Urban Centre · Area profile
Port Lincoln
40 km²
Among the largest towns of its level, Port Lincoln is a growing coastal community with a distinct identity. The typical resident is 41, and the population has increased by about 900 people since 2011. It is a place where the national trend of secularism is even more pronounced, and there is a notably strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The town blends a professional workforce with a strong tradition of volunteering and local industry.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure. While the community has grown and aged slightly since 2011, seniors now make up 21.1% of the area.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 8.8% born overseas, a figure far below both the state and national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, each accounting for 41.9% of residents.
English is the primary language for 89% of the community, and very few people speak little or no English. Only 4.4% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is far below the national average.
A majority of residents—51.2%—report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This trend has grown significantly, rising 22 points since 2011.
More people have completed Year 12 than in similar areas, though the 11.7% with a university degree is far below the national figure. Qualifications in engineering and commerce are the most common.
Typical weekly household income is $1,243, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, personal incomes are higher than in most similar areas, and typical family incomes have risen by $441 since 2011.
About 29.3% of people have a long-term health condition, which is slightly lower than most similar areas. Asthma and arthritis are the most frequently reported conditions.
Volunteering is more common here than in most similar areas, with 18.9% of people giving their time. About 12.1% of residents provide some form of unpaid care.
One-parent families are more common here than in most similar areas, at 18.4%. There is also a high proportion of people living alone, accounting for 32.3% of households.
Renters make up 33.9% of the community, which is much higher than in similar areas. While separate houses are common, the typical weekly rent of $240 is well below the national figure.
Most people drive to work, and very few—just 0.4%—use public transport. Working from home is much less common here than across the rest of the country.
About 36.1% of the population has moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 11.7% of the community, which is much higher than in similar areas.
Health care and retail are the biggest employers, though 9.2% of the workforce is in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Full-time employment has fallen by 11 points since 2011.
The area is somewhat walkable, with most people living within 15 minutes of a park. However, very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services compared to the state average.