Whyalla Playford
All four SEIFA indexes place Whyalla Playford in decile 1, the most disadvantaged 10% of suburbs nationally, yet the suburb supports a median age of 44 that is 4 years above the national figure and a housing affordability picture that has actually improved over the past decade. Household income sits at the 42.3rd percentile, while median rent of $200 per week keeps housing costs well below national norms. The 13.0% vacancy rate is high, reflecting net internal outflow of 152 residents per year. The local economy leans on Healthcare at 20.4%, Manufacturing at 16.6% and Mining at 9.6%, a mix that reflects Whyalla's industrial heritage rather than the knowledge sectors that dominate higher-income suburbs.
Population
2,540
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,429/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
No recent median house price data is available for Whyalla Playford, which signals thin transaction volumes rather than a lack of housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,280, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable compared to most SA suburbs. Separate houses dominate at 86.2% of the stock, with 3-bedroom dwellings making up 58.5% of homes and 4-plus bedroom at 22.0%. Outright owners account for 39.6% of households, above the proportion carrying a mortgage at 37.2%, which suggests a settled, established ownership base. Apartments make up only 4.4% of dwellings, so buyers face a predominantly detached-house market with few higher-density alternatives.
For Buyers
No recent median house price data is available for Whyalla Playford, which signals thin transaction volumes rather than a lack of housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,280, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable compared to most SA suburbs. Separate houses dominate at 86.2% of the stock, with 3-bedroom dwellings making up 58.5% of homes and 4-plus bedroom at 22.0%. Outright owners account for 39.6% of households, above the proportion carrying a mortgage at 37.2%, which suggests a settled, established ownership base. Apartments make up only 4.4% of dwellings, so buyers face a predominantly detached-house market with few higher-density alternatives.
For Investors
Renters make up 23.2% of households paying a median $200 per week, which against typical Whyalla Playford prices would generate yields comfortably above the national average for low-cost markets. However, the 13.0% vacancy rate is elevated and signals real oversupply risk. Net internal migration averages minus 152 residents per year, with overseas arrivals adding 78, leaving a net population decline of roughly 39 people annually. Rent grew 20.0% over the measured period, meaning real rental income has risen meaningfully even as the population contracts. The 28 development applications lodged in the past 12 months show continued owner-occupier renovation activity, though this is below the pace of growth suburbs. Investment here suits a yield-focused strategy rather than capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
147
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+11.1%
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 and the suburb is on an aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 4.0 points over the decade while the under-35 cohort contracted by 2.2 points. Overseas-born residents reach 16.5%, which is 5.1 percentage points below the national average, making this a predominantly Australian-born community. English ancestry leads at 1,099 residents, followed by Scottish at 321 and Irish at 213. University qualifications stand at 19.7%, which is 10.4 points below national, consistent with the manufacturing and trades-oriented local economy. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure, and couples without children at 36.4% of families reflect the older population profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.2%
Houses
9.4%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 86.2%, well above the national share, with semi-detached at 9.4% and apartments at just 4.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 58.5%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 22.0%, indicating family-sized supply that has persisted despite population decline. Tenure splits 39.6% outright owners, 37.2% mortgagors and 23.2% renters. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,280 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.7%, below the stress threshold compared to most metropolitan markets. Rent-to-income sits at 14.0%, among the more affordable levels in SA. The 13.0% vacancy rate is the most significant housing market signal, suggesting supply exceeds demand and limiting both rental income security and price appreciation prospects.
Mortgage / mo
$1,280
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.0%
Unoccupied
160
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.4%
Couples, no children
1,950
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 20.4% of local workers (155 people), reflecting the service demands of an aging population. Manufacturing follows at 16.6% (126 workers), Education at 14.0% (106) and Mining at 9.6% (73), an industry profile that is distinctly trade and production-oriented compared to the professional-services mix in higher-income suburbs. By occupation, Professionals lead at 200 workers, followed by Machinery and Drivers at 160 and Community and Personal Service at 157. The unemployment rate is 4.9% and the full-time employment rate is 67.4%, but labour force participation at 57.5% is lower than the national norm, partly because the older demographic means more residents are retired. All four SEIFA decile scores of 1 confirm the suburb ranks below 90% of the country on education, economic resources and relative disadvantage.
