Goolwa
At a median age of 67, Goolwa has an age profile 27 years above the national comparison, making retirement and low-maintenance living central to its market. The township has 2,558 residents, 85.9% separate houses and a 15.7% vacancy rate, while household income sits at the 4.5th percentile nationally. Compared with nearby Victor Harbor, Goolwa has a smaller-town feel and a more concentrated older base. That combination supports established services, but buyers should test healthcare access, car dependence and seasonal rental conditions before committing.
Local council: Alexandrina
Population
2,558
Median Age
67.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$790/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
159
Without a current median house price, buyers should assess Goolwa through cash flow, dwelling fit and recent comparable sales. The housing stock leans to separate houses at 85.9%, with 3-bedroom homes forming 45.9% and 2-bedroom homes 34.4%, which suits downsizers and small households more than large families. A $1,000 monthly mortgage benchmark equals 29.2% of household income, below the 31.6% rent-to-income pressure, while 51.5% own outright. Compared with apartment-led markets, Goolwa's 4.3% apartment share points to limited compact stock, so inspect individual homes carefully.
For Buyers
Without a current median house price, buyers should assess Goolwa through cash flow, dwelling fit and recent comparable sales. The housing stock leans to separate houses at 85.9%, with 3-bedroom homes forming 45.9% and 2-bedroom homes 34.4%, which suits downsizers and small households more than large families. A $1,000 monthly mortgage benchmark equals 29.2% of household income, below the 31.6% rent-to-income pressure, while 51.5% own outright. Compared with apartment-led markets, Goolwa's 4.3% apartment share points to limited compact stock, so inspect individual homes carefully.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed yield and vacancy picture. Weekly rent is $250 and 24.9% of occupied dwellings are rented, creating a tenant base, but vacancy is 15.7%, higher than a tightly supplied market and likely to lengthen leasing times. The 143 development applications in 12 months indicate active project flow, although that count includes non-residential work, so dwelling-level competition needs checking. Rent growth of 33.3% can improve gross returns because income has risen, yet the 31.6% rent-to-income ratio points to affordability limits. Compared with outright ownership at 51.5%, renting is a smaller tenure group, so investor demand may be more selective.
Development Activity
Total DAs
532
Last 12 Months
159
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+72.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Goolwa
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Goolwa Primary School
Goolwa Secondary College
Demographics
Goolwa's demographic centre is older, smaller-household and predominantly Anglo-Celtic. The median age is 67, 27 years above the national comparison, while the average household size is 1.8, 0.7 below the national figure. English ancestry counts 1,343 people, followed by Scottish at 294, Irish at 252 and German at 231. No religion is recorded for 1,140 residents versus 1,126 identifying with Christianity. University attainment is 20.6%, 9.5 percentage points below the national comparison, which fits the community and personal services count of 108 and trades count of 107. Compared with nearby Victor Harbor, Goolwa's 2,558 residents create a more compact social setting, with 80.4% staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.9%
Houses
9.1%
Townhouse
4.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Goolwa's housing is detached and ownership-heavy, which suits buyers seeking conventional homes but limits apartment choice. Separate houses account for 85.9% of dwellings, compared with 4.3% apartments and 9.1% semi-detached stock. The largest bedroom groups are 3-bedroom at 45.9% and 2-bedroom at 34.4%, consistent with an average household size of 1.8. Outright ownership is 51.5%, above mortgage ownership at 17.1% and renting at 24.9%, because the older resident base has had more time to repay debt. Housing stress is clearer for tenants: rent equals 31.6% of household income versus 29.2% for mortgages. Compared with higher-density markets, the trade-off is more land-based stock but fewer compact options.
