One South African town saw the average income of residents increased 645% in 14 years

Since 2011, monthly household incomes in Salt Rock, Ballito, and KwaDukuza NU have increased by an average of 645%, 504%, and 390%, respectively, highlighting Salt Rock as the top-performing town in income growth.

This income growth is on the back of strong growth and investment on the North Coast over the last few decades. As a result, towns in the area are experiencing a boom in property value, semigration, and household earnings.

According to Rainmaker Marketing’s latest Property Market Report, the North Coast, spanning from Zimbali in the south to the Tugela River in the north, has seen remarkable growth over the last 20 years.

The area, which forms part of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, is becoming a thriving hub of residential estates, commercial developments, and retail spaces.

In January, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson promised to “turn South Africa into a construction site and use public assets for the public good.”

As part of this effort, Macpherson, KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer, and Mayor of eThekwini, Vusumuzi Cyril Xaba, signed a memorandum of understanding in Durban.

In terms of this memorandum, they agreed to start using public assets for the public good by releasing underutilised properties for proposal requests.

According to Statistics SA, the total value of building plans passed increased by 8% from January 2024 to December 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

KZN was the most significant positive contributor to this growth, positioning it among the top 3 provinces in the country for building plans passed.

In KZN, plans passed for residential buildings increased by 32% from R5.080 billion in 2023 to R6.680 billion in 2024, showing increased positive sentiment within the residential sector.

At the same time, large-scale private-sector investments have also been made in the province. For example, a R2 billion luxury resort, Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari Resort, is currently under construction near Ballito.

It is expected to open by July 2026 and significantly boost tourism, international connectivity, infrastructure, and property values.

Once operational, the resort is expected to create 2,300 direct and indirect permanent jobs. Upon launch, it will attract over 400 new international visitors weekly, primarily from the French and Belgian markets.

International guests are expected to make up about 70% of total visitors, with the remaining 30% being domestic travellers.

North Coast growth

According to the Rainmaker report, the Western Cape is still South Africa’s migration capital, with 5,970 emigrants moving to the province in 2024. Gauteng followed with 3,360 movers.

However, KZN also emerged as a hotspot for movers. In 2024, 1,300 semigrants moved to KZN. They mainly were Gauteng residents, moving 800 times between the provinces, with 200 coming from the Western Cape.

The province is home to the North Coast, which includes popular towns such as Ballito, KwaDukuza Non-Urban (NU) and Salt Rock.

Each region offers a unique blend of modern amenities and access to natural beauty, including the pristine Blue Flag beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Since 2011, the greater North Coast has seen exponential growth, with 290 adults moving into the area each month. This translates to approximately 193 families per month.

The report found that residents’ incomes in Ballito, KwaDukuza NU, and Salt Rock have also grown considerably from 2011 to 2025.

The increase in average household income indicates consistent improvement in living standards and wealthy individuals moving into these areas.

Since 2011, monthly household incomes in Salt Rock, Ballito, and KwaDukuza NU have increased by an average of 645%, 504%, and 390%, respectively, highlighting Salt Rock as the top-performing town in income growth.

In 2011, the average monthly income in these towns ranged between R12,500 and R25,000. In February 2025, the average income in Salt Rock was between R115,000 and R145,000.

Salt Rock and Ballito both showed strong concentrations of high-income households, with 70% of Salt Rock’s households falling into the wealthy and super-wealthy brackets.

Ballito reflects a broader income mix, with 50% in the wealthy and super-wealthy categories and the remainder spread across high and middle-income segments.

Property boom

Across Ballito, KwaDukuza NU, and Salt Rock, there is consistent demand among 36–49-year-olds. This trend aligns with the national average age of first-time buyers, which is 37.

Ballito and Salt Rock, primarily drawing those aged 36 and older, are popular among mature families, empty nesters and active retirees seeking secure estates and desirable seaside living.

Salt Rock, in particular, has demonstrated tremendous growth in residential opportunities over recent years. The coastal town has seen growth in property markets and services, with initiatives supporting its continued development.

Over March 2024–February 2025, the average price of a Sectional Title (ST) in an estate was R3.469 million. This was 62% more expensive than STs outside estates, which averaged R2.141 million.

The average price of a Freehold Homes (FH) in an estate was R6.708 million during the period, 24% above those outside of an estate, worth R5,429 million.

Ballito and Salt Rock have consistently recorded the highest total property sales across all periods compared to KwaDukuza NU.

During the March 2024 to February 2025 period, Salt Rock accounted for the largest share of total sales at 47%.

Notably, Salt Rock’s total sales increased from 552 in 2023/2024 to 665 in 2024/2025, primarily driven by sales within newer estate developments.

Overall, the strongest sales years were 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, with total transactions amounting to 1,792 and 1,753, respectively. The best-performing period was 2021/2022, with a total sales value of R5.821 billion.

While total sales volumes have declined in all areas over the various periods, Salt Rock has demonstrated greater stability, with more moderate decreases than others.