Unemployment
13.7%
Labour Force
10,646
Unemployed
1,460
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.4%
Part-time
27.7%
Participation
57.5%
Employed
1,158
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.7%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
16.5%
Dwellings
1,066
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 86.5% of workers driving, compared to 2.3% using public transport, reflecting the limited transit options in a regional SA city. Walking and cycling accounts for 4.9% of commutes, higher than many similar regional centres. The crime rate of 65.0 per 1,000 residents is elevated relative to state and national averages, totalling 165 recorded incidents in the suburb. No schools are recorded within the Whyalla Playford boundary, so families rely on facilities across the broader Whyalla area. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD nationally, indicating high relative disadvantage compared to metropolitan SA suburbs. On the positive side, housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 20.7% and rent-to-income at 14.0% are both below stress thresholds, meaning residents keep a larger share of income than those in higher-priced markets.
Drive
86.5%
Public Transport
2.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.18%/yr
(-39 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has declined 3.8% over the past 10 years and is forecast to continue falling, with medium-scenario projections showing the broader Whyalla area dropping from 21,641 in 2025 to 21,536 by 2031. Annual change for Whyalla Playford runs at minus 0.18% or minus 39 persons per year. Net internal migration is the primary driver of decline at minus 152 per year, while overseas arrivals of 78 per year partially offset the outflow. The gentrification score of 12 and stage of not gentrifying reflects the absence of the income uplift or occupational shift signals seen in transitional suburbs. Affordability improved from 31.7% to 28.1% between 2011 and 2021, a positive trend, though real income grew only 10.2% over the decade, below the pace in high-demand markets.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+78
Net Internal / yr
-152
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -152/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
165
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
65.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Whyalla Playford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Whyalla Playford a good suburb to live in?
Whyalla Playford offers genuine housing affordability, with mortgage-to-income at 20.7% and rent-to-income at 14.0%, well below stress thresholds. The trade-offs are a crime rate of 65.0 per 1,000 residents, a decile 1 SEIFA disadvantage score nationally and limited public transport with 86.5% of residents driving. It suits buyers and renters prioritising low housing costs over amenity.
What is the median house price in Whyalla Playford?
No recent median house price is available for Whyalla Playford due to thin transaction volumes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,280 and weekly rent is $200, both among the more affordable levels in SA. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.7% is well below the 30% stress benchmark.
What schools are in Whyalla Playford?
No schools are recorded within the Whyalla Playford boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools across the broader Whyalla area. Locally, 19.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 10.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's trade and manufacturing employment base.
Is Whyalla Playford safe?
The recorded crime rate is 65.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 165 total incidents, which is elevated above typical SA metropolitan suburbs. This is consistent with the suburb's decile 1 IRSAD score, the lowest disadvantage tier nationally. Prospective residents should factor the crime rate into their assessment.
Is Whyalla Playford good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $200 offers yields well above those in metropolitan SA markets, and rent grew 20.0% over the measured period. However, the 13.0% vacancy rate is high and net internal migration averages minus 152 residents per year. Investment suits a yield-focused strategy; capital growth prospects are limited given the declining population trend of minus 0.18% annually.
How is Whyalla Playford's population changing?
The suburb's population has fallen 3.8% over the past decade, with an annual decline of approximately 39 residents or minus 0.18% per year. Net internal outflow averages minus 152 residents per year, partly offset by 78 overseas arrivals annually. Medium forecasts project the broader Whyalla area declining from 21,641 in 2025 to 21,536 by 2031.
How much development is happening in Whyalla Playford?
There were 28 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly extensions, alterations and carport enclosures rather than new dwellings. This reflects an owner-occupier improvement pattern typical of an established, aging suburb with a 39.6% outright ownership rate and a declining population trend of minus 3.8% over 10 years.
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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