Willunga
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Willunga's population was approximately 3,754 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 150 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,604. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 3,747 in June 2024 and validated new addresses post-census. Population density was around 44 persons per square kilometer. Willunga's growth rate of 4.2% since the census was close to the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.9%. Migration from interstate contributed significantly to population gains, accounting for approximately 63.6%.

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 with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Based on these projections, Willunga is expected to grow by approximately 286 persons to 2041, representing a total increase of around 7.4%.

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

Willunga has approved approximately 17 residential properties annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 89 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved in FY26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodates around 2.3 new residents per year over these five years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $329,000. This financial year has seen commercial approvals totaling $1.4 million, indicating a primary focus on residential development. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Willunga demonstrates similar development activity per capita, maintaining market equilibrium with the broader area.

All new constructions in Willunga have been standalone homes, preserving its traditional low-density character and catering to families seeking space. With approximately 283 people per approval, Willunga reflects a low-density area. Population projections indicate that Willunga will gain around 279 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Willunga has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that could impact the area, with key ones including Willunga Basin Water Infrastructure Expansion, Aldinga - A New Community, Main South Road Duplication Project (Stage 2) from Aldinga to Sellicks Beach, and Aldinga Intersection Upgrade. 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 performance in Willunga ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Willunga has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.9% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.4%. As of June 2025, 2,073 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.1%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 4.0%. Workforce participation in Willunga is similar to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.

The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 5.4 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 14.8% compared to the regional average of 17.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.4%, while labour force increased by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 2.1% with marginal unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Willunga. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Willunga's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Willunga has incomes below the national average. The median income is $46,769 and the average income is $61,955. In comparison, Greater Adelaide has a median income of $52,592 and an average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Willunga would be approximately $52,769 (median) and $69,904 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census reports that household, family and personal incomes in Willunga rank modestly, between the 42nd and 50th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 31.9% of residents (1,197 people), similar to broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.8% in the same category. After housing costs, residents retain 87.9% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Willunga's dwelling structures, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 97.1% houses and 2.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 89.2% houses and 10.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Willunga stood at 44.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (43.3%) or rented (12.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Willunga was $1,733, above Adelaide metro's average of $1,452. Median weekly rent in Willunga was $320, compared to Adelaide metro's $314. Nationally, Willunga's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Willunga features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 80.3% of all households, including 32.8% couples with children, 37.6% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 19.7%, with lone person households at 18.6% and group households comprising 1.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Willunga performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 28.9% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA3 area average of 18.9% and the state average of 25.7%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 11.8% and certificates for 24.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education. Willunga's three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,447 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1031) with balanced educational opportunities. The area's educational mix consists of one primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. Functioning as an education hub, the area offers 38.5 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 13.6, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Analysis of public transportation in Willunga shows 19 active transport stops currently operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by six distinct routes that together facilitate 298 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is deemed good, with residents on average situated 277 meters from the nearest transport stop.

On a daily basis, service frequency averages 42 trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Willunga's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data for Willunga shows a relatively low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 51% (~1,899 people) have private health cover, compared to 48.6% in Greater Adelaide.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.8%) and asthma (7.8%). Around 68.1% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.9% in Greater Adelaide. Willunga has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.3% (986 people), compared to 21.0% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors in Willunga are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

Willunga ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Willunga, as per the findings, has a cultural diversity index below average. Of its population, 79.3% were born in Australia, with 91.3% being citizens, and 96.3% speaking English exclusively at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 35.0% of Willunga's population.

Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 0.8%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 0.7%. The top three ancestry groups are English (36.7%), Australian (27.5%), and Scottish (9.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Welsh at 1.2% in Willunga versus 0.8% regionally, German at 6.3% compared to 5.4%, and French at 0.8% against 0.4%.

Willunga hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Willunga's median age is 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's 39 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Willunga has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (15.2%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.0%). This 65-74 age group concentration is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 6.7% to 8.6%, while the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 10.7% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 15.4% to 13.5%, and the 55 to 64 group has fallen from 16.4% to 15.2%. By 2041, Willunga's age composition is expected to shift notably. Leading this demographic change, the 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 53%, reaching 493 people from 321. This growth is primarily driven by residents aged 65 and older, who will represent 74% of the anticipated population increase. Conversely, both the 0 to 4 and 45 to 54 age groups are expected to decrease in number.