Port Augusta West
All four SEIFA indexes place Port Augusta West in decile 1 nationally, the most disadvantaged tier, yet the suburb is growing faster than most of regional SA. Population rose 48.6% over the decade to an estimated 8,090 in 2025, driven by net internal migration averaging 256 arrivals per year. The household income sits at the 39.9th percentile nationally, rent averages just $213 per week, and 41.5% of dwellings are rented. Against this low-cost backdrop, a crime rate of 238.3 incidents per 1,000 residents stands well above state and national averages, which is the primary quality-of-life trade-off buyers and renters must weigh.
Population
4,046
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,396/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
41
No median sale price is recorded in this dataset for Port Augusta West, which reflects thin transaction volumes in a predominantly renting suburb where only 27.3% carry a mortgage. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,279, implying mortgage-to-income at 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, so purchase affordability is not the barrier. The housing stock is detached-house dominated at 79.9%, with 65.5% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 23.2% having 4 or more. Outright owners account for 31.2% of households, a moderate share compared to wealthier suburbs. Buyers seeking cheap entry into SA regional property will find low carrying costs here, but the SEIFA decile 1 profile and 13.4% vacancy rate signal limited capital growth history.
For Buyers
No median sale price is recorded in this dataset for Port Augusta West, which reflects thin transaction volumes in a predominantly renting suburb where only 27.3% carry a mortgage. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,279, implying mortgage-to-income at 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, so purchase affordability is not the barrier. The housing stock is detached-house dominated at 79.9%, with 65.5% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 23.2% having 4 or more. Outright owners account for 31.2% of households, a moderate share compared to wealthier suburbs. Buyers seeking cheap entry into SA regional property will find low carrying costs here, but the SEIFA decile 1 profile and 13.4% vacancy rate signal limited capital growth history.
For Investors
A 41.5% renter share gives landlords a large tenant base, and at $213 per week rent the suburb attracts working families priced out of larger cities. The 13.4% vacancy rate is high, however, indicating more rental supply than demand at any given time. Development activity reached 39 applications in the past 12 months, predominantly shed and carport additions rather than new dwellings. Net internal migration of 256 per year is the strongest demand driver, and the medium forecast adds roughly 204 residents per year through to 2031. Rent grew 42.9% over the decade, well above income growth of 6.9%, suggesting tenants are absorbing more of their income in housing costs over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
241
Last 12 Months
41
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+10.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Port Augusta West iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Caritas College
R-12 · 541 students
Port Augusta West Primary School
U, R-6 · 150 students
Flinders View Primary School
R-6 · 141 students
Demographics
The median age is 40, equal to the national figure. The suburb skews Anglo-Celtic in ancestry, led by English (1,443), Irish (305), German (270) and Scottish (250), with overseas-born residents at 9.3%, which is 12.3 points below the national average. University qualifications reach 20.4%, compared to a national figure roughly 9.7 points higher. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below national. Families are predominantly couples with children (1,089 households) alongside a significant couples-without-children cohort (838). The working-age share shrank 4.2 points over the decade while the senior share grew 3.8 points, indicating a gradual aging trajectory similar to many SA regional centres.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.9%
Houses
12.6%
Townhouse
5.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses make up 79.9% of the stock, reflecting a typical regional SA low-density footprint across 733 square kilometres. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 65.5% and 4-plus bedroom homes 23.2%, so the market is overwhelmingly family-sized. Tenure divides into 31.2% outright owners, 27.3% mortgagors and 41.5% renters. Rent-to-income at 15.3% sits below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 21.2% is similarly manageable, both lower than national median stress levels. The 13.4% vacancy rate is elevated, suggesting periodic oversupply in the rental segment. No median sale price data is available in this dataset, consistent with limited transaction volumes in a suburb where most households rent.
Mortgage / mo
$1,279
Rent / wk
$213
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$720
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.4%
Unoccupied
239
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.9%
Couples, no children
2,895
Total families
Economy & Employment
The three largest industries are Healthcare (20.7%, 215 workers), Public Administration (17.2%, 179 workers) and Education (14.9%, 155 workers), a pattern typical of regional service centres that anchor government employment. Construction follows at 8.2% and Transport at 5.8%. By occupation, Community and Personal services leads at 317 workers, then Professionals (282), Clerical and Admin (198), Labourers (191) and Managers (171). The unemployment rate is 6.0%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 52.5% is low, with 1,154 residents not in the labour force. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 1, the lowest nationally, reflecting persistently low incomes, educational attainment and economic resources compared to most Australian communities.
