Port Willunga is a coastal town in South Australia, in Onkaparinga Council, characterised by heritage listings. Notable landmarks include Port Willunga Jetty.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Employment rates are stronger than in comparable places, with employment 37% above the peer median. University qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 55% above the peer median, and heritage listings are more concentrated than in comparable places, well above typical levels for coastal towns. Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group. Median house prices have risen 51% year on year.
Port Willunga is a better fit for people who value daily services and employment more than lower housing costs.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in South Australia (35)
Strengths
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Employment rates are stronger than in comparable places
University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
Heritage listings are more concentrated than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group
What stands out
Heritage listings
Port Willunga Jetty
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★☆☆☆☆
Professionals★★☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★☆☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Port Willunga compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.18M
+51% change
Median rent
$605/wk
Population (ERP)
1,908
+1.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
29.3%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#13
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Crime rate
61st
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
81st
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
24%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
28th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
30.1/100 — Below average
National rank
6405th in Australia
State rank
628th in SA
Peer rank
#13 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#74 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
92%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$605
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
10
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$1,175,000
Median price change
+50.6%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
1,908(June 2025)
+1.3% annual · +6.1% over 5 years · 81th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.3%
5-year growth
+6.1%
Change in 1 year
+25
Change in 5 years
+109
Growth rank in SA
81th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~2,050), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
1,785
Median age
44
Median household income / week
$1,313
Dwelling vacancy
29.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
293 of 999
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$328
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
38.5% / 38% / 23.5%
Employment rate
53.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
9.8% / 1.9% / 68.6%
Walked or cycled to work
2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
676 / 27 / 7
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
20.1% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified20.1% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified9.8% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational22.5% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below47.6% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Society and culture17.5%
Management and commerce17%
Engineering and related technologies14.4%
Health13.4%
Education11%
Architecture and building7.8%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$52,308
39th percentile in SA · -11% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$56,780
47th percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
10.0%
20th percentile in SA · -27% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$66,903
34th percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia
Residents with business income
12.0%
63rd percentile in SA · +15% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5173 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
7,756
Taxpayers reporting net rent
757
Median net rent
-$73
Taxpayers reporting business income
939
Taxable income vs state median
-4%
Salary / wages vs state median
-1%
Rental investment vs state median
-17%
Super vs state median
-14%
Business income vs state median
+9%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in SA, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
2.6% speak a language other than English at home; 16.1% born overseas
Language at home
1,648 English only · 44 other
Non-English at home
2.6%
Born overseas
271 (16.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
53 (3%)
Australian citizens
1,620
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
3
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Cantonese4 · 36.4%
German4 · 36.4%
Afrikaans3 · 27.3%
Religion
63.4%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 63.4%, while Christianity accounts for 25.3%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
63.4%
45.2%
Christianity
25.3%
40%
Other / not stated
11.3%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
6.7%
15.5%
Anglican
6.7%
7.2%
Uniting Church
3.1%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
2.4%
2.6%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
85
Against the person
16
Against property
69
Rate per 1,000 residents
44.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 112 residents
State crime-rate percentile
60.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
78
Increase (daily rate)
+37.1%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
20
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
10.48
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property23
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences10
Sct - Residence6
Serious Assault11
Theft From A Person14
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Aldinga Payinthi CollegeCombined · Government · ICSEA 954 · 26th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 831 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Aldinga Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 959 · 29th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 377 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Reasonable bus and transport access — 14 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
23/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.56
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.56
Food & drink(1)
Star of GreeceRestaurant
Sport & outdoors(4)
Aldinga to Sellicks TrailCycling route
Skoda Street ReservePark
Swimming pool (2)
Transport(16)
16 bus stops
Other(5)
Bench (8)
Garden
Blanche Point CarparkParking
Parking (5)
Picnic Table (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Health access
Nearest hospital
Seaford Day Surgery (8.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Private Day Only Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
No emergency department listed
GP clinics in suburb
0
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
27° / 16°
Rainfall
49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 8°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 11°
Rainfall
95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 33 proposals
September 2026
Outbuilding (Garage)
3 DAY ST PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Construction of Outbuilding
11 BELAIR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Retrospective Dwelling Addition and Tree Damaging Activity
40 DESOTO DR PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Removal of one significant and five regulated trees
11 CHURCH ST PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
August 2026
Veranda and deck
33 CAFFREY CR PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Verandah
UNIT 2 12 SEABORNE AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Alterations and additions to an existing two-storey detached dwelling with associated decking and external stairs, construction of an outbuilding with associated retaining walls with a maximum height 1.4 metres and accessible ramp, and removal of Three (3) significant gum trees
40 PORT RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Single storey addition and alteration to existing dwelling including deck, verandah, and outbuilding - garage.
