Yankalilla

Population growth drivers in Yankalilla are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the resident count in Yankalilla is approximately 7,028 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 530 residents (8.2%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 6,498 people. This shift is calculated using the estimated resident population of 6,998 provided by the ABS as of June 2025 alongside address validation tracking since the Census. Based on these numbers, the region has a density ratio of 7.2 persons per square kilometer, offering residents substantial space. The expansion rate of 8.2% since the 2021 census outpaced the Rest of SA (5.9%) and the broader SA4 region, establishing the locality as a leader in regional growth. The expansion was primarily fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 86.6% of the total population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 regions omitted from this dataset, as well as for the years following 2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age group, issued in 2023 and based on 2021 records, are applied by employing a weighted aggregation method of population growth from the LGA to the SA2 scale. Looking at upcoming demographic shifts, the locality is projected to experience population growth exceeding the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with an anticipated increase of 790 individuals by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, indicating a total growth of 10.8% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Yankalilla among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Yankalilla has recorded an average of approximately 88 new residential approvals annually, with a total of 444 dwellings approved during the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 80 approvals registered so far in FY-26. With an average of 1.4 new residents arriving per approved home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the market demonstrates a healthy equilibrium between supply and demand, promoting stable conditions. The average valuation of these newly constructed homes stands at $290,000. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $5.8 million have been logged in the current financial year, pointing to a quiet period for commercial real estate development.

Compared to the Rest of SA, Yankalilla shows similar per-capita development levels, maintaining a market equilibrium in line with its surroundings, even though building activity has slowed down of late. This rate remains well above the national standard, showing strong interest from builders in the region. Furthermore, recent construction has consisted entirely of detached houses, which preserves the traditional low-density profile of the neighborhood and focuses on spacious family residences. With approximately 97 people for every housing approval, Yankalilla exhibits the classic traits of an expanding area.

Future forecasts indicate that Yankalilla will add 760 residents by 2041 (calculated from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly figures). Given the current pace of construction, the supply of new housing is anticipated to easily accommodate this demand, ensuring favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating growth that surpasses current population forecasts.

Yankalilla has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 7thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives exert a major influence on regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked 20 active projects poised to affect the locality. The most significant developments include the Aspen Normanville Lifestyle and Tourism Park, the Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan, the Main South Road Safety Upgrades (Myponga to Cape Jervis), and the Fleurieu Connections - Main South Road and Victor Harbor Road Duplication, with the most relevant initiatives listed below.

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 performance in Yankalilla exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Yankalilla possesses a qualified workforce spread across multiple sectors, featuring a low unemployment rate of 3.1% and estimated job growth of 3.3% over the prior year. In March 2026, there were 3,124 residents employed, with the local unemployment rate sitting 2.4% below the 5.5% rate recorded in Regional SA. However, the workforce participation rate of 52.9% is significantly lower than the 58.4% seen in Regional SA. Census data indicates that a moderate 18.5% of the working population operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions should be taken into account.

The primary sectors employing residents in this locality are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The community displays a particularly strong concentration in construction, where employment is 1.3 times the regional standard. Conversely, manufacturing has a smaller footprint, employing 6.2% of the local workforce compared to 9.3% across the wider region. Comparing the volume of local jobs reported in the Census against the resident workforce suggests that local employment opportunities are relatively scarce.

According to the AreaSearch assessment of SALM and ABS statistics, during the twelve months leading to March 2026, the number of employed individuals rose by 3.3% while the total labor force expanded by 4.3%, which led to a 0.9 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This trend differed from Regional SA, which saw employment grow by 1.2%, the labor force expand by 2.6%, and the unemployment rate rise by 1.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 issued by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context on expected future trends in Yankalilla. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary substantially across different industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment distribution of Yankalilla suggests local jobs will rise by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years (note that this calculation is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate localized population forecasts).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Tax data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023 indicates that the income level in the Yankalilla SA2 is below the national average. The median taxpayer income in the Yankalilla SA2 is $40,385, with an average income of $52,333, compared to Regional SA averages of $48,920 and $58,933. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since the financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $44,492 for the median and $57,655 for the average. Census data places household, family, and individual incomes in Yankalilla within the 6th to 8th national percentiles. Looking at the distribution, the weekly earnings bracket of $800 - 1,499 represents 29.1% of the community (2,045 individuals), whereas the regional leader is the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 27.5%. Even though residents retain 86.7% of their income due to modest housing costs, the overall disposable income rank sits at the 10th percentile nationally.

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

Residential structures in Yankalilla at the time of the last Census consisted of 93.4% houses and 6.6% other options (such as townhouses, flats, or alternative dwellings), compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings in Regional SA. Home ownership in Yankalilla was notably higher than the regional average, standing at 50.5%, while the remaining properties were either mortgaged (33.6%) or rented (15.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the locality was $1,300, which is considerably higher than the Regional SA average of $1,153, while the median weekly rent was $270 compared to Regional SA's $220. On a national level, mortgage payments in Yankalilla are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent figures are also well below the national median of $375.

Yankalilla has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 67.8%, consisting of couples with children (20.3%), couples without children (40.1%), and single parents (7.0%). The remaining 32.2% are non-family households, which are mostly single-person households (29.9%) and group households (2.1%). The median household occupancy of 2.2 residents is slightly below the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Yankalilla fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The locality displays low rates of higher education, with university qualification levels at 17.7% compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. This gap represents both a challenge and an opening for focused educational programs. Among residents with degrees, bachelor qualifications lead at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational and technical skills are highly prevalent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (28.7%).

A significant portion of the population, specifically 21.9%, is enrolled in formal education. Within this cohort, 9.1% are in primary school, 6.5% are in secondary school, and 1.8% are in tertiary programs.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Yankalilla is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Yankalilla presents notable health concerns based on the AreaSearch analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, which are prevalent across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 46% of the population (~3,218 people) having cover, compared to 48.9% in Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent medical diagnoses in the area, affecting 12.9% and 9.0% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 59.6% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 62.5% in Regional SA. The working-age cohort faces notable health difficulties with higher rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 36.2% of the population (2,542 people), which is higher than the 27.1% figure in Regional SA. However, health outcomes for these seniors are above average, ranking higher nationally than the general population profile.

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

Yankalilla exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity than the national average, with 81.3% of residents born in Australia, 90.7% holding citizenship, and 97.5% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 38.5% of the population. The most prominent disproportionate representation is seen in Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.0% across Regional SA.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three largest groups in Yankalilla are English (38.1% of the population, which is notably higher than the regional average of 32.5%), Australian (27.3%), and Scottish (8.5%). There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds, with German ancestry represented at 6.1% of Yankalilla (compared to 8.2% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (compared to 0.5%), and Dutch at 1.7% (compared to 1.3%).

Yankalilla ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Yankalilla is 56 years, which is higher than the Regional SA average of 47 and well above the Australian median of 38. Residents aged 65 - 74 years are highly represented at 20.6% of the population, whereas the 25 - 34 age bracket is relatively small at 5.2% compared to Regional SA. This 65 - 74 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has expanded from 9.5% to 12.4% of the population, and the 15 to 24 cohort grew from 7.2% to 9.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age bracket decreased from 18.6% to 16.6% and the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 6.6% to 5.2%. Projections for 2041 indicate major changes in the age distribution, with the 85+ group expected to experience exceptional growth, rising by 299 people (133%) from 224 to 524. Residents aged 65 and over will account for 73% of overall population growth, highlighting the aging trend. In contrast, population decreases are projected for the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 demographics.