Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Population
Population growth drivers in Moonta Bay are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, Moonta Bay's estimated population is around 2,801 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 168 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,633. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,797 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 599 persons per square kilometer. Moonta Bay's growth rate of 6.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of SA (5.9%) and the SA4 region, making it a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 91.0% 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 and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Population projections indicate an increase just below Australia's regional median, with Moonta Bay expected to gain 138 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total growth of 4.8% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Moonta Bay when compared nationally
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Moonta Bay recorded around 34 residential properties approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 170 homes. In FY-26 so far, 19 approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 was 0.4 people per year. New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.
The average construction value of new homes is $380,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $1.0 million, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Rest of SA, Moonta Bay has slightly more development, 18.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, and is substantially higher than the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the location.
New building activity shows 97.0% detached dwellings and 3.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Moonta Bay reflects a developing area, with around 63 people per approval. Future projections show Moonta Bay adding 134 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Moonta Bay
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Moonta Bay has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely impacting the region: The Dunes Port Hughes. Other notable projects include South Australian Regional Bulk Port Development, Northern Water, SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production
A national program to coordinate and deploy the enabling infrastructure required to support large-scale renewable hydrogen production across Australia. Building on the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy and the National Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment (NHIA), the program aligns electricity transmission, water supply, transport corridors, port and storage infrastructure with Renewable Energy Zones and prospective hydrogen hubs (Bell Bay, Darwin, Eyre Peninsula, Gladstone, Latrobe Valley, Hunter Valley, Pilbara). Two key federal mechanisms underpin delivery. The Hydrogen Headstart program provides up to 4 billion AUD in long-term revenue support via production credits, with Round 2 (2 billion AUD administered by ARENA) opening for Expressions of Interest in October 2025 with EOIs closing 8 December 2025. The Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive (HPTI), legislated through the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 14 February 2025, provides an uncapped refundable tax offset of 2 AUD per kilogram of eligible renewable hydrogen for up to 10 years between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2040 for projects reaching final investment decision by 2030. The HPTI is jointly administered by the ATO and Clean Energy Regulator and requires certification under the Guarantee of Origin scheme. Round 1 of Hydrogen Headstart shortlisted six projects representing more than 3.5 GW of electrolyser capacity, with 814 million AUD ultimately awarded.
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.
Northern Water
Northern Water is a large-scale desalination and pipeline project designed to provide a climate-independent water source for South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North. The project features a seawater reverse osmosis plant at Mullaquana Station with an initial capacity of 130 ML/day (scalable to 260 ML/day) and a 400km pipeline network connecting Whyalla, Port Augusta, and Olympic Dam. It aims to support the green hydrogen industry and critical mineral mining while reducing reliance on the Great Artesian Basin and River Murray.
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.
Bulk Water Supply Security
Nationwide program led by the National Water Grid Authority to improve bulk water security and reliability for non-potable and productive uses. Activities include strategic planning, science and business cases, and funding of state and territory projects such as storages, pipelines, dam upgrades, recycled water and efficiency upgrades to build drought resilience and support regional communities, industry and the environment.
National EV Charging Network (Highway Fast Charging)
Partnership between the Australian Government and NRMA to deliver a backbone EV fast charging network on national highways. Program funds and co-funds 117 DC fast charging sites at roughly 150 km intervals to connect all capital cities and regional routes, reducing range anxiety and supporting EV uptake.
Network Optimisation Program - Roads
A national program concept focused on improving congestion and reliability on urban road networks by using low-cost operational measures and technology (e.g., signal timing, intersection treatments, incident management) to optimise existing capacity across major city corridors.
The Dunes Port Hughes
An 80-hectare coastal land development nestled between the turquoise waters of Port Hughes and a Greg Norman designed golf course. The development features a variety of lots, including those with golf course frontage and sea views.
Employment
AreaSearch assessment indicates Moonta Bay faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets
Moonta Bay has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar employment. Essential services sectors are well represented. The unemployment rate is 5.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.
As of December 2025, there are 953 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%. Workforce participation lags significantly at 40.6%, compared to Regional SA's 58.3%. Only 7.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Construction is particularly strong with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 3.8% compared to Regional SA's 14.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 2.1% while labour force increased by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. This compares to Regional SA where employment grew by 0.7%, labour force expanded by 3.1%, and unemployment rose by 2.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Moonta Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that Moonta Bay had a median income among taxpayers of $43,431 and an average of $57,102. This is lower than the national average. In comparison, Regional SA had a median income of $48,920 and an average of $58,933. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $47,848 (median) and $62,909 (average). Census 2021 income data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Moonta Bay fall between the 4th and 7th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort in Moonta Bay is 32.5% of locals (910 people) earning $400 - $799, unlike regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 27.5%. Housing costs are modest with 87.9% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 8th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Moonta Bay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Moonta Bay's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.3% houses and 4.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moonta Bay stood at 55.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.1% and rented ones at 18.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, higher than Regional SA's average of $1,153. Median weekly rent in Moonta Bay was $260, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Moonta Bay's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Moonta Bay has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 69.5% of all households, including 16.7% couples with children, 45.5% couples without children, and 6.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 28.3% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational attainment in Moonta Bay aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics
The area's university qualification rate is 11.3%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 38.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 28.6%.
School and university attendance comprises 19.5% of the community, including 7.8% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 1.2% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
No public transport data available for this catchment area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health outcomes in Moonta Bay are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Moonta Bay's health indicators show below-average results, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence data. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age groups.
Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~1,389 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (affecting 14.3% of residents) and asthma (9.2%), while 55.5% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Moonta Bay has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (41.9%, or 1,173 people), compared to the regional average of 27.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Moonta Bay is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Moonta Bay had a cultural diversity below average, with 87.8% born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 97.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 49.4%. This compares to 45.2% across Regional SA.
The top three ancestry groups were English (35.3%), Australian (31.6%), and German (7.4%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 2.1% compared to the regional average of 3.3%, Spanish at 0.3% versus 0.2%, and Maltese at 0.3% versus 0.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Moonta Bay ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
Moonta Bay's median age is 59 years, which exceeds the Regional SA average of 47 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Regional SA average, the cohort aged 65-74 is notably over-represented in Moonta Bay at 23.9%, while those aged 35-44 are under-represented at 6.9%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 12.8% to 14.5%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 11.1% to 9.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Moonta Bay's age profile will significantly evolve. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 30%, reaching 530 people from 406. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 85% of the population growth, while declines are anticipated for the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 age cohorts.