Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Port Pirie
4 km²
Low typical incomes and high rental rates mark the character of Port Pirie. It is a small community where the typical household earns just $599 a week, far below the national figure. The area is exceptionally old, with a typical resident aged 77 and over 60% of the population being seniors. This demographic shift explains why so many residents require daily assistance and why the area has very few children.
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The population is far older than most areas, with a typical age of 77 years. Seniors make up 62.5% of the community, while children under 15 account for only 6.3%, which is far below the state and national figures.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 15.3% were born overseas, which is higher than in most similar areas. English is the most common ancestry at 63.1%.
While 83% of people speak only English, 9.7% use another language at home. This is much higher than most similar areas, and 4% of residents speak little or no English.
Christianity is the most common faith at 58.5%. Those with no religion make up 32.4%, a figure that is well below the national level.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 21.1% of residents completing Year 12. Only 5.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state average.
Typical weekly incomes are among the lowest at this level, with the typical personal income at $378. No households earn $3,000 or more per week, and 70.9% of individuals earn under $650 weekly.
Health needs are very high here, as 53.4% of people need help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions affect 69.3% of residents, with arthritis and mental health being the most common.
Participation in unpaid care and volunteering is among the lowest at this level. However, 6% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is well above the national figure.
The First Nations population is very small. The typical person in this group is 91 years old, which is far older than the national typical age of 24.
Living arrangements are unusual, with 75.6% of people living alone and people per home averaging just 1.4. One-parent families make up 45% of households, which is far above the state average.
Renting is very common, with 56.1% of households renting at a typical weekly cost of $173. Only 26.8% of homes are owned outright, and homes with three or more bedrooms are far less common than in most areas.
Many homes have no motor vehicle (42.9%), which is far above the national figure. This is consistent with the area's high number of public transport stops and the fact that 28.1% of people walk to work.
The area has seen significant movement, with 52.6% of people moving in the last five years. This is far above the state and national figures, despite there being no recent arrivals from overseas.
While 59.4% of the workforce is employed full-time, the overall number of adults working or looking for work is far below the national average. The unemployment rate is 8.6%, which is well above the state figure.
The area is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.6. Nearly all homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and public transport.