Port Pirie West
The standout feature of Port Pirie West is its 14.2% vacancy rate alongside a settled, detached-house base. The suburb has 2,556 residents across 25.54 square kilometres, producing a density of 100.1 people per square kilometre. Its median age of 45 is 5 years above the national benchmark, while household income of $822 per week sits at the 5th percentile. Separate houses account for 87.1% of dwellings and renters represent 42.7%, creating a practical mix for tenants and renovation-minded buyers. When comparing Port Pirie West with nearby Solomontown or Risdon Park, its spread-out footprint makes street-level access and tenure more important than postcode alone.
Local council: Port Pirie
Population
2,556
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$822/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Port Pirie West suits buyers seeking conventional housing, with 87.1% of dwellings being separate houses and 58.0% containing 3 bedrooms. Weekly rent is $180, while the indicative mortgage cost is $693 per month and mortgage payments equal 19.5% of household income, below a high-stress threshold. Tenure is split between 27.9% owned outright, 27.9% mortgaged and 42.7% rented, so buyers compete with both investors and local households. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, the 0.3% apartment share points to fewer low-maintenance options. Buyers should obtain recent comparable sales before estimating purchase value because a median house price is not available.
For Buyers
Port Pirie West suits buyers seeking conventional housing, with 87.1% of dwellings being separate houses and 58.0% containing 3 bedrooms. Weekly rent is $180, while the indicative mortgage cost is $693 per month and mortgage payments equal 19.5% of household income, below a high-stress threshold. Tenure is split between 27.9% owned outright, 27.9% mortgaged and 42.7% rented, so buyers compete with both investors and local households. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, the 0.3% apartment share points to fewer low-maintenance options. Buyers should obtain recent comparable sales before estimating purchase value because a median house price is not available.
For Investors
The rental case is supported by 42.7% of households renting and a weekly rent of $180, but the 14.2% vacancy rate is a significant risk because available properties may take longer to lease. Recent development activity totals 25 applications over 12 months, suggesting ongoing small-scale improvement rather than a clear new-dwelling pipeline. Rent growth of 23.3% has strengthened the income outlook, while overseas migration is the stated primary growth driver. Compared with lower-vacancy markets, Port Pirie West requires more conservative assumptions about letting periods and maintenance. The 87.1% separate-house share and 58.0% 3-bedroom share may appeal to family and worker tenants, but investors should secure current sale prices before modelling yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
99
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Port Pirie West has an older resident base, with a median age of 45, which is 5 years above the national comparison. University qualification attainment is 10.2%, or 19.9 percentage points below the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 8.1%, 13.5 points below national levels. Average household size is 2.0 people, 0.5 below the national benchmark, supporting the suburb's established and ageing profile. English ancestry is reported by 1,129 people, followed by Irish at 199, Scottish at 183 and German at 175. No religion accounts for 1,420 residents compared with 870 identifying with Christianity. Residential stability is high, with 86.2% staying at the same address and turnover of 13.8%. Compared with nearby Solomontown or Risdon Park, household-level differences should be checked rather than assumed from the wider Port Pirie area.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.1%
Houses
12.6%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by detached stock: 87.1% of dwellings are separate houses, 12.6% are semi-detached and just 0.3% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 58.0% of the dwelling mix, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 21.9%, while 4-bedroom-plus properties account for 13.6%. Renting is more common than either outright ownership or mortgage ownership, at 42.7% compared with 27.9% for each of the two ownership categories. Weekly rent is $180 and vacancy is 14.2%, so tenants have more choice than in a tight market. Mortgage payments equal 19.5% of household income, lower than a typical stress benchmark, while affordability improved from 38.0% in 2011 to 32.5% in 2021. Compared with apartment-oriented suburbs, the stock is more suitable for buyers wanting land and conventional homes.
Mortgage / mo
$693
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$180
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$475
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.2%
Unoccupied
192
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.2%
Couples with children
38.3%
Couples, no children
32.7%
Single parent
621
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employment industry, representing 33.2% and 126 workers, followed by manufacturing at 11.1% and 42, education at 9.5% and 36, construction at 9.2% and 35, and hospitality at 7.9% and 30. The occupation mix reinforces this practical employment base, led by labourers at 164 people, community and personal service workers at 153, trades at 113, machinery and drivers at 94, and sales at 82. Unemployment is 13.7%, participation is 43.3% and the full-time rate is 46.1%, indicating a smaller and less consistently engaged labour market than stronger employment hubs. Household income of $822 per week sits at the 5th percentile. IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD are all in decile 1, consistent with low income and labour-market disadvantage. Compared with higher-decile suburbs, the local economy is more exposed to service, industrial and trade employment.
