Willunga

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

Willunga's population was around 3,754 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 150 people from the 2021 Census figure of 3,604, indicating a growth rate of 4.2%. This change was inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 3,747 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio was approximately 44 persons per square kilometer. Willunga's growth rate of 4.2% since the census was within 0.7 percentage points of the SA3 area's rate of 4.9%. Population growth in the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing about 63.6% of 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 methods. Based on projected demographic shifts, Willunga is expected to grow by approximately 286 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of about 7.4% over the 17-year period.

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. Between FY21 and FY25, 89 homes were approved, with a further 6 granted approval in FY26 to date. Each dwelling has accommodated an average of 2.3 new residents per year over the past five financial years.

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

All new constructions since FY21 have been standalone homes, preserving Willunga's traditional low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. With around 283 people per approval, Willunga reflects a low-density area. By 2041, Willunga is projected to gain 279 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond existing population projections.

Willunga has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that may affect this region. Notable ones are Willunga Basin Water Infrastructure Expansion, Aldinga - A New Community, Main South Road Duplication Project (Stage 2) - 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 conditions in Willunga rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Willunga has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.3%.

As of September 2025, 2,111 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.0% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 5.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 14.8% compared to the regional average of 17.7%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population data analysis. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 3.3%, while labour force increased by 3.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0% and a fall in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points during this period. State-level data from November 25, 2025 shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%, with the state's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Willunga's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 shows median income in Willunga SA2 was $46,769 and average income was $61,955. In Greater Adelaide, the median income was $52,592 and average income was $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% from financial year ended June 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income in Willunga is approximately $52,769 and estimated average income is $69,904 as of September 2025. According to the Census conducted on August 10, 2021, incomes in Willunga rank modestly, between the 42nd and 50th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The income bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 31.9% of residents (1,197 people), similar to the metropolitan region's 31.8%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.9% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power in the area which has a SEIFA income ranking 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 per the latest Census, consisted of 97.1% houses and 2.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Adelaide metro's 89.2% houses and 10.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Willunga stood at 44.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.3% and rented ones at 12.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, surpassing 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 account for 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 constitute 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, higher 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 at 5.0% and graduate diplomas at 4.3%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 36.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 24.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.9% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 19 active public transport stops operating in Willunga. These are served by a mix of buses along 6 different routes, offering a total of 298 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically situated 277 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 42 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Willunga's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows Willunga residents have relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level. Approximately 51% (~1,899 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Adelaide's 48.6%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 9.8% of residents) and asthma (7.8%). A total of 68.1% declare no medical ailments, compared to 62.9% in Greater Adelaide. In Willunga, 26.3% (986 people) are aged 65 and over, higher than Greater Adelaide's 21.0%. Senior health outcomes 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 79.3% of its population born in Australia, 91.3% being citizens, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Willunga, comprising 35.0% of the population. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which made up 0.8% of the population compared to 0.7% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were English (36.7%), Australian (27.5%), and Scottish (9.0%). There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Welsh was overrepresented at 1.2% compared to 0.8% regionally, German at 6.3% versus 5.4%, and French at 0.8% compared to 0.4%.

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

Willunga's median age is 48 years, 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%). The concentration of residents aged 65-74 in Willunga is also higher than the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 6.7% to 8.6%, while the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has risen from 10.7% to 11.9%. Conversely, the proportions of residents aged 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 have decreased to 13.5% and 15.2%, respectively, from their previous figures of 15.4% and 16.4%. By 2041, Willunga's age composition is expected to change notably. The demographic shift will be led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to grow by 53%, reaching 493 people from its current figure of 321. This growth will mean that residents aged 65 and older will represent 74% of the anticipated population growth in Willunga. Conversely, both the 0 to 4 and 45 to 54 age groups are expected to see a reduction in numbers.