Victor Harbor (SA)

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Drawing on ABS population revisions for the wider region and new address verifications by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Victor Harbor has an estimated population of 4,924 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 404 people (8.9%) compared to the 2021 Census, when the count was 4,520 people. This change is calculated from a resident population of 4,892, estimated by Districts using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) plus 196 validated new addresses added since the Census date. The population size yields a density of 575 persons per square kilometer, which indicates ample space per resident and capacity for additional growth. The 8.9% growth rate of the suburb of Victor Harbor since the 2021 census was higher than the Rest of SA (5.9%) and the SA4 region, establishing it as a frontrunner for growth in the territory. This expansion was driven mostly by interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 86.0% of the overall population rise in recent times.

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Victor Harbor possesses a diverse workforce distributed between professional and trade roles, with a strong presence in essential services, an unemployment rate of just 3.3%, and an estimated job growth rate of 4.4% over the past year, according to statistical area data compiled by Districts. In March 2026, there were 1,795 employed locals, and the unemployment rate sat 2.1 percentage points below the 5.5% recorded in Regional SA, while the participation rate was considerably lower (42.7% compared to 58.4% in Regional SA). Census responses indicate that a modest 12.1% of working residents performed their jobs from home, although this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic restrictions.

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Tax data from the ATO for financial year 2023, compiled by Districts, shows that income levels in the suburb of Victor Harbor are below the national average. Taxpayers in the suburb of Victor Harbor recorded a median income of $38,548 and an average income of $49,250, compared to $48,920 and $58,933 respectively across Regional SA. Adjusting for a 10.17% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $42,468 for the median and $54,259 for the average. Census data places household, family, and individual incomes in Victor Harbor in the bottom 1st to 5th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket contains 37.6% of residents (1,851 people) earning between $400 - 799 weekly, whereas the leading bracket in the wider region is - at . Low-income households are highly represented, with earning under per week, highlighting financial strain for many. Housing costs consume a significant portion of earnings, leaving just of income remaining, which ranks in the rd percentile.

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At the time of the last Census, residential properties in Victor Harbor consisted of 73.7% standalone houses and 26.2% alternative housing types like semi-detached units, apartments, or other structures, compared to Regional SA where standalone houses made up 88.5% and alternative dwellings comprised 11.5%. Home ownership in Victor Harbor was significantly higher than the regional average, with 47.3% of homes owned outright, while the remaining properties were split between those with a mortgage (22.7%) and rental properties (30.0%). The median mortgage payment in the area was $1,203 per month, which was higher than the Regional SA average of $1,153, while the median rent was $267 per week, compared to $220 across Regional SA. From a national perspective, mortgage payments in Victor Harbor are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up 57.3% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 14.8%, couples without children at 31.2%, and single-parent households at 9.8%. The remaining 42.7% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 40.6% and group households making up 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.0 individuals, which is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

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Educational statistics show lower levels of formal qualifications in the area, with university graduation rates at 16.1%, which is much lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Among tertiary degree holders, bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.9% and graduate diplomas at 1.9%. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 27.8%.

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Health assessments indicate notable demographic challenges for Victor Harbor, based on Districts measurements of mortality rates and chronic illnesses across younger and older cohorts. The rate of private health insurance coverage is very low, encompassing approximately 47% of the population (~2,290 people), compared to 48.9% in Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity in Victor Harbor is lower than average, with 80.6% of residents born in Australia, 92.2% holding citizenship, and 96.4% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 43.9% of the local population. However, the most distinct statistical variance is in Judaism, which is practiced by no residents, matching the regional average of no residents.

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The median age in Victor Harbor is 59 years, which is higher than the Regional SA median of 47 years and the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional SA, the 75 - 84 cohort has a higher representation at 17.3% of the population, while the 25 - 34 bracket is lower at 6.3%. The concentration of residents aged 75 - 84 is also higher than the national average of 6.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents in the 75 to 84 bracket rose from 13.0% to 17.3%. In contrast, the 65 to 74 group fell from 20.0% to 17.7%, and the to group decreased from to . Demographic modeling projects significant changes by led by a increase in the + cohort (adding people) to reach from . This aging trend is highlighted by residents aged and older representing of the projected growth, while population declines are anticipated in the to and to brackets.

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Victor Harbor currently has an estimated 157 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 89 children aged 0-2 and 59 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 12% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 6% by 2041 (to approximately 167 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 343. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been low, with approximately 6.0 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.