Wakefield - Barunga West
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Wakefield - Barunga West's population is around 10,014 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 514 people from the 9,500 reported in the 2021 Census, a growth rate of 5.4%. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,791 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 134 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1.9 persons per square kilometer. Wakefield - Barunga West's growth rate is within 0.3 percentage points of the SA3 area's 5.7%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 51.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median for regional areas nationally, with Wakefield - Barunga West expected to expand by 943 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 6.8% over the 17-year period based on the latest population numbers.

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 averaged approximately 35 new dwelling approvals annually between FY-21 and FY-26. A total of 175 homes were approved over the past five financial years, with an additional 8 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 0.6 new residents moved into each newly approved home per year during the same period.

This indicates that new housing supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings was $252,000. In FY-26, there have been $25.9 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development activity in the area. Compared to the rest of South Australia (SA), Wakefield - Barunga West maintains similar construction rates per person, indicating market balance consistent with the broader area.

However, these construction rates are below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. All new constructions approved between FY-21 and FY-26 have been detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This is reflected in the population density of approximately 257 people per approval. According to population forecasts, Wakefield - Barunga West is expected to gain 685 residents by 2041. 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 emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that may affect the region. Notable projects include Blyth Battery, Kulpara Quarry Operations, Kadina Northeastern Fringe Rezoning (Daddow Court / Abbott Drive), and Daddow Court and Abbott Drive Residential Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Wakefield - Barunga West has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.5%.

There are 4,064 residents in work, which is 1.9% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is lower at 51.7%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

Retail trade is under-represented at 7.3%, compared to Rest of SA's 9.9%. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.1% while employment declined by 2.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 2.0 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) suggest Wakefield - Barunga West's employment could grow by approximately 5.0%% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released in financial year 2022, Wakefield - Barunga West had a median income among taxpayers of $45,338 with an average level standing at $54,772. This is lower than the national average and compares to levels of $46,889 and $56,582 across Rest of SA respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $51,155 for median income and $61,799 for average income as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Wakefield - Barunga West all fall between the 7th and 12th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the largest segment comprises 28.7% earning $400-$799 weekly (2,874 residents), differing from patterns across the broader area where $1,500-$2,999 dominates with 27.5%. Housing costs are modest, with 89.4% of income retained, but 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 in Wakefield - Barunga West, as evaluated at the Census conducted on 9 August 2016, comprised 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 94.2% houses and 5.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wakefield - Barunga West was 47.8%, similar to Non-Metro SA's figure. Mortgaged dwellings were at 30.6% and rented dwellings at 21.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $965, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,081. The median weekly rent was recorded at $220, matching Non-Metro SA's figure. Nationally, Wakefield - Barunga West's median monthly mortgage repayment is 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 constitute 65.7% of all households, including 23.5% couples with children, 32.2% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.3%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the Rest of SA average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 11.6%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.5%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 36.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.0%) and certificates (28.8%).

Educational participation is high at 25.2%, including 12.0% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education. Eleven schools serve 1,564 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 970) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes eight primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Wakefield - Barunga West is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Wakefield - Barunga West faces significant health challenges with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately 47% (~4,726 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.8%) and mental health issues (9.5%), while 59.3% report having no medical ailments compared to 60.9% in the rest of South Australia. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 27.6% (2,759 people) of the population. Health outcomes among seniors show some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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 had a cultural diversity index below average, with 91.3% citizens, 89.7% born in Australia, and 96.6% speaking English only at home as of the 2016 Census. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 50.1%. This figure is slightly lower than the Rest of SA's 51.3%.

Ancestry-wise, Australian (34.9%), English (34.4%), and German (7.8%) were the top groups. Notably, Filipino representation was higher at 1.3% compared to the regional average of 0.8%, while Australian Aboriginal stood at 1.9%, slightly above the region's 1.7%.

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

The median age in Wakefield - Barunga West is 48 years, similar to Rest of SA's average of 47 years but higher than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of SA average, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented at 15.9% locally while 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 8.2%. The concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group has grown from 14.9% to 15.9% of the population while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.4% to 11.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes with the 75-84 cohort showing the strongest projected growth at 36%, adding 314 residents to reach 1,194. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 70% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Conversely, both the 35-44 and 5-14 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.