Port Augusta
At 6,437 residents, Port Augusta combines a 17.0% vacancy rate with a 2.52% annual growth trend, an unusual pairing that points to both available housing and renewed demand. Median age is 39, one year below the national comparison, while university participation is 16.3%, 13.8 points below the national figure. Compared with nearby Stirling North, Port Augusta has the more concentrated urban service profile, reflected in 333 healthcare jobs, 192 public administration roles and 5 government schools. Its 43.9% renting share, 74.7% separate-house share and IRSAD decile 1 make tenure security and service access central to the outlook.
Population
6,437
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,092/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
69
Port Augusta suits buyers prioritising detached homes and practical household budgets. Separate houses account for 74.7%, higher than apartments at 10.3% and semi-detached homes at 14.7%, while three-bedroom properties make up 60.4%. The mortgage indicator is $979 a month and rent is $194 a week; mortgage-to-income is 20.7%, compared with rent-to-income at 17.8%, and neither stress flag is raised. A current median house price is not stated, so recent comparable sales are essential before setting a budget. The 43.9% renting share may widen choice, while the 17.0% vacancy rate gives buyers reason to inspect condition and tenant demand carefully.
For Buyers
Port Augusta suits buyers prioritising detached homes and practical household budgets. Separate houses account for 74.7%, higher than apartments at 10.3% and semi-detached homes at 14.7%, while three-bedroom properties make up 60.4%. The mortgage indicator is $979 a month and rent is $194 a week; mortgage-to-income is 20.7%, compared with rent-to-income at 17.8%, and neither stress flag is raised. A current median house price is not stated, so recent comparable sales are essential before setting a budget. The 43.9% renting share may widen choice, while the 17.0% vacancy rate gives buyers reason to inspect condition and tenant demand carefully.
For Investors
Investor conditions are mixed. Renting accounts for 43.9% of tenures and weekly rent is $194, creating a relatively low-rent market, but the 17.0% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied market and can reduce pricing power. Rent growth of 42.9% points to recent momentum, yet that gain should be tested against leasing times and property quality. Development activity reached 67 applications in 12 months, including tourist accommodation, warehouse processing space and a verandah, signalling more land-use change than a quiet pipeline. Internal migration is the primary growth driver, but the Aging trajectory means practical, affordable homes may appeal more than speculative stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
347
Last 12 Months
69
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-14.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Port Augusta
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Carlton School
Augusta Park Primary School
Willsden Primary School
Open Access College Port Augusta School of the Air
Port Augusta Secondary School
Demographics
Port Augusta's median age is 39, 1 year below the national comparison, but its trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 3.8 points and the working share is down 4.2 points. University participation is 16.3%, 13.8 points below national levels, while overseas-born residents are 11.3%, 10.3 points below national levels. English ancestry numbers 2,061 people, followed by Irish at 527 and German at 432, giving the population a stronger Anglo-European tilt than a migrant-majority suburb. Household size averages 2.2, 0.3 below national, because couples without children are 41.2% of families and one-parent families 25.4%. No religion leads at 3,255, compared with 2,298 identifying as Christian.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.7%
Houses
14.7%
Townhouse
10.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Port Augusta's housing is detached-led but not exclusively low-density. Separate houses make up 74.7%, higher than apartments at 10.3% and semi-detached homes at 14.7%. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 60.4%, compared with 19.6% two-bedroom and 15.3% four-or-more-bedroom homes, so conventional family layouts are most common. Renting is the largest single tenure category at 43.9%, compared with 30.6% owning outright and 23.7% with a mortgage. That pattern fits the household income percentile of 17.1. Mortgage-to-income is 20.7%, compared with rent-to-income at 17.8%, while vacancy is 17.0%, giving tenants more choice than in a constrained market.
