Peterhead
A crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000 residents is the most striking number in Peterhead's profile, more than twice what most outer-suburban SA postcodes record, and it shapes the suburb's character as a working-class coastal enclave with genuine affordability pressure. Household incomes sit at the 34.5th percentile nationally, well below the state average, yet the median house price reached $798,000 in 1Q 2026, a high-watermark relative to local earnings. The suburb spans just 0.61 km2 with 1,201 residents and a density of 1,983 per km2, a compact footprint where English and Scottish ancestry dominate and university qualifications trail the national rate by 7.6 points.
Population
1,201
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,346/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$798K
Median 1Q 2026
The $798,000 median house price in 1Q 2026 represents a 5% decline from the $840,000 peak in 1Q 2025, giving buyers a rare entry window in a suburb where prices had previously run ahead of local incomes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes at the 34.5th percentile nationally. The dwelling mix is 69% separate houses, above the SA suburban average, with 23.9% semi-detached and 7.1% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 54% of stock and two-bedroom dwellings 29.5%, so supply is largely family-sized. Outright owners (24.3%) are outnumbered by mortgage holders (45.9%), reflecting a suburb still building equity rather than one of established, debt-free wealth.
For Buyers
The $798,000 median house price in 1Q 2026 represents a 5% decline from the $840,000 peak in 1Q 2025, giving buyers a rare entry window in a suburb where prices had previously run ahead of local incomes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes at the 34.5th percentile nationally. The dwelling mix is 69% separate houses, above the SA suburban average, with 23.9% semi-detached and 7.1% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 54% of stock and two-bedroom dwellings 29.5%, so supply is largely family-sized. Outright owners (24.3%) are outnumbered by mortgage holders (45.9%), reflecting a suburb still building equity rather than one of established, debt-free wealth.
For Investors
Peterhead's 29.8% renter share provides a solid tenant base, though weekly rent of $300 against a $798,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, low for a working-class suburb in this income bracket. The vacancy rate of 7.3% is elevated compared to Adelaide's tighter precincts, suggesting some excess supply in the rental market. Development activity is modest at 15 applications over 12 months, mainly alterations and outbuildings rather than new dwellings, so supply additions are limited. The 5% price fall from $840,000 to $798,000 over one year signals short-term softening, though the mortgage-belt profile, where 45.9% of dwellings carry mortgages, means many owners are holding for the long term rather than turning over stock quickly.
Development Activity
Total DAs
95
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Peterhead's median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, a rare alignment that masks a largely Anglo-Celtic composition: English ancestry leads with 536 residents, followed by Scottish (147) and Irish (137), with German (94) the main non-British heritage group. University qualifications reach only 22.5%, which is 7.6 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades, health support and administration rather than professional services. The overseas-born share of 16.2% is 5.4 points below the national rate, reinforcing the suburb's locally-rooted character. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national figure, and 30.5% of families are couples without children, pointing to a mix of empty-nesters and smaller households rather than a predominantly young-family demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.0%
Houses
23.9%
Townhouse
7.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The median house price moved from $840,000 in 1Q 2025 to $798,000 in 1Q 2026, a 5% contraction over one year. Separate houses make up 69% of the stock, higher than many comparable SA coastal suburbs, while semi-detached dwellings account for 23.9% and apartments just 7.1%. The dominant bedroom size is three (54%), with two-bedroom homes at 29.5% and four-plus at 9.2%. Tenure is split between mortgage holders (45.9%) and renters (29.8%), with outright owners at a relatively low 24.3%, below national norms. Mortgage-to-income at 26% and rent-to-income at 22.3% both sit below stress thresholds, suggesting current occupants are not financially squeezed despite household incomes in the 34.5th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$801
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
44
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples, no children
872
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 22.6% (85 workers), well above the national industry share for a suburb of this size, followed by Education at 10.9% (41 workers) and Construction at 10.6% (40 workers). Public Administration (9.8%) and Retail (6.9%) round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 113 workers, then Clerical and Admin (87), Community and Personal (79), Managers (69) and Labourers (62). The unemployment rate of 6.3% is elevated compared to the Adelaide metropolitan average, and full-time employment reaches 65.9% of those working. Participation sits at 58.4%, with 324 residents not in the labour force, a share that partly reflects the median age of 40 where early retirement and caring roles reduce workforce attachment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.9%
Part-time
27.8%
Participation
58.4%
Employed
546
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.5%
Postgraduate
5.5%
Born Overseas
16.2%
Dwellings
565
Transport to Work
Car dependency is the defining transport characteristic: 88.4% of residents drive to work, while only 5.3% use public transport, well below metropolitan norms, and 2.5% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby schools in neighbouring postcodes. The crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000 residents is the most significant livability concern, substantially higher than comparable Adelaide coastal suburbs and ranking Peterhead among higher-risk SA areas. Rent-to-income at 22.3% and mortgage-to-income at 26% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, so housing costs are not an added burden. The volunteering rate of 13.3% and a need-for-assistance rate of 6.4% (74 residents) suggest reasonable community cohesion despite the economic pressures recorded in the income data.
Drive
88.4%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
184
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
153.2
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Peterhead compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peterhead a good suburb to live in?
Peterhead suits residents who value coastal proximity and separate-house living at a price below many comparable Adelaide suburbs. The main drawbacks are a crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000, above most SA suburban areas, and household incomes at the 34.5th percentile nationally. Mortgage-to-income at 26% means housing costs are manageable, though no schools are recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Peterhead?
The median house price was $798,000 in 1Q 2026, down 5% from $840,000 in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes sitting at the 34.5th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Peterhead?
No schools are recorded within the Peterhead suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjoining suburbs. The local university qualification rate of 22.5% is 7.6 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce skewed toward trades, healthcare support and administration rather than professional roles.
Is Peterhead safe?
The crime rate in Peterhead is 153.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 184 total recorded offences. This rate is substantially higher than many comparable Adelaide metropolitan suburbs and is one of the suburb's key identity signals alongside its working-class income profile. It is a material consideration for prospective residents and investors.
Is Peterhead good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $300 against a $798,000 median implies a gross yield below 2%, below the threshold most yield-focused investors target. The 7.3% vacancy rate is elevated compared to tighter Adelaide precincts, and the 5% price decline over the past year suggests short-term softening. The 29.8% renter base provides a tenant pool, but returns depend on capital growth given the low yield.
How is Peterhead's population changing?
Peterhead's population is 1,201 across a 0.61 km2 area, giving a density of 1,983 per km2. The turnover rate is 18.4%, with 81.6% of residents staying in the same dwelling, indicating a stable, low-churn community. No multi-year population growth figures are available, but the modest 15 development applications in 12 months suggest slow structural change.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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