Peterhead, SA: suburb profile

The population of Peterhead SA is 1,201 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Peterhead is $801 per week ($41,652 per year). Median rent in Peterhead is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Peterhead has a median age of 40 years, older than the national median of 38. Peterhead has a population density of 1,983 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Peterhead is England. The most common religion is No religion (56.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Peterhead is $1,517.

There were 164 recorded offences in Peterhead in 2025-26, a rate of 137 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (146 offences).

Population
1,201
Census 2021
Median income
$801/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$300/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
40years
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.

Peterhead vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Peterhead is $801 a week, 6% above the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 271st of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $300 a week, the same as the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 22.3% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 40, 3 years younger 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.
MeasurePeterheadTypical SADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$801/wk$759/wk +6%$766/wk
Household income$1,346/wk$1,494/wk −10%$1,637/wk
Rent$300/wk$300/wk 0%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,517/mo$1,534/mo −1%$1,733/mo
Median age4043 −3 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.3%19.5% +2.8 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 Peterhead, the typical SA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Peterhead Population

1,201 residents at the 2021 Census.

Peterhead Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$801/wk
$41,652 per year
Ranked 3,609 of 14,663
Median Rent
$300/wk
$1,300 per month
Ranked 4,529 of 14,663
Median Age
40years
2 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,517/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Peterhead Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,346/wk
Median rent $300/wk
Rent to income 22.3%

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

Median rent in Peterhead against your income

About $5,833 a month
Median rent $300/wk
Left after rent $1,046/wk
Rent share 22.3%

Peterhead Schools

12
schools nearby
6
government
995
avg ICSEA score
4,615
total students
Portside Christian College Independent
Combined · R-12 · 626 students
1067
ICSEA
Dominican School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 230 students
1048
ICSEA
Our Lady of the Visitation School Catholic
Primary · R-6 · 320 students
1026
ICSEA
Westport Primary School Government
Primary · R-6 · 421 students
1025
ICSEA
Largs Bay School Government
Primary · R-6 · 418 students
1018
ICSEA
Mount Carmel College Catholic
Secondary · R-12 · 1,204 students
1008
ICSEA
Adelaide West Special Education Centre Government
Combined · U · 79 students
989
ICSEA
Le Fevre High School Government
Secondary · U, 7-12 · 456 students
951
ICSEA
Ocean View P-12 College Government
Combined · U, R-12 · 629 students
918
ICSEA
Le Fevre Peninsula Primary School Government
Primary · U, R-6 · 232 students
902
ICSEA
Mount Carmel College Primary Campus Catholic
Primary
Indie School Port Adelaide Campus Independent
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Peterhead, with a map

Peterhead Map

Peterhead, South Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Peterhead

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 45.1% (540) Female 54.9% (658)

Population Density

1,983
people per km²
1,201 people · 0.6 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,841
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

England
5.5%
New Zealand
1.5%
Scotland
1.2%
Philippines
1.1%
Italy
0.9%
India
0.7%
Greece
0.5%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Australian Indigenous Languages
1.0%
Greek
0.7%
Hindi
0.7%
Italian
0.7%
Polish
0.7%
Croatian
0.5%
Thai
0.5%

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

Ancestry

English
44.6%
Australian
35.6%
Scottish
12.2%
Irish
11.4%
German
7.8%
Italian
5.4%
Australian Aboriginal
5.2%
Greek
1.7%
Polish
1.7%
Filipino
1.6%
Dutch
1.5%

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
56.0%
Catholic
16.4%
Anglican
8.3%
Not stated
4.6%
Uniting Church
2.6%
Lutheran
1.6%
Christian (other)
1.3%
Buddhism
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

5.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
34.2% 341
Separated
4.7% 47
Divorced
14.5% 145
Widowed
5.8% 58
Never married
40.7% 406

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
33.0%
Couple: no children
30.6%
One parent: children under 15
15.5%
One parent: no children under 15
10.5%
Couple: no children under 15
10.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
39.5%
2 persons
32.2%
3 persons
15.5%
4 persons
8.7%
5 persons
2.1%
6+ persons
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Peterhead

Housing Tenure

Of the 563 occupied private dwellings in Peterhead at the 2021 Census, 29.8% were rented, 24.3% owned outright and 46.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.5% 3 dwellings
Owned outright
24.3% 137 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
46.0% 259 dwellings
Rented
29.8% 168 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.5% 3 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
75.3%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
17.2%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
7.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
7.4%
2 bedrooms
29.5%
3 bedrooms
54.0%
4 bedrooms
9.2%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
1.7%
$450-$599/mo
1.3%
$600-$799/mo
1.7%
$800-$999/mo
8.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
25.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
30.1%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
22.7%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
7.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.7%
1 vehicle
50.7%
2 vehicles
30.8%
3 vehicles
7.7%
4+ vehicles
3.1%