Unemployment
13.6%
Labour Force
6,685
Unemployed
910
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
28.3%
Participation
52.5%
Employed
1,607
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.4%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
9.3%
Dwellings
1,535
Transport to Work
Public transport use is very low at 1.0%, with 86.9% of residents commuting by car, typical of a spread-out regional area with limited transit coverage. Volunteering reaches 18.6% of residents, a meaningful rate that reflects community engagement despite the SEIFA decile 1 profile. The crime rate of 238.3 incidents per 1,000 residents is high relative to the SA state average and well above national benchmarks, which is the most significant livability concern for incoming residents. About 6.8% of residents (251 people) require daily assistance, above the national average, consistent with the older and more disadvantaged demographic profile. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools elsewhere in the Port Augusta area.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.52%/yr
(+204 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 48.6% over the decade and is forecast to reach 8,946 by 2031 under the medium scenario, adding around 204 residents per year at a 2.52% annual rate. Internal migration is the primary driver, averaging 256 net arrivals per year, with overseas migration contributing a further 52. The gentrification stage is rated Active, with signals including the strong internal migration and an affordability worsening from 39.2% in 2011 to 42.6% in 2021. The young-adult share rose 1.9 points while the senior share gained 3.8 points, so growth is broad-based rather than driven by a single age cohort. Rent rose 42.9% over the same period, well outpacing the 6.9% real income gain, which compresses affordability over time despite the low absolute rent level.
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
964
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
238.3
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 West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Augusta West a good suburb to live in?
Port Augusta West offers low housing costs, with rent averaging $213 per week and mortgage-to-income at 21.2%, well below stress thresholds. However, all 4 SEIFA indexes sit at decile 1 nationally, the lowest tier, unemployment is 6.0%, and the crime rate of 238.3 per 1,000 residents is significantly above state and national averages. Amenity suits buyers who prioritise affordability over prestige.
What is the median house price in Port Augusta West?
No median sale price is recorded for Port Augusta West in this dataset, reflecting thin transaction volumes. Weekly rent averages $213 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,279. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.2%, which is below the 30% stress benchmark, indicating low carrying costs relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Port Augusta West?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Augusta West boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools elsewhere in the broader Port Augusta area. The suburb has a university qualification rate of 20.4%, which is 9.7 points below the national average, consistent with a regional blue-collar and service-sector workforce.
Is Port Augusta West safe?
Port Augusta West recorded 964 incidents in the reference period, giving a crime rate of 238.3 per 1,000 residents. This is well above national and SA state averages, making crime the primary safety concern for prospective residents. The suburb scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the lowest tier nationally, which is associated with higher crime rates in most communities.
Is Port Augusta West good for property investment?
The 41.5% renter share provides a large tenant pool, rent grew 42.9% over the decade, and the population is forecast to reach 8,946 by 2031. However, a 13.4% vacancy rate signals periodic oversupply, no median sale price data exists to anchor capital growth expectations, and the SEIFA decile 1 profile limits the tenant market to lower-income renters. Yield-focused investors face a high-vacancy, low-price environment.
How is Port Augusta West's population changing?
Population grew 48.6% over the decade, reaching an estimated 8,090 residents in 2025. Annual growth runs at 2.52%, adding about 204 people per year. Net internal migration of 256 per year is the main driver, with overseas migration contributing 52 additionally. The medium forecast projects the population reaching 8,946 by 2031, making it one of the faster-growing regional SA suburbs in proportional terms.
How much development activity is there in Port Augusta West?
There were 39 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a moderate level for a suburb of around 8,000 residents. Recent applications include a carport, a shed and storage structure, and performance-assessed works. Activity is predominantly smaller residential improvements rather than major new housing supply, consistent with an established low-density suburb still absorbing migration-driven demand.
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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