West Beach (SA)

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

The suburb of West Beach (SA) had an estimated population of 5,447 as of November 2025, reflecting a growth of 272 people (5.3%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,175. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,438 based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 26 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was around 1,300 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. West Beach's growth rate of 5.3% since the census is within 1.8 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 7.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary population growth in the area. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in June 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation. The suburb is expected to grow by 564 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 10.2% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within West Beach when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates West Beach averaged around 26 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 131 homes were approved, with a further 7 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, about 2 people moved to the area for each dwelling built over these years, suggesting balanced supply and demand dynamics.

New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $660,000, targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year has seen around $3.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited focus on commercial development compared to residential. Relative to Greater Adelaide, West Beach shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 67th percentile nationally based on assessed areas.

Recent construction comprises 74.0% detached dwellings and 26.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character. The location has around 204 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate forecasts West Beach will gain approximately 555 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.

West Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Three projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area: Adelaide Airport Industrial Development, West Beach Surf Life Saving Club Rebuild, Apex Park Stage 2 Redevelopment, and River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project.

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees West Beach performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

West Beach has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.6% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.2%.

As of June 2025, 3,049 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.

Health care & social assistance had a limited presence at 16.3% compared to the regional average of 17.7%. The predominantly residential area offered limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while the labour force also grew by 3.2%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 2.1% and the labour force grow by 2.1%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-2022 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Beach's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

West Beach median taxpayer income was $54,139, average was $70,158 in financial year 2022. This is higher than national averages of $52,592 (median) and $64,886 (average). By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $61,085 and average will be around $79,159, based on a 12.83% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to 2021 Census figures, personal income ranked at the 66th percentile ($896 weekly), while household income was at the 49th percentile. Income distribution showed that 28.2% of residents (1,536 people) fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket. After housing expenses, 86.2% of income remained for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

West Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

West Beach's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.0% houses and 34.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Adelaide metro's 63.9% houses and 36.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Beach was at 39.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 27.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, exceeding Adelaide metro's average of $1,745. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $320, compared to Adelaide metro's $310. Nationally, West Beach's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $375.

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

Family households account for 69.2 percent of all households, including 31.4 percent couples with children, 29.4 percent couples without children, and 7.5 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.8 percent, with lone person households at 28.5 percent and group households comprising 2.2 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3.

The educational profile of West Beach exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 33.1% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the South Australian average of 25.7% and that of Greater Adelaide at 28.9%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 10.8% and certificates for 20.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education. West Beach Primary School serves the local educational needs within West Beach, with an enrollment of 317 students as of the latest data. The area exhibits above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1083. There is one school focused exclusively on primary education in the area, with secondary options available in surrounding regions. Local school capacity is limited, with 5.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.8, indicating that many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Transport analysis shows 48 active stops operating in West Beach, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 15 routes, collectively providing 627 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 133 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 89 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per stop.

West Beach's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

West Beach's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, exhibiting typical levels of common health conditions across both young and elderly age groups. Approximately 55% (~2980 people) of West Beach residents have private health cover, compared to Greater Adelaide's 51.8%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.6% of residents) and asthma (6.5%), while 69.7% report being free from medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Adelaide's 70.9%. West Beach has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.0% (1143 people), compared to Greater Adelaide's 17.6%. Health outcomes among seniors in West Beach are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in West Beach was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

West Beach has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 23.7% of its population born overseas and 15.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in West Beach, making up 52.4% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 1.1% of West Beach's population, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 3.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in West Beach are English (28.5%), Australian (23.9%), and Other (7.3%). The English group is significantly higher than the regional average of 22.1%, while the Other category is notably lower at 12.3%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Polish (1.1% vs regional 0.9%), Russian (0.6% vs regional 0.3%), and Greek (4.2% vs regional 6.1%).

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

The median age in West Beach is 44 years, which is notably higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, the 55-64 age cohort is over-represented in West Beach at 13.2%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 12.3% to 13.5% of West Beach's population, while the 75 to 84 cohort has decreased from 8.3% to 7.4%. By 2041, the 85+ age cohort is projected to grow significantly in West Beach, increasing by 103 people (56%) from 185 to 289. The 0 to 4 age group is expected to grow more modestly at 5%, adding only 10 residents.