Mortgage / mo
$979
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$194
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$635
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.0%
Unoccupied
534
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.9%
Couples with children
41.2%
Couples, no children
25.4%
Single parent
1,545
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Port Augusta's industries at 23.4% of jobs, higher than public administration at 13.5%, education at 12.4%, construction at 7.0% and hospitality at 5.8%. This makes health, government and education important demand anchors. Occupations include 458 community/personal workers, 412 labourers, 375 professionals, 342 trades workers and 252 clerical/admin workers. Unemployment is 8.1%, participation 52.5% and full-time employment 58.8%, alongside 2,048 people outside the labour force. Household income is at the 17.1st percentile, consistent with all four SEIFA measures at decile 1: IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD. Compared with a higher-income regional centre, the service base is substantial but spending power remains constrained.
Unemployment
8.1%
Labour Force
2,764
Unemployed
225
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.8%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
52.5%
Employed
2,539
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.3%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
11.3%
Dwellings
2,599
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-based: 79.7% travel as a car driver, compared with 3.3% using public transport and 5.8% walking or cycling. That makes proximity to services and parking more important than transit convenience, while only 2.1% work from home. Five government schools provide primary, secondary, combined and Aboriginal/Anangu education, giving families more local options than an area without both primary and secondary provision; check enrolment zones by address. Safety warrants attention: crime is 2,701 incidents, or 419.6 per 1,000, and IRSAD is decile 1, signalling much lower relative advantage than higher-decile communities. Volunteering is 13.8% and residential stability is 81.7%, but 8.2% need assistance, making service access a practical priority.
Drive
79.7%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.8%
Work from Home
2.1%
Population Forecast
+2.52%/yr
(+204 people/yr)
EstablishedPort Augusta's growth outlook is stronger than its established label suggests. The trend is 2.52% a year and the primary driver is internal migration, while population change across the wider area is 48.6% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 3.8 points and working share is down 4.2 points, so expansion may lift demand for accessible services rather than only family housing. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 40, compared with an earlier shift score of 25 and an Early signs stage. Rent growth is 42.9% and affordability worsened from 39.2 to 42.6, creating more momentum but also more budget pressure.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+52
Net Internal / yr
+256
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +256/yr, Accelerating: 21% → 46%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,701
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
419.6
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Augusta compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Augusta a good suburb to live in?
Port Augusta can suit residents who value detached housing, local government schools and access to essential services. It has 6,437 residents, 74.7% separate houses and 5 government schools, but the 419.6 per 1,000 crime rate is a reason to compare streets and recent incidents before choosing an address.
What is the median house price in Port Augusta?
No current median house price is stated for Port Augusta. Buyers should compare recent like-for-like sales with the $194 weekly rent, $979 monthly mortgage indicator and 17.0% vacancy rate, because suburb-wide conditions can vary by dwelling type and street.
What schools are in Port Augusta?
Port Augusta has 5 government schools covering primary, secondary, combined and Aboriginal/Anangu education. Options include Augusta Park Primary, Willsden Primary, Port Augusta Secondary, Carlton School and the School of the Air. Compare enrolment zones with the exact address before applying.
Is Port Augusta safe?
Safety is mixed rather than something to assume from a suburb label. Port Augusta recorded 2,701 crimes, equal to 419.6 per 1,000 residents, while its IRSAD decile is 1. Compare the exact street, recent incident patterns and property security before deciding.
Is Port Augusta good for property investment?
It may suit a value-focused investor, but the risk profile is not simple. Renting is 43.9%, weekly rent is $194 and vacancy is 17.0%, while rent growth is 42.9%. Compare expected yield with vacancy, maintenance and the 67 development applications recorded over 12 months.
How is Port Augusta's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 48.6% over 10 years, with a 2.52% annual trend driven mainly by internal migration. At the same time, Port Augusta is on an Aging trajectory, with the senior share up 3.8 points. Compared with a static market, growth is stronger but service demand will also shift.
What development is planned in Port Augusta?
Development activity reached 67 applications in 12 months, including tourist accommodation, a warehouse with processing space and smaller property works. That is more varied than a purely residential pipeline, so buyers and investors should compare proposed land uses, traffic effects and local vacancy before committing.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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