Willaston (SA)

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According to investigations of ABS demographic releases for the wider region, alongside recent address registries verified by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Willaston has an estimated population of approximately 3,788 as of May 2026. This indicates a growth of 330 residents (9.5%) since the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 3,458 individuals. This change is calculated from a resident base of 3,667, calculated by Districts using the most recent ABS ERP statistics (June 2025) plus an extra 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level corresponds to a density of 1,221 residents per square kilometer, exceeding the typical figure for locations nationwide evaluated by Districts. The 9.5% population rise in the suburb of Willaston since the 2021 census was higher than the state average (7.5%) and the Greater Adelaide region, establishing it as a growth leader locally. Population gains were mostly driven by relocations from other states, which accounted for roughly 41.0% of the total demographic growth during recent periods, even though all indicators including natural changes and arrivals from overseas remained positive.

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Willaston has a balanced labor force that includes both professional and trade-based occupations, with high representation in essential services, and an unemployment rate of 4.8% based on compiled regional data from Districts. As of March 2026, 1,685 local residents are employed, which is an unemployment rate 1.0% higher than the 3.8% rate across Greater Adelaide, while workforce participation is notably lower (58.3% compared to 66.6% in Greater Adelaide). Based on responses from the Census, a small 6.1% of the workforce operated from home, though the influence of COVID-19 restrictions should be kept in mind.

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According to the most recent postcode ATO data compiled by Districts for financial year 2023, the suburb of Willaston has a median taxpayer income of $47,069 and a mean income of $54,629. This is below the national average, contrasting with a median of $54,808 and a mean of $66,852 across Greater Adelaide. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these figures at approximately $51,856 (median) and $60,185 (mean) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places household, family, and personal incomes in Willaston within the 17th to 30th percentiles nationwide. Income breakdown shows the largest group contains 31.2% of residents (1,181 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, matching regional patterns where fall in this same tier. Households retain of their earnings after servicing housing costs, though this ranks only in the th percentile nationwide.

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The mix of residences in Willaston at the time of the last Census consisted of 86.1% separate houses and 13.9% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative housing), compared to 75.2% separate houses and 24.9% other dwellings across metropolitan Adelaide. Additionally, the rate of home ownership in Willaston was higher than the Adelaide metropolitan average at 34.5%, with the remaining properties being purchased with a mortgage (41.1%) or occupied by tenants (24.5%). The median monthly home loan payment in the area was significantly below the metropolitan Adelaide average of $1,562 at $1,213, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $300, compared to $320 across metropolitan Adelaide. Nationally, mortgage costs in Willaston are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent prices are also well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 64.3%, consisting of 21.4% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 16.2% single parents. The remaining 35.7% are non-family households, which are dominated by single-person households at 32.2% and group shared homes at 3.5%. The typical household size of 2.3 individuals is slightly lower than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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The locality displays low levels of academic attainment, with the rate of university degrees (13.2%) sitting well below the national average of 30.4%. This presents an area for growth as well as a target for educational programs. Undergraduate degrees are the most common at 9.6%, with postgraduate qualifications at 2.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.3%. Vocational and technical training is very common, with 41.8% of inhabitants aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (32.6%).

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Analysis of transit options indicates there are 15 active public transport stops in Willaston, including a combination of rail and bus options. These stops are served by 2 distinct routes, which provide a total of 355 weekly passenger trips. Access to transport is classified as excellent, with residents living an average of 190 meters from the nearest stop. Because it is a mostly residential suburb, the majority of workers commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the main choice at 96%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.4. A small 6.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; which may reflect conditions during the pandemic).

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Health indicators highlight notable difficulties in Willaston, according to Districts evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic illness rates, with a high occurrence of common medical conditions visible in both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is very low at roughly 49% of the population (~1,842 people). This compares to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

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Willaston shows lower levels of cultural diversity than the national average, with 84.6% of the population born in Australia, 92.2% holding citizenship, and 96.9% speaking only English at home. The primary religious affiliation is Christianity, representing 40.7% of the community. However, the most pronounced difference is in Judaism, which represents none of the population, compared to 0.1% across Greater Adelaide.

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With a median age of 42, Willaston is slightly older than the Greater Adelaide average of 39 and is older than the national median of 38. The 65 - 74 age bracket is highly represented at 12.6% compared to Greater Adelaide, while the 25 - 34 age bracket is less common at 11.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age bracket has risen from 7.1% to 8.1% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 11.8% to 10.6%. Demographic projections suggest the age structure of Willaston will shift notably by 2041. Leading this change, the 75 to 84 cohort is projected to expand by 72% ( people), rising to from . The trend towards an older demographic is clear, with individuals aged + making up of the projected population growth, while the to group is expected to grow by a modest ( people).

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Willaston currently has an estimated 185 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 110 children aged 0-2 and 73 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 8% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 10% by 2041 (to approximately 204 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 412. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 8.9 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.