# Whyalla

Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Located in: South Australia › Rest of SA › Whyalla › 5600, SA

Area: 4 km²

A changing population profile defines Whyalla, where the typical resident is now 46, making the area far older than the national figure. It is a high-earning community with a strong presence of professionals and tradespeople, reflecting its industrial and health hubs. While it feels like a traditional hub, nearly half of the residents now claim no religion, which is well above the national average. The area combines this shifting identity with a very walkable layout, where almost every home is within a short stroll of essential services.

## Demographics & Identity

Residents are noticeably older than the state average, with 20.3% aged 65 and over, which is well above the national figure. Children under 15 make up 15.7% of the population, a little below the national rate.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 3,609 | -3.3% since 2011 |
| Median age | 46 yrs | +12.2% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 2.4% | +39.0% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 20.3% | +23.7% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 15.7% | -13.8% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 12.4% | +14.6% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 31.6%, Young adults (25–44) 22.0%, Seniors (65+) 20.3%, Children (0–14) 15.7%, Youth (15–24) 10.4%

**Marital status** — Married 47.6%, Never married 33.6%, Divorced 9.2%, Widowed 6.1%, Separated 3.3%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Around 19.8% of people were born overseas, a figure much higher than most similar areas, though it remains well below the state and national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 19.8% | -1.9% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 75.8%, England 6.5%, South Africa 1.6%, India 1.4%, New Zealand 0.8%, Philippines 0.6%, Italy 0.2%, Vietnam 0.1%, China 0.1%

**Ancestry** — English 41.3%, Australian 37.5%, Scottish 10.9%, Irish 9.6%, German 8.9%, Italian 3.0%, Dutch 2.7%, Greek 2.1%, Indian 1.4%, Filipino 0.7%, Chinese 0.5%

## Language

English is the main language for 88.5% of residents. While 7% use another language at home—higher than most similar areas—this is still far below the national figure of 22.3%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 7.0% | +11.3% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.4% | -40.3% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 88.5%, Italian 0.7%, Greek 0.4%, Hindi 0.4%, Punjabi 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.2%, Tagalog 0.2%, Mandarin 0.2%

## Religion

A large portion of the community identifies as having no religion at 48.9%, which is well above both the state and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 48.9% | +66.5% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 48.9%, Christianity 40.0%, Not stated 8.3%, Hinduism 1.2%, Other religions 0.6%, Buddhism 0.6%, Islam 0.5%

## Education & Qualifications

The area has a high proportion of trade qualifications, with 41.6% holding a Certificate III or IV. However, Year 12 completion at 44.9% is far below the national average of 58.8%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 44.9% | +17.9% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 16.4% | +13.2% since 2011 |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 3.53 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 9 | — |
| Average school size | 367 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 934 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 44.9%, Year 11 23.9%, Year 10 16.0%, Year 9 or below 7.6%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 41.6%, Bachelor degree 19.6%, Advanced diploma / diploma 12.8%, Postgraduate degree 4.7%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.6%, Certificate I / II 2.3%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 27.5%, Health 13.5%, Management & commerce 13.0%, Society & culture 9.5%, Education 8.1%, Food, hospitality & personal services 4.9%, Architecture & building 4.2%, Natural & physical sciences 1.8%, Creative arts 1.3%, Information technology 1.2%, Agriculture & environment 0.6%

## Income

Typical family incomes are a little above the national figure at $2,307 per week. The area has a high number of top earners, with 14.2% of people earning $2,000 or more weekly.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $815 | +28.5% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,658 | +25.2% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,307 | +24.8% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 14.2% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 20.6% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 28.7%, $650–$1,499 24.0%, Under $650 19.4%, $3,000–$3,999 11.3%, $4,000 or more 9.3%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 39.1%, $650–$1,499 26.0%, $1,500–$2,999 22.0%, $3,000 or more 4.3%

## Health & Disability

Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 32.8% of people living with a long-term health condition and 7.6% needing help with daily activities.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 32.8% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 8.4% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 7.6% | +22.5% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 12.1%, Other condition 10.0%, Asthma 9.6%, Mental health 8.4%, Diabetes 6.7%, Heart disease 5.5%, Cancer 3.3%, Lung condition 2.5%, Dementia 1.7%, Stroke 0.9%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 60.6%, One condition 20.6%, Two conditions 7.2%, Three or more 4.7%

## Community Participation

Volunteerism is high at 19.2%, which is well above the national average. Similarly, 14.1% of people provide unpaid care, a rate higher than most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 19.2% | -22.3% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 14.1% | +38.8% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 24.9% | -12.6% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 1.9% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 24.0% | -5.3% since 2011 |

## First Nations

The First Nations community is notably educated, with Year 12 completion at 42.9%, well above the national figure. However, the unemployment rate for First Nations people is 15.9%, which is well above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 86 | — |
| First Nations median age | 24 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 42.9% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 15.9% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $621 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,300 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 5.8% | — |

## Family & Households

Living arrangements are unusual for the area, as 33.6% of people live alone—a figure well above the national average. This is consistent with the higher proportion of older residents.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.2 | -4.3% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 11.0% | +17.9% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 33.6% | +1.6% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 53.9%, Couples without children 34.4%, One-parent families 11.0%, Other families 0.8%

