Whyalla Playford

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, as of Nov 2025, Whyalla Playford's estimated population is around 2,623. This reflects an increase of 83 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,540. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,616 residents following examination of ABS' June 2024 ERP data release and 15 additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 807 persons per square kilometer. Since the Census, Whyalla Playford has grown by 3.3%, positioning it within 2.0 percentage points of its SA4 region's growth rate of 5.3%. Overseas 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 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 adjusted using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. By 2041, Whyalla Playford is expected to grow by 115 persons, reflecting a total gain of 4.1% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Whyalla Playford is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Whyalla Playford shows around 5 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 27 homes. As of FY-26, 4 approvals have been recorded. The area's population has fallen during this period, but development activity has been adequate relative to its size, which could be positive for buyers. New properties are constructed at an average value of $363,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

This financial year, $7.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating Whyalla Playford's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of SA, Whyalla Playford shows approximately 65% of the construction activity per person. Nationally, it places among the 24th percentile of areas assessed, indicating somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties. This lower level of new building activity reflects market maturity and possible development constraints.

New building activity in Whyalla Playford consists of 75.0% standalone homes and 25.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 654 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Whyalla Playford will gain 108 residents through to 2041, based on 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.

Whyalla Playford has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely influencing the area. Notable ones are Whyalla Steelworks Green Steel Transformation, Whyalla Beach Splash & Play Plaza, Whyalla Foreshore Redevelopment, and Cuttlefish Cove Experience Project. The following list details those most relevant.

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 conditions in Whyalla Playford face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Whyalla Playford has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, well-represented essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 9.7% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 1,248 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 4.4% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%.

Workforce participation stands at 61.1%, exceeding Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key industries employing residents include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and education & training. Manufacturing is particularly strong with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.2% compared to Rest of SA's 14.5%.

Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by Census working population vs resident population counts. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force increased by 4.5%, while employment decreased by 0.6%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 4.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA saw employment growth of 0.3% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with a 1.9 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Whyalla Playford's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year ended 2023, Whyalla Playford had a median income among taxpayers of $64,756 and an average income of $78,429. Nationally, the median income was $48,920 and the average was $58,933 for Rest of SA. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year ended 2023, current estimates for Whyalla Playford would be approximately $70,455 (median) and $85,331 (average) as of September 2025. In 2021 Census figures, household incomes in Whyalla Playford ranked at the 39th percentile, family incomes at the 36th percentile, and personal incomes at the 43rd percentile. Income distribution showed that 29.5% of individuals (773 people) had incomes between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to regional levels where 27.5% fell within this bracket. Housing costs were manageable with 89.1% retained, but disposable income was below average at the 37th percentile.

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

In Whyalla Playford, as per the latest Census evaluation, 86.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 13.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro SA's figures of 75.9% houses and 24.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whyalla Playford stood at 39.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.5% and rented ones at 22.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,280, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,170 but significantly lower than the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Whyalla Playford was $200, compared to Non-Metro SA's $195 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.4% of all households, including 24.9% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.6%, with lone person households at 31.9% and group households comprising 1.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.0%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (7.4%) and certificates (35.1%).

A notable 24.5% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 10.3% in primary education, 6.1% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Whyalla Playford is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant challenges for Whyalla Playford, with high prevalence of common health conditions among both younger and older age groups. Approximately 58% (~1,520 people) have private health cover, compared to 51.5% across the rest of South Australia.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.8%) and asthma (9.0%). About 64.3% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 65.6% in the rest of SA. Around 22.0% (~577 people) are aged 65 and over, performing well on health metrics compared to the general population.

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

Whyalla Playford, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, had a population with 83.5% born in Australia, 89.8% being citizens, and 94.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 44.2% of the population. The category 'Other' showed an overrepresentation, comprising 0.7% compared to 0.6% in the Rest of SA.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.7%), Australian (31.0%), and Scottish (9.2%). Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Welsh was higher at 0.9%, German at 6.0%, and Croatian at 1.1% compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 6.6%, and 0.7% respectively.

Whyalla Playford hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Whyalla Playford's median age is 44 years, which is slightly younger than Rest of SA's median age of 47 but significantly higher than the Australian median age of 38. The age profile shows that 25-34 year-olds make up 13.8% of the population, while those aged 65-74 comprise 11.3%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 85+ age group has grown from 2.5% to 3.3%, and the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.7% to 12.0%. Demographic modeling suggests Whyalla Playford's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 75-84 age cohort projected to grow by 83 people (43%) from 194 to 278. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 81% of population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Both the 15-24 and 5-14 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.