Port Willunga
The compact suburb has 1,785 residents across 2.13 square kilometres, with 95.2% of dwellings being separate houses. Its median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure, reinforcing an older, established profile. Compared with nearby Aldinga, Port Willunga is a smaller settlement with a more concentrated detached-housing character. English ancestry is reported by 894 residents and no religion by 1,132, reflecting a predominantly Anglo and secular profile.
Local council: Onkaparinga
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
First quarter 2026
Port Willunga suits buyers seeking detached housing, but the entry price is high. Separate houses account for 95.2% of dwellings, compared with only 1.0% apartments, and 3-bedroom homes represent 59.9% of the stock. A further 23.8% have 4 or more bedrooms. The mortgage benchmark is $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 22.9% of household income and no mortgage stress flag. Buyers should compare renovation needs carefully because the housing mix is older and more house-focused than apartment-oriented markets.
For Buyers
Port Willunga suits buyers seeking detached housing, but the entry price is high. Separate houses account for 95.2% of dwellings, compared with only 1.0% apartments, and 3-bedroom homes represent 59.9% of the stock. A further 23.8% have 4 or more bedrooms. The mortgage benchmark is $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 22.9% of household income and no mortgage stress flag. Buyers should compare renovation needs carefully because the housing mix is older and more house-focused than apartment-oriented markets.
For Investors
The investment case is mixed because rental availability and capital pricing point in different directions. Rent is $328 per week, 23.4% of households rent, and the vacancy rate is 29.3%, which is much higher than conditions in a tight rental market. That can make tenant demand and achievable rent less predictable, even though the low advertised rent may attract some price-sensitive households. There were 32 development applications in the past 12 months, with examples focused on decks, verandahs, garages and alterations rather than clearly identified large housing projects. Forecast growth is 0.74% annually with Balanced migration, so investors should compare yield, holding costs and renovation potential rather than rely on the recent 50.6% price increase.
Development Activity
Total DAs
192
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+28.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Port Willunga has a median age of 44, which is 4 years above the national median, and its trajectory is classified as Aging. The senior share has increased by 7.3 percentage points while the young share has fallen by 2.5 points, helping explain the suburb's established household pattern. University attainment is 27.6%, or 2.5 points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 16.1%, 5.5 points below national levels. Average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national figure. Couples with children account for 36.7% of families, couples without children 36.1%, and one-parent families 24.7%. Compared with nearby Aldinga, Port Willunga's 1,785 residents form a smaller, more settled population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.2%
Houses
3.8%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market is dominated by conventional family homes: 95.2% are separate houses, versus 1.0% apartments and 3.8% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes make up 59.9% of stock and 4 or more bedrooms account for 23.8%, so buyers have more access to family-sized houses than compact units. Ownership is split between 38.2% owning outright, 37.8% with a mortgage and 23.4% renting. The 29.3% vacancy rate is high compared with a low-vacancy market, while the 22.9% mortgage-to-income share and 25.0% rent-to-income share indicate limited recorded stress.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$328
Census 2021
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
36.7%
Couples with children
36.1%
Couples, no children
24.7%
Single parent
485
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Port Willunga's largest industry at 18.9%, representing 105 workers, followed by Education at 13.7% and 76 workers, Construction at 10.8% and 60, Manufacturing at 8.3% and 46, and Professional and Technical services at 6.8% and 38. Trades are the largest occupation group with 148 people, just above Professionals at 146. The participation rate is 57.2%, unemployment is 6.2%, and 52.4% of employed residents work full time. Economic rankings are uneven: the IER sits in decile 9, higher than the IEO decile of 7 and IRSAD decile of 7, while household income is at the 32.6th percentile. This contrast means broader economic standing ranks better than household income alone.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
835
Unemployed
52
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.4%
Part-time
40.5%
Participation
57.2%
Employed
783
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.6%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
16.1%
Dwellings
710
Transport to Work
Port Willunga is strongly car-oriented, with 80.7% driving to work compared with 2.3% using public transport and 2.5% walking or cycling. A further 12.0% work from home, which can reduce daily commuting for some households. Families should compare school options, enrolment zones and travel times from the exact address rather than rely on the suburb name alone. Reported crime totals 62 incidents, equal to 34.7 per 1,000 residents, providing a useful baseline to compare with nearby areas. The IRSAD sits in decile 7 and the IRSAD score is 1,026, while volunteering is 18.6%. The combination of detached housing, car access and an older age profile supports a quieter routine, but transport dependence is higher than in better-serviced urban areas.
Drive
80.7%
Public Transport
2.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
12.0%
Growth Outlook
Port Willunga is forecast to grow at 0.74% annually, with Balanced migration rather than a single dominant inflow. The wider area's population change is 9.6% over 10 years, indicating measured expansion compared with a high-growth corridor. The trajectory is Aging, supported by a 7.3 percentage point rise in the senior share and a 2.7 point fall in the working share. Gentrification signals are restrained: one indicator gives a score of 4 and the stage Not gentrifying, while the shift assessment records a score of 34 and Early signs. Rent growth of 28.0% and real income growth of 16.0% may support property values, but the Aging profile and 0.74% annual trend point to gradual rather than explosive change.
Population trend: Onkaparinga council area
Port Willunga sits in the Onkaparinga council area. These are the council area's residents, not Port Willunga's.
Residents 2025
184,827
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit households wanting detached housing and a quieter setting. Separate houses make up 95.2% of dwellings, while the median age is 44, which is 4 years above the national median. Compared with denser suburbs, residents should expect greater reliance on cars, with 80.7% driving to work.
What schools are in Port Willunga?
School choices serving Port Willunga should be checked by exact address, enrolment zone and transport route. Car travel is more common than public transport, with 80.7% of workers driving and 2.3% using public transport. Families should compare school locations, sector, start and finish times, and the practical journey from each property.
Is Port Willunga safe?
Port Willunga recorded 62 reported crimes, equal to a rate of 34.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure is a useful baseline to compare with nearby suburbs and more recent updates, but it can vary by street and reporting period. Buyers and renters should inspect the immediate area at different times rather than rely on one annual rate.
How is Port Willunga's population changing?
Port Willunga has 1,785 residents and a median age of 44, 4 years above the national median. Its trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 7.3 percentage points and the young share down 2.5 points. The wider area's 10-year population change is 9.6%, while annual growth is forecast at 0.74% with Balanced migration.
What development is occurring in Port Willunga?
There were 32 development applications in the past 12 months. The examples include verandahs, decks, garages and alterations to existing dwellings rather than clearly identified large-scale new housing. Compared with a major greenfield pipeline, this pattern points more toward incremental renewal and owner-led improvements across the established housing stock.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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