Port Pirie West
Sitting at the bottom of all four SEIFA indexes with every decile scoring 1, Port Pirie West is one of Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs by official measure. Its 2,556 residents have a median age of 45, five years older than the national figure, and household income sits at the 5th percentile nationally. A 43.4% renter share is notably high for a suburb where 87.1% of dwellings are separate houses, and a vacancy rate of 14.2% signals weak housing demand. Rent at $180 a week is well below the state average, and crime runs at 75.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, a rate that reflects broader disadvantage tied to the decile 1 IRSD score.
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
No median sale price is recorded for Port Pirie West in the current period, reflecting thin transaction volumes that make price tracking unreliable. The rental benchmark of $180 a week and monthly mortgage repayments averaging $693 give a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, so servicing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 87.1%, with semi-detached at 12.6% and apartments at only 0.3%. Three-bedroom homes make up 58.0% of dwellings, followed by 2-bedroom at 21.9% and 4-plus at 13.6%. Outright owners and mortgage holders each sit at 28.3%, lower than the state average, because 43.4% of residents rent.
For Buyers
No median sale price is recorded for Port Pirie West in the current period, reflecting thin transaction volumes that make price tracking unreliable. The rental benchmark of $180 a week and monthly mortgage repayments averaging $693 give a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, so servicing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 87.1%, with semi-detached at 12.6% and apartments at only 0.3%. Three-bedroom homes make up 58.0% of dwellings, followed by 2-bedroom at 21.9% and 4-plus at 13.6%. Outright owners and mortgage holders each sit at 28.3%, lower than the state average, because 43.4% of residents rent.
For Investors
A 43.4% renter share is strong in absolute terms and higher than most comparable regional SA suburbs, giving landlords a sizeable tenant pool. Weekly rent of $180 is affordable to the local workforce, and rent grew 23.3% over the decade, tracking ahead of many lower-decile markets. The 14.2% vacancy rate is elevated, however, signalling that supply already exceeds current demand, so yield must compensate for the risk of voids. Migration dynamics show net overseas arrivals of 40 people a year offsetting internal outflow of 35, leaving population near flat. There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, modest for a suburb of this size, mostly additions and renovations rather than new dwellings, which limits near-term supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
93
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+13.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 45 is five years above the national figure, and the senior share rose 3.9 points over the decade while the young share fell 3.0 points, confirming an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents are 8.1%, which is 13.5 percentage points below national, giving Port Pirie West one of the more Anglo-Celtic profiles in SA. English (1,129 residents), Irish (199), Scottish (183) and German (175) lead the ancestry data. University qualifications reach just 10.2%, which is 19.9 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades, healthcare support and labouring occupations. Average household size is 2.0, compared to the national figure of 2.5.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.1%
Houses
12.6%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split places 28.3% as outright owners, 28.3% on a mortgage and 43.4% renting. A renter majority in a suburb where 87.1% of dwellings are detached houses is uncommon and points to a pool of privately rented homes rather than apartment-led demand. Monthly mortgage repayments average $693, well below the SA state median, and rent-to-income sits at 21.9%, below the 30% stress level. Bedrooms skew toward the middle: 58.0% are 3-bedroom, 21.9% are 2-bedroom and 13.6% are 4-plus. The 14.2% vacancy rate is notably high and indicates that not all available stock is occupied, which is a structural feature of slower-growing regional centres with declining populations.
Mortgage / mo
$693
Rent / wk
$180
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
28.3%
Couples, no children
1,672
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 33.2% of local workers (126 people), far above the national sector share, reflecting Port Pirie's role as a regional health service hub. Manufacturing is second at 11.1% (42 workers), Education third at 9.5% and Construction fourth at 9.2%. By occupation, Labourers (164) and Community/Personal workers (153) lead, consistent with the decile 1 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment stands at 14.7%, more than double the national rate, and the participation rate is just 40.3%, reflecting a large non-working population of 1,062. Full-time employment among those working reaches 50.1%, similar to the national average, but the overall workforce is small relative to the population of 2,556.
Unemployment
11.7%
Labour Force
6,458
Unemployed
756
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.1%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
40.3%
Employed
738
Occupations
Top Industries
University
10.2%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
8.1%
Dwellings
1,147
Transport to Work
Residents rely heavily on cars, with 80.8% driving to work, above the national average, while 10.7% walk or cycle, which is reasonable for a lower-density regional suburb. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby Port Pirie schools. The crime rate of 75.1 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated and connects directly to the suburb's decile 1 IRSD score, as disadvantage and crime tend to move together across Australian suburbs. Need for daily assistance affects 12.2% of residents (288 people), higher than the national average, partly explained by the older median age of 45. Volunteering reaches 12.8% of residents, a positive indicator of social cohesion in a community facing economic headwinds.
Drive
80.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
10.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.06%/yr
(-9 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has been declining slowly, at minus 0.06% a year and minus 1.0% over the decade, with a current count of 2,556 forecast to fall further toward 14,176 for the broader Port Pirie region by 2031. Overseas migration adds 40 people annually compared to internal outflow of 35, so the balance is marginally positive. Affordability improved from 38.0% in 2011 to 32.5% in 2021, which is a meaningful shift downward and reflects a combination of income growth of 17.3% in real terms and relatively stable housing costs. The gentrification score of 28 with an early-signs classification suggests nascent pressure, but no concrete signals have materialized yet. The aging trajectory and slow population decline are the dominant trends to watch for buyers and investors.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+40
Net Internal / yr
-35
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
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 scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, placing it among Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs. Household income sits at the 5th percentile nationally. Housing costs are low, with rent at $180 a week and mortgage repayments averaging $693 a month, but a 14.7% unemployment rate and elevated crime rate at 75.1 per 1,000 residents are material considerations.
What is the median house price in Port Pirie West?
No median sale price is recorded for Port Pirie West in the current period due to thin transaction volumes. Weekly rent is $180 and monthly mortgage repayments average $693, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.5%, which is below the 30% financial stress threshold.
What schools are in Port Pirie West?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Pirie West boundary in this dataset. The suburb has 2,556 residents with a relatively older median age of 45, and the local university qualification rate is 10.2%, which is 19.9 points below the national average. Families rely on schools in the broader Port Pirie area.
Is Port Pirie West safe?
The crime rate in Port Pirie West is 75.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 192 recorded incidents across a population of 2,556. This rate is higher than most South Australian suburbs and correlates with the suburb's decile 1 IRSD score for relative disadvantage.
Is Port Pirie West good for property investment?
The 43.4% renter share and rent growth of 23.3% over the decade are positive signals. Against these, the 14.2% vacancy rate is elevated, transaction volumes are too thin for a reliable median price, and population is declining at minus 0.06% annually. Investment returns depend heavily on selecting well-positioned stock to minimise vacancy risk.
How is Port Pirie West's population changing?
Port Pirie West has a population of 2,556 and is declining at minus 0.06% a year, equivalent to roughly 9 fewer residents annually. The 10-year change is minus 1.0%. Overseas migration adds 40 people a year while internal outflow removes 35, leaving net population near flat. The age profile is aging, with the senior share rising 3.9 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Port Pirie West?
There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, modest activity for a suburb of 2,556 residents. Recent applications include dwelling additions, renovations and a swimming pool installation rather than new dwellings, consistent with an established area with a declining population and a 14.2% vacancy rate.
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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