Port Elliot (SA)

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According to ABS demographic updates and recently confirmed addresses by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Port Elliot has a population of approximately 2,321 as of May 2026. This indicates a growth of 70 people (3.1%) from the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 2,251 people. This shift is derived from a residential population estimate of 2,288 by Districts, which analyzed the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) along with 20 newly validated addresses following the Census. This population level represents a density of 109 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for future housing. Throughout the last ten years, the suburb of Port Elliot has shown steady expansion with a 0.7% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the Rest of SA. This demographic growth was mostly fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 83.0% of the overall population rise in recent times.

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The local workforce is highly skilled with a strong presence in essential service industries, featuring a low unemployment rate of 2.2% and an annual employment growth rate estimated at 1.9% according to Districts regional data aggregation. By March 2026, there are 801 working residents, and the local unemployment rate sits 3.3% below the Regional SA level of 5.5%, while the labor participation rate is considerably lower at 40.1% compared to 58.4% in Regional SA. Census data shows that a moderate 14.2% of workers operated from home, though this figure reflects some influence from Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

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ATO postcode data compiled by Districts for the financial year 2023 shows a median taxpayer income of $41,588 and an average taxpayer income of $55,842 in the suburb of Port Elliot. These figures sit below national benchmarks, contrasting with Regional SA where the median income is $48,920 and the average is $58,933. Accounting for a 10.17% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates for March 2026 point to a median of $45,817 and an average of $61,521. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes all rank between the 6th and 10th percentiles nationwide. The largest income group consists of 33.9% of local residents (786 people) earning in the $800 - 1,499 bracket, differing from the wider metropolitan region where the - range is most common at . Although housing costs are low, leaving residents with of their income, total disposable income ranks in just the th percentile nationally.

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The residential landscape in the suburb of Port Elliot at the time of the latest Census consisted of 92.3% standalone houses and 7.6% other housing types, such as apartments, semi-detached options, and alternative structures. This compares to Regional SA averages of 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. The home ownership rate was notably higher than the regional average, standing at 49.5%, while the remaining homes were occupied by buyers with a mortgage (26.3%) or tenants renting (24.2%). Local housing costs included a median monthly mortgage payment of $1,210 and a median weekly rent of $280, both higher than the Regional SA averages of $1,153 and $220. On a national scale, mortgage payments in the suburb of Port Elliot are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rents are also significantly below the national average of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 69.2%, which is composed of couples without children at 43.7%, couples with children at 17.1%, and single-parent households at 8.4%. The remaining 30.8% consist of non-family households, with single-person households accounting for 29.2% and group houses representing 1.5% of the total. The local median household size of 2.1 individuals is slightly smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

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The local academic profile is notable for the region, with university graduation rates at 23.9% of residents aged 15+ exceeding both the Rest of SA average of 13.9% and the SA4 region level of 14.2%, showing a strong community focus on higher education. Undergraduate bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.5% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%. Technical and vocational credentials are also common, with 36.0% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 24.9%.

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Local health evaluations from Districts, which assess mortality rates and the occurrence of chronic illnesses, indicate notable challenges, with common medical issues present in both younger and older cohorts, and a relatively low private health insurance rate of roughly 49% of the population (~1,139 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity metrics show the area ranks below average, with 79.2% of residents born in Australia, 92.0% holding citizenship, and 96.8% using only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 46.3% of the population. The most distinct variance is in the Other religious category, which represents 1.4% of local residents compared to 0.8% across Regional SA.

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With a median age of 61 years, the suburb of Port Elliot is demographic-wise much older than Regional SA, which averages 47, and exceeds the national median of 38. The 75 - 84 age bracket is highly represented at 20.9% of the population compared to Regional SA, while the 25 - 34 bracket is less common at 5.4%. This concentration of 75 - 84 year olds is much higher than the national share of 6.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 17.8% to 20.9% of the population, and the 85+ cohort grew from 7.1% to 8.8%, while the 55 to bracket decreased from to . By significant changes in the age structure are anticipated, with the + cohort projected to grow by people () from to . Residents aged + will account for of total population growth, highlighting the aging trend, while the to and to groups are expected to shrink.

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Port Elliot currently has an estimated 85 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 36 children aged 0-2 and 25 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 2% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 1% by 2041 (to approximately 86 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 132. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been low, with approximately 5.1 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.