West Lakes, SA: suburb profile

The population of West Lakes SA is 6,768 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in West Lakes is $791 per week ($41,132 per year). Median rent in West Lakes is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). West Lakes has a median age of 54 years, older than the national median of 38. West Lakes has a population density of 1,535 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in West Lakes is England. The most common religion is No religion (33.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Italian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Lakes is $1,788.

There were 319 recorded offences in West Lakes in 2025-26, a rate of 47 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (230 offences).

Population
6,768
Census 2021
Median income
$791/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$370/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
54years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

West Lakes vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in West Lakes is $791 a week, 4% above the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 287th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $370 a week, $70 more than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 23.9% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 54, 11 years older than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureWest LakesTypical SADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$791/wk$759/wk +4%$766/wk
Household income$1,548/wk$1,494/wk +4%$1,637/wk
Rent$370/wk$300/wk +23%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,788/mo$1,534/mo +17%$1,733/mo
Median age5443 +11 yrs42
Rent share of household income23.9%19.5% +4.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in West Lakes, the typical SA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

West Lakes Population

6,768 residents at the 2021 Census.

West Lakes Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$791/wk
$41,132 per year
Ranked 3,726 of 14,663
Median Rent
$370/wk
$1,603 per month
Ranked 2,711 of 14,663
Median Age
54years
16 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,788/mo
Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

West Lakes Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,548/wk
Median rent $370/wk
Rent to income 23.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in West Lakes against your income

About $6,708 a month
Median rent $370/wk
Left after rent $1,178/wk
Rent share 23.9%

West Lakes Schools

12
schools nearby
7
government
1012
avg ICSEA score
5,137
total students
Portside Christian College Independent
Combined · R-12 · 626 students
1067
ICSEA
West Lakes Shore School Government
Primary · R-6 · 554 students
1060
ICSEA
Our Lady Queen of Peace School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 278 students
1043
ICSEA
Westport Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 421 students
1025
ICSEA
Mount Carmel College Catholic
Secondary · R-12 · 1,204 students
1008
ICSEA
Alberton Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 262 students
1002
ICSEA
Seaton High School Government
Secondary · U, 7-12 · 917 students
1001
ICSEA
Seaton Park Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 149 students
999
ICSEA
Hendon Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 270 students
965
ICSEA
Le Fevre High School Government
Secondary · U, 7-12 · 456 students
951
ICSEA
Indie School Port Adelaide Campus Independent
Secondary
Mount Carmel College Primary Campus Catholic
Primary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near West Lakes, with a map

West Lakes Map

West Lakes, South Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

West Lakes, South Australia: 34.8734°S, 138.4945°E

West Lakes Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (12)

People in West Lakes

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.4% (3,207) Female 52.6% (3,559)

Population Density

1,535
people per km²
6,768 people · 4.4 km²

Households

2.2
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$2,048
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
5.7%
Italy
2.0%
China
1.7%
Germany
1.2%
Greece
1.1%
Croatia
1.0%
India
0.9%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Italian
3.0%
Greek
2.5%
Mandarin
1.9%
Croatian
0.9%
Serbian
0.8%
Russian
0.8%
Cantonese
0.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
37.4%
Australian
28.3%
Italian
11.1%
Scottish
8.5%
Irish
7.7%
German
6.8%
Greek
4.0%
Chinese
3.5%
Polish
2.3%
Croatian
2.0%
Russian
1.3%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
33.2%
Catholic
27.3%
Anglican
10.7%
Uniting Church
6.6%
Eastern Orthodox
5.2%
Not stated
4.4%
Baptist
2.2%
Christian (other)
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
54.4% 3,267
Separated
2.8% 167
Divorced
8.4% 505
Widowed
9.4% 564
Never married
24.9% 1,497

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
42.5%
Couple: children under 15
27.8%
Couple: no children under 15
19.8%
One parent: no children under 15
5.8%
One parent: children under 15
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
29.9%
2 persons
42.5%
3 persons
12.1%
4 persons
10.6%
5 persons
3.6%
6+ persons
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in West Lakes

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,941 occupied private dwellings in West Lakes at the 2021 Census, 15.8% were rented, 50.9% owned outright and 26.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
5.1% 151 dwellings
Owned outright
50.9% 1,497 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
26.9% 791 dwellings
Rented
15.8% 464 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.1% 31 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
64.0%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
19.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
16.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.4%
2 bedrooms
28.3%
3 bedrooms
43.1%
4 bedrooms
23.3%
5 bedrooms
3.2%
6+ bedrooms
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.8%
$300-$449/mo
2.7%
$450-$599/mo
1.8%
$600-$799/mo
3.0%
$800-$999/mo
5.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
16.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
20.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
12.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.6%
1 vehicle
39.4%
2 vehicles
38.7%
3 vehicles
9.8%
4+ vehicles
6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in West Lakes

