Whyalla Norrie

Whyalla Norrie has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Whyalla Norrie's population is estimated at around 6465 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 177 people (2.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6288 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6456, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, and an additional 34 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 889 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Whyalla Norrie's 2.8% growth since census positions it within 1.4 percentage points of the SA4 region (4.2%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 91.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Anticipating future population dynamics, lower quartile growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is anticipated, with the suburb expected to increase by 195 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 2.9% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Whyalla Norrie, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Whyalla Norrie had around 11 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25, approximately 59 homes were approved, with 6 more in FY26 so far. Despite population decline, development activity has been adequate relative to population change.

Average construction cost for new homes is $363,000, indicating focus on premium market developments. This financial year saw $110.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Rest of SA, Whyalla Norrie records about 57% of building activity per person, placing it at the 39th percentile nationally, implying limited buyer options but increasing demand for established homes. Recent construction comprises 93.0% detached dwellings and 7.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining low density character favoured by families seeking space.

The area has an estimated 432 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate Whyalla Norrie will gain 186 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond projections.

Whyalla Norrie has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include Sunrise Christian School Expansion, Whyalla Beach Splash & Play Plaza, Whyalla Secondary College, and George Ave, Whyalla Norrie. 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 Whyalla Norrie face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Whyalla Norrie has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, predominantly in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate as of December 2025 was 14.6%, higher than Regional SA's rate of 5.7%. Workforce participation is similar to Regional SA at 58.3%.

Only 1.9% of residents work from home, as per Census responses. Major employment sectors include manufacturing, healthcare & social assistance, and retail trade. Manufacturing employs 1.9 times the regional average while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.5% of local workers, below Regional SA's 14.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, with a decline in employment by 7.5% over a 12-month period.

In contrast, Regional SA saw employment rise by 0.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Whyalla Norrie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Whyalla Norrie had a median taxpayer income of $50,058 and an average of $60,627. These figures are below the national averages of $58,933 and $48,920 respectively in Regional SA. Based on Wage Price Index growth from financial year 2023 to March 2026 (10.17%), estimated median and average incomes for Whyalla Norrie are approximately $55,149 and $66,793 respectively. Census 2021 data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Whyalla Norrie fall between the 5th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 27.4% of residents earn between $400 - $799 annually, contrasting with Regional SA where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 27.5%. After housing costs, 86.1% of income remains in Whyalla Norrie, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Whyalla Norrie displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Whyalla Norrie, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 43.0% houses and 57.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whyalla Norrie was at 24.1%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (31.1%) or rented (44.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area, as of the latest data available in 2021, was $953, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $180. In comparison, Regional SA's figures were $1,153 and $220 respectively. Nationally, Whyalla Norrie's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, as per ABS data from June 2021, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Whyalla Norrie features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 59.1% of all households, including 19.6% couples with children, 22.4% couples without children, and 16.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 40.9%, with lone person households at 38.3% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Whyalla Norrie faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.0%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 6.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 6.5% and certificates at 34.0%. Educational participation is high, with 27.7% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.7% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 1.9% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Whyalla Norrie is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across Whyalla Norrie, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions impact both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~3,295 people), compared to 48.9% across Regional SA. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.3 and 10.0% of residents respectively. 60.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 18.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,221 people), which is lower than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Whyalla Norrie's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.4% of its population being Australian citizens, 81.5% born in Australia, and 92.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Whyalla Norrie, accounting for 36.2% of its population. The category 'Other' was found to be slightly underrepresented compared to Regional SA, comprising 0.7% versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (32.4%), Australian (30.4%), and Scottish (8.0%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: German is overrepresented at 5.6% compared to Regional SA's 8.2%, Filipino at 2.7% versus 0.7%, and Spanish at 0.6% versus 0.2%.

Whyalla Norrie's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Whyalla Norrie is 39, which is younger than Regional SA's figure of 47 and comparable to Australia's national average of 38. The age profile shows that the 25-34 year-olds make up 13.4% of the population, while those aged 65-74 are 9.7%. Since the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 11.2% to 12.2%, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 13.8% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Whyalla Norrie's age structure. The 75-84 group is expected to grow by 44%, reaching 635 people from 439. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 76% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 15-24 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.