Peterborough (SA)

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According to census figures and subsequent residential address verifications conducted by Districts, the suburb of Peterborough (SA) has an estimated occupancy of approximately 1,507 residents as of May 2026. This indicates a minor growth of 17 individuals (1.1%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the headcount stood at 1,490. This demographic calculation is based on Districts' evaluation of the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population statistics alongside 46 validated new addresses registered since the census date. The resulting density corresponds to 40 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious residential environment. The 1.1% post-census growth rate of the suburb of Peterborough (SA) is within 1.3 percentage points of the broader SA3 region's expansion rate of 2.4%, showing solid relative gains. Demographic expansion was mostly underpinned by arrival flows from other states, which accounted for roughly 67.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

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The local workforce displays an even split between professional and manual labor roles, alongside a solid representation of workers in essential public services, registering an unemployment rate of 13.5% and a 1.9% rise in estimated employment over the previous year, according to statistical data aggregated by Districts. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 479, while the unemployment rate sat 8.1% above the 5.5% average for Regional SA, showing potential for labor market recovery, and the participation rate was notably lower at 41.6% compared to the 58.4% recorded across Regional SA. Census records indicate that a minor 7.6% share of the workforce operated from home, though this figure reflects historical pandemic-related lockdown measures.

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According to the most recent postcode-level tax statistics released by the ATO for financial year 2023, tax-paying residents in the suburb of Peterborough earn a median annual income of $35,173, with an average of $42,621. These earnings sit below national benchmarks and compare to a regional median of $48,920 and average of $58,933 across Regional SA. Applying Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% recorded since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to roughly $38,750 for the median and $46,956 for the average as of March 2026. According to census data, family, household, and individual incomes in Peterborough all place in the bottom 0th to 1st percentiles on a national scale. The weekly income distribution shows that the $400 - 799 range is the most common, accounting for 40.6% of residents ( people), contrasting with the wider region where the - range is the most common at . The high percentage of low-earning residents ( receiving less than /week) points to tight household finances across the area. Even though housing costs remain low, letting residents retain of their income, total disposable income levels fall into the nd percentile nationally.

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An analysis of residential structures from the most recent census indicates that Peterborough's housing stock consists of 95.5% standalone houses and 4.5% alternative dwellings (such as townhouses, units, or other options), compared to Regional SA's mix of 88.5% houses and 11.5% alternative structures. The rate of outright home ownership stood at 52.2%, ahead of the Regional SA average, with the remaining properties split between those under mortgage (23.8%) and rental properties (24.0%). The median monthly home loan repayment of $569 was lower than the Regional SA average, while the median weekly rental cost was $160, compared to regional figures of $1,153 and $220. Nationally, local mortgage costs track far below the Australian median of $1,863, and rent levels are also much lower than the national median of $375.

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Family units constitute the largest portion of local households at 50.5%, comprising 9.5% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 11.5% single-parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 49.5%, with single-person households representing 46.9% and group living situations making up 2.3%. The typical household size of 1.8 residents is lower than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

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Educational profiles in the area reflect low rates of tertiary attainment, with university graduation rates at 9.1%, tracking below the nationwide average of 30.4%. This highlights both a challenge and a focus area for future educational support programs. Within higher education, bachelor degrees account for 6.6%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.5% and postgraduate degrees at 1.0%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 39.0% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 30.8%.

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Significant health issues are apparent in Peterborough based on Districts assessments of mortality patterns and the occurrence of long-term medical conditions across different age groups, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is notably low at roughly 44% of the population (~661 people). This compares to a rate of 48.9% in Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%.

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Peterborough exhibits low levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 84.0% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 89.0%, and 98.1% of households speaking only English. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 44.7% of the local population. The most visible statistical divergence is in the Other category, which represents 0.7% of the local population compared to 0.8% across Regional SA.

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With a median age of 55, Peterborough is older than Regional SA's median of 47 and older than the national median of 38. Compared to Regional SA, Peterborough has a larger proportion of residents aged 65 - 74 (21.8%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (5.7%). The local 65 - 74 cohort is much larger than the national average of 9.4%. Data collected since the 2021 Census shows the 65 to 74 group has grown from 18.8% to 21.8% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 9.7% to 11.5%. Conversely, the 55 to bracket declined from to , and the to group fell from to . By demographic models project significant changes in local age distribution, with the to bracket expected to grow by , adding residents to total . This aging trend is highlighted by the fact that residents aged and over account for of the projected growth, while contractions are expected in the to and to age brackets.

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Peterborough currently has an estimated 43 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 34 children aged 0-2 and 23 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 2% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 23% by 2041 (to approximately 33 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 113. Birth rates in the area have averaged 7.4 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.