Employment

Employed full-time
31.7% 1,802 people
Employed part-time
19.3% 1,097 people
Unemployed
2.1% 117 people
Not in labour force
46.9% 2,665 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
32.0%
Managers
18.6%
Technicians & Trade Workers
13.8%
Clerical & Administrative
13.4%
Community & Personal Service
10.7%
Sales Workers
5.5%
Labourers
3.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
1.6%
$300-$399/wk
1.9%
$400-$499/wk
6.8%
$500-$649/wk
5.2%
$650-$799/wk
7.2%
$800-$999/wk
6.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.6%
$4,000+/wk
12.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.3%
$1-$149/wk
3.9%
$150-$299/wk
6.4%
$300-$399/wk
4.4%
$400-$499/wk
3.8%
$500-$649/wk
4.2%
$650-$799/wk
8.7%
$800-$999/wk
9.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
9.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.4%
$3,500+/wk
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.4%
Did not go to work
11.9%
Car (passenger)
3.7%
Bus
2.6%
Walked only
1.1%
Bicycle
0.9%
Train
0.8%
Other
0.5%
Truck
0.4%
Tram/Light Rail
0.3%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
60.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
19.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
15.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.4%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
31.4%
Certificate III/IV
30.9%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.6%
Postgraduate Degree
10.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.6%
Certificate I/II
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
26.2%
Engineering
16.1%
Society & Culture
12.6%
Health
11.8%
Education
10.3%
Architecture & Building
6.8%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.5%
Information Technology
3.4%
Creative Arts
3.0%
Agriculture & Environment
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
25.1%
Secondary: Catholic
15.3%
Primary: Catholic
12.7%
Vocational Education
12.5%
Secondary: Government
11.8%
Pre-school
8.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
6.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
89.3%
Has need for assistance
8.1%
Need for assistance not stated
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
537
Arthritis
343
Diabetes
268
Heart disease
262
Asthma
219
Cancer
193
Lung condition
156
Stroke
111
Kidney disease
94
Dementia
37

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.2% 824
Did not provide
85.8% 4,993

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.0% 934
Not a volunteer
84.0% 4,909

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.3% 15
Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 8
Previously served
4.4% 255
Never served
95.3% 5,577

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.9%
1 child
12.3%
2 children
36.4%
3 children
16.4%
4 children
4.9%
5+ children
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
90
1951: 1960
247
1961: 1970
337
1971: 1980
148
1981: 1990
143
1991: 2000
115
2001: 2010
306
2011: 2015
153
2016
33
2017
25
2018
37
2019
49
2020
35
2021
8

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

14.4%
moved in the last year
38.8%
moved in the last 5 years
3.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
53.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
5,567
Moved from SA
689
Moved: same area (SA2)
134
Moved from NSW
30
Moved from overseas
28
Moved from VIC
20
Moved from WA
15
Moved from QLD
13
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.2%
5: 14 hours
29.5%
15: 29 hours
14.7%
30+ hours
9.5%
Did not do domestic work
25.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
91.4%
Step family: no other children
6.3%
Blended family: no other children
1.8%
Intact family: other children present
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

West Lakes Crime Statistics

319 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
230
Property Damage
29
Assault
21
Break & Enter
20
Fraud
17
Other Against Person
2

Total offences by year

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

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Income: $740/wk Rent: $250/wk $120/wk less rent
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Income: $687/wk Rent: $328/wk $42/wk less rent
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Income: $777/wk Rent: $350/wk $20/wk less rent
Cowell
Income: $669/wk Rent: $200/wk $170/wk less rent
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Income: $915/wk Rent: $350/wk $20/wk less rent
Kingston Se
Income: $634/wk Rent: $200/wk $170/wk less rent
Glenelg South
Income: $889/wk Rent: $340/wk $30/wk less rent
Kingscote
Income: $673/wk Rent: $214/wk $156/wk less rent

Suburbs near West Lakes

The closest suburb to West Lakes is West Lakes Shore, 1.0 km away.

West Lakes Shore
1.0 km away · income $849/wk · rent $390/wk
Royal Park
1.3 km away · income $751/wk · rent $330/wk
Tennyson (SA)
1.7 km away · income $1,032/wk · rent $340/wk
Semaphore Park
1.9 km away · income $656/wk · rent $250/wk
Hendon (SA)
1.9 km away · income $681/wk · rent $285/wk
Queenstown (SA)
2.0 km away · income $623/wk · rent $270/wk

Compare West Lakes

Frequently Asked Questions About West Lakes

What is the population of West Lakes SA?

The population of West Lakes SA is 6,768 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,535 people per km². West Lakes is ranked #1,110 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in West Lakes?

The median personal income in West Lakes SA is $791 per week, or $41,132 per year. The median household income is $1,548 per week. Family income is $2,048 per week. West Lakes is ranked #3,726 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in West Lakes?

Median rent in West Lakes SA is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). Rent represents 23.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. West Lakes ranks #2,711 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in West Lakes?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Lakes SA is $1,788. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in West Lakes?

The median age in West Lakes SA is 54 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is West Lakes a good suburb to live in?

West Lakes is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 6,768. The median income is $791/wk, which is above the typical SA suburb ($759/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Adelaide Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 41568. All dollar figures in AUD.