Wallaroo

Population growth drivers in Wallaroo are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Wallaroo's population is approximately 4,968 as of November 2025. This represents an increase of 542 people, a 12.2% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,426. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,878 in June 2024 and an additional 83 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 33 persons per square kilometer. Wallaroo's growth rate exceeded both the non-metro area (6.8%) and the state average during this period, making it a notable growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 95.4% of overall population gains recently.

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 released in 2023, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts, Wallaroo is expected to increase by approximately 410 persons to reach 5,378 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 6.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Wallaroo among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Wallaroo has recorded approximately 69 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 345 homes. As of FY26, 37 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 people moved to the area per dwelling built each year between FY21 and FY25. This indicates a balanced supply and demand, creating stable market conditions with an average construction value of $290,000 for new properties.

In comparison, Wallaroo has registered $3.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year, reflecting its primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of SA, Wallaroo records elevated construction activity, 41.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains good buyer choice and supports existing property values, despite a recent slowdown in building activity. Notably, this level is significantly higher than the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area.

New construction in Wallaroo has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, preserving its low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers with an average of 88 people per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wallaroo is projected to gain 320 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Wallaroo has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects potentially affecting the region, with key ones including Wallaroo Roads Rehabilitation, Copper Cove Marina Wallaroo, Wallaroo Shores Masterplanned Community (Aspen Group Stages), and Wallaroo Grain Export Facility (Port Narungga). The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Wallaroo face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Wallaroo has a mixed workforce comprising white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 8.0%, having seen an employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

As of September 2025, there are 1,728 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 2.6% higher than Rest of SA's 5.3%. Workforce participation in Wallaroo is significantly lower at 41.4%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and construction. Notably, health care & social assistance has a higher share of employment (1.4 times the regional level).

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 7.0%, compared to the regional average of 14.5%. Local employment opportunities may be limited, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population figures. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment in Wallaroo increased by 0.6% while labour force grew by 2.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA saw employment grow by 0.3%, labour force increase by 2.3%, and unemployment rise by 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% and by 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wallaroo's current employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, assuming no changes in population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Wallaroo SA2 had a median income of $40,754 and an average of $51,849. Nationally, these figures are lower than the average. In Rest of SA, the median was $46,889 with an average of $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $45,983 (median) and $58,501 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, Wallaroo's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. Most residents (34.6%, or 1,718 people) earn $400 - $799 weekly, unlike metropolitan regions where earnings of $1,500 - $2,999 are most common at 27.5%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (43.4% earning under $800/week) suggests constrained household budgets across much of the locality. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Wallaroo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Wallaroo's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.9% houses and 8.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wallaroo stood at 44.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.9% and rented ones at 31.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,213, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,083. The median weekly rent in Wallaroo was $250, compared to Non-Metro SA's $230. Nationally, Wallaroo's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,213 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wallaroo features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 64.6% of all households, including 15.2% couples with children, 37.8% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.4%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of SA.

Wallaroo faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has university qualification rates of 9.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.2%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.2% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.1%. Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 30.9%. A total of 20.7% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, with 10.0% in primary, 5.6% in secondary, and 1.7% in tertiary education.

A substantial 20.7% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 5.6% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Wallaroo faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low, at approximately 46% (around 2,295 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (14.1%) and mental health issues (9.8%). About 53.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 56.0% in the rest of South Australia. Wallaroo has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 37.3% (1,851 people), compared to 36.2% in the rest of SA. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but perform better than the general population in some health metrics.

The latest Census data sees Wallaroo placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wallaroo's population showed low cultural diversity, with 91.1% being citizens, 89.8% born in Australia, and 97.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 46.8%, compared to 48.3% across Rest of SA. The top three ancestry groups were English (35.6%), Australian (35.0%), and Scottish (6.5%).

Notably, German (5.6%) and Dutch (1.3%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 7.0% and 1.2%, respectively. Spanish, at 0.4%, was also slightly higher than the regional average of 0.2%.

Wallaroo ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Wallaroo's median age is 56 years, which is notably higher than Rest of SA's 47 years and well above Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 65-74 year-olds are particularly prominent at 20.8%, while the 25-34 group is comparatively smaller at 6.0% compared to Rest of SA. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 11.2% to 12.8% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 18.4% to 16.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Wallaroo's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow exceptionally, expanding by 243 people (134%) from 181 to 425. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 81% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 25-34 cohorts.