Waikerie
With a median age of 49 and household income in just the 11th percentile nationally, Waikerie tells a story that runs counter to most regional SA towns: stability rather than growth, affordability rather than pressure. Population sits at 2,681 across 70.64 km2, giving a density of 38 residents per km2, far below the national average for settled towns. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 2 puts Waikerie in the bottom fifth for relative advantage nationally, yet rent-to-income at 21% and mortgage-to-income at 24.2% both sit below stress thresholds, a sign that housing costs remain genuinely manageable here. Rents have grown 43.9% over the decade, well above income growth of 15.6%, which is the clearest tension on the horizon.
Population
2,681
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$954/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
67
Median house price data is not yet captured for Waikerie, making direct price comparisons difficult, but surrounding market signals are informative. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,000, below the national norm, and mortgage-to-income at 24.2% stays comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 85.8%, with semi-detached dwellings at 13.4% and virtually no apartment stock. Three-bedroom homes lead at 54.9% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 22.6%. A high outright ownership rate of 42.5% compared to the mortgage rate of 26.6% points to a long-settled resident base with low debt. This tenure profile typically signals a less competitive purchase market than coastal or metro alternatives.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not yet captured for Waikerie, making direct price comparisons difficult, but surrounding market signals are informative. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,000, below the national norm, and mortgage-to-income at 24.2% stays comfortably under the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 85.8%, with semi-detached dwellings at 13.4% and virtually no apartment stock. Three-bedroom homes lead at 54.9% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 22.6%. A high outright ownership rate of 42.5% compared to the mortgage rate of 26.6% points to a long-settled resident base with low debt. This tenure profile typically signals a less competitive purchase market than coastal or metro alternatives.
For Investors
Rental demand in Waikerie is moderate, with 31% of dwellings rented and weekly rent at $200, lower than state and national medians. The vacancy rate of 11.8% is notably high, indicating the rental market currently favours tenants over landlords and pointing to a supply overhang relative to demand. Rent grew 43.9% over the decade, significantly faster than the 15.6% real income growth, which squeezes affordability without yet triggering crisis-level stress. Development activity is meaningful at 62 applications in the past 12 months, with recent examples including commercial parking area modifications and residential outbuildings. Net overseas migration averages 29 people a year, providing a thin but positive demand floor. Net internal migration is close to balanced at 2 arrivals a year, suggesting Waikerie neither attracts nor repels local movers strongly.
Development Activity
Total DAs
311
Last 12 Months
67
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+39.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Waikerie iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Waikerie Lutheran Primary School
R-6 · 76 students
Waikerie Primary School
R-6 · 189 students
Waikerie High School
7-12 · 301 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, placing Waikerie firmly in the aging-resident category. The senior share of the population rose 8.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.4 points, a structural shift that will reduce the local labour base over time. Only 13.8% of residents were born overseas, which is 7.8 points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. English ancestry leads (1,012 residents), followed by German (444) and Scottish (191), reflecting the area's historic Riverland settlement patterns. University qualifications reach just 16%, which is 14.1 points below the national figure, consistent with the town's agricultural and labouring occupational base. Volunteering runs at 24.1% of residents, above typical regional benchmarks.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.8%
Houses
13.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Waikerie is predominantly detached, with 85.8% separate houses, well above the national average for towns of this size. Semi-detached dwellings account for 13.4% and apartments are negligible. Three-bedroom homes are the norm at 54.9%, followed by 4-plus bedroom properties at 22.6% and 2-bedroom at 18.5%. Outright ownership at 42.5% exceeds the mortgage rate of 26.6%, consistent with the older median age of 49 and a resident base that has largely paid down debt. Rent of $200 per week is low in absolute terms, and rent-to-income at 21% sits below the 30% stress threshold. The 11.8% vacancy rate is the most significant housing market signal, indicating more supply than current demand can absorb.
