Gawler South vs Willaston

Willaston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Gawler South. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Gawler South, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Willaston tends to suit families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Willaston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 75%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Gawler South

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($361,250 vs $881,000)
  • has cheaper units ($494,000 vs $552,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Gawler South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $300/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Willaston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (40 min vs 46 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Gawler South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (25% vs 14%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Gawler South and Willaston drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Gawler South Willaston
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Gawler South Willaston
Walkability 52 / 56
Gawler South — Walkability: 52/100 Willaston — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 25 / 32
Gawler South — Safety: 25/100 Willaston — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 100 / 82
Gawler South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Willaston — Low fire risk: 82/100
Low flood risk 23 / 15
Gawler South — Low flood risk: 23/100 Willaston — Low flood risk: 15/100

Demographics

Willaston has more residents (3,458 vs 2,618); Willaston rents higher ($300/wk vs $260/wk).

Gawler South Willaston
Population 2,618 3,458
+32% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.5% +2.2%
Median age 46 42
Median household income $64,376/yr $65,208/yr
+1% vs other
Median weekly rent $260/wk $300/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gawler South Willaston
0-4 3.7% / 5.0%
Gawler South — 0-4: 3.7% Willaston — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 10.1% / 13.5%
Gawler South — 5-14: 10.1% Willaston — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 5.4% / 5.5%
Gawler South — 15-19: 5.4% Willaston — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.6% / 5.1%
Gawler South — 20-24: 6.6% Willaston — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 12.4% / 11.9%
Gawler South — 25-34: 12.4% Willaston — 25-34: 11.9%
35-44 9.9% / 11.4%
Gawler South — 35-44: 9.9% Willaston — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 14.7% / 11.8%
Gawler South — 45-54: 14.7% Willaston — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 16.3% / 13.9%
Gawler South — 55-64: 16.3% Willaston — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 10.4% / 11.7%
Gawler South — 65-74: 10.4% Willaston — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 7.1% / 7.1%
Gawler South — 75-84: 7.1% Willaston — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 3.4% / 3.2%
Gawler South — 85+: 3.4% Willaston — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gawler South 48.7% lone person
Gawler South — Lone Person: 48.7% Gawler South — Couple Families: 29.6% Gawler South — One Parent Families: 16.5% Gawler South — Group Household: 4.1% Gawler South — Other Families: 1.1%
Willaston 43.1% lone person
Willaston — Lone Person: 43.1% Willaston — Couple Families: 29.1% Willaston — One Parent Families: 21.9% Willaston — Group Household: 4.6% Willaston — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Gawler South 31.2% renting
Gawler South — Owned Outright: 31.3% Gawler South — Mortgage: 37.6% Gawler South — Renting: 31.2%
Willaston 24.8% renting
Willaston — Owned Outright: 34.0% Willaston — Mortgage: 41.2% Willaston — Renting: 24.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Gawler South Willaston
Certificate III & IV 17.3% / 20.2%
Gawler South — Certificate III & IV: 17.3% Willaston — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Bachelor Degree 8.7% / 6.9%
Gawler South — Bachelor Degree: 8.7% Willaston — Bachelor Degree: 6.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 6.7%
Gawler South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Willaston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 1.7%
Gawler South — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Willaston — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 0.9%
Gawler South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Willaston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Gawler South Willaston
England 10.2% / 7.8%
Gawler South — England: 10.2% Willaston — England: 7.8%
Scotland 0.6% / 1.0%
Gawler South — Scotland: 0.6% Willaston — Scotland: 1.0%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.7%
Gawler South — New Zealand: 0.8% Willaston — New Zealand: 0.7%
Germany 0.6% / 0.6%
Gawler South — Germany: 0.6% Willaston — Germany: 0.6%
Ireland 0.5% / —
Gawler South — Ireland: 0.5% Willaston — Ireland: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Gawler South — Netherlands: not among its largest Willaston — Netherlands: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gawler South 74.9% houses
Gawler South — Houses: 74.9% Gawler South — Townhouses: 23.8% Gawler South — Flats / Apartments: 1.3%
Willaston 85.7% houses
Willaston — Houses: 85.7% Willaston — Townhouses: 13.5% Willaston — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Gawler South Willaston
Median house price $705,500 $708,000
Median unit price $494,000 $552,250
Median land price $361,250 $881,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 32 sales
 18 days
from 28 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Gawler South Willaston
2 bed $590K / $656K
Gawler South — 2 bed: $590K (19 sales) Willaston — 2 bed: $656K (5 sales)