29 STAR OF GREECE RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
July 2026
Outbuilding - shed.
13 WILLIAM ST PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Remove & Replace current carport with Steel Flat Carport
10A BELAIR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Installation of an above-ground spa
UNIT 3 60 PORT RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Land division boundary realignment 2 allotment into 2
11 STAR OF GREECE RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173;15 STAR OF GREECE RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
June 2026
Verandah
24 BELAIR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 703 ELDER PDE PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Padel court (including lighting), shed, glasshouse and outdoor pavillion
14 PORT RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Torrens title land division - 2 allotments from 1
53 QUINLIVEN RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
construction of a double-storey detached dwelling with associated retaining walls up to 1.2m and removal of one regulated Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocaylx)
LOT 70 PORT RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
May 2026
Torrens title land division - 3 allotments from 1 in association with 25034174
3 VALIANT RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Building alterations comprising internal works and the addition of a roof extension to create a rear balcony and front porch
27 STAR OF GREECE RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Relocation of an existing transportable dwelling, including the existing deck, and construction of a carport on proposed Lot 101 to enable land division application 25027835
8 FALCON ST PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Outbuilding- Shed
3 M G PL PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
April 2026
Removal of 4 x regulated trees (Tree 1, Tree 2, Tree 3, and Tree 4) and 1 x significant tree (Tree 9) – (Pinus halepensis – Aleppo Pine)
7 STAR OF GREECE RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Construction of a garage and addition to upper-level rear balcony.
7 STAR OF GREECE RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Outbuilding and pool safety barrier
3 DE CAUX AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
40A ZEPHYR TCE PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
March 2026
Single storey dwelling addition including addition of 3 bedrooms, 1 study and a deck
13 CHURCH ST PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Relocating the position of the existing dwelling, including building alterations and new decking and carport, to enable a Torrens Title land division from 1 into 2 allotments
8 FALCON ST PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Removal of two (2) Significant Trees (Tree 1 – Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Tree 3 – Eucalyptus cladocalyx) and one (1) Regulated Tree (Tree 2 – Eucalyptus cladocaly)
39 PORT RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
February 2026
Single storey detached dwelling
45 DESOTO DR PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Carport
38 SHELLY AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
January 2026
Carport
24 JAGUAR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Demolish existing shed and construct shipping container (outbuilding)
70 BOWERING HILL RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Carport (addition to approved built form 25008369)
3 JAGUAR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
Removal of a regulated Eucalyptus leucoxylon (SA Blue Gum)
4 SEABORNE AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
November 2025
Outbuilding shed (extension)
6 ALFRED PL PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Partial demolition of existing dwelling; alterations and additions, including upper-level addition, carport, verandah, and fencing
22 ESPLANADE PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Swimming pool and associated safety barrier
3 DE CAUX AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Three (3) single storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement
3 VALIANT RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Attached Verandahs -2 Nos
UNIT 1-2 23 BELAIR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
In-ground swimming pool with safety barrier
3 STAR OF GREECE RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Carport
40 ELDER PDE PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
October 2025
Land Division (1 into 2 allotment)
11 JAGUAR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Significant Tree Removal
22 BELAIR AV PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Verandah
1 KOMBI CT PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Variation to Development Application 23024739, additions and alterations to existing house.
27 MARTIN ST PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Under Assessment
Attached Verandah
80 -84 BOWERING HILL RD PORT WILLUNGA SA 5173Decision Made
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Flood cover is the share of the suburb boundary overlapping current SA Planning flood overlays (flooding and evidence required). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Sellicks BeachLabor 66.3% · Coalition 33.7% TPP (2025)7.5 km away
McLaren ValeLabor 56.8% · Coalition 43.2% TPP (2025)7.8 km away
WillungaLabor 64.5% · Coalition 35.5% TPP (2025)8.1 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)