West Beach is a coastal inner metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in West Torrens Council. It is close to the West Beach.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Rents are relatively affordable, with median rents 10% below the peer median. Reported crime sits a little below the peer median. Reported offences have fallen 12% year on year, and green cover is an exceptional strength, with green cover 105% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are thinner heritage listings and fewer university qualifications, with heritage listings 81% below the peer median.
Overall, West Beach suits people prioritising daily services and lower rents over heritage character.
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
Inner metropolitan suburb · compared with inner metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (188)
Strengths
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Rents are relatively affordable
Reported crime sits a little below the peer median
Green cover is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Heritage listings are a relative weakness
University qualifications are a relative weakness
What stands out
West Beach
Henley Beach
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 West Beach compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.53M
+6.6% change
Median rent
$540/wk
Houses $780 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
4,730
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.9%
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
#5
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
51st
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
27%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
83rd
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
55.7/100 — Good
State standing
Top 8% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
1024th in Australia
State rank
55th in SA
Peer rank
#5 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#5 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
99%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$500
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$780
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$540
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
45
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$1,530,000
Median price change
+6.6%
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
4,730(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +5.2% over 5 years · 58th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.6%
5-year growth
+5.2%
Change in 1 year
+29
Change in 5 years
+235
Growth rank in SA
58th 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 (~5,000), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
5,175
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$1,746
Dwelling vacancy
9.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
226 of 2,280
Median monthly mortgage
$2,000
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$320
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
39.9% / 33.2% / 26.9%
Employment rate
59.6%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
12.8% / 3.1% / 68.9%
Walked or cycled to work
2.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,349 / 258 / 424 (+ 14 other)
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.
30.3% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 16% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified30.3% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified9.8% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational16% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below43.9% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce23.5%
Engineering and related technologies16.3%
Health14.3%
Society and culture13.4%
Education9.9%
Architecture and building6.1%
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)
$62,136
86th percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$66,636
88th percentile in SA · +2% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
17.0%
91st percentile in SA · +23% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$103,031
76th percentile in SA · +63% vs Australia
Residents with business income
10.0%
44th percentile in SA · -4% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5024 — 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
9,762
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,652
Median net rent
$968
Taxpayers reporting business income
969
Taxable income vs state median
+14%
Salary / wages vs state median
+16%
Rental investment vs state median
+42%
Super vs state median
+32%
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
15.4% speak a language other than English at home; 23.7% born overseas
Language at home
4,254 English only · 776 other
Non-English at home
15.4%
Born overseas
1,194 (23.7%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
40 (0.8%)
Australian citizens
4,606
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
24
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Greek81 · 27%
Italian33 · 11%
Punjabi29 · 9.7%
Polish14 · 4.7%
Mandarin13 · 4.3%
Spanish13 · 4.3%
German12 · 4%
Russian12 · 4%
Religion
49.5%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 49.5%, while 41.3% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
41.3%
45.2%
Christianity
49.5%
40%
Other / not stated
9.2%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
20.9%
15.5%
Anglican
10%
7.2%
Eastern Orthodox
6.4%
2.4%
Uniting Church
4.1%
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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
161
Against the person
30
Against property
131
Rate per 1,000 residents
34
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 172 residents
State crime-rate percentile
50.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
71
Decrease (daily rate)
-12.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
150
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
31.71
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property30
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences23
Serious Assault21
Theft From A Person33
Theft From Retail Premises19
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
West Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1089 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 297 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
Henley Beach Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1104 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 354 students · Top SEA quarter 39% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
West Beach Kindergarten13 Winston CrescentPreschools
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Reasonably walkable — many shops and services reachable on foot or by bus
Great for outdoor family life — 14 parks mapped in suburb, 13 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 48 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 17 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
67/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.77
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
1.16
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.71
Food & drink(6)
Bakers EdgeBakery
C coffeeCafe
Juiced CafeCafe
Oceanique KioskCafe
West Beach Surf Life Saving ClubCafe
Fuego by the SeaRestaurant
Shopping(1)
DrakesSupermarket
693 Burbridge Road, West Beach
Everyday services(3)
Laundry
OTR Harbourtown Drive ThruPetrol station
Lot 4 Tapleys Hill Road, West Beach
OTR West BeachPetrol station
89 Military Road, West Beach
Community(2)
Apex Park Community FacilityCommunity centre
West Beach Primary SchoolSchool
3 Woodhead Street, West Beach
Sport & outdoors(45)
Beach (3)
Henley BeachBeach
Boat ramp
Captain McKenna PathwayCycling route
Coast Park PathCycling route
Marino Rocks GreenwayCycling route
Reece Jennings BikewayCycling route
River Torrens Linear ParkCycling route
Drinking water (3)
Drummond Golf Driving RangeGolf course
Harold and Cynthia Anderson ReservePark
Mega AdventurePark
Mountbatten Grove ReservePark
Nancy Fischer ReservePark
Northern Avenue ReservePark
Park (6)
Swan Avenue ReservePark
The Square at West Beach ParksPark
Toledo ReservePark
Aerial Adventure ParkPlayground
Apex Park PlaygroundPlayground
Kevin Avenue PlaygroundPlayground
Mountbatten Grove PlaygroundPlayground
Pacific Parade PlaygroundPlayground
Playground (5)
Poplar Street PlaygroundPlayground
Siesta Avenue ReservePlayground
Swan Avenue PlaygroundPlayground
Public toilets
Adelaide Shores Football ComplexSports field
Sports field
Swimming pool
Camping & holiday parks(2)
Adelaide Shores ResortCaravan park
BIG4 West Beach ParksCaravan park
Transport(44)
44 bus stops
Other(19)
Bench (12)
Bicycle Parking
Happywash HarbourtownCar wash
Lot 4 Tapleys Hill Road, West Beach
JaycoCaravan
Chalet
Unit 33
Chalet (184)
Binks MarineFishing
Garden (46)
West Beach Mini GolfMiniature Golf
Southern Cross West Beach Residential CareNursing Home
655 Burbridge Road
Outdoor Seating (3)
Adelaide Sailing ClubParking
Parking (71)
S.A. Sea Rescue SquadronParking
Picnic Table (2)
Shelter (11)
Shower
South Australia Police Road Safety CentreTraffic Park
Waste Basket
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
Glenelg Day Surgery (3.8 km)
Nearest hospital type
Private Day Only Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
No emergency department listed
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1
Residential aged-care places
80
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Aged-care services
West Beach Residential CareWEST BEACHResidential
Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.
