Coober Pedy, SA: suburb profile

The population of Coober Pedy SA is 1,566 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Coober Pedy is $498 per week ($25,896 per year). Median rent in Coober Pedy is $163 per week ($706 per month). Coober Pedy has a median age of 50 years, older than the national median of 38. Coober Pedy has a population density of 2.0 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Coober Pedy is Sri Lanka. The most common religion is No religion (30.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Sinhalese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Coober Pedy is $630.

There were 272 recorded offences in Coober Pedy in 2025-26, a rate of 174 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (128 offences).

Population
1,566
Census 2021
Median income
$498/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$163/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
50years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

Coober Pedy vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Coober Pedy is $498 a week, 34% below the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 656th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $163 a week, $137 less than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 21.3% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 50, 7 years older than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureCoober PedyTypical SADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$498/wk$759/wk −34%$766/wk
Household income$764/wk$1,494/wk −49%$1,637/wk
Rent$163/wk$300/wk −46%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$630/mo$1,534/mo −59%$1,733/mo
Median age5043 +7 yrs42
Rent share of household income21.3%19.5% +1.9 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Coober Pedy, the typical SA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Coober Pedy Population

1,566 residents at the 2021 Census.

Coober Pedy Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$498/wk
$25,896 per year
Ranked 8,193 of 14,663
Median Rent
$163/wk
$706 per month
Ranked 8,110 of 14,663
Median Age
50years
12 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$630/mo
Avg household size: 1.8 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Coober Pedy Rent Prices & Affordability

21% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $764/wk
Median rent $163/wk
Rent to income 21.3%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Coober Pedy against your income

About $3,311 a month
Median rent $163/wk
Left after rent $601/wk
Rent share 21.3%

Coober Pedy Map

Coober Pedy, South Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Coober Pedy, South Australia: 28.8966°S, 134.7971°E

Coober Pedy Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents

People in Coober Pedy

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 57.1% (895) Female 42.9% (672)

Population Density

2.0
people per km²
1,566 people · 785.1 km²

Households

1.8
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,380
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

Sri Lanka
4.3%
England
2.9%
Greece
2.9%
Philippines
2.6%
Croatia
1.5%
Germany
1.1%
India
1.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Sinhalese
4.5%
Greek
4.5%
Australian Indigenous Languages
2.3%
Croatian
1.9%
Serbian
1.5%
German
1.0%
Italian
0.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
22.0%
English
20.9%
Australian Aboriginal
13.0%
German
5.9%
Greek
5.9%
Irish
5.2%
Scottish
4.2%
Croatian
3.5%
Filipino
3.4%
Italian
2.2%
Serbian
2.2%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
30.6%
Not stated
22.0%
Catholic
16.2%
Eastern Orthodox
6.7%
Anglican
5.3%
Buddhism
5.0%
Christian (other)
2.7%
Lutheran
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

15.1%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
33.9% 468
Separated
4.3% 60
Divorced
15.1% 209
Widowed
6.8% 94
Never married
39.8% 549

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
36.7%
Couple: no children
36.4%
One parent: children under 15
11.3%
One parent: no children under 15
8.2%
Couple: no children under 15
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
53.7%
2 persons
28.7%
3 persons
7.8%
4 persons
4.6%
5 persons
2.7%
6+ persons
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Coober Pedy

Housing Tenure

Of the 674 occupied private dwellings in Coober Pedy at the 2021 Census, 32.8% were rented, 41.4% owned outright and 13.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
5.6% 38 dwellings
Owned outright
41.4% 279 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
13.8% 93 dwellings
Rented
32.8% 221 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
7.6% 51 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
97.9%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
12.6%
2 bedrooms
29.6%
3 bedrooms
39.5%
4 bedrooms
13.4%
5 bedrooms
3.9%
6+ bedrooms
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
24.3%
$300-$449/mo
21.6%
$450-$599/mo
6.8%
$600-$799/mo
9.5%
$800-$999/mo
13.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
20.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
10.8%
1 vehicle
44.2%
2 vehicles
30.3%
3 vehicles
9.7%
4+ vehicles
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Coober Pedy

