Waitpinga is a coastal town in South Australia, in Victor Harbor Council, characterised by heritage listings. The Victor Harbor is part of the surrounding geography.
Open-space access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and university qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 85% above the peer median, and green cover is an exceptional strength. The main trade-offs are higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population and higher rents, with median rents 12% above the peer median.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising open space and socio-economic advantage over lower rents.
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
Open-space access is exceptionally strong
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
Green cover is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated
Median rents are a relative weakness
What stands out
Waitpinga Beach
Kings Beach
Heritage listings
Victor Harbor
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 Waitpinga compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
—
No data available
Median rent
$590/wk
Population (ERP)
385
+1.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
20.7%
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
#25
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
60th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
16%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
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
44.6/100 — Average
State standing
Top 41% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
3223rd in Australia
State rank
285th in SA
Peer rank
#25 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#29 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
83%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$590
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
15
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 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
385(June 2025)
+1.6% annual · +9.4% over 5 years · 86th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.6%
5-year growth
+9.4%
Change in 1 year
+6
Change in 5 years
+33
Growth rank in SA
86th 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 (~450), extrapolated at +2.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
374
Median age
51
Median household income / week
$1,515
Dwelling vacancy
20.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
37 of 179
Median monthly mortgage
$1,821
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$250
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
57.4% / 27% / 15.6%
Employment rate
50.6%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
20.8% / 0% / 54.7%
Walked or cycled to work
1.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
138 / 0 / 0
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.
24% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 17.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified24% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified7.7% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational17.6% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below50.8% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Health16.6%
Management and commerce16%
Engineering and related technologies14.3%
Education12.6%
Agriculture and environment9.7%
Society and culture8.6%
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)
$44,420
12th percentile in SA · -24% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$49,350
20th percentile in SA · -24% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
12.0%
46th percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$90,284
65th percentile in SA · +43% vs Australia
Residents with business income
12.0%
69th percentile in SA · +15% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5211 — 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
9,446
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,087
Median net rent
$1,495
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,094
Taxable income vs state median
-18%
Salary / wages vs state median
-14%
Rental investment vs state median
0%
Super vs state median
+16%
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
Seasonal & agricultural work
22.6% of employed residents work in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 9.8× the Australian share (2.3%) — compared with 3.8% across South Australia.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
22.6%
68th percentile in SA · +883% vs Australia
Resident workers (2021)
36
WHM specified work
Subclass 417 / 462
Postcode 5211
Occupation mix in this industry
2021 Census G56, residents employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Counts below 10 are not shown.
Managers20
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile tables G54 (industry of employment) and G56 (industry by occupation), Statistical Area Level (suburb), place of usual residence. Figures are residents’ main job in the week before Census night — not jobs located in the suburb. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the 1-digit ANZSIC division; grape growing and other 3- and 4-digit industries are not in this datapack. The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Plant and animal cultivation in postcode 5211 (Regional Australia) may count as specified work for Working Holiday Maker visas (subclasses 417 and 462). This is a postcode rule from the Home Affairs instruments — not evidence that seasonal jobs exist here, and not a count of WHM residents. Home Affairs specified work · LIN 22/012 · LIN 22/013. Compilation used: 5 April 2025.
Region employment estimates (SA4, not this suburb)
Jobs and Skills Australia NERO modelled estimates for South Australia - South East (SA4 407), 2026-08. These figures describe the broader region, not this suburb, and occupations are not added together.
Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12134,568
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers ANZSCO 12143,627
Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 84151,363
Crop Farmers ANZSCO 12121,073
Crop Farm Workers ANZSCO 8412992
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators ANZSCO 7211833
Forestry and Logging Workers ANZSCO 8413346
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers ANZSCO 8416308
Other Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers ANZSCO 8419301
Aquaculture Workers ANZSCO 841110
South Australia - South East is a Statistical Area Level 4. Fruit, nut and vegetable workers are not published separately in NERO (they sit under ANZSCO 8412). Jobs and Skills Australia warns not to sum occupations or geographies. NERO data. Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0.
