Port Elliot
At a median age of 61, Port Elliot sits 21 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest demographic profiles you will find in regional South Australia. That age structure explains much about the suburb: a 37.1% workforce participation rate, 50.7% of families being couples without children, and a vacancy rate of 38.4% driven by holiday and part-time residents rather than chronic oversupply. Despite a population of just 2,251, the area added 19.9% more residents over the past decade, and gentrification signals are now rated Active, with net internal migration running at 308 people per year into the broader SA2.
Population
2,251
Median Age
61.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,073/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
No transaction-based median house price is recorded for Port Elliot, which reflects a small and infrequently traded market rather than absent demand. Separate houses account for 92.3% of stock, well above the national norm, with only 4.3% apartments and 3.0% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes make up 56.1% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes 22.1%, a profile that suits families and sea-change buyers seeking space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,210, modest compared to capital city markets, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 49.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 25.9%, consistent with an older, equity-rich resident base rather than first-home buyers.
For Buyers
No transaction-based median house price is recorded for Port Elliot, which reflects a small and infrequently traded market rather than absent demand. Separate houses account for 92.3% of stock, well above the national norm, with only 4.3% apartments and 3.0% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes make up 56.1% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes 22.1%, a profile that suits families and sea-change buyers seeking space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,210, modest compared to capital city markets, and mortgage-to-income sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 49.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 25.9%, consistent with an older, equity-rich resident base rather than first-home buyers.
For Investors
The 38.4% vacancy rate is the headline risk for investors, one of the highest figures among coastal SA suburbs, and reflects significant holiday-letting and part-time occupancy rather than permanent rental demand. Weekly rent averages $280, and rent-to-income at 26.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold for current tenants. The renter share is 24.9%, below state norms for comparable coastal towns. On the demand side, net internal migration of 308 per year into the SA2 supports medium-term absorption, and 62 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, signalling active owner-occupier investment in existing stock. The investment case depends on capital growth from the sea-change trend rather than yield, given the vacancy dynamics.
Development Activity
Total DAs
342
Last 12 Months
66
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+29.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Port Elliot iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Port Elliot Primary School
R-6 · 351 students
Demographics
The median age of 61 is 21 years above the national average and the senior share grew 10.6 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 6.2 points, accelerating the retirement-skew trajectory. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, consistent with the 50.7% couples-without-children family composition. Overseas-born residents at 20.8% sit 0.8 points below the national figure, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,200), Scottish (278), German (241) and Irish (227). University qualifications reach 30.1%, on par with the national average. Volunteering at 27.7% is notably high, which is common in older, settled coastal communities. About 10.5% of residents, or 227 people, need daily assistance, reflecting the aging profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.3%
Houses
3.0%
Townhouse
4.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates at 92.3% of dwellings, a figure much higher than the national average, with virtually no apartment supply at 4.3%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 56.1%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 22.1% and 2-bedroom at 18.8%. Tenure is split between outright owners at 49.2%, renters at 24.9% and mortgage holders at 25.9%, and the high outright-ownership share reflects long-term residents who have paid down debt. The vacancy rate of 38.4% is unusually high and indicates a large portion of dwellings are used as holiday homes or are seasonally occupied rather than permanently tenanted. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,210 imply a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0%, below the stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,210
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$592
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
38.4%
Unoccupied
596
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.7%
Couples, no children
1,652
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 26.1% of employed residents, or 137 workers, far above the national employment share in that sector, consistent with the suburb's older population requiring health services. Construction follows at 11.8% and Education at 11.5%, with Retail at 8.8% and Public Administration at 6.9%. By occupation, Professionals (149) lead, followed by Community/Personal service workers (124) and Managers (102). The workforce participation rate of 37.1% is low compared to national norms, because 1,124 residents are not in the labour force, most retirees. Unemployment at 4.8% is moderate. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 and IRSAD decile of 3 place the suburb in the lower third nationally on both disadvantage and advantage-disadvantage composite measures, despite household income at the 16.4th percentile.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
4,994
Unemployed
193
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
47.4%
Part-time
47.8%
Participation
37.1%
Employed
699
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.1%
Postgraduate
6.7%
Born Overseas
20.8%
Dwellings
952
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high: 86.7% of residents drive to work, above the national average, and only 0.6% use public transport, which reflects the rural coastal geography with limited transit links. Walking and cycling account for 8.3% of commutes, reasonable for a small coastal town. Crime sits at 31.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 70 total recorded incidents for a population of 2,251. No schools are recorded within the Port Elliot boundary in available data, so families depend on schools in neighbouring towns such as Goolwa and Victor Harbor. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3 places the suburb in the lower-advantage tier nationally. On the positive side, a volunteering rate of 27.7% and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0% below the stress threshold reflect a community with financial stability and social engagement.
