Port Augusta West (SA)

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Port Augusta West has a projected occupancy of approximately 4,252 residents in May 2026, calculated through Districts' evaluation of ABS population adjustments for the surrounding region alongside newly verified addresses. Comparing this to the 2021 Census, which registered 4,046 individuals, the community has expanded by 206 people, representing a 5.1% rise. This estimation stems from a resident base of 4,247 computed by Districts via the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 6 validated new addresses documented after the Census. This population size results in a density of 5.8 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious living environment. The local 5.1% growth rate since the 2021 census outpaced both the SA3 area (3.9%) and the SA4 region, establishing the suburb as a primary pocket of regional expansion. Overseas migration served as the principal driver of this upward trajectory, accounting for roughly 70.0% of the net population increase over recent times.

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Workforce data reveals a balanced distribution between professional and manual occupations, with robust representation in vital services and an unemployment rate of 12.8%. Active workers numbered 1,791 as of March 2026, though the local unemployment rate sits 7.3% above the Regional SA average of 5.5%, indicating a need for job growth. Participation in the labor force matches the Regional SA benchmark of 58.4%. Census records show a minimal 2.3% of workers operating from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic-related lockdowns.

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Tax records from the ATO for the 2023 financial year show that the suburb of Port Augusta West had a median taxpayer income of $53,702 and an average income of $63,935. These figures are lower than the national benchmarks and compare to regional averages of $48,920 (median) and $58,933 (average). Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.17% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of approximately $59,163 for the median and $70,437 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes are modest, falling between the 28th and 32nd percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.6% of residents (1,301 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring the 27.5% share in Regional SA. Households retain of their income after housing costs, but disposable income remains low, placing in the rd percentile.

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At the time of the last Census, the local housing mix consisted of 79.9% detached houses and 20.1% semi-detached, apartment, or alternative dwelling types, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings across Regional SA. Homeownership rates in the suburb of Port Augusta West lagged behind the regional average, sitting at 31.6%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with mortgages (27.2%) or tenants renting (41.2%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,279 was notably higher than the Regional SA average of $1,153, while the median weekly rent of $213 was slightly lower than the regional rate of $220. Compared to national figures, local mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are considerably below the national median of $375.

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Families comprise 66.0% of local households, consisting of couples with children (24.0%), couples without children (27.0%), and single parents (13.4%). The remaining 34.0% are non-family households, which are predominantly single-person households (31.5%) alongside group households (2.6%). The average household size of 2.3 individuals aligns with the Regional SA average.

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Educational attainment levels present challenges, as the university qualification rate of 15.5% falls significantly short of the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 10.2% of the population, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.3% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational education is highly prevalent, with 36.7% of residents aged 15 and over possessing trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (7.9%) and certificate-level qualifications (28.8%).

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Health assessments indicate notable issues within the suburb of Port Augusta West, based on local mortality statistics and the incidence of chronic conditions across different age groups. Approximately 52% of the population (~2,222 residents) hold private health insurance, slightly exceeding the SA2 average, compared to 48.9% in Regional SA.

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Cultural diversity metrics are low, with citizens making up 87.7% of the population, 90.7% of residents born in Australia, and 92.5% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, representing 41.1% of the population. The most distinct variance from regional norms is found in the 'Other' category, which accounts for 2.3% of residents compared to 0.8% across Regional SA.

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The median age of 40 years is lower than the Regional SA median of 47, but slightly higher than the national median of 38. Compared to Regional SA, the area has a larger share of 25 - 34 year-olds (12.5%) and fewer residents in the 65 - 74 bracket (11.1%). Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age bracket expanded from 10.9% to 13.2%, whereas the 25 to 34 group contracted from 13.9% to 12.5%, and the 45 to 54 group decreased from 12.7% to 11.6%. Significant demographic shifts are expected by 2041, led by an increase in the + cohort (adding people) to reach residents, up from . Aging trends will see residents aged and older account for of all projected population growth, while the to and to cohorts are forecast to shrink.

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Port Augusta West currently has an estimated 221 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 138 children aged 0-2 and 91 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 4% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 0% by 2041 (to approximately 221 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 412. Birth rates in the area have averaged 11.6 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a moderate rate (within the middle tier nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.