Peterborough
A 21.8% vacancy rate is the clearest signal of Peterborough's small-town housing dynamics. The suburb has 1,490 residents, a median age of 55, and a low density of 40.3 people per square kilometre. The median age sits 15 years above the national benchmark, reflecting an established and ageing resident base rather than a growth-led market. With 51.5% of homes owned outright, Peterborough has a more settled tenure profile than many mortgage-heavy urban areas. Buyers comparing Peterborough with nearby Jamestown or Orroroo should weigh its affordability, local services and slower population trajectory against the thinner rental demand.
Local council: Peterborough
Population
1,490
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$706/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Peterborough suits buyers seeking detached housing and lower holding costs, although the absence of a current median house price makes property-by-property comparison important. Separate houses account for 95.5% of dwellings, while 64.6% have 3 bedrooms, creating a practical fit for families, downsizers and buyers wanting yard space. The monthly mortgage measure is $569, compared with weekly rent of $160, and mortgage costs equal 18.6% of household income versus 22.7% for rent. That lower mortgage burden supports affordability, but the 21.8% vacancy rate also signals that resale and rental demand can be thinner than in larger regional centres. Compared with denser suburbs, car access and detached stock are major advantages.
For Buyers
Peterborough suits buyers seeking detached housing and lower holding costs, although the absence of a current median house price makes property-by-property comparison important. Separate houses account for 95.5% of dwellings, while 64.6% have 3 bedrooms, creating a practical fit for families, downsizers and buyers wanting yard space. The monthly mortgage measure is $569, compared with weekly rent of $160, and mortgage costs equal 18.6% of household income versus 22.7% for rent. That lower mortgage burden supports affordability, but the 21.8% vacancy rate also signals that resale and rental demand can be thinner than in larger regional centres. Compared with denser suburbs, car access and detached stock are major advantages.
For Investors
Peterborough presents a low-entry rental proposition, but the 21.8% vacancy rate is a significant risk because excess available stock can limit rent growth and lengthen leasing periods. Weekly rent is $160, and 23.7% of occupied dwellings are rented, while 51.5% are owned outright, indicating a relatively settled market. Rent growth across the wider area has reached 32.0%, yet the population trend is -0.28% annually and migration is classified as Balanced. Twenty-one development applications were recorded over 12 months, mostly reflecting property upgrades rather than a clear expansion of dwelling supply. Compared with a tightly occupied rental market, Peterborough requires conservative vacancy and resale assumptions. Its gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
103
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Peterborough
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Peterborough Primary School
Peterborough High School
Demographics
Peterborough has an older and smaller-household profile than national norms. The median age is 55, or 15 years above the national comparison, while the average household size is 1.8, which is 0.7 below the national figure. University attainment is 9.9%, sitting 20.2 percentage points below the national level, and the overseas-born share is 11.0%, 10.6 points below the national comparison. English ancestry is reported by 591 residents, followed by Scottish ancestry at 117 and Irish at 116. No religion accounts for 664 people and Christianity for 553. Compared with nearby Jamestown and Orroroo, households considering Peterborough should focus on its ageing trajectory, modest migrant presence and strong local continuity, with 84.7% of residents staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.5%
Houses
3.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Peterborough's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with separate houses representing 95.5% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 3.3%. Three-bedroom properties make up 64.6% of homes, followed by 2-bedroom dwellings at 18.7% and 4-bedroom-or-more homes at 13.3%. Ownership is more settled than mortgage or rental tenure: 51.5% own outright, 23.1% have a mortgage and 23.7% rent. The outright ownership share is higher than the mortgage share, which helps explain the relatively low 18.6% mortgage-to-income measure. A 21.8% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly occupied market and can suppress competition for tenants. Compared with higher-density areas, Peterborough offers more land-oriented housing, but buyers should assess individual condition and location because a suburb-wide median price is unavailable.
