Port Broughton
A median age of 62 places Port Broughton 22 years above the national figure, making it one of South Australia's most distinctly retirement-oriented coastal communities. Only 1,312 residents spread across 195 sq km, giving a density of 6.7 per sq km compared to most regional centres. The vacancy rate of 30.6% reflects seasonal holiday use and retiree downsizing patterns rather than underlying demand weakness. Household income sits at the 12.8th percentile nationally, consistent with a largely retired population drawing superannuation and pensions rather than wages. Anglo-Celtic ancestry dominates, with 82% of residents having lived at the same address five years prior, pointing to deep residential stability.
Population
1,312
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$997/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
51
Port Broughton suits buyers seeking a low-cost coastal lifestyle rather than capital growth. No median house price is currently recorded in this dataset, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, well below the SA state median, suggesting attainable entry prices for detached homes. Separate houses account for 90.3% of the stock, higher than most SA regional towns, and 54% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms with a further 23.3% having 4 or more bedrooms. Outright ownership sits at 56%, far above national norms, because the dominant retiree cohort has long since paid off mortgages. One financial caution: mortgage-to-income is flagged at 30.1%, meaning the smaller group of buyers who do carry debt face real repayment pressure relative to local incomes at the 12.8th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
Port Broughton suits buyers seeking a low-cost coastal lifestyle rather than capital growth. No median house price is currently recorded in this dataset, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, well below the SA state median, suggesting attainable entry prices for detached homes. Separate houses account for 90.3% of the stock, higher than most SA regional towns, and 54% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms with a further 23.3% having 4 or more bedrooms. Outright ownership sits at 56%, far above national norms, because the dominant retiree cohort has long since paid off mortgages. One financial caution: mortgage-to-income is flagged at 30.1%, meaning the smaller group of buyers who do carry debt face real repayment pressure relative to local incomes at the 12.8th percentile nationally.
For Investors
Rental yields require realistic expectations. Weekly rent averages $235, modest compared to broader SA regional markets, and a 30.6% vacancy rate signals that a large share of the dwelling stock sits empty for extended periods, many as holiday homes rather than permanent rentals. Development activity is moderate at 47 applications in the past 12 months, primarily outbuildings, patios and dwelling variations rather than new residential supply. The low-income base, with household income at the 12.8th percentile nationally, caps affordable rent levels, limiting yield upside. The 22.1% renter share is the tenant pool available to landlords, which is below national average. Investors drawn to this market typically hold coastal holiday properties for personal use with incidental rental income rather than yield-focused returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
302
Last 12 Months
51
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+13.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Port Broughton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Port Broughton Area School
R-12 · 152 students
Demographics
The median age of 62 is 22 years above national, and the age profile is dominated by retirees: 50.9% of families are couples without children, and the average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national. The population is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 9.6% overseas-born residents compared to a national rate approximately 12 percentage points higher. University qualifications reach 16.9% of residents, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with an older cohort that completed education before university attendance became widespread. Ancestry is predominantly English (659 residents), with German (135), Irish (97) and Scottish (93) reflecting the distinct SA colonial settlement pattern. Volunteering is strong at 31.2%, a common feature of older communities where retired residents have time to contribute.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.3%
Houses
7.8%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Nine in ten dwellings (90.3%) are separate houses, well above the national average, with semi-detached homes at 7.8% and apartments at just 1.4%. The tenure structure reflects the retiree profile: 56% of households own outright versus the national rate closer to 31%, while only 21.9% carry a mortgage and 22.1% rent. Three-bedroom homes are the norm at 54%, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 23.3% suggesting family-sized homes occupied by couples now without dependent children. No median price is currently available in this dataset, but median monthly mortgage repayments of $1,300 imply entry-level pricing by SA standards. Mortgage-to-income at 30.1% is flagged as stressed, illustrating that local incomes, sitting at the 12.8th income percentile nationally, are too low to comfortably absorb even modest debt levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$235
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$507
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
30.6%
Unoccupied
252
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.9%
Couples, no children
878
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is shaped by the retirement demographic rather than a classic working-age industry base. Of the employed workforce, Healthcare leads at 26.3% (70 workers) and Education follows at 17.3% (46 workers), both sectors that service the needs of older residents and local families. Agriculture accounts for 12% (32 workers), reflecting the surrounding Yorke Peninsula farming land. The labour force participation rate is only 36.6%, compared to the national average near 65%, because the majority of residents are retired and not in the labour force (629 people, nearly half the total population). Unemployment at 5% is moderate among those who are participating. Managers (90 workers) and Professionals (71 workers) lead occupations, suggesting the employed minority holds skilled positions in local services.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.5%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
36.6%
Employed
400
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.9%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
9.6%
Dwellings
566
Transport to Work
Coastal access and community engagement are key livability strengths. Volunteering at 31.2% is substantially above the national average, signalling an active civic culture common in semi-rural retirement towns. Car reliance is high at 82.4%, typical for a 195 sq km area with limited public transport options, though 15.4% of residents walk or cycle, above the national average. Crime totals 26 incidents annually at a rate of 19.8 per 1,000 residents, a figure that should be read cautiously given the small population base of 1,312. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families with children would need to access schooling in surrounding towns. Rent-to-income at 23.6% keeps the rental market affordable for tenants, below the 30% stress threshold, despite the overall low income base at the 12.8th percentile nationally.
Drive
82.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
15.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
26
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
19.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Broughton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Broughton a good suburb to live in?
Port Broughton suits retirees and people seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle. The median age is 62, which is 22 years above the national figure, and 82% of residents have stayed at the same address for 5 years, reflecting strong community stability. Income is at the 12.8th percentile nationally, so services and amenities are modest compared to larger towns.
What is the median house price in Port Broughton?
A current median house price is not recorded in this dataset for Port Broughton. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, suggesting entry-level pricing by SA regional standards. Weekly rent averages $235 and 56% of households own their home outright, well above the national rate.
What schools are in Port Broughton?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Broughton suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children would need to access schools in nearby Yorke Peninsula towns. University qualifications among residents stand at 16.9%, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Port Broughton safe?
Port Broughton recorded 26 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 19.8 per 1,000 residents. This figure should be read in context of the small population of 1,312 people; a single incident can shift the rate noticeably. The suburb's identity signals include a low-crime-rate classification relative to comparable SA coastal communities.
Is Port Broughton good for property investment?
The investment case is niche. Weekly rent of $235 is modest, the vacancy rate is 30.6% (one of the highest in SA), and household income sits at the 12.8th percentile nationally, limiting rent growth. Investors typically target holiday properties here for personal use rather than yield. Development applications totalled 47 in the past 12 months, mostly upgrades rather than new supply.
How is Port Broughton's population changing?
The population of 1,312 has a median age of 62, which is 22 years above national. With 15.1% of residents (185 people) needing daily assistance and a labour force participation rate of only 36.6%, the community is ageing in place. Residential turnover is low at 18%, meaning little in-migration is offsetting the natural demographic shift.
How much development is happening in Port Broughton?
There were 47 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include outbuildings, patio additions and variations to existing dwellings, typical of a stable residential area focused on improvement rather than expansion. This level of activity is moderate relative to the suburb's population of 1,312.
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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