SA 5012 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Woodville Gardens

More than half of Woodville Gardens residents were born overseas, 35.2 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Adelaide's most internationally diverse pockets at just 0.86 km2. Household income sits at the 21.1st percentile nationally, below most of metropolitan Adelaide, yet renters account for 55.5% of occupied dwellings and the suburb's unemployment rate of 10.7% runs well above the national level. The combination of rapid price growth and low incomes creates unusual tension between rising asset values and constrained local purchasing power.

Local council: Port Adelaide Enfield

Woodville Gardens urban fabric map

Population

2,412

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,129/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

16

Median House

$825K

First quarter 2026

0.86 km²· 2,804 people/km²· Family income $1,407/wk

Separate houses account for 52.2% of the stock, a reasonable proportion for a suburb with semi-detached dwellings making up another 33.0%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 47.5%, with four-bedroom-plus at 17.4%, so family-sized housing is available. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,417, which at 29.0% of income sits close to the stress threshold, compared to suburbs where incomes are stronger relative to prices. With 20.2% of dwellings owned outright and only 24.4% under mortgage, most owner-occupiers who entered years ago are well-positioned, but new buyers face the sharpest price conditions the suburb has seen.

For Buyers

Separate houses account for 52.2% of the stock, a reasonable proportion for a suburb with semi-detached dwellings making up another 33.0%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 47.5%, with four-bedroom-plus at 17.4%, so family-sized housing is available. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,417, which at 29.0% of income sits close to the stress threshold, compared to suburbs where incomes are stronger relative to prices. With 20.2% of dwellings owned outright and only 24.4% under mortgage, most owner-occupiers who entered years ago are well-positioned, but new buyers face the sharpest price conditions the suburb has seen.

For Investors

A 55.5% renter share places Woodville Gardens well above the national average, indicating structural rental demand rather than a temporary shift. The vacancy rate of 6.0% signals some softness in the rental market, so absorption of new supply requires attention. Thirteen development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, a modest pace for the suburb's 0.86 km2 footprint, with activity focused on single dwellings and dual-occupancy projects. The 18.7% price rise year-on-year points to capital growth momentum, but investors relying on yield alone will find the numbers tight against current purchase prices.

Development Activity

Total DAs

108

Last 12 Months

16

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+23.1%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Tree Removal
7
Subdivision
6
New Dwelling
5
Deck / Pergola / Patio
3
Renovation / Extension
2
Fencing
2
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
1
Hospitality / Food Premises
1

Schools in Woodville Gardens

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Woodville Gardens School Birth-6

Primary Education Government

Demographics

The median age of 34 sits 6 years below the national figure, reflecting a younger population anchored by working-age migrants. Overseas-born residents account for 56.8%, which is 35.2 percentage points above the national average, among the highest concentrations in South Australia. Vietnamese (505 residents) and Chinese (209) are the two largest identified ancestry groups, and non-English languages include Punjabi (69 speakers), Mandarin (32), Cantonese (23) and Hindi (23). University qualifications reach 37.2%, which is 7.1 points above the national rate, a relatively high figure given that household income sits at only the 21.1st percentile, suggesting many residents are qualified but working in lower-paid roles. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national, consistent with the multigenerational family structures common in migrant communities.

Age Distribution

0-14
17.5%
15-24
14.4%
25-44
31.7%
45-64
22.2%
65+
14.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.5%
2 bed
31.5%
3 bed
47.5%
4+ bed
17.4%

Dwelling Structure

52.2%

Houses

33.0%

Townhouse

14.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 19.7% Mortgage 23.8% Rent 54.2% Other 2.3%

Tenure is heavily skewed toward renting: 55.5% of households rent compared to 24.4% under mortgage and 20.2% owning outright. This renter-majority profile reflects a mobile, largely migrant population rather than a deeply embedded owner-occupier base. The stock leans toward houses and semi-detached forms, with separate houses at 52.2%, semi-detached at 33.0% and apartments at 14.5%. Three-bedroom homes make up 47.5% of dwellings, making the suburb practical for families. Rent-to-income at 22.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 29.0% is close to but not above it, which is more stable than many fast-moving suburban markets.

