220. Nationally, Wakefield - Barunga West's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wakefield - Barunga West features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 65.7% of all households, comprising 23.5% couples with children, 32.2% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.3%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people matches the Regional SA average.

Wakefield - Barunga West faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (11.6%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 8.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.5%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 36.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (8.0%) and certificates (28.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Wakefield - Barunga West is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Wakefield-Barunga West, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~5,033 people). The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.8% and 9.5% of residents, respectively, while 59.3% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 28.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,820 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Wakefield - Barunga West is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Wakefield - Barunga West was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 91.3% of its population being citizens, 89.7% born in Australia, and 96.6% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Wakefield - Barunga West is Christianity, which makes up 50.1% of people in the area. This compares to 45.2% across Regional SA.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Wakefield - Barunga West are Australian, comprising 34.9% of the population, English, comprising 34.4% of the population, and German, comprising 7.8% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Filipino is notably overrepresented at 1.3% of Wakefield - Barunga West (vs 0.7% regionally) and Australian Aboriginal at 1.9% (vs 3.3%).

Wakefield - Barunga West hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The 48-year median age in Wakefield - Barunga West is similar to Regional SA's average of 47 and similarly well above the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional SA average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (16.1% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (8.2%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. In the period since 2021, the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 14.9% to 16.1% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 8.1% to 9.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.4% to 11.1% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 15.8% to 14.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Wakefield - Barunga West. The 85+ cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 99%, adding 290 residents to reach 583. Senior residents (65+) will drive 66% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Conversely, both 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 age groups will see reduced numbers.