**Household size** — 2 people 36.6%, 1 person 33.6%, 3 people 12.5%, 4 people 11.5%, 5 people 4.4%, 6 or more 1.8%

## Housing & Dwellings

Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $200, which is far below the national figure. While 75.7% of homes are separate houses, the area has far fewer large homes with three or more bedrooms than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $200 | +28.2% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,300 | -14.3% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 28.7% | -2.7% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 33.1% | +8.9% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 75.7% | +3.6% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 67.0% | +4.1% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 36.0%, Owned outright 33.1%, Rented 28.7%, Other tenure 1.5%, Not stated 1.5%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 75.7%, Townhouse / semi-detached 17.5%, Flat or apartment 6.2%, Other dwelling 0.6%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 41.4%, 2 bedrooms 28.5%, 4 bedrooms 22.2%, 5 or more 3.4%, 1 bedroom 3.0%, Studio / none 0.5%

**Weekly rent distribution** — Under $200 46.8%, $200–$349 38.8%, $350–$549 9.6%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 40.8%, Under $1,000 28.8%, $1,800–$2,999 18.5%, $3,000 or more 4.5%

## Transport & Vehicles

The area is well-served by public transport with 53 stops, among the highest for its level. Despite this, only 1.6% of people use it to commute, and very few (2.6%) work from home.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 7.0% | -21.8% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 2.6% | +97.2% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 1.6% | +2.9% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 53 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 14.69 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 1,067.1 | — |
| Public transport routes | 4 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 2 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 67.5%, Car (passenger) 4.5%, Walked 4.5%, Worked at home 2.6%, Bus 1.6%, Bicycle 1.3%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 35.7%, 1 vehicle 35.3%, 3 vehicles 13.9%, 4 or more 8.0%, No vehicle 7.0%

## Migration & Movement

The population is relatively stable, with 31.0% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 31.0% | -5.1% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 8.4% | -29.0% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Full-time employment is strong at 64.4%, well above the national average. The local workforce is concentrated in health care, manufacturing, and education.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | +28.2% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 60.9% | -1.6% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 64.4% | -2.4% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 17.1%, Manufacturing 15.9%, Education & training 10.4%, Mining 9.2%, Retail trade 9.1%, Construction 8.3%, Accommodation & food 5.4%, Public administration & safety 4.9%, Transport & warehousing 3.6%, Other services 2.9%, Administrative & support 2.4%, Professional & technical 2.0%, Rental & real estate 1.6%, Electricity, gas & water 1.4%, Finance & insurance 1.4%, Wholesale trade 1.2%, Arts & recreation 0.7%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.3%, Media & telecommunications 0.2%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 20.7%, Technicians & trades 17.1%, Machinery operators & drivers 12.7%, Managers 11.9%, Community & personal service 11.1%, Clerical & administrative 10.1%, Sales workers 8.1%, Labourers 6.7%

## Crime & Safety

Recorded offences are much higher than in most similar areas, with theft being the most common crime at 37.7% of incidents.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recorded offences per 100,000 | 6,983 | — |
| Assault & related rate | 1,524 | — |
| Burglary (unlawful entry) rate | 942 | — |
| Theft rate | 2,632 | — |
| Motor vehicle theft rate | 222 | — |
| Property damage rate | 1,247 | — |
| Crime rate change (5 yr) | -7.4% | — |

## Walkability

The area is very walkable, with a score of 7.6. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, a school, and health services.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 7.6 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 7.7 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 99.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 85.3% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 99.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 90.7% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 99.8% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 93.7% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 28.3 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 100 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 4.2% | — |

## Schools serving Whyalla

9 schools, 3,300 students, average ICSEA 934.

By sector: Government 7, Catholic 1, Independent 1

By type: Primary 5, Combined 3, Secondary 1

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Whyalla Town Primary School | Government | Primary | 0.7 km | 318 |
| Memorial Oval Primary School | Government | Primary | 0.9 km | 206 |
| Nicolson Avenue Primary School | Government | Primary | 2.7 km | 261 |
| Samaritan College - St John's Campus | Catholic | Combined | 2.8 km | 881 |
| Whyalla Special Education Centre | Government | Combined | 2.8 km | 63 |
| Sunrise Christian School Whyalla | Independent | Combined | 3.7 km | 257 |
| Hincks Avenue Primary School | Government | Primary | 3.7 km | 170 |
| Long Street Primary School | Government | Primary | 4.1 km | 140 |
| Whyalla Secondary College | Government | Secondary | 4.2 km | 1,004 |

## Nearby areas

[Whyalla Playford](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41589/whyalla-playford) · [Whyalla Norrie](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41588/whyalla-norrie) · [Mullaquana](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40970/mullaquana) · [Whyalla Barson](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41586/whyalla-barson) · [Whyalla Stuart](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41590/whyalla-stuart) · [Whyalla Jenkins](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41587/whyalla-jenkins) · [False Bay](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40430/false-bay) · [Douglas Point](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40370/douglas-point)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41585/whyalla