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$493
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.7%
Unoccupied
230
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
16.3%
Couples with children
69.1%
Couples, no children
13.9%
Single parent
670
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors Goolwa's employment base at 26.4% and 101 workers, well above construction at 9.9% and 38, education at 9.4% and 36, retail at 8.9% and 34, and hospitality at 8.1% and 31. That concentration aligns with a median age of 67 because older communities generate ongoing care and support demand. The labour force contains 672 people, with unemployment at 7.4% and participation at 28.3%; 1,551 residents are not in the labour force. Part-time employment, at 311 people, is higher than full-time employment at 260, while community and personal roles number 108 versus 107 in trades. SEIFA scores sit in deciles 3, 4, 3 and 3 for education, economic resources, disadvantage and advantage, below stronger socioeconomic areas and consistent with the 4.5th household income percentile.
Unemployment
7.4%
Labour Force
672
Unemployed
50
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
41.8%
Part-time
50.0%
Participation
28.3%
Employed
622
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.6%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
23.2%
Dwellings
1,230
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical but car-dependent. About 79.9% drive to work, compared with 0.6% using public transport and 6.2% walking or cycling; 11.3% work from home. That pattern reflects a low-density 17.34 square kilometre township with 147.5 people per square kilometre, so households should budget for vehicle access and longer trips. Two local government schools cover primary and secondary education, giving families access across both stages. Safety is measured at 29.3 recorded offences per 1,000 residents, with 75 total offences, while IRSAD sits at decile 3. Compared with higher-service urban areas, Goolwa provides local schooling and a slower pace, but fewer public transport alternatives.
Drive
79.9%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
11.3%
Growth Outlook
Growth is positive but shaped by ageing. The forecast trend is 1.66% a year, driven primarily by internal migration, while population change across the wider area runs at 19.9% over 10 years. Goolwa's trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 10.6 percentage points and the working share has fallen 6.2 points, which can lift care demand while narrowing the local workforce. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 50, although the shift measure records 30 and Early signs, so change is better read as gradual than uniform. Rent growth of 33.3% and affordability improving from 52.9% in 2011 to 50.8% in 2021 show stronger rental pressure alongside some relative improvement. Compared with a younger growth corridor, Goolwa's momentum is more migration-led and age-led.
Population trend: Alexandrina council area
Goolwa sits in the Alexandrina council area. These are the council area's residents, not Goolwa's.
Residents 2025
31,427
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
75
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
29.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Goolwa compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goolwa a good suburb to live in?
Goolwa can suit residents seeking an older, lower-density setting: the median age is 67, density is 147.5 people per square kilometre and 79.9% drive to work. Expect a car-oriented lifestyle, with local primary and secondary government schooling and a 29.3 per 1,000 crime rate to consider.
What is the median house price in Goolwa?
A current median house price is not available as a dependable headline figure for Goolwa. Buyers should compare recent sales by street and dwelling type, especially because 85.9% of homes are separate houses and 45.9% have 3 bedrooms. Weekly rent is $250, which is useful for cash-flow comparisons.
What schools are in Goolwa?
Goolwa has 2 local government schools covering the main primary and secondary stages: Goolwa Primary School and Goolwa Secondary College. Check the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability before buying, because school access can vary across the suburb's 17.34 square kilometres.
Is Goolwa safe?
Goolwa recorded 75 total offences, equivalent to 29.3 offences per 1,000 residents. That rate should be read alongside the exact street, property type and time of day, particularly for buyers comparing 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom homes. Local conditions can vary within the suburb.
Is Goolwa good for property investment?
Goolwa may suit investors who can manage softer leasing conditions. Weekly rent is $250, vacancy is 15.7% and 24.9% of dwellings are rented. Rent growth of 33.3% supports income prospects, but 143 development applications in 12 months may add competition, so inspect local supply before buying.
How is Goolwa's population changing?
Goolwa has 2,558 residents today and an ageing trajectory. The wider area records 19.9% population change over 10 years, with a forecast trend of 1.66% annually driven by internal migration. The senior share has risen 10.6 percentage points, while the working share has fallen 6.2 points.
What development is happening in Goolwa?
Development activity is substantial at 143 applications over 12 months, including non-residential projects such as a battery storage facility and a boundary realignment. The total should not be treated as 143 new dwellings. Check project-specific approvals, timing and likely traffic effects before purchasing.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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