Wallaroo
A median age of 57 makes Wallaroo 17 years older than the national figure, yet the suburb is growing faster than most comparable SA towns, adding around 86 residents a year with population projected to reach 5,433 by 2031. All four SEIFA indexes place Wallaroo in decile 1 or 2 nationally, among the most disadvantaged communities in the country, with household income at the 7.3rd percentile. Against that backdrop, the 28% vacancy rate, 44.9% outright ownership rate and 110 development applications in 12 months signal a place in transition, where retirees, affordable-housing seekers and developers are reshaping a historically low-income coastal town on Yorke Peninsula.
Population
3,699
Median Age
57.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$892/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
120
No median house price is recorded in current datasets, but cost indicators show clear affordability relative to state and national benchmarks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,169, lower than most SA coastal markets, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.3%, just above the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent of $245 is below the SA median. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 91.4%, with apartments at just 0.4% compared to national norms closer to 10 to 15%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.9%, with four-plus bedrooms at 26.1%. Outright ownership at 44.9% is well above the national average, meaning most sellers are debt-free and not under financial pressure, which can support price stability during downturns.
For Buyers
No median house price is recorded in current datasets, but cost indicators show clear affordability relative to state and national benchmarks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,169, lower than most SA coastal markets, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.3%, just above the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent of $245 is below the SA median. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 91.4%, with apartments at just 0.4% compared to national norms closer to 10 to 15%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.9%, with four-plus bedrooms at 26.1%. Outright ownership at 44.9% is well above the national average, meaning most sellers are debt-free and not under financial pressure, which can support price stability during downturns.
For Investors
A 28% vacancy rate is the single most important number for investors, sitting far above the 1 to 2% national balanced-market range, reflecting significant holiday-home stock. The 31.9% renter share provides a tenant pool, and weekly rent of $245 suits demand from lower-income households. Net internal migration of 134 residents a year is the primary growth driver, supporting gradual demand lift. Development activity ran to 110 applications in 12 months, including a 1-into-274 allotment land division, signalling developer confidence. The gentrification score registers Active at 43 out of 100, with population up 34% since 2011. Rent growth of 31.6% over the decade outpaced real income growth of 8.6%, indicating rental demand is tightening faster than supply has responded.
Development Activity
Total DAs
727
Last 12 Months
120
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-0.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wallaroo iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary MacKillop School
R-9 · 139 students
Wallaroo Primary School
R-6 · 65 students
Demographics
With a median age of 57, Wallaroo is 17 years older than the national average, and the aging trajectory continues, with the senior share rising 8.3 points while the working-age share fell 4.5 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents make up 10.2%, which is 11.4 points below national, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,664), Scottish (292), German (254) and Irish (227) lead the counts. University qualifications stand at 11.6%, a gap of 18.5 points below national, consistent with a vocational and service-sector employment base. Average household size is 2.1, below the national 2.5, driven by the high share of couples without children at 45.9% of all families. Volunteering runs at 21.4%, above many low-SEIFA suburbs, suggesting genuine community engagement despite economic disadvantage.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.4%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Wallaroo skews heavily toward outright ownership: 44.9% own without a mortgage versus 23.2% carrying one, a ratio nearly 2 to 1 above the national norm, pointing to a long-settled population rather than recent buyers. Separate houses account for 91.4% of dwellings, apartments just 0.4% and semi-detached 7.1%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.9% and four-plus at 26.1%. No median sale price is available in current datasets, but rent-to-income at 27.5% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters are relatively comfortable. Mortgage-to-income at 30.3% is marginally above the stress threshold. The 28% vacancy rate is many times higher than the national average, reflecting a large stock of holiday and investment properties that sit empty outside peak coastal seasons.
Mortgage / mo
$1,169
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$245
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$506
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
28.0%
Unoccupied
617
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.3% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.9%
Couples, no children
2,549
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 26.5% of workers (169 people), disproportionately high compared to national industry mix because the aging population drives aged-care demand. Construction follows at 10.8%, Education at 9.1%, and Hospitality and Public Admin each at 7.7%. By occupation, Community and Personal Service Workers lead at 189, followed by Labourers at 171 and Managers at 143. The unemployment rate of 11.2% is elevated compared to SA state averages, though the participation rate of just 36.8% reflects a large retired cohort of 1,710 not in the labour force. Wallaroo scores decile 1 on the IEO index, the lowest tier nationally for education and occupation outcomes. Household income sits at the 7.3rd percentile nationally, with real income growth of 8.6% over the decade below the national trend.