Census employed residents counted in G54: 159 · AFF share +495% vs the state.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — industry of employment (G54/G56), place of usual residence — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated · Resident main job in the week before Census night, not jobs located in the suburb
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
WHM specified work areas (LIN 22/012 and LIN 22/013) — Department of Home Affairs · 2025-04-05 · Updated · Postcode eligibility for plant and animal cultivation; not a count of WHM residents
Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation (NERO), SA4 × ANZSCO 4-digit — Jobs and Skills Australia · 2026-08 · Updated · Monthly modelled SA4 estimates; not suburb-level. CC BY 4.0
Community & culture
4.2% speak a language other than English at home; 12.1% born overseas
Language at home
343 English only · 15 other
Non-English at home
4.2%
Born overseas
43 (12.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
6 (1.6%)
Australian citizens
350
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
1
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Indonesian3 · 100%
Religion
54.3%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 54.3%, while Christianity accounts for 38.5%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
54.3%
45.2%
Christianity
38.5%
40%
Other / not stated
7.2%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Anglican
10.7%
7.2%
Uniting Church
7.8%
4.8%
Catholic
5.3%
15.5%
Baptist
3.5%
1.5%
Christian (not further defined)
3.5%
2.6%
Lutheran
3.5%
2.4%
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)
17
Against the person
0
Against property
17
Rate per 1,000 residents
44.2
State crime-rate percentile
60.2th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
74
Increase (daily rate)
+183.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
13
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
33.77
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property2
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences4
Obtain Benefit By Deception2
Sct - Residence2
Theft From A Person4
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
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
South Coast District Hospital (10.8 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
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
23° / 15°
Rainfall
55 mm · ~7 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
19° / 13°
Rainfall
129 mm · ~16 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
14° / 9°
Rainfall
260 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
18° / 11°
Rainfall
135 mm · ~17 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 47 proposals
September 2026
Detached Dwelling (Managers Residence) and 3 Tourist Accommodation Cabins ancillary to the Approved Lavender Farm
LOT 2 JAGGER RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
44 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Variation to Residential Park DA 24012533 with amended plans for residential dwellings, associated community and recreation facilities, retaining walls, earthworks and private roads
LOT 5002 WAITPINGA RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Retaining wall (up to 1.4m high)
31 SANDPIPER DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
August 2026
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
35 PEARCE RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
5 OCEANIC CR WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling to be used as temporary display home with associated temporary signage for a period of 3 years (36 months) and retaining wall up to 1.5 metres high
31 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
July 2026
Agricultural Building (27m x 18m)
221 BLOCKERS RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Story Detached Dwelling
21 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
43 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
June 2026
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
42 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
63 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
38 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey detached dwelling
3846 RANGE RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
69 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
71 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Outbuilding (garage)
1252 WAITPINGA RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
May 2026
22A0415.00515 Community Division to create 18 allotments
12 SEASCAPE RISE WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
52 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
73 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
55 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
59 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
45 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 402 SANDPIPER DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
April 2026
Installation of a concrete swimming pool and associated safety features.
24 TJILBRUKE DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling
23 SANDPIPER DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
75 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling - 53 Aurora Drive
LOT 409 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling and associated retaining wall
29 OCEANIC CR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 424 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
March 2026
18 x Single Storey Group Dwellings
12 WAITPINGA RD WAITPINGA SA 5211;LOT 8004 SEASCAPE RISE WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 422 ARCADIA WAY WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling and Retaining Wall
LOT 433 SANDPIPER DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single Storey Detached Dwelling to be used as a Display Home (for a period of 2 years) and Associated Advertising Pylon Sign
28 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling
LOT 411 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Lavender Farm (Horticulture), Agricultural Building and Water Tanks
LOT 2 JAGGER RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Under Assessment
Single storey detached dwelling
24 SANDPIPER DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
February 2026
Single Story Detached Dwelling - Lot 427 Aurora Drive
12 WAITPINGA RD WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Spa Pool and Associated Safety Fence
19 AURORA DR WAITPINGA SA 5211Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling - Lot 407 Aurora Drive
Former RAAF No 202 Radar Station, Victor Harbor (including four concrete shelters, the bases of two demolished towers and a gun pit)Range Road WAITPINGAState heritage
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.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 26.0 km away).
Coalition 45.2%Labor 54.8%
0.2 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Victor Harbor SouthLabor 57.2% · Coalition 42.8% TPP (2025)9.2 km away
Victor HarborLabor 51.2% · Coalition 48.8% TPP (2025)10.5 km away
Victor Harbor EastLabor 55.4% · Coalition 44.6% TPP (2025)13.4 km away
Port ElliotLabor 57.9% · Coalition 42.1% TPP (2025)16.7 km away
MiddletonLabor 56.1% · Coalition 43.9% TPP (2025)19.8 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%)