Suburb / Locality · Area profile
West Beach
4 km²
An exceptionally high proportion of residents in West Beach hold a bachelor degree or higher, with 30.3% of adults reaching this level. This well-educated community is noticeably older than the national average, with a high number of seniors and typical residents aged 45. It is a relatively affluent area where high academic achievement is reflected in strong household incomes. The neighborhood's character is further shaped by its excellent connectivity and high proportion of overseas-born residents.
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Residents are noticeably older than those in the rest of Australia, with the typical age being 45. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 22.5% of the population, which is well above the national figure.
The area has a strong international presence, with 23.1% of people born overseas. English, Australian, Scottish, Irish, and Italian are the most common ancestries reported.
Many residents use another language at home, at a rate much higher than most similar areas. Greek and Italian are the most common languages spoken other than English.
About half of the community identifies as Christian, while 41.8% report having no religion. This no-religion figure is well below the South Australian average.
The area is highly qualified, with 65.2% of residents completing Year 12, far above the state average. This academic strength is seen in the 30.3% of adults who hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are significantly higher than typical, with 25.9% of households earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical family weekly income of $2,360 is also much higher than in most similar areas.
Mental health conditions are less common here than in most areas, at 7.1%. However, 5.4% of people need help with daily activities, which is higher than most similar areas.
Volunteering is more common here than across Australia, with 18.4% of people pitching in. Unpaid care for children is also higher than in most areas.
First Nations residents in the area have a very high Year 12 completion rate of 70.4%, which is far above the national figure. Their typical household income is also much higher than most similar areas.
The community has a high number of people living alone at 28.6%. One-parent families are much less common here than in the rest of the state.
Housing is varied, with 20.7% of people living in flats or apartments and 65.7% in separate houses. Monthly mortgage payments are much higher than in most similar areas, typically reaching $2,000.
Public transport is very accessible, with 45 stops and 10 routes serving the area. While 64.2% of people drive to work, the area has some of the highest rates of public transport departures per person in the state.
The area is quite dynamic, with 15.2% of the population being recent arrivals from overseas. This is much higher than in most similar areas.
Most working adults are employed full-time, with 57.8% in this category. The most common industries for local workers are health care, social assistance, and education.
Theft is more common here than in most similar areas, though robbery rates are much lower. Overall, the crime rate has fallen by 24.3% over the last five years.
The neighborhood is very walkable, with 99.7% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also reach groceries and parks within 15 minutes, though very few have health services within that distance.