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· 82 proposals
September 2026
Swimming pool and safety fence
79 INGERSON ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Kitchen renovation including demolition of walls and installation of structural beams
9 HARMAN AV WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Land Division 1 Into 6 Torrens Titled allotments
9 SIMCOCK ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
2.5 metre high fence
38 DAVIS ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Outbuilding for the use as a shed
12 RIO VISTA AV WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Construction of a detached dwelling
12 SOUTHERN AV WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
remove existing pool, construct concrete pool & spa and associated safety barrier
685 BURBRIDGE RD WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Removal of one significnat tree from the rear of the property
11 OPIE ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Two storey residential house with brick veneer construction.
9 ROCKINGHAM ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Construction of single storey detached dwelling & swimming pool
40 TOLEDO AV WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Dwelling alterations and additions and swimming pool
6 MOUNTBATTEN GR WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Swimming pool and verandah sited to the rear of the existing dwelling, along with a side and rear masonry fencing to a height of 3 metres above the existing retaining wall.
16 ROCKINGHAM ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division - one allotment into two
6 SURF AV WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Undertake building alterations and addition and extension to carport
79 INGERSON ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Shade sail
1 MILITARY RD WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
August 2026
Three, two storey, detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement and removal of a regulated Metrosideros Excelsa tree from the front yard
14 CHETWYND ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Swimming pool & safety fences
32 INGERSON ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Advertising display
614 BURBRIDGE RD WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 2
21 GRAYDALE ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Verandah to the side of the existing dwelling
24 PRINSE ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Three (3) double storey detached dwellings with associated landscaping, and removal of 2 regulated trees
7 DAVIS ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Swimming Pool and Safety Fence
44 NORTHERN AV WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
July 2026
Removal of two regulated significant trees
40 INGERSON ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Building alterations - fire damage repairs
618 BURBRIDGE RD WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Tree-damaging activity (removal of a regulated tree)
726 TAPLEYS HILL RD WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Spa and associated saftey barrier fencing to the rear of the existing dwelling
UNIT 3 100 SEAVIEW RD WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Outbuilding (shed)
16 MOUNTBATTEN GR WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Additions and alterations to the rear of the existing dwelling, including a rear verandah and an outbuilding at the front of the existing dwelling.
20 SIMCOCK ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Two, two-storey detached dwellings and inground swimming pools
6 SURF AV WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Verandah
23A DAVIS ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Construct of 40m long x 10m high golf course back netting
TNCY 2 1 GOLF DR WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Outbuilding (Garage) replacing carport, front verandah and alterations to facade and interior
2 -2A MALABU DR WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
June 2026
Fence height increase to side and rear boundaries
12 COTTESLOE ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Two double storey detached dwellings, removal of a significant tree, boundary fencing and retaining walls, and associated landscaping
21 DAVIS ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Under Assessment
Verandah to rear of dwelling
18 WALLIS ST WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Partially enclosed verandah and swimming pool, associated safety fencing and screen fence exceeding 2.1m in height
5 WINDSOR TCE WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
Internal Alterations to Existing Kitchen Area To create New Board Room And Meeting Room
2 BARCOO RD WEST BEACH SA 5024Decision Made
May 2026
Two storey detached dwelling and swimming pool with associated pool safety fence
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 3.4 km away).
Coalition 39.5%Labor 60.5%
5.9 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +10.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
West BeachLabor 59.6% · Coalition 40.4% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
FulhamLabor 62.4% · Coalition 37.6% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
Henley SouthLabor 61.9% · Coalition 38.1% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
LockleysLabor 56.5% · Coalition 43.5% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
Glenelg North (Hindmarsh)Labor 56.8% · Coalition 43.2% TPP (2025)2.7 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%)