Solomontown
With 1,088 residents across 3.88 square kilometres, Solomontown is a small Port Pirie residential pocket where the 44-year median age sits 4.0 years above the national figure. Its 89.9% separate-house share and 14.2% vacancy rate point to a detached, loosely occupied housing market, while household income ranks at the 5.5th percentile. Compared with nearby Port Pirie and Risdon Park, Solomontown reads as a smaller residential pocket with a settled base: 80.7% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 19.3%. That stability can support local familiarity, but the 107.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and 35.7% renting share call for careful checks of street conditions and individual properties.
Local council: Port Pirie
Population
1,088
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$836/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Homebuyers will find a strongly detached housing mix: 89.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 58.9% have 3 bedrooms, and only 1.5% are apartments. That suits buyers seeking conventional family stock more than apartment living, although 22.5% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 14.4% have 4 or more. Tenure is split between 33.3% owned outright, 30.3% with a mortgage and 35.7% rented, so there is no single dominant buyer pathway. Mortgage and rent burdens are 20.9% and 23.3% respectively, with the mortgage burden below the rent burden. Because no suburb median sale price is available, compare each listing against recent nearby sales, repair needs and insurance before committing.
For Buyers
Homebuyers will find a strongly detached housing mix: 89.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 58.9% have 3 bedrooms, and only 1.5% are apartments. That suits buyers seeking conventional family stock more than apartment living, although 22.5% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 14.4% have 4 or more. Tenure is split between 33.3% owned outright, 30.3% with a mortgage and 35.7% rented, so there is no single dominant buyer pathway. Mortgage and rent burdens are 20.9% and 23.3% respectively, with the mortgage burden below the rent burden. Because no suburb median sale price is available, compare each listing against recent nearby sales, repair needs and insurance before committing.
For Investors
Solomontown's rental case is income-led rather than price-led. Weekly rent is $195 and 35.7% of occupied dwellings are rented, creating an established tenant pool, but the 14.2% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied market. That slack can make tenant acquisition easier at times while increasing the risk of longer vacancies or rent-sensitive demand. Ten development applications in 12 months indicate small-scale activity rather than a large new supply wave, with examples including a laundry replacement, carport and storage container. A suburb-wide median house price is not available, so gross yield cannot be calculated responsibly from the rent alone. Investors should compare the $195 weekly rent with the actual purchase price, maintenance, insurance and vacancy allowance, then test whether the 20.9% mortgage burden remains manageable.
Development Activity
Total DAs
64
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Solomontown has an older and less university-oriented population than national benchmarks: the median age is 44, or 4.0 years above national, while university attainment is 9.9%, 20.2 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents account for 9.9%, 11.7 points below the national comparison, and average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below national. English ancestry is nominated by 440 residents, followed by German 77, Scottish 70 and Irish 66. No religion is the largest recorded affiliation at 595 people, ahead of Christianity at 335. With 80.7% staying at the same address and 19.3% turnover, households appear more settled than mobile, which can support continuity but may reduce rapid demographic change.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.9%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is predominantly low-rise and detached, with 89.9% separate houses, 6.3% semi-detached dwellings and 1.5% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 58.9% of stock, while 22.5% have 2 bedrooms and 14.4% have 4 or more, making the suburb more suited to conventional house demand than apartment-led markets. Tenure is mixed: 33.3% own outright, 30.3% have a mortgage and 35.7% rent. The 14.2% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly occupied area, which may reflect softer demand or short-term holding patterns and deserves property-level checking. Housing costs are not flagged as stressed, with rent at 23.3% of income and mortgages at 20.9%, with the rent burden higher than the mortgage burden. No median sale price is available, so buyers should assess each home against condition and nearby evidence.
