Whyalla is an industrial and port town in South Australia, in Whyalla Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development. It is close to Mount Gambier and the Eyre Peninsula. It has an industrial and port economy.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Open-space access is better than in most comparable places, well above typical levels for industrial and port towns. Rents are relatively affordable, with median rents 11% below the peer median. University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 91% above the peer median, and household incomes sit well above the peer median, with household incomes 30% above the peer median. Population has been growing more slowly than in comparable places, or declining.
Overall, Whyalla suits people prioritising university qualifications and daily services over population growth.
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
Industrial or port town · compared with industrial and port towns in South Australia (45)
Strengths
University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Rents are relatively affordable
Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
Household incomes sit well above the peer median
Weaknesses
Population has been growing more slowly than in comparable places, or declining
What stands out
Whyalla Beach
Industrial and port economy
Mount Gambier
Eyre Peninsula
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 Whyalla compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
—
No data available
Median rent
$320/wk
Houses $360 · Units $300
Population (ERP)
3,674
-0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.3%
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
#29
among Country & regional · Mature
Crime rate
79th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
2nd
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
29%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
29th
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
46.5/100 — Average
State standing
Top 34% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
2767th in Australia
State rank
238th in SA
Peer rank
#29 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#47 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
97%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$300
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$360
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$320
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
25
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
3,674(June 2025)
-0.7% annual · -1.4% over 5 years · 2th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.7%
5-year growth
-1.4%
Change in 1 year
-26
Change in 5 years
-51
Growth rank in SA
2th 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 (~3,650), extrapolated at -0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
3,609
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$1,658
Dwelling vacancy
13.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
228 of 1,713
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$200
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
33.9% / 36.8% / 29.3%
Employment rate
57.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
2.6% / 1.6% / 73.4%
Walked or cycled to work
5.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,122 / 260 / 92 (+ 9 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.
16.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 25.3% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified16.4% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified7.8% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational25.3% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below50.5% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies32.1%
Health15.7%
Management and commerce15.1%
Society and culture11.1%
Education9.5%
Food, hospitality and personal services5.7%
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)
$69,090
98th percentile in SA · +18% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$75,876
98th percentile in SA · +17% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
15.0%
78th percentile in SA · +9% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$118,244
87th percentile in SA · +87% vs Australia
Residents with business income
7.0%
9th percentile in SA · -33% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5600 — 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
3,689
Taxpayers reporting net rent
548
Median net rent
-$1,216
Taxpayers reporting business income
250
Taxable income vs state median
+27%
Salary / wages vs state median
+32%
Rental investment vs state median
+25%
Super vs state median
+52%
Business income vs state median
-36%
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
7.4% speak a language other than English at home; 20.7% born overseas
Language at home
3,195 English only · 254 other
Non-English at home
7.4%
Born overseas
715 (20.7%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
86 (2.4%)
Australian citizens
3,202
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
16
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Italian16 · 16.2%
Afrikaans14 · 14.1%
Greek8 · 8.1%
Hindi8 · 8.1%
Punjabi8 · 8.1%
Spanish8 · 8.1%
Tamil6 · 6.1%
German4 · 4%
Religion
