Moving to Goolwa SA 5214
What the official numbers say about living in Goolwa — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $250 a week, against a median household income of $790 a week.
About 69% of homes are owner-occupied and 25% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Goolwa grew 16% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,201 → 2,558 people).
Around 53% of households are families, averaging 1.8 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, Germany, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: German, Australian Indigenous, Polish.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Goolwa scores below the national average (decile 1 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (82% of workers), while 11% work from home.
The Adelaide CBD is roughly 66 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 2 schools · 7 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 1 park · 1 beach — see them all on the Goolwa profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Goolwa Primary School 250 m · Investigator College 600 m
Groceries: Foodland 650 m · Woolworths 700 m
Parks and reserves: Jaralde Park 650 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Goolwa, most often seen first: Black Swan · Pacific Black Duck · Australian Pelican · Australian White Ibis · Common Starling · Grey Teal.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Goolwa, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goolwa here | 2,558 | — | 1/10 | 5% |
| Goolwa South | 1,041 | — | 2/10 | 2% |
| Goolwa Beach | 2,222 | — | 2/10 | 17% |
| Goolwa North | 1,307 | — | 2/10 | 10% |
| Hindmarsh Island | 1,846 | — | 3/10 | 4% |
| Middleton | 1,298 | — | 6/10 | 8% |
| Port Elliot | 2,251 | — | 3/10 | 6% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Alexandrina — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Mayo — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 5214 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Goolwa profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $250 a week, and about 25% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 16% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,201 people to 2,558. It sits about 66 km from the Adelaide CBD in a straight line. Local government is Alexandrina council, and the federal seat is Mayo.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Goolwa vs Goolwa South · Goolwa vs Goolwa Beach.
Nearby guides: Goolwa South · Goolwa Beach · Goolwa North · Hindmarsh Island · Middleton · Port Elliot.
Keep an eye on Goolwa
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