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$581
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.8%
Unoccupied
149
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.9%
Couples, no children
1,902
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 18.9% of the local workforce (110 workers), followed closely by Agriculture at 14.6% (85 workers), which reflects Waikerie's position in the Riverland citrus and wine-grape belt. Education employs 11.7% (68 workers), with Retail and Construction rounding out the top five. By occupation, Labourers lead at 240 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service (152) and Managers (133). The unemployment rate of 4.5% is modest, but the participation rate of 46.9% is low, reflecting a population where 950 residents are not in the labour force, partly because of the high median age of 49. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 2 and IRSAD decile of 2 place Waikerie in the bottom fifth nationally for both disadvantage and advantage, which is consistent with the 11th-percentile household income.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
3,269
Unemployed
168
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.5%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
46.9%
Employed
1,007
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
13.8%
Dwellings
1,122
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high in Waikerie, with 82.8% of residents driving to work and only 0.6% using public transport, which is far below national averages for even regional centres. Walking and cycling account for 8.5%, somewhat elevated for a town, suggesting short trip distances. The crime rate of 40.3 incidents per 1,000 residents (108 total offences) provides a base reference, though no category breakdown is available to identify the nature of offences. No schools are recorded within the Waikerie suburb boundary in this dataset. The IRSAD decile of 2 places Waikerie in the second-lowest tier nationally for relative advantage, yet housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 24.2% and rent-to-income at 21%, both below the 30% threshold. The need-for-assistance rate of 7.7% (192 residents) is higher than typical metro suburbs, consistent with the aging population.
Drive
82.8%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
8.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.1%/yr
(+7 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth is 0.1%, or approximately 7 people per year, making Waikerie one of SA's slower-growing regional towns. The 10-year population change of 5% is positive but modest, and medium forecasts project the broader SA2 area reaching around 6,830 by 2031. The aging trajectory is the defining growth dynamic: with a young-adult share falling 2.5 points and the senior share rising 8.7 points over the decade, the local workforce base is shrinking. Net overseas migration averages 29 arrivals a year, slightly offsetting natural population drift. Gentrification is not occurring, with a score of 25 on the early-signs scale and no active gentrification signals. Affordability has been broadly stable, moving from 33.3% in 2011 to 33.7% in 2021, suggesting prices have tracked incomes rather than racing ahead.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+29
Net Internal / yr
+2
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
108
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
40.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Waikerie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waikerie a good suburb to live in?
Waikerie suits residents who prioritise affordability and stability over urban amenity. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.2% and rent-to-income at 21%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Housing costs are genuinely low, with weekly rent at $200 and monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,000. The main trade-offs are limited public transport, a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 2 (bottom fifth nationally for advantage), and a high vacancy rate of 11.8% reflecting limited local economic dynamism.
What is the median house price in Waikerie?
Median house price data is not currently available for Waikerie in this dataset. Indicative affordability markers include average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,000 and weekly rent of $200, both well below SA state medians. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% is below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting prices remain accessible relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Waikerie?
No schools are recorded inside the Waikerie suburb boundary in this dataset. Families should check the broader Waikerie district area, as schools may be located in adjacent boundaries. Locally, only 16% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 14.1 points below the national average, reflecting the town's vocational and agricultural employment base.
Is Waikerie safe?
Waikerie recorded 108 total offences in the reference period, giving a crime rate of 40.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. No category-level breakdown is available to distinguish property crime from other types. As a comparison reference, the SEIFA IRSD decile of 2 places Waikerie in the lower-advantage tier nationally, which can correlate with higher community stress indicators.
Is Waikerie good for property investment?
The investment case is cautious. Weekly rent of $200 is low in absolute terms, and the vacancy rate of 11.8% indicates oversupply relative to current demand. Rent did grow 43.9% over the decade, above the 15.6% real income growth, but from a very low base. Annual population growth of 0.1% provides minimal demand pressure. Investors seeking yield over capital growth would need to account for the high vacancy and limited tenant pool of 2,681 residents.
How is Waikerie's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.1% per year, adding roughly 7 people annually. The 10-year change was 5%. The dominant demographic shift is aging, with the senior share rising 8.7 points and the working-age share falling 4.4 points over the decade. Net overseas migration averages 29 arrivals a year, slightly offsetting natural drift. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 area reaching around 6,830 by 2031.
How much development is happening in Waikerie?
Waikerie recorded 62 development applications in the past 12 months, including residential outbuildings, carports and a commercial parking area modification at a Woolworths site. This level of activity indicates ongoing incremental investment in the area rather than large-scale residential expansion, consistent with a slow-growth population of 2,681 and a vacancy rate of 11.8%.
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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