Willunga
A 19.6% increase in the median house price over the latest year is the standout feature of Willunga's current profile. The suburb has 2,445 residents, a median age of 47 that is 7 years above the national figure, and a low-density footprint of 114.9 people per square kilometre. Its housing is strongly detached, with 96.3% separate houses, while 43.2% of homes are owned outright. For buyers comparing Willunga with nearby McLaren Vale or Aldinga, the key distinction is a settled, older resident base supported by professionals, managers and trades. Housing demand is reinforced by 18.5% working from home, but car use remains dominant at 73.0%.
Local council: Onkaparinga
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
63
Median House
$1.1M
First quarter 2026
Willunga suits buyers seeking a traditional house-and-land setting, although the price point has moved higher. That increase is significant compared with the suburb's weekly household income of $1,681, even though the typical mortgage payment of $1,683 per month represents 23.1% of household income and is not flagged as mortgage stress. Separate houses account for 96.3% of dwellings, with 47.8% having 3 bedrooms and 38.6% having 4 or more. Buyers should compare renovation needs, block size and commuting costs carefully because apartment supply is only 2.0%.
For Buyers
Willunga suits buyers seeking a traditional house-and-land setting, although the price point has moved higher. That increase is significant compared with the suburb's weekly household income of $1,681, even though the typical mortgage payment of $1,683 per month represents 23.1% of household income and is not flagged as mortgage stress. Separate houses account for 96.3% of dwellings, with 47.8% having 3 bedrooms and 38.6% having 4 or more. Buyers should compare renovation needs, block size and commuting costs carefully because apartment supply is only 2.0%.
For Investors
The investment case is shaped by limited rental depth and meaningful recent development activity. Only 15.0% of households rent, compared with 43.2% owning outright and 40.6% paying a mortgage, so the suburb is more owner-occupier oriented than a typical high-rental market. Weekly rent is $330 and vacancy is 6.1%, which gives tenants more choice than a tightly constrained market but may also reduce immediate rental pressure. There were 64 development applications over 12 months against a population of 2,445, including dwelling alterations, ancillary accommodation and a food-business change of use. Growth is forecast at 0.74% annually with Balanced migration, so investors are relying more on housing scarcity and steady demand than rapid expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
323
Last 12 Months
63
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+34.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Willunga
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Willunga Primary School
Willunga High School
Demographics
Willunga has an older and relatively settled population profile. The median age is 47, which is 7 years above the national figure, while 86.8% of residents stayed at the same address over the relevant period and turnover was 13.2%. University participation is 35.8%, or 5.7 percentage points above the national comparison, supporting the presence of professionals and managers. Overseas-born residents account for 21.0%, slightly below the national comparison by 0.6 percentage points. English ancestry is recorded for 1,303 people, followed by Scottish at 319, Irish at 228 and German at 217. No religion is the largest reported category at 1,461 people, ahead of Christianity at 790.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.3%
Houses
1.7%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Willunga is overwhelmingly detached and relatively spacious, but the latest price movement has lifted the entry point. Separate houses make up 96.3% of dwellings, compared with only 2.0% apartments and 1.7% semi-detached homes. The tenure split is fairly balanced between outright owners at 43.2% and mortgage holders at 40.6%, while renting is lower at 15.0%. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.8% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 38.6%, indicating a family-house emphasis compared with apartment-led markets. The mortgage-to-income measure is 23.1%, below the level classified as stress.
Mortgage / mo
$1,683
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$330
Census 2021
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
41.9%
Couples with children
45.0%
Couples, no children
12.1%
Single parent
733
Total families
Economy & Employment
Willunga's economy combines public-facing services with construction and professional work. Healthcare is the largest industry at 18.4% with 153 workers, followed by Education at 15.2% and 126 workers; Construction and Professional/Tech each contribute 9.9% and 82 workers. The occupation mix includes 305 professionals, 181 managers and 158 trades workers, helping explain why the household income percentile is 58.4 rather than sitting at the top of the income distribution. Labour force participation is 61.8%, unemployment is 4.2% and 50.6% of workers are full time. Socioeconomic measures rank above the midpoint, including IRSAD decile 7, IRSD decile 8, IEO decile 7 and IER decile 9, with the education and occupation rankings higher than the household income position.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
1,240
Unemployed
52
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.6%
Part-time
43.7%
Participation
61.8%
Employed
1,188
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.8%
Postgraduate
7.4%
Born Overseas
21.0%
Dwellings
920
Transport to Work
Willunga provides a low-crime, car-oriented lifestyle with practical access to local schooling. Recorded crime was 37 incidents, equal to 15.1 offences per 1,000 residents, while the IRSAD score sits in decile 7, above the national midpoint. Families have 2 government schools nearby, covering primary and secondary education, so exact enrolment zones should be checked against the address. Transport is less convenient without a car because 73.0% of residents drive, compared with only 1.3% using public transport; 4.0% walk or cycle and 18.5% work from home. The older median age of 47 and volunteering rate of 27.5% support a settled local rhythm, while the 2.5-person average household size is equal to the national comparison.
Drive
73.0%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
18.5%
Growth Outlook
Willunga is forecast to grow gradually rather than rapidly, with an annual trend of 0.74% and Balanced migration as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 9.6% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 7.3 percentage point increase in the senior share and a 2.5 point decline in the young share. Affordability improved from 46.4 in 2011 to 41.6 in 2021, even as rents grew 28.0%. Gentrification signals remain limited: the current gentrification score is 4 with a stage of Not gentrifying, although the shift indicator records a score of 34 and Early signs. Compared with a high-growth fringe market, this points to measured change driven by ageing, established demand and incremental redevelopment.
Population trend: Onkaparinga council area
Willunga sits in the Onkaparinga council area. These are the council area's residents, not Willunga's.
Residents 2025
184,827
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit households wanting detached homes, lower crime and a settled setting. It has 2 government schools, a crime rate of 15.1 per 1,000 residents and 18.5% working from home. Compared with denser suburbs, daily life is more car dependent.
What schools are in Willunga?
Willunga has 2 government schools covering both major school stages: Willunga Primary School and Willunga High School. Families should compare enrolment zones with the exact address, since access can differ between primary and secondary catchments.
Is Willunga safe?
Willunga recorded 37 crimes, equivalent to 15.1 incidents per 1,000 residents. That supports a lower-risk profile for a suburb of 2,445 people, although safety can vary by street, property type and time. Buyers and renters should compare recent local conditions before deciding.
Is Willunga good for property investment?
Willunga may suit investors seeking detached housing and established owner-occupier demand rather than high rental turnover. Rent is $330 per week, vacancy is 6.1% and 15.0% of households rent. Compared with a faster-growth market, the 0.74% annual forecast points to steadier returns.
How is Willunga's population changing?
The wider area is forecast to record 9.6% population change over 10 years, with annual growth of 0.74% and Balanced migration. Willunga's trajectory is Aging, including a 7.3 point rise in the senior share and a 2.5 point fall in the young share compared with the earlier period.
What development is occurring in Willunga?
There were 64 development applications in the past 12 months, a notable level compared with the current population of 2,445. Activity includes home alterations, ancillary accommodation and a food-business change of use. The pattern points to incremental redevelopment rather than a large new estate.
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).
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