Willunga
At a median house price of $1,115,750 and a crime rate of just 15.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, Willunga sits well above the typical South Australian regional town on both price and safety. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSD and decile 7 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper tier of socioeconomic advantage. Its identity signals are distinctive: 96.3% separate house stock, a median age of 47 that is 7 years above the national figure, and a turnover rate of only 13.2%, indicating that most households stay rather than rotate. The 10-year population growth of 9.6% confirms steady demand without speculative pressure.
Population
2,445
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,681/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
60
Median House
$1.1M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $1,115,750 in Q1 2026, up 19.6% from $933,000 in Q1 2025, which is a sharper one-year move than most SA regional markets. Separate houses account for 96.3% of stock, with apartments at just 2.0%, so buyers are largely competing for detached properties. Bedroom distribution leans large: 38.6% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 47.8% have 3, making it well suited to families rather than singles or downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,683, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, better than many metropolitan suburbs at this price point. Outright owners at 43.7% and mortgage holders at 41.1% together account for 84.8% of occupiers, a sign of high owner-occupier commitment compared to the national renter average.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,115,750 in Q1 2026, up 19.6% from $933,000 in Q1 2025, which is a sharper one-year move than most SA regional markets. Separate houses account for 96.3% of stock, with apartments at just 2.0%, so buyers are largely competing for detached properties. Bedroom distribution leans large: 38.6% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 47.8% have 3, making it well suited to families rather than singles or downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,683, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, better than many metropolitan suburbs at this price point. Outright owners at 43.7% and mortgage holders at 41.1% together account for 84.8% of occupiers, a sign of high owner-occupier commitment compared to the national renter average.
For Investors
Rental supply is thin: only 15.2% of dwellings are rented, well below the national average, and weekly rent sits at $330. A vacancy rate of 6.1% is elevated for a small suburb of 2,445 people, which warrants scrutiny before assuming easy tenanting. Development activity reached 57 applications in the past 12 months, covering pools, verandas and carport conversions rather than new dwelling supply, which limits rental stock expansion. Net internal migration of 25 residents per year and overseas migration of 9 per year provide steady demand support. House prices grew 19.6% in a single year, and real income growth of 16.0% over the decade indicates a market where purchasing power has genuinely increased rather than just nominal gains, supporting medium-term capital growth expectations.
Development Activity
Total DAs
310
Last 12 Months
60
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+27.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Willunga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Willunga Waldorf School
R-12 · 390 students
Willunga Primary School
R-6 · 346 students
Willunga High School
U, 7-12 · 693 students
Demographics
Willunga's median age of 47 sits 7 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by a 7.3-point rise in the senior share over the decade. University qualifications reach 35.8%, which is 5.7 percentage points above the national average, pointing to a professional and managerial resident base. Overseas-born residents make up 21.0%, broadly in line with the national proportion. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,303 residents), Scottish (319) and Irish (228) lead, followed by German (217), a heritage pattern consistent with South Australia's colonial settlement history. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly. Volunteering at 27.5% is notably high, suggesting strong civic engagement relative to most suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.3%
Houses
1.7%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-dominated: 43.7% own outright and 41.1% hold a mortgage, leaving just 15.2% renting. This is markedly different from the national split, where outright ownership is considerably lower. Separate houses make up 96.3% of stock, with semi-detached at 1.7% and apartments at 2.0%, making this one of the most detached-dominant markets in the state. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 47.8% and 4-plus bedroom at 38.6%, with only 13.6% having 2 or fewer bedrooms. The median house price rose from $933,000 in Q1 2025 to $1,115,750 in Q1 2026. Rent-to-income at 19.6% is below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 23.1% is similarly manageable, so neither owners nor renters face acute housing cost pressure relative to income at the suburb's 58th percentile household income ranking.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,683
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$780
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.4%
Couples, no children
2,037
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.4% of workers (153 people), followed by Education at 15.2% (126) and then Construction and Professional/Tech tied at 9.9% each (82 apiece). Manufacturing accounts for 8.2% (68 workers), rounding out an economy that is anchored in services rather than resource extraction. By occupation, Professionals (305) are the largest group, followed by Managers (181) and Community/Personal service workers (150). The unemployment rate of 4.4% is modest, and the full-time employment rate of 53.7% reflects a partially part-time workforce, consistent with a suburb where 32.4% of families are couples without dependent children. SEIFA deciles show IRSD at 8 and IRSAD at 7 nationally, confirming low disadvantage, while the IER score of decile 9 signals strong economic resources relative to the national median.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
2,184
Unemployed
40
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.7%
Part-time
41.9%
Participation
58.4%
Employed
1,120
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.8%
Postgraduate
7.4%
Born Overseas
21.0%
Dwellings
920
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 89.6% of residents drive to work and only 1.6% use public transport, which is well below the national average and reflects the suburb's rural character and 21.27 km2 footprint. Walking and cycling accounts for 5.0% of commuters. Crime is low at 15.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, which ranks favourably compared to most urban SA suburbs. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families are likely reliant on nearby towns. The IRSAD decile of 7 nationally confirms above-average socioeconomic conditions. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 19.6% and mortgage-to-income at 23.1% both sit below stress thresholds. The assistance need rate of 4.0% is low, consistent with a working-age and professional population despite the older median age.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.74%/yr
(+28 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.74% per year (roughly 28 persons annually) from a current base of around 3,784 residents, with medium forecasts reaching approximately 3,918 by 2031. The 10-year population increase was 9.6%, below the national metropolitan growth pace but healthy for a rural-adjacent SA suburb. Internal migration adds 25 residents a year and overseas migration 9, making the growth driver balanced rather than reliant on one source. The gentrification score of 34 is classified as early signs, with affordability improving from 46.4% in 2011 to 41.6% in 2021. The suburb is not classified as gentrifying in the strict sense, but the rent growth of 28.0% over the decade alongside real income growth of 16.0% indicates the market has appreciated faster than incomes, compressing future affordability.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+9
Net Internal / yr
+25
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
37
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
15.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Willunga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willunga a good suburb to live in?
Willunga scores decile 8 on IRSD and decile 7 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper tier of advantage. Crime is low at 15.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, housing stress is absent (mortgage-to-income 23.1%), and 86.8% of residents stayed in the suburb over the measured period, indicating high satisfaction.
What is the median house price in Willunga?
The median house price was $1,115,750 in Q1 2026, up 19.6% from $933,000 in Q1 2025. Weekly rent averages $330 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,683. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1% is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Willunga?
No schools are recorded inside the Willunga suburb boundary in this dataset. Families are likely reliant on schools in nearby townships. Despite this, 35.8% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 5.7 percentage points above the national average.
Is Willunga safe?
Willunga has a crime rate of 15.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 37 total recorded incidents. This is low relative to most suburban SA areas. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSD nationally, consistent with a low-disadvantage, low-crime profile.
Is Willunga good for property investment?
The median house price rose 19.6% in a single year to $1,115,750. The rental market is small at 15.2% of dwellings renting, and the vacancy rate of 6.1% is elevated. Development activity is low (57 applications in 12 months, no new dwellings), so supply pressure is limited. Capital growth is the stronger investment case than yield.
How is Willunga's population changing?
Population grows at 0.74% per year, adding around 28 residents annually. The 10-year rise was 9.6%, and medium forecasts reach approximately 3,918 residents by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 7.3 points and the working-age share down 2.7 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Willunga?
There were 57 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a retrospective pool approval, a carport-to-garage conversion and a veranda. These are predominantly improvements to existing dwellings rather than new housing supply, consistent with a stable, owner-occupier dominated suburb.
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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