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

Work, income and education in Peterhead

Employment

Employed full-time
39.7% 360 people
Employed part-time
20.1% 182 people
Unemployed
4.1% 37 people
Not in labour force
36.1% 327 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
26.9%
Technicians & Trade Workers
16.5%
Community & Personal Service
16.5%
Clerical & Administrative
13.9%
Managers
13.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.1%
Labourers
4.5%
Sales Workers
3.5%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.3%
$150-$299/wk
2.4%
$300-$399/wk
4.1%
$400-$499/wk
7.9%
$500-$649/wk
5.5%
$650-$799/wk
7.9%
$800-$999/wk
6.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.9%
$4,000+/wk
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.9%
$1-$149/wk
2.6%
$150-$299/wk
6.1%
$300-$399/wk
5.7%
$400-$499/wk
2.6%
$500-$649/wk
3.2%
$650-$799/wk
10.4%
$800-$999/wk
11.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
15.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
11.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
8.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.5%
$3,500+/wk
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
78.3%
Did not go to work
11.5%
Train
4.1%
Car (passenger)
3.3%
Bicycle
1.3%
Walked only
0.9%
Bus
0.6%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
52.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
22.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
18.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
6.5%

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
44.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
21.3%
Bachelor Degree
19.4%
Postgraduate Degree
5.3%
Certificate I/II
4.9%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.6%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
20.3%
Society & Culture
17.8%
Health
15.1%
Engineering
13.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.4%
Education
7.1%
Architecture & Building
6.3%
Creative Arts
5.8%
Natural & Physical Sciences
4.7%
Agriculture & Environment
1.1%
Information Technology
0.8%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.9%
Secondary: Government
16.7%
Vocational Education
13.8%
Pre-school
11.3%
Primary: Catholic
9.4%
Secondary: Catholic
7.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.0%

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
89.9%
Has need for assistance
6.2%
Need for assistance not stated
3.4%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
152
Asthma
42
Arthritis
39
Diabetes
30
Lung condition
29
Heart disease
26
Stroke
15
Cancer
12
Kidney disease
11
Dementia
3

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
11.9% 114
Did not provide
88.1% 841

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
13.3% 127
Not a volunteer
86.7% 831

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.9% 9
Previously served
1.8% 17
Never served
97.3% 930

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
39.1%
1 child
16.0%
2 children
25.4%
3 children
13.7%
4 children
4.0%
5+ children
1.9%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
5
1951: 1960
26
1961: 1970
39
1971: 1980
15
1981: 1990
17
1991: 2000
19
2001: 2010
24
2011: 2015
27
2016
4
2017
5
2019
4
2020
5

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

Population Mobility

12.0%
moved in the last year
38.5%
moved in the last 5 years
6.3%
unemployment rate (Census)
63.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
987
Moved from SA
85
Moved: same area (SA2)
31
Moved from VIC
4
Moved from QLD
3
Moved from ACT
3
Moved from overseas
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.0%
5: 14 hours
32.9%
15: 29 hours
13.5%
30+ hours
7.0%
Did not do domestic work
26.6%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
84.5%
Step family: no other children
15.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Peterhead Crime Statistics

164 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
146
Property Damage
8
Assault
6
Fraud
3
Other Against Person
1

Total offences by year

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Peterhead

The closest suburb to Peterhead is Largs Bay, 0.5 km away.

Largs Bay
0.5 km away · income $858/wk · rent $315/wk
Birkenhead
0.7 km away · income $858/wk · rent $315/wk
Exeter (SA)
1.1 km away · income $849/wk · rent $310/wk
Port Adelaide
1.2 km away · income $754/wk · rent $293/wk
Largs North
1.6 km away · income $827/wk · rent $304/wk
Semaphore
1.7 km away · income $857/wk · rent $320/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Peterhead

What is the population of Peterhead SA?

The population of Peterhead SA is 1,201 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,983 people per km². Peterhead is ranked #3,700 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Peterhead?

The median personal income in Peterhead SA is $801 per week, or $41,652 per year. The median household income is $1,346 per week. Family income is $1,841 per week. Peterhead is ranked #3,609 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Peterhead?

Median rent in Peterhead SA is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Rent represents 22.3% of household income, which is considered affordable. Peterhead ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Peterhead?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Peterhead SA is $1,517. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Peterhead?

The median age in Peterhead SA is 40 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Peterhead a good suburb to live in?

Peterhead is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 1,201. The median income is $801/wk, which is above the typical SA suburb ($759/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 41144. All dollar figures in AUD.