Employment

Employed full-time
30.7% 321 people
Employed part-time
14.7% 153 people
Unemployed
6.6% 69 people
Not in labour force
48.0% 501 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Community & Personal Service
20.5%
Professionals
17.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
15.2%
Managers
14.3%
Clerical & Administrative
10.5%
Sales Workers
9.4%
Labourers
6.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
3.5%
$1-$149/wk
1.2%
$150-$299/wk
3.5%
$300-$399/wk
9.5%
$400-$499/wk
20.5%
$500-$649/wk
4.8%
$650-$799/wk
9.7%
$800-$999/wk
8.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
2.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.2%
$4,000+/wk
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.6%
$1-$149/wk
3.4%
$150-$299/wk
8.7%
$300-$399/wk
11.1%
$400-$499/wk
14.5%
$500-$649/wk
4.4%
$650-$799/wk
10.1%
$800-$999/wk
9.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.9%
$3,500+/wk
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
66.9%
Walked only
11.1%
Did not go to work
9.4%
Car (passenger)
7.8%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.8%
Bus
1.2%
Other
1.0%
Truck
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
49.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
22.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
19.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
9.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
45.5%
Bachelor Degree
22.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.5%
Postgraduate Degree
7.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.2%
Certificate I/II
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
23.0%
Engineering
16.4%
Society & Culture
15.1%
Education
13.5%
Health
12.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.3%
Architecture & Building
3.8%
Creative Arts
3.1%
Information Technology
2.8%
Agriculture & Environment
2.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
33.5%
Secondary: Government
32.9%
Vocational Education
19.5%
Pre-school
8.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
75.9%
Has need for assistance
5.7%
Need for assistance not stated
19.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
100
Arthritis
75
Heart disease
66
Diabetes
61
Asthma
38
Lung condition
35
Cancer
31
Stroke
24
Dementia
7
Kidney disease
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
9.7% 104
Did not provide
90.3% 971

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
19.3% 209
Not a volunteer
80.7% 875

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
4.6% 51
Never served
95.4% 1,054

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
37.8%
1 child
16.3%
2 children
20.9%
3 children
16.5%
4 children
5.8%
5+ children
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
8
1951: 1960
37
1961: 1970
94
1971: 1980
51
1981: 1990
20
1991: 2000
26
2001: 2010
41
2011: 2015
44
2016
14
2017
21
2018
19
2019
16
2020
8
2021
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

16.1%
moved in the last year
40.7%
moved in the last 5 years
11.7%
unemployment rate (Census)
43.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,042
Moved from SA
78
Moved: same area (SA2)
54
Moved from VIC
28
Moved from QLD
10
Moved from NSW
10
Moved from NT
9
Moved from overseas
7
Moved from WA
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.0%
5: 14 hours
26.4%
15: 29 hours
10.6%
30+ hours
8.7%
Did not do domestic work
36.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
83.9%
Step family: no other children
11.5%
Intact family: other children present
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Coober Pedy Crime Statistics

272 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Assault
128
Property Damage
50
Theft
50
Break & Enter
36
Other Against Person
6
Robbery
2

Total offences by year

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Peterborough (SA)
Income: $456/wk Rent: $160/wk $3/wk less rent
Whyalla Stuart
Income: $502/wk Rent: $160/wk $3/wk less rent

Compare Coober Pedy

Frequently Asked Questions About Coober Pedy

What is the population of Coober Pedy SA?

The population of Coober Pedy SA is 1,566 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2.0 people per km². Coober Pedy is ranked #3,338 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Coober Pedy?

The median personal income in Coober Pedy SA is $498 per week, or $25,896 per year. The median household income is $764 per week. Family income is $1,380 per week. Coober Pedy is ranked #8,193 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Coober Pedy?

Median rent in Coober Pedy SA is $163 per week ($706 per month). Rent represents 21.3% of household income, which is considered affordable. Coober Pedy ranks #8,110 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Coober Pedy?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Coober Pedy SA is $630. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Coober Pedy?

The median age in Coober Pedy SA is 50 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Coober Pedy a good suburb to live in?

Coober Pedy is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 1,566. The median income is $498/wk, which is below the typical SA suburb ($759/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (21.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Adelaide Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 40295. All dollar figures in AUD.