Willaston
Household income sits at only the 27.9th percentile nationally, yet the detached housing stock at 86.1% separate houses and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3% means owner-occupiers are not under unusual stress. The suburb has a median age of 42, two years above the national figure, and English, German and Irish ancestries dominate, reflecting a historically stable Anglo-Celtic community. At 3,458 residents in 3.0 square kilometres, density is moderate at 1,151 people per km2.
Population
3,458
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,254/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
58
Median House
$760K
First quarter 2026
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,213, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers on median incomes can service the debt without extreme pressure. Separate houses account for 86.1% of all dwellings, with three-bedroom homes dominant at 59.9% and four-plus at 23.3%. Apartments are virtually absent at 0.3%. Around 41.2% of households are paying off a mortgage and 34.0% own outright, a healthy ownership profile that signals long-term resident confidence in the suburb.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,213, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers on median incomes can service the debt without extreme pressure. Separate houses account for 86.1% of all dwellings, with three-bedroom homes dominant at 59.9% and four-plus at 23.3%. Apartments are virtually absent at 0.3%. Around 41.2% of households are paying off a mortgage and 34.0% own outright, a healthy ownership profile that signals long-term resident confidence in the suburb.
For Investors
Willaston has 24.8% renters, a share lower than the national average, with weekly rent at $300. The vacancy rate of 6.1% is a caution flag, suggesting supply may be running slightly ahead of demand in the current cycle. Development activity is active, with 56 applications in the past 12 months, including multiple land division proposals for 1-into-4 lots, pointing to ongoing densification pressure. The 20.2% price surge over one year supports a capital growth narrative, though the low household income base at the 27.9th percentile nationally limits how far yields can rise before affordability caps tenant demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
346
Last 12 Months
58
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, consistent with the established family and semi-retired profile typical of outer SA townships. University qualifications reach only 19.1%, which is 11.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's trade and services workforce rather than a knowledge economy. Overseas-born residents are 15.4%, some 6.2 points below the national share, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,789 residents), German (372), Irish (324) and Scottish (298) are the top four groups. Average household size is 2.3, just below the national 2.5, and 78.7% of residents did not move in the five years to the last Census, pointing to a settled, low-turnover community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.1%
Houses
13.6%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupancy is the dominant tenure mode: 34.0% own outright and 41.2% are on a mortgage, while just 24.8% rent. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 86.1%, with semi-detached at 13.6% and apartments at only 0.3%, lower apartment share than most comparable SA suburbs. Three-bedroom homes lead at 59.9% and four-plus at 23.3%, with two-bedroom at 15.3%. Rent-to-income sits at 23.9%, just below the 25% stress threshold, so renters remain in reasonable shape despite the price environment.
Mortgage / mo
$1,213
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$713
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
95
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.2%
Couples with children
40.4%
Couples, no children
25.1%
Single parent
966
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant local industry at 21.9% of employed residents (210 workers), reflecting the suburb's proximity to regional medical infrastructure around Gawler. Education follows at 11.7% (112 workers) and Construction at 10.3% (99 workers), with Manufacturing at 7.7% and Public Administration at 7.4% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 231, followed closely by Community/Personal service workers (216), Clerical/Admin (210) and Labourers (198). The unemployment rate of 6.8% is above typical suburban norms, and labour force participation at 55.4% is relatively low, partly because 1,054 residents are not in the labour force. Household income at the 27.9th percentile nationally indicates wages are below the median compared to most Australian suburbs.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
1,647
Unemployed
106
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
34.4%
Participation
58.5%
Employed
1,541
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.1%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
15.4%
Dwellings
1,466
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total, with 92.3% of workers driving and only 1.7% using public transport, lower than the SA state average and reflecting the limited rail and bus options in outer Gawler. Walking and cycling account for 1.5% of commutes. The crime rate is 44.5 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 154 recorded offences across the suburb. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families draw on institutions in neighbouring Gawler and Evanston areas. Volunteering runs at 16.2% of residents, above many comparable outer suburbs. The rent-to-income ratio of 23.9% and mortgage-to-income of 22.3% both sit below stress thresholds, suggesting financial pressure on residents is lower than the headline price growth might imply.
Drive
86.5%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
6.3%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
154
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
44.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Willaston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willaston a good suburb to live in?
Willaston suits owner-occupier families who value detached housing at a relatively manageable cost. Mortgage-to-income sits at 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, and 75.2% of households own or are buying their home. The main trade-offs are limited public transport at 1.7% usage and a higher-than-average unemployment rate of 6.8%.
What schools are in Willaston?
No schools are recorded within the Willaston suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the broader Gawler corridor. Locally, 19.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 11.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and services character of the area.
Is Willaston safe?
The recorded crime rate is 44.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 154 offences. SEIFA disadvantage data is not available for Willaston in this dataset, but the rent-to-income ratio of 23.9% and low housing stress indicators suggest most residents are not under severe financial pressure, which tends to correlate with lower crime rates.
How is Willaston's population changing?
Willaston has a current population of 3,458 with a median age of 42, which is 2.0 years above the national figure. The suburb shows a stable, low-turnover profile: 78.7% of residents did not move in the five years prior to the last Census. Multiple land division applications in the past 12 months point to gradual densification.
How much development is happening in Willaston?
There were 56 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include multiple 1-into-4 land division proposals, indicating active subdivision activity. This level of development is higher than many comparable outer-SA suburbs and is consistent with the 20.2% annual price growth recorded to Q1 2026.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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