Drive
86.7%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
8.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.66%/yr
(+227 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 19.9% over the past decade and annual growth now tracks at 1.66%, adding roughly 37 residents per year to the suburb's 2,251 base. The broader SA2 is absorbing net internal migration of 308 people annually, the primary growth driver, with overseas arrivals adding 52 per year. Gentrification is rated Active, supported by population up 29% since 2011 and an accelerating migration trajectory. The forecast medium scenario projects the SA2 growing from 13,711 in 2025 to 14,987 by 2031. Affordability improved from 52.9% of income in 2011 to 50.8% in 2021, a trend consistent with gradual gentrification rather than rapid price escalation. Rents grew 33.3% over the period, faster than incomes, suggesting tightening in the permanent rental segment.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+52
Net Internal / yr
+308
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +29% since 2011, Net internal migration +308/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 20%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
70
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
31.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Elliot compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Elliot a good suburb to live in?
Port Elliot suits retirees and sea-change buyers more than young families. The median age is 61, volunteering runs at 27.7% and 49.2% of residents own their homes outright. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3 places it in the lower-advantage tier nationally, but mortgage-to-income at 26.0% is below the stress threshold, and the community is stable with 81.2% of residents staying in place over the 5-year period.
What is the median house price in Port Elliot?
No transaction-based median house price is available for Port Elliot due to the small and infrequently traded market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,210, implying a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0%. Weekly rent averages $280. The stock is 92.3% detached houses, so buyers are competing for a consistent but limited supply of separate dwellings.
What schools are in Port Elliot?
No schools are recorded within the Port Elliot suburb boundary in available data. Families typically travel to neighbouring towns including Goolwa and Victor Harbor for schooling. The suburb's population of 2,251 skews older, with a median age of 61 and 50.7% of families being couples without children, limiting local school demand.
Is Port Elliot safe?
Port Elliot recorded 70 total crime incidents, giving a crime rate of 31.1 per 1,000 residents. For context, this is based on a small population of 2,251. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 indicates below-average socioeconomic advantage, though 81.2% of residents remained in the suburb over the 5-year census period, reflecting community stability.
Is Port Elliot good for property investment?
The 38.4% vacancy rate is the key risk, one of the highest among coastal SA suburbs, driven by holiday homes rather than structural oversupply. Weekly rent of $280 and a renter share of 24.9% limit yield. The investment case is stronger on capital growth, given net internal migration of 308 per year into the SA2 and 33.3% rent growth over the past decade, but high vacancy requires careful due diligence on permanent demand.
How is Port Elliot's population changing?
Port Elliot grew 19.9% over the past decade and is forecast to continue at 1.66% annually. Gentrification is rated Active, with population up 29% since 2011 and net internal migration of 308 per year driving growth. The profile is aging: the senior share rose 10.6 points and working-age share fell 6.2 points over the decade, so growth is coming from retirees and sea-changers relocating from cities.
How much development is happening in Port Elliot?
62 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, active for a suburb of 2,251 residents. Recent applications include single-storey detached dwellings and two-storey additions to existing homes, reflecting owner-occupier renovation and infill rather than large-scale new supply. The 92.3% detached house composition and limited apartment stock mean development stays low-density.
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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