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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Population
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 5,175 as of May 2021. By May 2026, it has increased to around 5,503, a rise of 328 people (6.3%) since the census. This growth is inferred from an estimated resident population of 5,487 in June 2025 and 42 new addresses validated since May 2021. The population density stands at 1,220 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. West Beach's growth rate of 6.3% is within 1.2 percentage points of the state's 7.5%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.8% 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 are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median of national areas, with West Beach expected to expand by 520 persons to reach a total population of around 6,023 by May 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 9.2% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within West Beach when compared nationally
West Beach has averaged approximately 26 new dwelling approvals annually over recent years. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 131 homes were approved, with an additional 19 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 2 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built during these five financial years, suggesting balanced supply and demand conditions.
The average expected construction cost value for new homes over this period is $455,000, indicating a focus on premium market developments. This year has seen $3.9 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential character. Compared to Greater Adelaide, West Beach exhibits roughly 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks at approximately the 67th percentile nationally among assessed areas.
Recent construction comprises predominantly detached houses (76.0%) with townhouses or apartments making up the remainder (24.0%), maintaining the area's suburban character centered on family homes. The current population density is around 234 people per dwelling approval, implying scope for further growth. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, West Beach is projected to grow by approximately 504 residents by 2041. Given current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond existing projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around West Beach
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
West Beach has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely to impact the area: Adelaide Airport Industrial Development, Project Flight - Adelaide Airport Terminal Expansion, West Beach Surf Life Saving Club Rebuild, and Apex Park Stage 2 Redevelopment. The following details those most relevant.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28
SA Water's record $3.3 billion capital delivery program for the 2024-28 regulatory period, covering water and wastewater infrastructure across South Australia. The program targets water main replacements, sewerage network upgrades, dam upgrades, water tank refurbishments, and treatment process upgrades across metropolitan and regional areas. A central $1.5 billion component supports the South Australian Premier's Housing Roadmap, expanding network capacity to unlock up to 40,000 new allotments, with major focus on Adelaide's northern growth corridors including Angle Vale, Riverlea, and Roseworthy. Six major framework partners (Fulton Hogan Utilities, John Holland and Guidera O'Connor JV, McConnell Dowell and Diona JV, BMD, Diona, and Leed Engineering and Construction) are delivering works across approximately 120 projects. In Year 1 (to June 2025), $681.6 million in capital was invested. The program runs to June 2028.
Project Flight - Adelaide Airport Terminal Expansion
Project Flight is a 600 million AUD multi-phased upgrade of Adelaide Airport designed to support passenger growth through to 2050. The southern check-in hall is being expanded by more than 1,500 square metres to lift check-in capacity by around 25 per cent, with all existing equipment replaced by new kiosks and bag-drop technology. The northern end of the terminal will grow by approximately 10,000 square metres from early 2026, adding new domestic gate lounges, aerobridges and office accommodation for aviation tenants. The southern end will be expanded by more than 5,500 square metres from early 2027, including two new domestic and three new regional gates. Up to nine additional aircraft parking positions will be delivered progressively over three years. Security screening upgrades, including six new lanes with body scanners and 3D x-ray bag scanners, are being completed across 2025. Other terminal enhancements include a new international departures gate, a sensory room, a play space, business hubs and upgraded gate seating. Construction commenced in mid-2025 with demolition of the southern ramp, and the program is anticipated to complete in mid-2028.
SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program
Statewide maintenance and service contracts for SA Housing Trust public housing properties, covering reactive maintenance, vacancy restoration and minor works across metropolitan and regional South Australia. The program is delivered by Spotless Facility Services, RTC Facilities Maintenance and Torrens Facility Management. A 2024 SA Government review examined payment, timeliness, dispute resolution and contract performance issues, and the government provided additional funding to accelerate maintenance and upgrades on vacant public housing homes.
Adelaide Public Transport Capacity and Access
State-led program work to increase public transport capacity and access to, through and within central Adelaide. Current work is focused on the City Access Strategy (20-year movement plan for the CBD and North Adelaide) and the State Transport Strategy program, which together will shape options such as bus priority, interchange upgrades, tram and rail enhancements, and better first/last mile access.