48.6%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 48.6%, while Christianity accounts for 40%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
48.6%
45.2%
Christianity
40%
40%
Other / not stated
11.5%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
18%
15.5%
Anglican
7%
7.2%
Uniting Church
4.4%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
2.7%
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)
300
Against the person
79
Against property
221
Rate per 1,000 residents
81.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 46 residents
State crime-rate percentile
79.4th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
63
Increase (daily rate)
+19%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
55
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
14.97
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property68
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences21
Serious Assault52
Theft From A Person37
Theft From Retail Premises22
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Memorial Oval Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 919 · 15th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 206 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
Whyalla Town Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 989 · 42th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 318 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Great for outdoor family life — 7 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 53 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 9 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
81/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
1.11
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
3.6
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.94
Food & drink(13)
French Hot BreadBakery
BlendedCafe
18 Forsyth Street
City Plaza Espresso CafeCafe
26 Patterson Street
Whisk AwayCafe
Whyalla Beach CafeCafe
Krispy KremeFast food
SubwayFast food
Bayview HotelPub
11 Forsyth Street, Whyalla
Hotel Bay ViewPub
Hotel SpencerPub
BreezeRestaurant
Oriental InnRestaurant
Tandoori GuruRestaurant
Shopping(5)
FassinaBottle shop
Azzopardi ButchersButcher
OTRConvenience store
OkiposGreengrocer
FoodlandSupermarket
Everyday services(7)
ANZBank
Commonwealth BankBank
NABBank
WestpacBank
WashouseLaundry
OTR WhyallaPetrol station
Australia PostPost office
Community(6)
The City of WhyallaCommunity centre
Samaritan Collage, Saint Teresa's CampusSchool
Whyalla High SchoolSchool
Whyalla Town Primary SchoolSchool
Mission AustraliaSocial Centre
Freemason LodgeTownhall
Health & services(2)
The Wellness CentreClinic
Whyalla HospitalHospital
Sport & outdoors(28)
BBQ (7)
Beach
Whyalla Centennial TrailCycling route
Whyalla LCNCycling route
Drinking water
Knockout Xpress Fitness WarehouseGym
Snap FitnessGym
Ada Ryan GardensPark
Foreshore Park LandsPark
Jessop-White ParkPark
Park (3)
Wilson ParkPark
Playground (3)
Public toilets
Memorial OvalSports field
Sports field
Fletchers Pool SuppliesSwimming pool
Swimming pool
Camping & holiday parks(1)
Whyalla Foreshore Caravan ParkCaravan park
Places to stay(2)
Whyalla Playford ApartmentsHotel
9-11 Darling Terrace
Whyalla Foreshore Motor InnMotel
Entertainment(1)
Flinders LookoutViewpoint
Transport(26)
26 bus stops
Other(42)
Audiologist
Hearing MattersAudiologist
U Pedal CyclesBicycle
Bicycle Parking (4)
Steel City BowlsBowling Alley
Car
NissanCar
Whyalla AutomotiveCar
Whyalla Battery ElectricCar Parts
BeaurepairsCar repair
Herbie's Eco Car WashCar wash
SA print and designCopyshop
Courthouse
Central DeliDeli
Marc Industrial ServicesDry Cleaning
Harvey NormanElectronics
InterfloraFlorist
Harding's FurnitureFurniture
Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec GalleryGallery
MacAllens GiftwareGift
Pretty Country ThingsGift
Wild FeatherGift
91
Hairdresser
Richard's Lock and SafeLocksmith
Whyalla Music Association IncMusic School
Optometrist
LookoutParking
Parking (13)
Cash ConnectionsPawnbroker
Doggie deliPet
Picnic Table (3)
Anglican Parish of WhyallaPlace of worship
Whyalla Police StationPolice
Shelter (7)
Centacare Catholic Family ServicesSocial Facility
NovitaSocial Facility
Office NationalStationery
Studio
Whyalla Tourism Focus GroupTravel Agency
Whyalla Travel and CruiseTravel Agency
Vacant
Matilda's PlaceYes
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
Australian Rules Football · Cricket · Gymnastics · Netball
South Whyalla Football Club
South Whyalla Junior Football Club
Australian Rules Football · Cricket · Gymnastics · Netball
West Whyalla Football Club
West Whyalla Junior Football Club
Australian Rules Football
Westlands United Soccer & Social Club
Soccer
Whyalla Wanderers Soccer and Social Club
Soccer
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Anglican Parish of Whyalla
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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
30° / 17°
Rainfall
69 mm · ~9 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
24° / 12°
Rainfall
89 mm · ~11 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 7°
Rainfall
148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
23° / 11°
Rainfall
136 mm · ~17 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 45 proposals
September 2026
Shed
33 JAMIESON ST WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