19 vs 5 sales

3 bed $667K / $700K
Gawler South — 3 bed: $667K (46 sales) Willaston — 3 bed: $700K (49 sales)

46 vs 49 sales

4 bed $858K / $740K
Gawler South — 4 bed: $858K (26 sales) Willaston — 4 bed: $740K (17 sales)

26 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Willaston has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

Gawler South Willaston
Residential 81% 62%
Parks and recreation 16%
same for both
Industrial 0% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 9%
Commercial 3% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Gawler South Willaston
New dwellings approved 324
across Gawler
same for both
Approvals change year on year -22%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Gawler South Willaston
Houses 4.0%
$545/wk on $700K
 4.2%
$585/wk on $720K
Units 4.6%
$460/wk on $525K
 —

Ranking within SA

Gawler South Willaston
House price Higher than 39% of SA Higher than 11% of SA
Income Higher than 32% of SA Higher than 33% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of SA Higher than 82% of SA
Affordability Higher than 34% of SA Higher than 70% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 57% of SA Higher than 56% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of SA Higher than 79% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 60% of SA Higher than 74% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 52% of SA —

Liveability

Gawler South scores higher overall (31 vs 23).

Gawler South Willaston
Grade D
same for both
Score 31/100 23/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Willaston carries more bushfire risk (18 vs 0).

Gawler South Willaston
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
18/100
Crime High
75/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood High
77/100
 High
85/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Gawler South Willaston
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Gawler South Willaston
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 2 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Gawler South Willaston
Walkability score 52/100 56/100
Distance to Adelaide 52.3 km 51.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min 40 min
Public transport score 87/100
Rail · Bus
 51/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 39.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 23.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 5118
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 76
postcode 5118
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Gawler South Willaston
Car (driver) 82.0% / 86.5%
Gawler South — Car (driver): 82.0% Willaston — Car (driver): 86.5%
Worked from Home 6.6% / 6.3%
Gawler South — Worked from Home: 6.6% Willaston — Worked from Home: 6.3%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 4.3%
Gawler South — Car (passenger): 5.3% Willaston — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Walked Only 3.1% / 1.4%
Gawler South — Walked Only: 3.1% Willaston — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 2.7% / 1.6%
Gawler South — Bus: 2.7% Willaston — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (86.5%).

Setting

Gawler South Willaston
Elevation 72 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 63 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.3 km 25.4 km

NBN connectivity

Gawler South Willaston
Connectivity score 70/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
1,510 premises
 37%
1,764 premises

Climate

Gawler South Willaston
Annual rainfall 404 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Gawler South Willaston
PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.31 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Gawler South Willaston
Average residential rate $2,258/yr
same for both
Council Gawler
same for both

Federal electorate

Gawler South Willaston
Division Spence
same for both
Member Matt Burnell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Gawler South Willaston
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Gawler South

Easy Commute Outer Townhouses Trains Transport Hub

Willaston

Large Blocks Outer Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gawler South

Gawler South vs Gawler East Gawler South vs Evanston Park Gawler South vs Evanston Gawler South vs Gawler West Gawler South vs Gawler Gawler South vs Reid

Other comparisons with Willaston

Willaston vs Gawler East Willaston vs Hewett Willaston vs Gawler Belt Willaston vs Gawler West Willaston vs Gawler Willaston vs Reid
Full data on Gawler South Full data on Willaston
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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