Mortgage / mo
$758
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$195
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$512
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.2%
Unoccupied
78
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.0%
Couples with children
39.1%
Couples, no children
28.5%
Single parent
274
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry, employing 59 people and representing 29.1% of industry employment, followed by manufacturing at 12.8% or 26 people, education at 9.9% or 20, retail at 9.4% or 19, and construction at 8.4% or 17. This mix gives Solomontown a practical service and production base rather than a university-heavy economy. The labour force is 415, participation is 45.6% and unemployment is 12.3%, while 50.0% of employed residents work full time. Community/personal work leads occupations at 66 people, ahead of labourers at 65 and machinery/drivers at 50. Household income is $836 weekly and sits at the 5.5th percentile, below national income benchmarks, so spending power is likely more constrained than in higher-income suburbs.
Unemployment
12.3%
Labour Force
415
Unemployed
51
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.0%
Part-time
41.5%
Participation
45.6%
Employed
364
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.9%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
9.9%
Dwellings
474
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 82.7% of residents drive, compared with 7.2% who walk or cycle and 1.3% who work from home. That pattern makes access to shops, employment and services more dependent on parking and road connections than in car-light suburbs. The crime rate is 107.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 117 total incidents, so street-by-street checking is important before choosing a home. A population of 1,088 and average household size of 2.1 suggest a smaller-scale residential setting, while the 44-year median age points to demand for convenient everyday services. Volunteering is 14.0%, supporting some local participation, although workforce participation at 45.6% is below an employment-intensive suburb.
Drive
82.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
1.3%
Growth Outlook
Solomontown's current signals point to gradual change rather than a rapid expansion story. The suburb has 1,088 residents, while mobility is relatively contained: 80.7% stayed at the same address and turnover was 19.3%. Only 10 development applications were recorded over 12 months, and the examples are mainly small property works such as a laundry replacement, carport and storage container rather than clearly identified multi-dwelling projects. Compared with a high-churn growth area, this combination suggests demand is shaped more by existing households and incremental upgrades than by a major construction cycle. Detached housing at 89.9% and a 14.2% vacancy rate reinforce that interpretation, because spare capacity can absorb some demand without immediate redevelopment pressure. Track approvals, sales and vacancy together before assuming stronger growth.
Population trend: Port Pirie council area
Solomontown sits in the Port Pirie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Solomontown'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
117
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
107.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Solomontown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solomontown a good suburb to live in?
Solomontown may suit buyers wanting detached housing and a smaller residential setting. It has 1,088 residents, an average household size of 2.1 and 89.9% separate houses. Trade-offs include a 107.5 per 1,000 crime rate, 82.7% car use and a 14.2% vacancy rate, so inspect the exact street and property.
What is the median house price in Solomontown?
A suburb-wide median house price is not available for Solomontown. Buyers should compare the asking price with recent sales, the home's condition and the $758 monthly mortgage estimate, while remembering that 58.9% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 89.9% are separate houses.
What schools are in Solomontown?
Specific school options should be checked against the exact address and current enrolment zones rather than assumed from the suburb name. With 82.7% of residents driving and 7.2% walking or cycling, travel time and transport arrangements are practical considerations for families.
Is Solomontown safe?
Safety needs a cautious, street-level assessment. Solomontown recorded 117 total incidents, equal to 107.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, so the rate should be considered alongside the exact street, lighting and property security. The suburb's 1,088 residents and 82.7% car use also mean activity levels can vary across different pockets.
Is Solomontown good for property investment?
Investment may appeal to buyers targeting low weekly rents, but it is not a straightforward yield story. Rent is $195 a week, 35.7% of dwellings are rented and vacancy is 14.2%, which is higher than a tightly supplied market. Ten development applications in 12 months suggest ongoing small-scale works. Calculate yield from the actual purchase price and allow for vacancy, maintenance and insurance.
How is Solomontown's population changing?
Solomontown appears relatively settled rather than highly mobile. Of residents, 80.7% stayed at the same address and turnover was 19.3%, while the current population is 1,088 and the median age is 44. Only 10 development applications were recorded over 12 months, so visible change is more likely to come from gradual household turnover and renovations than a major construction surge.
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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