Colorbond flat-roof carport with facade including roller door and PA Door (3.9m x 8.3m x 3.3mh)
47 ESSINGTON LEWIS AV WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
August 2026
Relocation of existing café building to new location within same allotment
LOT 100 CUDMORE TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
Shed
78 LACEY ST WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
Cololrbond gable-roof shed with an open bay (13m x 8m x 2.7mh)
49 ESSINGTON LEWIS AV WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Single level detached dwelling and retaining wall
8 MIRAMBEENA DR WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
July 2026
Colorbond flat-roof carport (9m x 4.5m x3mh) abutting the existing rear shed
65 LACEY ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond gable-roof shed (12.2m x 7.7m x 3.3mh)
37 WHITEHEAD ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Outbuilding (shed)
86 WOOD TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Structural repairs to fire-damaged dwelling
86 WILEMAN ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Alterations to existing shop tenancy involving the replacement of ATMs
7 FORSYTH ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
June 2026
Proposed shop fitout
2 KELLY ST WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
Inground pool with associated fencing
26 NEWTON ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond domestic gable roof garage (12.2m x 7.7m x 3m high)
23 KITTEL ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
May 2026
Install a Sapphire spa on a raised platform with built in stairs, landing and planter box.
100 WOOD TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Internal alteration
19 KITTEL ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Installation of Fibreglass Swimming Pool and Safety Fence
51 ESSINGTON LEWIS AV WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Front and Side Verandah
66 SHARP ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Two freestanding flat roof verandahs abutting each other (each 7m x 7.3m x 2.4 high)
139 MCBRYDE TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Domestic Garage
83 MCBRYDE TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Outbuilding (shed)
79 MCBRYDE TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Two-level educational building, alterations and additions of an administration building, and associated siteworks in association with existing school
36 DARLING TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
Outbuilding (Shed)
61 LOCKHART ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
April 2026
Change of use from existing office and consulting room to 5 accommodation rooms at ground level at the Whyalla Playford Apartments.
9 -11 DARLING TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
Shed and single storey alterations and additions to existing dwelling
11 BEAN ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond gable roof carport (20.6m x 4.1m x 2.6mh)
96 BROADBENT TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond skillion roof domestic shed
19 HERBERT ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond domestic gable roof shed
139 BROADBENT TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Install carport to with roller door to Eastern side of property as outlined in attached approved development noted as "carport by owner". Please note this application is only for the carport and the other drawings attached are only for reference and already have stamped approval.
62 CUDMORE TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
2x single storey detached dwellings with garage, front portico and rear verandah
68 RAWS ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Patio
70 GOODMAN ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Extension to existing Colorbond Carport to protrude 2.8m forward of the dwelling
6 LACEY ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
March 2026
Colorbond Carport
14 KLEEMAN ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond freestanding flat-roof carport (9m x 7m x 3.5h)
58 BROADBENT TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond flat-roof rear Verandah (124sqm at 3mh)
37 WHITEHEAD ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Domestic Colorbond gable-roof shed
2 MIRAMBEENA DR WHYALLA SA 5600Under Assessment
Build a gabled Stratco veranda
50 FARRELL ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
3 x temporary transportable classroom units with associated decking and canopies for access.
36 DARLING TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Freestanding Flat Roof Verandah & Dog Wash Facility
60 ESSINGTON LEWIS AV WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
February 2026
Internal bathroom renovations
16 CUDMORE TCE WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
Attached Flat Roof Carport with roller door and front sheeting (12mx 4.5m x 3mh)
86 PLAYFORD AV WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
November 2025
Colorbond flat roof carport (7.6m x 5.1m x 3.3m high)
23 WARD ST WHYALLA SA 5600Decision Made
Colorbond gable-roof carport extension (resulting in 9.2m x 5.5m x 3.1m high)
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.
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%)