Unemployment
7.9%
Labour Force
1,894
Unemployed
149
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.9%
Part-time
34.9%
Participation
36.8%
Employed
1,055
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.6%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
10.2%
Dwellings
1,580
Transport to Work
Transport is almost entirely car-dependent: 87.3% drive to work while just 1.0% use public transport. Walking and cycling account for 5.1%, above average for regional SA, reflecting the compact coastal layout. The crime rate is 71.9 incidents per 1,000 residents (266 total offenses), above typical regional SA benchmarks and worth factoring into decisions. Wallaroo scores decile 1 on the IRSAD index, the lowest advantage tier nationally, and 11.1% of residents (383 people) need daily assistance with core activities, above national norms and consistent with the 57-year median age. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on institutions in surrounding Yorke Peninsula towns. Rent-to-income at 27.5% is below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing costs manageable for tenants relative to the low income base.
Drive
87.3%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.73%/yr
(+86 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has risen approximately 34% since 2011, reaching an estimated 4,971 by 2025, earning Wallaroo an Active gentrification classification. The medium forecast projects 5,433 residents by 2031 at a trend rate of 1.73% per year, adding around 86 people annually. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 134 arrivals per year, far outweighing overseas arrivals of just 6 per year. The 1-into-274 allotment subdivision lodged in May 2026 is the clearest signal of major supply growth ahead. Affordability has held stable, shifting from 48.7% in 2011 to 48.0% in 2021. The demographic trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 8.3 points while the young adult share fell 1.6 points, meaning growth is drawing retirees and sea-changers rather than younger cohorts.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+6
Net Internal / yr
+134
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +34% since 2011, Net internal migration +134/yr, Accelerating: 11% → 21%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
266
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
71.9
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wallaroo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wallaroo a good suburb to live in?
Wallaroo suits retirees and budget-conscious buyers more than young families. The median age is 57, which is 17 years above national, rent is $245 a week, and 44.9% of residents own their home outright. SEIFA decile 1 across three indexes means services and incomes rank among the lowest nationally, but the Active gentrification score and 31.6% rent growth over a decade indicate improving conditions.
What is the median house price in Wallaroo?
No median sale price is recorded in current datasets for Wallaroo. Cost indicators suggest affordability: average monthly mortgage repayments run $1,169 and weekly rent averages $245. The rent-to-income ratio is 27.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, and 44.9% of homeowners own outright with no mortgage debt.
What schools are in Wallaroo?
No schools are recorded within the Wallaroo suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Yorke Peninsula towns. University qualifications among residents reach 11.6%, which is 18.5 points below the national average, reflecting an older workforce concentrated in trades and service sectors rather than graduate roles.
Is Wallaroo safe?
The crime rate is 71.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 266 total recorded offenses across a population of 3,699. This rate is above typical regional SA benchmarks. Wallaroo scores decile 1 on the SEIFA relative disadvantage index, a tier nationally associated with higher crime rates, and detailed category breakdowns are not available in this dataset.
Is Wallaroo good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed. The 28% vacancy rate is far above the national 1 to 2% balanced-market range, pointing to significant holiday-home overhang. On the positive side, rent grew 31.6% over the measured period, internal migration adds 134 residents per year, and a 274-allotment subdivision filed in 2026 shows developer confidence in future demand.
How is Wallaroo's population changing?
Population has grown approximately 34% since 2011, reaching an estimated 4,971 by 2025 at 1.73% per year. Internal migration drives growth at 134 net arrivals annually. The medium forecast projects 5,433 residents by 2031. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 8.3 points over the decade, so growth is predominantly retirees and sea-changers rather than younger families.
How much development is happening in Wallaroo?
There were 110 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. The most significant was a 1-into-274 allotment land division lodged in May 2026, a major release by regional SA standards. Recent applications also include detached single and two-storey dwellings, indicating active residential construction well above the typical rate for a town of under 4,000 residents.
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.
Explore Wallaroo on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map