Port Lincoln
Port Lincoln functions as a substantial regional service centre, with 14,458 residents across 32.91 square kilometres and a density of 439.4 people per square kilometre. Its median age is 41, one year above the national figure, while an 11.6% vacancy rate creates more housing choice than many tightly supplied markets. Unlike nearby Tumby Bay, Port Lincoln has the scale to support healthcare, education, retail and construction employment. The suburb is detached-house led, with 81.9% of dwellings separate houses, but its trajectory is aging and its socioeconomic profile sits below national benchmarks.
Population
14,458
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,243/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
160
A current suburb-wide median house price is unavailable, so buyers should rely on recent comparable sales and address-level advice rather than a single headline figure. The housing stock is practical and family-oriented: 81.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 56.7% have 3 bedrooms and 22.3% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment options at 6.1% of homes, detached properties provide the clearest choice. The reported mortgage figure is $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs at 24.2% of household income, while weekly rent is $240 and rent costs represent 19.3%.
For Buyers
A current suburb-wide median house price is unavailable, so buyers should rely on recent comparable sales and address-level advice rather than a single headline figure. The housing stock is practical and family-oriented: 81.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 56.7% have 3 bedrooms and 22.3% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment options at 6.1% of homes, detached properties provide the clearest choice. The reported mortgage figure is $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs at 24.2% of household income, while weekly rent is $240 and rent costs represent 19.3%.
For Investors
Port Lincoln has a sizeable rental market, with 34.6% of households renting and weekly rent recorded at $240. Compared with outright ownership at 32.2%, renting is slightly more common, supporting a meaningful tenant base. The 11.6% vacancy rate may improve tenant choice but can also weaken negotiating power for landlords, especially where properties are not well presented. Rental growth of 33.3% points to stronger recent income movement, while 162 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing building and renovation activity. Overseas migration is the main forecast growth driver, which may broaden demand over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
866
Last 12 Months
160
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Port Lincoln
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Kirton Point Primary School
Lincoln Gardens Primary School
Port Lincoln Junior Primary School
Port Lincoln Primary School
Port Lincoln High School
Demographics
Port Lincoln has a median age of 41, which is 1 year above the national figure, and its aging trajectory is reinforced by a 5% rise in the senior share and a 2% decline in the young share. University participation is 19.3%, or 10.8 percentage points below national levels, while the overseas-born share is 9.5%, 12.1 points below national levels. Compared with national households, the average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 lower. English, Scottish, German and Irish are the leading reported ancestries, while 80.7% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 19.3%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.9%
Houses
11.3%
Townhouse
6.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Port Lincoln's housing is more detached than apartment-based, with separate houses accounting for 81.9% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 11.3% and apartments 6.1%. Compared with smaller dwelling formats, 3-bedroom homes dominate at 56.7%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 22.3%, reflecting established family housing. Tenure is split between 32.2% owned outright, 31.1% with a mortgage and 34.6% rented. Household income is $1,243 per week, while mortgage costs equal 24.2% of income and rent costs 19.3%. The mix supports owner-occupiers and renters, although the 11.6% vacancy rate signals softer demand than in tightly held markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$240
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$717
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.6%
Unoccupied
755
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.8%
Couples with children
44.2%
Couples, no children
19.3%
Single parent
3,766
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Port Lincoln's largest industry at 19.9% and 779 workers, followed by education at 13.2% and 515, construction at 10.0% and 393, agriculture at 8.4% and 330, and retail at 8.3% and 326. Compared with higher-income regional centres, household income sits at the 27.5th percentile, while the labour force participation rate is 57.7% and unemployment is 4.6%. Professionals number 1,084, trades 972 and community or personal service workers 967. The IEO and IRSAD are both in decile 2, while IER and IRSD are in decile 3, indicating lower education and economic-resource outcomes that help explain the modest income ranking.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
6,841
Unemployed
313
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.8%
Part-time
39.6%
Participation
57.7%
Employed
6,528
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
9.5%
Dwellings
5,764
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car-based: 83.8% drive, compared with only 0.4% using public transport, while 4.1% walk or cycle and 4.8% work from home. Families have access to 6 government schools, comprising 4 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 special education school; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Safety requires attention, with 1,941 recorded offences and a crime rate of 134.3 per 1,000 residents. Compared with higher-resource areas, the IRSAD decile of 2 indicates socioeconomic disadvantage, so households should weigh services, street context and transport needs carefully.
Drive
83.8%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
4.8%
Population Forecast
+0.65%/yr
(+111 people/yr)
EstablishedPort Lincoln's forecast trend is 0.65% annual growth, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 7.1% over 10 years, suggesting steady rather than rapid expansion. Compared with a younger growth market, Port Lincoln is on an Aging trajectory because the senior share has risen 5% and the young share has fallen 2%. Rental growth of 33.3% adds pressure to housing costs. Gentrification signals are mixed: the shift measure records a score of 30 and the stage Early signs, while the current gentrification score is 0 and labelled Not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+45
Net Internal / yr
-16
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,941
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
134.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Lincoln compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Lincoln a good suburb to live in?
Port Lincoln suits residents seeking established regional services, detached housing and a car-oriented lifestyle. It has 14,458 residents, 6 government schools and a 0.4% public transport share, so daily convenience depends heavily on driving.
What is the median house price in Port Lincoln?
A current suburb-wide median house price is unavailable. Buyers can use recent comparable sales and property-specific advice, while the $240 weekly rent and 81.9% separate-house share provide useful context for local housing conditions.
What schools are in Port Lincoln?
Port Lincoln has 6 government schools: 4 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 special education school. The group includes Port Lincoln High School and primary campuses such as Kirton Point, Lincoln Gardens and Port Lincoln Primary.
Is Port Lincoln safe?
Safety should be assessed carefully because Port Lincoln recorded 1,941 offences and a crime rate of 134.3 per 1,000 residents. Prospective residents should compare streets, inspect properties at different times and check current local crime information before deciding.
Is Port Lincoln good for property investment?
Port Lincoln has 34.6% renting households, $240 weekly rent and 11.6% vacancy. Those figures indicate a real tenant base but also softer rental competition. A total of 162 development applications in 12 months adds evidence of active property and building activity.
How is Port Lincoln's population changing?
Growth is forecast at 0.65% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 7.1% over 10 years, while the aging trajectory includes a 5% rise in the senior share and a 2% fall in the young share.
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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