Unemployment
13.7%
Labour Force
930
Unemployed
127
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
46.1%
Part-time
45.8%
Participation
43.3%
Employed
803
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
10.2%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
8.1%
Dwellings
1,147
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented because 78.3% of residents travel as car drivers, compared with 10.4% who walk or cycle and 3.1% who work from home. The 25.54 square kilometre area and density of 100.1 people per square kilometre create a more spread-out setting, so access to shops, services and employment should be checked by exact address. Recorded crime totals 192 incidents, equal to 75.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, making street-level assessment important rather than relying on a suburb-wide impression. Volunteering is reported by 12.8%, which provides some civic participation despite the older population. IRSAD is in decile 1, below higher-ranked socioeconomic areas, and this may affect access to resources and household resilience. Compared with denser neighbourhoods, Port Pirie West offers more detached housing but greater dependence on private transport.
Drive
78.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
10.4%
Work from Home
3.1%
Growth Outlook
Port Pirie West has a slow-growth outlook, with the annual trend at -0.06% and population change across the wider area at -1.0% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 3.9 percentage point rise in the senior share, a 3.0 point fall in the young share and a 0.8 point decline in the working-age share. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, although it has not offset the broader ageing pattern. Rent growth of 23.3% and improving affordability, moving from 38.0% in 2011 to 32.5% in 2021, may support some tenant and buyer interest. Gentrification is currently scored 0 and staged as Not gentrifying, while a separate shift indicator records 28 and Early signs. Compared with positive-growth suburbs, the negative annual trend points to gradual change rather than rapid expansion.
Population trend: Port Pirie council area
Port Pirie West sits in the Port Pirie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Port Pirie West's.
Residents 2025
17,664
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
192
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
75.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Pirie West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Pirie West a good suburb to live in?
Port Pirie West can suit households seeking detached housing and modest weekly rents, with 87.1% separate houses and rent of $180 per week. Trade-offs include a crime rate of 75.1 per 1,000 residents and IRSAD decile 1, which is lower than higher-ranked areas. Compare exact streets, services and travel needs before deciding.
What is the median house price in Port Pirie West?
A reliable median house price cannot be quoted for Port Pirie West from the current market information. Buyers should compare recent settled sales for similar properties, especially because 58.0% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 87.1% are separate houses. Comparing like-for-like homes will produce a more useful estimate than applying a wider regional median.
What schools are in Port Pirie West?
Families should check nearby school campuses and exact enrolment zones against the property address, as boundaries can cross suburb lines. Port Pirie West covers 25.54 square kilometres, so travel times may differ considerably between streets. Compare route options, sector, year-level availability and transport rather than assuming the closest campus is automatically available.
Is Port Pirie West safe?
Port Pirie West recorded 192 incidents, equivalent to 75.1 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure should be compared with current Port Pirie and South Australian benchmarks, then checked at street level because experiences can vary across a 25.54 square kilometre suburb. Prospective residents should review recent local trends before making a decision.
Is Port Pirie West good for property investment?
It may suit a cautious investor targeting detached rental housing, with 42.7% of households renting and weekly rent of $180. However, the 14.2% vacancy rate is high compared with a tight rental market, creating leasing risk. Rent growth of 23.3% and 25 development applications add support, but current comparable sales are essential before calculating yield.
How is Port Pirie West's population changing?
The suburb has 2,556 residents today and is following an ageing trajectory. The annual trend is -0.06%, while population change across the wider area is -1.0% over 10 years. The senior share rose 3.9 percentage points and the young share fell 3.0 points, so change is slower and older than in a positive-growth suburb. Overseas migration remains the primary growth driver.
What development is happening in Port Pirie West?
There were 25 development applications over the past 12 months, indicating regular small-scale activity. Recent examples include a carport and verandah, a roofed steel pergola and another verandah application. Compared with a major greenfield pipeline, this points to incremental dwelling upgrades rather than a confirmed wave of new housing.
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).
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