West Coast (SA)
Statistical Area - sa2

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

West Coast SA's population was around 3,862 as of November 2025. This showed an increase of 216 people, a 5.9% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 3,646. The growth was inferred from ABS' June 2024 estimate of 3,866 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 0.10 persons per square kilometer. West Coast's growth exceeded SA4 (5.3%) and SA3 regions, positioning it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 55.9% to overall population gains.

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, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Projected demographic shifts indicate a population increase just below the median of regional areas nationally by 2041, with West Coast expected to grow by 279 persons, recording a total gain of 7.3% over 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees West Coast recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

West Coast saw approximately 30 new homes approved each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25152 homes were approved, with an additional 7 approved so far in FY26. On average, 0.9 new residents arrived per new home over these years, indicating that new supply met or exceeded demand.

The average construction cost of these new homes was $235,000. This financial year, $7.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of SA, West Coast had 153.0% more new home approvals per person as of FY26. The area has maintained a low density character, with all new constructions being detached dwellings, appealing to families seeking space.

There are approximately 170 people per dwelling approval in West Coast, indicating a low density market. Future projections estimate that the location will add 282 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

West Coast has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely to impact the area. Key projects are South Australian Road Network Maintenance, South Australia High Productivity Vehicle Network Access, Gawler Craton Rail Access, and Northern Water Supply Project. The following list details those most relevant:.

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.

Employment drivers in West Coast are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

West Coast SA has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 7.8% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.6% over the past year.

As of this date, 1,815 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.2% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is at 57.1%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. West Coast specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

However, manufacturing is under-represented at 1.9% compared to Rest of SA's 9.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.6%, while labour force grew by 5.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 1.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA saw an employment decline of 1.2% with unemployment rising by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Coast's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.0% over five years and 11.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that West Coast has lower income compared to national averages. The median income is $46,663 while the average stands at $57,208. In contrast, Rest of SA has a median income of $46,889 and an average of $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for West Coast would be approximately $52,650 (median) and $64,548 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in West Coast fall between the 10th and 17th percentiles nationally. In West Coast, 28.0% of the population earns within the $800 - $1,499 income range, differing from metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 27.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 92.5% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 19th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in West Coast, as assessed in the most recent Census, consisted of 96.4% houses and 3.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 75.9% houses and 24.1% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in West Coast was higher at 49.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.6% and rented ones at 28.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,083, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,170. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $104, compared to Non-Metro SA's $195. Nationally, West Coast's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 69.0% of all households, including 25.9% couples with children, 35.3% couples without children, and 7.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.0%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households comprising 1.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.8%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.2%) and postgraduate qualifications (0.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 8.6% and certificates at 30.3%. Educational participation is high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 14.1% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 1.5% in tertiary education. Six schools operate within West Coast, educating approximately 451 students. The area has varied educational conditions, with a mix of three primary and three K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents are lower than the regional average at 11.7, with some students likely attending schools in nearby areas. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

The level of general health in West Coast is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

West Coast demonstrates above-average health outcomes with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover was found to be very low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 1,865 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.6 and 6.4% of residents respectively, while 71.2% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.6% across Rest of SA. The area has 23.2% of residents aged 65 and over (897 people), which is higher than the 22.1% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

West Coast's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.0% of its population being citizens, 93.9% born in Australia, and 88.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in West Coast, comprising 49.6% of people. The most notable overrepresentation was in Other, which makes up 1.3% of the population compared to 0.6% across Rest of SA.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (32.0%), English (28.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (12.2%), the latter being substantially higher than the regional average of 4.8%. There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: German is overrepresented at 6.7% compared to the regional figure of 6.6%, while Maori is represented at 0.4% versus a regional average of 0.3%.

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

The median age in West Coast is 45 years, which is slightly below the Rest of SA figure of 47 but significantly higher than Australia's average of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is notably more prevalent in West Coast at 15.8%, compared to the Rest of SA average and the national figure of 9.4%. Meanwhile, the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 5.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group has increased from 13.8% to 15.8% of the population, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 13.8% to 12.3%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 13.7% to 12.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in West Coast's age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to more than double, increasing by 232 people (103%) from 224 to 457. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 79% of population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 5-14 age cohorts.