West Beach
Statistical Area - sa2

West Beach has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

West Beach's population was 5,442 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 267 people, a 5.2% rise from the 2021 Census which reported 5,175 inhabitants. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 5,438 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The resulting population density was 1,206 persons per square kilometer, higher than national averages assessed by AreaSearch. West Beach's 5.2% growth since the census is within 1.5 percentage points of the state's 6.7%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.1% of overall population gains in 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 and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Projected demographic shifts indicate a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation, with West Beach expected to grow by 564 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.3% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within West Beach when compared nationally

West Beach has averaged approximately 26 new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 131 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional three approved so far in FY-26. On average, around two people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five financial years. This balance between supply and demand has created stable market conditions.

The average expected construction cost value of new properties is $660,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. There have also been $3.9 million in commercial approvals this financial year, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Adelaide, West Beach records about three-quarters the building activity per person and places among the 67th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

Recent construction comprises 76.0% detached houses and 24.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 234 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, West Beach is expected to grow by 560 residents through to 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.

West Beach has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects expected to affect the region: Adelaide Airport Industrial Development, West Beach Surf Life Saving Club Rebuild, Apex Park Stage 2 Redevelopment, and River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project. The following list outlines those most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in West Beach rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

West Beach has an educated workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.6%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 4.0%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%. As of June 2025, 3,049 residents are employed, with a local unemployment rate of 2.4% and workforce participation similar to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.

However, health care & social assistance employs only 16.3% of local workers, compared to Greater Adelaide's 17.7%. The predominantly residential area seems to offer limited local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while labour force also grew by 3.2%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. By comparison, Greater Adelaide saw employment and labour force growth of 2.1% each, with a marginal rise in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year, adding 9,370 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%, matching the national rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to West Beach's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

West Beach had a median taxpayer income of $54,139 and an average of $70,158 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This was higher than national averages, with Greater Adelaide's median being $52,592 and average income being $64,886. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since the financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $60,002 (median) and $77,756 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranked at the 66th percentile ($896 weekly), while household income was at the 50th percentile. The predominant earnings cohort consisted of 28.2% of locals (1,534 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the broader area where 31.8% occupied this bracket. After housing expenses, 86.2% of income remained for other expenses, and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

West Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

West Beach's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.0% houses and 34.0% other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. This is compared to Adelaide metro's 63.9% houses and 36.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Beach stood at 39.6%, with mortgaged properties at 33.4% and rented ones at 27.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, exceeding Adelaide metro's average of $1,745. Weekly rent in West Beach was recorded at $320, compared to Adelaide metro's $310. Nationally, West Beach's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

West Beach has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 69.2% of all households, including 31.4% couples with children, 29.4% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.8%, with lone person households at 28.5% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3.

The educational profile of West Beach exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 33.1% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the South Australian average of 25.7% and the Greater Adelaide average of 28.9%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 31.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 10.8% while certificates make up 20.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.8% in primary, 6.6% in secondary, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education. West Beach Primary School serves the local community within West Beach, enrolling 317 students as of a specific date. The school demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1083). There is one primary school in West Beach, with secondary options available in nearby areas due to limited local school capacity (5.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.8).

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

West Beach has 50 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 15 different routes that together provide 627 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 133 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 89 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

West Beach's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

West Beach's health metrics closely match national benchmarks. Common health conditions are seen equally across young and old age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 54% of the total population (around 2,960 people), compared to 51.8% across Greater Adelaide. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.6% and 6.5% of residents respectively. About 69.7% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 70.9% in Greater Adelaide. West Beach has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.1%, compared to 17.6% in Greater Adelaide (around 1,147 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in West Beach was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

West Beach's cultural diversity was above average with 23.7% born overseas and 15.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, making up 52.4%. The 'Other' category was overrepresented at 1.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 3.1%.

In ancestry, English (28.5%) and Australian (23.9%) were prominent, while 'Other' was lower than average. Greek (4.2%), Polish (1.1%), and Russian (0.6%) groups showed notable divergences from regional averages.

West Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in West Beach is 44 years, which is notably higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, the 55-64 age cohort is over-represented at 13.2% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 35-44 age group has grown from 12.3% to 13.5%, while the 75-84 cohort has declined from 8.3% to 7.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for West Beach. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow by 104 people (57%), from 185 to 290. Meanwhile, the 0-4 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 5%, adding only 10 residents.