Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Port Lincoln
33 km²
Lower typical incomes and a high rental rate mark the character of Port Lincoln. This larger regional centre has a population of 14,458 and is noticeably older than the national average, with over 21% of residents aged 65 or over. It is a place of contrasts, where a high proportion of people live alone or in one-parent families, yet it maintains a strong presence of First Nations people. This social mix is reflected in a community that is more likely to volunteer than most Australians.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.5% of the population, which is well above both the state and national figures. The community is older than the Australian average, with a typical age of 41.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born (84.2%), and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure.
English is the primary language for nearly 89% of residents, and the number of people using another language at home is far below the state and national averages.
Over half of the population (51.2%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,243, which is well below the national figure of $1,746, and only 10.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
About 6.5% of residents need help with daily activities, a rate that is higher than most similar areas.
Community spirit is evident in volunteering rates, which are well above the national figure at 18.9%.
The First Nations community is large, with 946 people, though they face significant challenges with an unemployment rate of 16.3% and typical household incomes well below the national average.
Living arrangements are distinctive, as the number of people living alone (32.3%) and one-parent families (18.4%) are both much higher than in most areas.
Renting is much more common here than in most areas, with 33.8% of households renting. However, typical weekly rents of $240 are well below the national figure.
Most people rely on cars, with 71.8% driving to work, while only 4.1% work from home—a rate far below the national average.
The area is relatively mobile, with 36% of people moving in the last five years, which is about the same as the state average.
Full-time employment is much lower than in most areas at 51.7%, with many residents working in health care, retail, or agriculture.
The area has very high crime rates, with recorded offences per 100,000 being among the highest at this level, particularly for theft and property damage.
While 90.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, the overall walkability score is well below the state average, largely because groceries and health services are far less accessible on foot.