Adelaide Level Crossing Removal Planning Program
A joint Australian and South Australian Government program to conduct planning studies at priority at-grade level crossing locations across metropolitan Adelaide, and establish a ten-year Level Crossing Removal Program. Adelaide has 126 at-grade level crossings where boom gates can be closed for up to 25% of peak traffic periods. Priority sites under active planning include Cormack Road (Wingfield), Kings Road (Parafield), and Park Terrace (Salisbury). The program commenced in early 2022 and is expected to be completed by late 2026, with the first major removal project - Curtis Road, Munno Para - announced in May 2025 with a $250 million joint funding commitment and construction starting by 2027.
West Beach Surf Life Saving Club Rebuild
$8.5M redevelopment delivering a new two-storey clubhouse with first aid room (with ambulance access), patrol control room, gym, training and conference rooms, accessible change rooms, and expanded storage to house lifesaving equipment. Officially opened May 2024 after works that commenced in late 2022. Jointly funded by Federal and State Governments, City of Charles Sturt, Surf Life Saving SA and West Beach SLSC.
River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project
The River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project delivers the final 10.5 km section of Adelaide's North South Corridor, creating a 78 km non-stop motorway. The project combines southern and northern twin three-lane tunnels with lowered and surface motorways. Major works are underway at the Southern Precinct at Tonsley, which serves as the purpose-built launch site for the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) for the Southern Tunnels. Tunnelling is expected to start in the second half of 2026, and the project is planned for completion by 2031.
Adelaide Airport Industrial Development
27 hectares of developable land release - largest since 2002. Total project value $250 million for freight and logistics companies with direct airside road access to terminals. Multiple sites 1-10 hectares available for industrial development.
Employment
Employment conditions in West Beach rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally
West Beach has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.2%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.2%.
As of December 2025, 3,141 residents are employed while the local unemployment rate is 2.6% below Greater Adelaide's rate. Workforce participation in West Beach is 68.4%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. According to Census responses, 14.3% of residents work from home.
Leading employment industries 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 area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 6.2% and labour force grew by 5.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 4.2% and a fall in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment expansion at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch
The median taxpayer income in West Beach SA2 is $57,701, with an average of $72,471 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is higher than the national average, which contrasts with Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852. By March 2026, based on a 10.17% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated incomes would be approximately $63,569 (median) and $79,841 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 66th percentile ($896 weekly), while household income is at the 49th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 28.2% of locals (1,551 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to the broader area where 31.8% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 86.2% of income remains for other expenses. The SEIFA income ranking places West Beach SA2 in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
West Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
West Beach's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.0% houses and 34.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's figures of 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Beach stood at 39.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 27.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent in West Beach was recorded at $320, aligning with the Adelaide metro figure but lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, West Beach's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
West Beach has a typical household mix, with a lower-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 make up 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, smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
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% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the South Australian average of 25.7% and Greater Adelaide's rate 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 prominent, with 31.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 20.7%.
Educational participation is high, with 25.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
West Beach has 50 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 16 unique routes that together facilitate 631 weekly passenger journeys. The area's transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents typically living just 133 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most inhabitants commute outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 90% of residents, while cycling accounts for 2%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.
According to the 2021 Census, 14.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The average service frequency across all routes is 90 trips per day, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
The level of general health in West Beach is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions
West Beach shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups exhibit low prevalence of common health conditions.
Approximately 55% (~3021 people) have private health cover, higher than Greater Adelaide's 52.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.6%) and asthma (6.5%), with 69.7% reporting no medical ailments compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. Under-65 residents demonstrate better-than-average health outcomes. The area has 21.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1181 people), higher than Greater Adelaide's 19.2%. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The level of cultural diversity witnessed in West Beach was found to be slightly 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% of its population born overseas and 15.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in West Beach, accounting for 52.4% of people. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, comprising 1.1% compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.
In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.5%), Australian (23.9%), and Other (7.3%). Notably, Greek (4.2% vs regional 2.0%), Polish (1.1% vs 1.0%), and Russian (0.6% vs 0.3%) ethnicities were overrepresented in West Beach.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
West Beach hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average
The median age in West Beach is 44 years, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, West Beach has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 55-64 (13.1%) and a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (12.0%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 35-44 grew from 12.3% to 13.7%, while that of 25-34 increased from 10.7% to 12.0%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 45-54 decreased from 14.0% to 12.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant growth in West Beach's 85+ age cohort, with an increase of 100 people (52%), from 192 to 293. The 0-4 age group is projected to grow more modestly, adding only 10 residents at a 4% increase.