Goolwa Beach (SA)

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Analysis of ABS population updates for the wider region and new addresses verified by Districts since the Census estimates the population of the suburb of Goolwa Beach at 2,254 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 32 residents (1.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 2,222 people. This shift is derived from a resident population of 2,218, estimated by Districts using the ABS demographic release from June 2025 alongside 5 validated new addresses since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 557 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density living and prospective capacity for future expansion. The population growth in this locality was mostly propelled by interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 83.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

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The workforce in the suburb of Goolwa Beach features a mix of white and blue collar jobs, with notable representation in lifestyle and retail fields, an unemployment rate of 5.4%, and relatively stable employment conditions over the preceding year, according to Districts statistical aggregations. As of March 2026777 residents are employed, which aligns closely with the Regional SA unemployment rate of 5.5%, while the participation rate is significantly lower at 41.5% compared to 58.4% across Regional SA. Census data indicates that a low 11.1% of working residents operated from home, though the influence of pandemic lockdowns should be kept in mind.

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According to the latest postcode level ATO data from Districts for financial year 2023, personal earnings in the suburb of Goolwa Beach sit below the national average, with a median of $36,881 and an average of $49,522. This is lower than the Regional SA figures, where the median is $48,920 and the average is $58,933. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to roughly $40,632 for the median and $54,558 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows that household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Goolwa Beach are situated between the 1st and 5th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket contains 34.4% of local residents (775 people) earning between $400 - weekly, whereas the leading cohort in the wider region is the - range at . The fact that of residents earn less than weekly indicates economic difficulties for a large share of the population. Housing affordability challenges are notable, with just of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the rd percentile.

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Residential architecture in the suburb of Goolwa Beach at the time of the latest Census consisted of 89.6% houses and 10.4% alternative options such as semi-detached homes, units, or other dwellings, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings across Regional SA. Home ownership in the suburb of Goolwa Beach was notably higher than the regional average at 46.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (32.1%) or renting tenants (21.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,083, which is below the Regional SA average of $1,153, while the median weekly rent was $275, compared to $220 in Regional SA. Nationally, mortgage costs in the suburb of Goolwa Beach are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent prices are similarly well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 63.9%, which includes 16.8% couples with children, 37.3% couples without children, and 8.4% single parents. Non-family households comprise the remaining 36.1%, with single occupant households representing 34.3% and shared households accounting for 1.9%. The median household size stands at 2.1 people, which is slightly smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

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Educational attainment levels present a challenge in the area, as university graduation rates (15.1%) are significantly lower than the national benchmark of 30.4%. This represents both a hurdle and an opportunity for focused educational programs. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational and practical training are highly prevalent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (31.6%).

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Health indicators highlight notable challenges in the suburb of Goolwa Beach, according to Districts analyses of mortality and chronic disease rates, with high prevalence rates observed across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is particularly low at roughly 47% of the population (~1,051 people). This is lower than the Regional SA rate of 48.9% and the national benchmark of 55.7%.

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The suburb of Goolwa Beach exhibits lower cultural diversity compared to national averages, with 81.5% of residents born in Australia, 92.4% holding citizenship, and 97.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 40.4% of the population. The most pronounced religious overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which accounts for 1.5% of residents compared to 0.6% across Regional SA.

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The median age of 58 years in the suburb of Goolwa Beach is much higher than the Regional SA average of 47 and the national average of 38 years. Relative to Regional SA, the suburb of Goolwa Beach has a higher proportion of residents in the 75 - 84 bracket (16.0%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (6.3%). The proportion of residents aged 75 - 84 is far above the national level of 6.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 13.3% to 16.0% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group grew from 6.6% to 8.2%. Conversely, the to bracket shrank from to and the to cohort decreased from to . By demographic shifts will alter the local age distribution. The + cohort is expected to increase dramatically, growing by people () from to . Combined age brackets of and over will make up of total population growth, reflecting a rapidly aging community. In contrast, the counts of residents aged to and to are projected to fall.

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Goolwa Beach currently has an estimated 76 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 36 children aged 0-2 and 23 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 1% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 0% by 2041 (to approximately 76 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 128. Birth rates in the area have averaged 4.9 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.