Mortgage / mo

$1,417

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$250

Census 2021

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$517

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.0%

Unoccupied

56

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

29.0%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Punjabi
69
Mandarin
32
Canton
23
Hindi
23
Khmer
21
Arabic
18

Ancestry

Other
593
Vietnamese
505
English
330
Ancestry NS
223
Chinese
209
Indian
185

Household Composition

46.5%

Couples with children

25.0%

Couples, no children

25.6%

Single parent

579

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant industry at 23.0% of employed residents, reflecting broader Adelaide patterns where health services employ a significant share of the workforce. Transport follows at 10.6%, Hospitality at 8.5%, Retail at 8.3% and Manufacturing at 8.1%. By occupation, Labourers (158) and Community/Personal service workers (156) lead, with Professionals third at 127, a lower-skilled occupational profile than the university qualification rate might suggest. Unemployment sits at 10.7%, noticeably higher than national benchmarks, and the participation rate of 49.6% is below average, meaning a large share of working-age residents are not actively seeking employment. Weekly household income of $1,129 places residents at the 21.1st percentile nationally, well below the median Australian household.

Unemployment

10.2%

Labour Force

1,040

Unemployed

106

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

50.4%

Part-time

43.9%

Participation

52.3%

Employed

934

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Labourers 158
Community/Personal 156
Professionals 127
Trades 123
Machinery/Drivers 104
Clerical/Admin 87
Sales 80
Managers 63

Top Industries

Healthcare 23.0%
Transport 10.6%
Hospitality 8.5%
Retail 8.3%
Manufacturing 8.1%

University

37.2%

Postgraduate

10.1%

Born Overseas

56.8%

Dwellings

864

Transport to Work

Car dependence is high, with 79.9% of residents commuting by private vehicle compared to 8.9% using public transport and 3.7% walking or cycling, which is broadly consistent with Adelaide's car-reliant suburban structure. Crime is recorded at 87.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 211 total incidents across the population of 2,412. The need-for-assistance rate of 9.2% (206 residents) is elevated compared to lower-disadvantage suburbs. Household income at the 21.1st percentile nationally signals limited discretionary spending capacity. Volunteering sits at 9.8%, below the levels seen in higher-income suburbs, and rent-to-income of 22.1% keeps housing costs manageable for most renters despite the low income base.

Drive

75.7%

Public Transport

8.8%

Walk / Cycle

3.5%

Work from Home

4.9%

Growth Outlook

Development activity remains modest at 13 applications in 12 months, including single dwellings and dual-occupancy projects under performance-assessed pathways, which suggests incremental densification rather than large-scale redevelopment. The 56.8% overseas-born population, 35.2 points above the national average, indicates ongoing migration-driven population renewal rather than organic demographic expansion. Resident turnover of 21.1% against a 78.9% retention rate shows the suburb draws new arrivals while holding a stable core. No long-range population forecasts are available in this dataset, but the combination of migration inflow, young median age of 34 and rapid price movement points to continued demand pressure on a geographically constrained 0.86 km2 footprint.

Population trend: Port Adelaide Enfield council area

Woodville Gardens sits in the Port Adelaide Enfield council area. These are the council area's residents, not Woodville Gardens's.

Residents 2025

143,022

Growth, 5 yr average

+1.5%/yr

2020 to 2025

Growth, last year

+1.2%

2024 to 2025

ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

211

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

87.5

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Woodville Gardens compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 20%
Household Income
Bottom 21%
Rent Level
Bottom 44%
Apartments
Top 6%
Renters
Top 5%
Uni Educated
Top 22%
Public Transport
Top 9%
Born Overseas
Top 1%
Density
Top 4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Woodville Gardens a good suburb to live in?

Woodville Gardens suits residents comfortable in a high-density, migrant-majority community. The median age of 34 is 6 years below national and 56.8% of residents were born overseas. Household income sits at the 21.1st percentile nationally, so services and amenities skew toward essentials.

What schools are in Woodville Gardens?

Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, university qualifications among residents reach 37.2%, which is 7.1 percentage points above the national rate, reflecting the suburb's younger, educated migrant population.

Is Woodville Gardens safe?

Crime in Woodville Gardens is recorded at 87.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 211 total incidents across a population of 2,412. No breakdown by crime category is available in this dataset. The need-for-assistance rate of 9.2%, covering 206 residents, is higher than in lower-disadvantage areas and may reflect the suburb's lower income base at the 21.1st household income percentile nationally.

How is Woodville Gardens's population changing?

The suburb has a young population with a median age of 34, which is 6 years below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 56.8% of the population, 35.2 percentage points above national, indicating sustained migration inflow. Turnover runs at 21.1% annually, meaning the suburb attracts new arrivals while retaining 78.9% of existing residents year to year.

What languages are spoken in Woodville Gardens?

With 56.8% of residents born overseas, well above the national average, the suburb is linguistically diverse. Punjabi (69 speakers), Mandarin (32), Cantonese (23) and Hindi (23) are among the most commonly spoken non-English languages. Vietnamese and Chinese residents together account for over 700 ancestry-identified residents among the 2,412 population.

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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