Port Willunga
A $1,175,000 median house price in a suburb where household income sits in the 32.6th percentile nationally is the defining tension of Port Willunga. The beachside location on the Fleurieu Peninsula draws buyers who can afford the premium even as local wages sit well below the national average. The suburb has a median age of 44, which is 4 years above the national figure, and 95.2% of dwellings are separate houses, making it one of the most detached-dominant coastal pockets in South Australia. A 29.3% vacancy rate signals that a large share of the housing stock is held as holiday or investment property rather than primary residence.
Population
1,785
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,313/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
Median House
$1.2M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $1,175,000 in 1Q 2026, up from $780,000 in 1Q 2025, a 50.6% rise in a single year. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.2%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 59.9% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes making up 23.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. However, the household income percentile of 32.6 nationally means the purchase price is high relative to what most local residents earn, so buyers tend to be relocating from higher-income areas rather than sourced from the local workforce. Outright owners at 38.5% nearly match mortgage holders at 38.0%, pointing to an established base of long-held coastal properties.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,175,000 in 1Q 2026, up from $780,000 in 1Q 2025, a 50.6% rise in a single year. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.2%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 59.9% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes making up 23.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. However, the household income percentile of 32.6 nationally means the purchase price is high relative to what most local residents earn, so buyers tend to be relocating from higher-income areas rather than sourced from the local workforce. Outright owners at 38.5% nearly match mortgage holders at 38.0%, pointing to an established base of long-held coastal properties.
For Investors
The investment picture is shaped by a 29.3% vacancy rate, the highest signal of holiday or secondary-dwelling use in the brief. Weekly rent is $328 against a $1,175,000 median, implying a gross yield below 1.5%, which is low compared to typical residential markets. The renter share at 23.5% is modest, meaning most occupied dwellings are owner-occupied. Net migration runs at roughly 25 internal and 9 overseas arrivals per year, providing thin but steady demand. There were 28 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly outbuilding and tree-management works consistent with established coastal properties rather than new supply. Population growth at 0.74% annually is gradual, so the investment case rests on capital growth rather than rental yield or volume demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
184
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+39.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 44 sits 4 years above the national figure, reflecting a suburb that skews toward established homeowners and retirees rather than young families. The senior share rose 7.3 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.7 points, confirming the aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents make up 16.1%, which is 5.5 points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly English (894 residents), Scottish (215) and Irish (195), with German heritage also present (156). University qualifications reach 27.6%, sitting 2.5 points below the national rate. Average household size is 2.3, marginally below the national figure, consistent with empty-nester and couples-no-children households, which make up 26.2% of all families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.2%
Houses
3.8%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Port Willunga is one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in the state, with separate houses at 95.2% of all dwellings and apartments at just 1.0%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.9%, followed by four-plus bedroom homes at 23.8%, reflecting the family-holiday and lifestyle-property character of the area. Tenure splits almost evenly between outright owners (38.5%) and mortgage holders (38.0%), with renters at 23.5%. The median house price rose from $780,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,175,000 in 1Q 2026. The 29.3% vacancy rate is notably high compared to metropolitan SA suburbs, consistent with a coastal location where many properties are held as holiday homes and sit unoccupied for extended periods.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$328
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$690
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
29.3%
Unoccupied
293
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples, no children
1,310
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 18.9% of the local workforce (105 workers), followed by Education at 13.7% (76 workers) and Construction at 10.8% (60 workers). By occupation, Professionals lead at 146 workers and Community/Personal service workers follow at 127, with Labourers at 89. The unemployment rate is 6.7% and the participation rate is 53.3%, below the national average, partly because the older population includes many residents not in the labour force at 551 people. The SEIFA IER decile of 9 indicates strong household economic resources, which sits higher than the IRSAD decile of 7, suggesting that while educational and occupational advantage is moderate, asset wealth from property and savings is above average.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
2,184
Unemployed
40
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.4%
Part-time
36.9%
Participation
53.3%
Employed
727
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.6%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
16.1%
Dwellings
710
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 91.7% of commuters driving, compared to the national average, with only 2.7% using public transport, which reflects the coastal location outside Adelaide's main transit corridors. The crime rate is 34.7 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, based on 62 recorded incidents for the population. No schools are recorded within the Port Willunga boundary, so families use facilities in neighbouring suburbs such as Aldinga Beach and Aldinga. The IRSAD decile of 7 places the suburb above the state median for advantage, and the IER decile of 9 signals strong economic resources relative to other SA suburbs. The volunteering rate of 18.6% and rent-to-income of 25.0% both indicate a community with capacity and stability rather than financial stress.
Drive
91.7%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.74%/yr
(+28 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.74% annually, adding around 28 persons per year, and the 10-year change was 9.6%, above the pace of many established coastal suburbs. Medium-scenario forecasts project the area population growing from 3,784 in 2025 to around 3,918 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with net internal arrivals of 25 and net overseas arrivals of 9 annually. The gentrification score is 4, classifying the suburb as not gentrifying, because it is already an established high-price market with little room for demographic uplift. Affordability improved from 46.4% of income in 2011 to 41.6% in 2021 because real income growth of 16.0% and rent growth of 28.0% partially offset rising prices.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+9
Net Internal / yr
+25
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
62
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
34.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Willunga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Willunga a good suburb to live in?
Port Willunga scores decile 7 on IRSAD and decile 9 on IER, placing it above average nationally for advantage and economic resources. The main trade-offs are very limited public transport (2.7% of commuters) and no schools within the suburb boundary. Median age is 44 and the area suits lifestyle-focused buyers more than young families.
What is the median house price in Port Willunga?
The median house price is $1,175,000 as of 1Q 2026, up from $780,000 in 1Q 2025, a 50.6% rise over one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $328.
What schools are in Port Willunga?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Willunga boundary in this dataset, so families with children rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The suburb has a university-educated share of 27.6% and a median age of 44, suggesting most residents are past school-age household stage.
Is Port Willunga safe?
Port Willunga recorded 62 incidents in the reference period, giving a crime rate of 34.7 per 1,000 residents. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSD, meaning it sits in the top 20% for least disadvantage in SA, and only 7.4% of residents (125 people) need daily assistance.
Is Port Willunga good for property investment?
The 29.3% vacancy rate signals heavy holiday-property use, and weekly rent of $328 against a $1,175,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.5%, low compared to mainstream markets. Population growth of 0.74% annually and strong capital growth (50.6% in one year) suggest the suburb rewards long-hold capital appreciation more than rental income.
How is Port Willunga's population changing?
Population growth averages 0.74% annually, adding about 28 people per year. The 10-year population change was 9.6% and medium forecasts project growth to around 3,918 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with 25 net internal and 9 net overseas arrivals per year. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 7.3 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Port Willunga?
There were 28 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly outbuilding, shed and tree-management works on existing properties. This is consistent with an established coastal suburb maintaining existing dwellings rather than adding new stock. The 29.3% vacancy rate reflects holiday-home holding rather than development pressure.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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