Port Lincoln
A high 81.9% separate-house share shapes Port Lincoln more than its harbour-city label: detached homes dominate while apartments are only 6.1%. Compared with nearby Boston and Coffin Bay, it acts as the Eyre Peninsula service centre because healthcare accounts for 19.9% of jobs and education 13.2%. The 14,458 residents are older than the national profile at median age 41, and household income sits in the 27.5th percentile, so affordability and local employment matter more than prestige pricing.
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
149
Homebuyers get a house-led market: 81.9% of dwellings are separate houses vs 6.1% apartments and 11.3% semi-detached homes. Family-sized stock is common, with 56.7% having 3 bedrooms and 22.3% having 4 or more. A typical mortgage payment of $1,300 a month takes 24.2% of income, lower than many stress thresholds, because weekly household income is $1,243. The trade-off is car dependence, with 88.0% driving to work and only 0.5% using public transport.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a house-led market: 81.9% of dwellings are separate houses vs 6.1% apartments and 11.3% semi-detached homes. Family-sized stock is common, with 56.7% having 3 bedrooms and 22.3% having 4 or more. A typical mortgage payment of $1,300 a month takes 24.2% of income, lower than many stress thresholds, because weekly household income is $1,243. The trade-off is car dependence, with 88.0% driving to work and only 0.5% using public transport.
For Investors
Investor demand is broad but needs selectivity. Renters make up 35.3% of households, higher than mortgaged households at 31.8% and owned-outright homes at 32.9%, while median rent is $240 a week. The caution is vacancy: 11.6% is elevated, so cash flow depends on buying well and presenting a better product than competing rentals. Development activity is active, with 127 applications in 12 months, and rents have risen 33.3%, helped by Port Lincoln's role as a regional employment base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
829
Last 12 Months
149
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+0.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Port Lincoln iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
R-12 · 829 students
Navigator College
R-12 · 466 students
Port Lincoln Junior Primary School
U, R-2 · 277 students
Port Lincoln Primary School
U, 3-6 · 332 students
Port Lincoln High School
U, 7-12 · 767 students
Demographics
Port Lincoln's profile is older and more locally rooted than the national mix. Median age is 41, which is 1.0 year above the national benchmark, while university attainment is 19.3%, 10.8 percentage points below national. Only 9.5% of residents were born overseas, 12.1 points below national, and the largest ancestry groups are English at 6,054, Scottish at 1,366 and German at 1,325. Average household size is 2.3, slightly lower than national by 0.2, matching the aging trajectory.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.9%
Houses
11.3%
Townhouse
6.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Port Lincoln's housing base is ownership and rental mixed rather than purely investor-led. Renting is 35.3%, above owned outright at 32.9% and mortgage ownership at 31.8%, so the market serves both local tenants and long-term residents. Detached houses dominate at 81.9%, with apartments only 6.1%, keeping density modest at 439.4 people per sq km. Bedroom supply leans practical: 56.7% are 3-bedroom homes, while 22.3% have 4 or more, below the detached share and pointing to many older family houses rather than large new builds.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$240
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
31.9%
Couples, no children
10,238
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the main employment anchor, with 779 workers or 19.9% of jobs, followed by education at 515 and 13.2%, construction at 393 and 10.0%, agriculture at 330 and 8.4%, and retail at 326 and 8.3%. That mix is more service-centre than commuter suburb because Port Lincoln supports a wider Eyre Peninsula catchment. The workforce has 56.7% full-time employment, 5.0% unemployment and 53.0% participation. SEIFA is below average: IRSAD decile 2 and IRSD decile 3 point to limited advantage despite a solid local jobs base.
Unemployment
5.7%
Labour Force
8,726
Unemployed
494
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
38.3%
Participation
53.0%
Employed
5,964
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
9.5%
Dwellings
5,764
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-first: 88.0% drive to work, far higher than the 0.5% using public transport and 4.3% walking or cycling. School choice is a strength for a regional centre, with 7 schools across Catholic, Independent and Government sectors and an ICSEA range from 701 to 1015. St Joseph's School, ICSEA 1015 with 829 students, and Navigator College, ICSEA 1013 with 466 students, sit above the local government schools. Safety is the main negative, with 1,941 offences and 134.3 crimes per 1,000 residents, while IRSAD decile 2 signals below-average advantage.
Drive
88.0%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.65%/yr
(+111 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than speculative. The trend forecast adds 0.65% a year, about 111 people annually, taking the medium population path from 17,304 in 2026 to 17,857 in 2031. Migration is uneven: overseas migration is the primary driver at plus 45 people a year, while internal migration averages minus 16, so local retention matters. The gentrification reading is score 0, stage Not gentrifying, even though the age shift is clear with seniors up 5.0 points and young residents down 2.0 points.
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 can suit households wanting regional services, 7 local schools and a detached-home market where 81.9% of dwellings are separate houses. It is better for car-based living than transit living, with 88.0% driving to work and only 0.5% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Port Lincoln?
No current median house price figure is available for Port Lincoln, so buyers should compare recent settled sales before bidding. Other cost anchors are clear: median rent is $240 a week, typical mortgage payments are $1,300 a month and mortgage payments take 24.2% of income.
What schools are in Port Lincoln?
Port Lincoln has 7 schools across Catholic, Independent and Government sectors. St Joseph's School has ICSEA 1015 and 829 students, Navigator College has ICSEA 1013 and 466 students, and the full local ICSEA range runs from 701 to 1015.
Is Port Lincoln safe?
Safety is a key due-diligence issue. Port Lincoln recorded 1,941 offences, equal to 134.3 crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than buyers seeking lower-crime suburbs may expect. Street-level checks are important before choosing a pocket.
Is Port Lincoln good for property investment?
Port Lincoln has rental depth, with 35.3% of households renting and median rent at $240 a week. The risk is the 11.6% vacancy rate, higher than a tight market, so investors need strong tenant appeal and should factor in 127 development applications in 12 months.
How is Port Lincoln's population changing?
Port Lincoln is growing slowly, with a trend of 0.65% a year or about 111 extra people annually. The medium path rises from 17,304 in 2026 to 17,857 in 2031, while overseas migration adds 45 people a year and internal migration subtracts 16.
Is there much development in Port Lincoln?
Yes, activity is notable for a regional centre, with 127 development applications lodged over 12 months. That is above a quiet-market setting and includes new dwellings, sheds and extensions, so buyers should check nearby approvals 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 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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