Waikerie
An 11.8% vacancy rate stands out in a town of 2,681 people, alongside a median age of 49 that is 9 years above the national figure. Waikerie is a low-density Riverland centre at 38.0 people per square kilometre, with 40.7% of homes owned outright and 29.7% rented. Compared with larger nearby centres such as Berri and Loxton, its profile is older and more settled, reflected in 82.8% of residents staying at the same address. Household income sits at the 11.0th percentile nationally, so affordability and service access matter more than rapid growth.
Local council: Loxton Waikerie
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
69
Waikerie suits buyers seeking detached, lower-density housing, although current comparable sales should be checked because a suburb median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 85.8% of dwellings, higher than the 13.4% semi-detached share, and 54.9% have 3 bedrooms. Outright ownership is 40.7%, while 25.5% carry a mortgage. A representative mortgage payment of $1,000 a month equals 24.2% of household income, compared with 21.0% rent-to-income. The 2.2-person average household size points to demand from couples, singles and downsizers as well as families.
For Buyers
Waikerie suits buyers seeking detached, lower-density housing, although current comparable sales should be checked because a suburb median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 85.8% of dwellings, higher than the 13.4% semi-detached share, and 54.9% have 3 bedrooms. Outright ownership is 40.7%, while 25.5% carry a mortgage. A representative mortgage payment of $1,000 a month equals 24.2% of household income, compared with 21.0% rent-to-income. The 2.2-person average household size points to demand from couples, singles and downsizers as well as families.
For Investors
Waikerie's rental case rests on a 29.7% renting share and weekly rent of $200, but the 11.8% vacancy rate can make tenant demand less predictable than in a tighter market. Rent consumes 21.0% of household income, lower than the 24.2% mortgage-to-income ratio, so renting is not flagged as stressed. Planning activity reached 72 applications in 12 months, indicating ongoing local investment, yet the 0.1% annual growth trend and Balanced migration driver support conservative assumptions. Rent growth of 43.9% is notable, while the current gentrification score is 0 and stage is Not gentrifying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
332
Last 12 Months
69
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+27.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Waikerie
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Waikerie Primary School
Waikerie High School
Demographics
Waikerie has an older, mainly Australian-born profile: median age is 49, 9 years above national, while overseas-born residents account for 13.8%, 7.8 points below the national share. University attainment is 16.0%, 14.1 points below national, consistent with practical and service-oriented work. English ancestry counts 1,012 people and German 444; Christianity accounts for 1,214 residents, compared with 1,069 reporting no religion and 77 Sikh residents. Average household size is 2.2, lower than national by 0.3, and 82.8% stayed at the same address. Compared with larger Riverland centres such as Berri and Loxton, Waikerie is more small-town and age-weighted.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.8%
Houses
13.4%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates Waikerie: 85.8% of dwellings are separate houses, while 54.9% have 3 bedrooms and 22.6% have 4 or more. The 13.4% semi-detached share is lower than the separate-house share. Tenure is settled, with 40.7% owned outright, 25.5% mortgaged and 29.7% rented. Household income is $954 a week and ranks at the 11.0th percentile, so decisions should be tested against local incomes rather than metropolitan assumptions. Mortgage payments of $1,000 monthly equal 24.2% of income, compared with 21.0% rent-to-income. Compared with Berri and Loxton, Waikerie's detached form is the clearer housing distinction.
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$200
Census 2021
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
30.1%
Couples with children
52.6%
Couples, no children
15.5%
Single parent
718
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Waikerie's employment base at 18.9% (110 workers), followed by agriculture at 14.6% (85), education at 11.7% (68), retail at 7.5% (44) and construction at 6.9% (40). Occupations lean towards labourers (240), community and personal service workers (152) and trades (139), above managers (133) and professionals (115). Unemployment is 4.2%, participation 50.5% and full-time employment 56.0%. Household income ranks at the 11.0th percentile. SEIFA places education and occupation in decile 1, economic resources in decile 3, and both disadvantage measures in decile 2, below the national midpoint. The practical industry mix helps explain the low ranking.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
1,136
Unemployed
48
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.0%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
50.5%
Employed
1,088
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
13.8%
Dwellings
1,122
Transport to Work
Waikerie's daily life is car-oriented: 77.1% travel as car drivers, versus 0.5% using public transport, while 8.0% walk or cycle and 6.8% work from home. Two local government schools cover primary and secondary education, giving families basic in-town access; enrolment zones should still be checked against the exact address. Recorded crime is 108 incidents, or 40.3 per 1,000 residents, so buyers should compare street-level conditions and recent trends before deciding. Volunteering reaches 24.1%, while 7.7% need assistance. IRSAD sits in decile 2, below the national midpoint, which helps explain why service access and transport independence matter more than amenity-led pricing.
Drive
77.1%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
8.0%
Work from Home
6.8%
Growth Outlook
Waikerie is tracking as an established, slow-growth market: the annual forecast trend is 0.1%, while population change across the wider area is 5.0% over 10 years. Migration is labelled Balanced, but the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 8.7 percentage points and the working share down 4.4 points. That direction is stronger than the young-share movement of -2.5 points, so future demand is more likely to centre on services, maintenance and downsizer housing than rapid family expansion. Rent growth of 43.9% is a pressure point. The gentrification rating is 0, Not gentrifying, while a separate shift measure records 25 and Early signs, suggesting limited rather than broad change.
Population trend: Loxton Waikerie council area
Waikerie sits in the Loxton Waikerie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Waikerie's.
Residents 2025
11,971
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit residents who value detached housing, local schools and a quieter pace. The median age is 49, 77.1% drive to work and recorded crime is 40.3 per 1,000 residents, so transport and street-level checks matter. Its 11.8% vacancy rate may also give renters more choice than in tighter markets.
What is the median house price in Waikerie?
A current median house price is not available for Waikerie, so buyers should compare recent sales rather than rely on a headline figure. As context, weekly rent is $200 and a representative mortgage payment is $1,000 per month. Separate houses make up 85.8% of dwellings.
What schools are in Waikerie?
Waikerie has 2 local government schools covering primary and secondary education: Waikerie Primary School and Waikerie High School. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, because catchments can differ between the 2 school levels.
Is Waikerie safe?
Waikerie recorded 108 crimes, equivalent to 40.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure should be read alongside recent local trends and the exact street, as conditions can vary. Buyers and renters should also consider lighting, access to services and the 77.1% car-driver rate.
Is Waikerie good for property investment?
Waikerie may suit investors seeking a lower-cost regional rental strategy, but the 11.8% vacancy rate warrants caution. Weekly rent is $200, 29.7% of households rent and rent growth is 43.9%. The 0.1% annual growth trend and Balanced migration driver support conservative yield and capital-growth assumptions.
How is Waikerie's population changing?
Waikerie has 2,681 residents today and is following an Aging trajectory. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 5.0% over 10 years, while the annual trend is 0.1% and migration is labelled Balanced. The senior share rose 8.7 points, compared with a 2.5-point decline in the young share.
What development is happening in Waikerie?
Waikerie recorded 72 development applications over 12 months, including a 1 into 3 land division, internal supermarket alterations and an outbuilding. This is higher than a no-activity market, but applications do not guarantee new dwellings or immediate population growth.
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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