Mortgage / mo
$569
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$160
Census 2021
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$456
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.8%
Unoccupied
187
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.9%
Couples with children
55.3%
Couples, no children
23.4%
Single parent
338
Total families
Economy & Employment
Peterborough's economy is concentrated in local services, with healthcare employing 37 people or 18.1% of workers, retail and education each accounting for 26 people or 12.7%, hospitality 21 people or 10.3%, and construction 15 people or 7.4%. The largest occupation groups are labourers at 80, community and personal service workers at 71, managers at 59, sales workers at 42 and trades workers at 38. Labour-force participation is 36.0%, unemployment is 13.3%, and full-time employment is 44.8%, which helps explain household income of $706 per week and a household income percentile of 2.2, well below the national income distribution. The IEO and IER sit in decile 3, while IRSD and IRSAD are in decile 2, showing disadvantage measures below the education and economic-resource measures. This profile reflects reliance on local service work and a large retired or non-participating population.
Unemployment
13.3%
Labour Force
466
Unemployed
62
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
44.8%
Part-time
44.6%
Participation
36.0%
Employed
404
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.9%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
11.0%
Dwellings
664
Transport to Work
Peterborough is practical for residents with a car, as 75.8% of commuters drive, compared with 1.2% using public transport and 10.2% walking or cycling. That gap reflects the town's low density of 40.3 people per square kilometre and the importance of regional access. Two local government schools provide primary and secondary education through Peterborough Primary School and Peterborough High School; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. The recorded crime rate is 45.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 67 total incidents, so street-level conditions and personal circumstances still matter. IRSAD is in decile 2, indicating lower relative socioeconomic advantage than higher-decile communities, while volunteering reaches 22.4%. Compared with a transit-led suburb, Peterborough's livability depends more on driving, local services and community participation.
Drive
75.8%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
10.2%
Work from Home
8.1%
Growth Outlook
Peterborough is following an ageing, slow-growth trajectory rather than an expansion pattern. The annual forecast trend is -0.28%, while population change across the wider area is -1.6% over 10 years. The shift is labelled Aging, supported by a 7.1% increase in the senior share and a 2.7% fall in the young share. Migration is classified as Balanced, so there is no single strong inflow driver offsetting the ageing pattern. Rent growth has reached 32.0%, but affordability has remained Stable, moving from 32.1% in 2011 to 30.9% in 2021. Compared with growth corridors, Peterborough's outlook is more defensive because demand is shaped by an established resident base. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, reducing the case for rapid transformation.
Population trend: Peterborough council area
Peterborough sits in the Peterborough council area. These are the council area's residents, not Peterborough's.
Residents 2025
1,701
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.4%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
67
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
45.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Peterborough compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peterborough a good suburb to live in?
Peterborough can suit residents wanting a quiet, low-density town with detached housing and local schools. It has 1,490 residents, a median age of 55 and 75.8% car-driver commuting. The 21.8% vacancy rate suggests housing availability, while the 40.3 people-per-square-kilometre density reflects a less urban lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Peterborough?
A current suburb median house price is unavailable. For affordability context, the monthly mortgage measure is $569 and weekly rent is $160. With 95.5% of dwellings being separate houses, buyers should compare recent listings, property condition and comparable sales rather than rely on a single median figure.
What schools are in Peterborough?
Peterborough has 2 government schools: Peterborough Primary School for primary education and Peterborough High School for secondary education. Families should confirm enrolment zones for the exact address, as catchments can affect access even when a school is located within the suburb.
Is Peterborough safe?
Peterborough recorded 67 total crime incidents and a crime rate of 45.0 per 1,000 residents. Those figures provide useful context but cannot guarantee personal safety at every address or time. Prospective residents should inspect streets at different times and consider lighting, nearby activity and the specific property location.
Is Peterborough good for property investment?
Peterborough is a higher-risk rental investment market because vacancy is 21.8%, weekly rent is $160 and the annual growth trend is -0.28%. Rent growth of 32.0% provides some support, but migration is Balanced and the gentrification score is 0. Investors should use conservative vacancy, maintenance and resale assumptions.
How is Peterborough's population changing?
Peterborough's current population is 1,490, with a median age of 55. The wider-area population change is -1.6% over 10 years and the annual trend is -0.28%. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 7.1% and the young share down 2.7%, so demand is likely to remain shaped by older households.
What development is happening in Peterborough?
Twenty-one development applications were recorded over the past 12 months. Examples include carports, a garage and a single-storey dwelling addition. This indicates ongoing upgrades to existing properties, but the recorded projects do not establish a large increase in new housing supply.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
Explore Peterborough on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map