Port Augusta vs Port Paterson

Port Augusta is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 45 in Port Paterson. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Port Augusta, about half of households are people living alone. In Port Paterson, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Port Augusta tends to suit people living alone and families with children, while Port Paterson suits couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Port Augusta has more parks and reserves (7 vs 0)
  • Port Paterson is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 43%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Augusta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($194/wk vs $288/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 32%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Port Augusta is more walkable (78/100 vs 0/100)
  • Port Paterson sits closer to the CBD (305.9 km vs 309.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Augusta

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 14%)
  • But Port Paterson carries lower crime risk (83/100 vs 98/100)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Port Augusta and Port Paterson drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Walkability 78 / 0
Port Augusta — Walkability: 78/100 Port Paterson — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 2 / 17
Port Augusta — Safety: 2/100 Port Paterson — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Port Augusta — Low fire risk: 100/100 Port Paterson — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Port Augusta has more residents (6,437 vs 73); Port Paterson has higher household incomes ($86,632 vs $56,784).

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Population 6,437
+99% vs other
 73
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.9% +0.0%
Median age 39 45
Median household income $56,784/yr $86,632/yr
+53% vs other
Median weekly rent $194/wk $288/wk
+48% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Augusta Port Paterson
0-4 6.0% / —
Port Augusta — 0-4: 6.0% Port Paterson — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 12.3% / 12.3%
Port Augusta — 5-14: 12.3% Port Paterson — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.8% / 13.7%
Port Augusta — 15-19: 5.8% Port Paterson — 15-19: 13.7%
20-24 6.0% / 8.2%
Port Augusta — 20-24: 6.0% Port Paterson — 20-24: 8.2%
25-34 14.7% / 12.3%
Port Augusta — 25-34: 14.7% Port Paterson — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 11.2% / —
Port Augusta — 35-44: 11.2% Port Paterson — 35-44: not among its largest
45-54 12.0% / 16.4%
Port Augusta — 45-54: 12.0% Port Paterson — 45-54: 16.4%
55-64 13.3% / 12.3%
Port Augusta — 55-64: 13.3% Port Paterson — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 9.8% / 5.5%
Port Augusta — 65-74: 9.8% Port Paterson — 65-74: 5.5%
75-84 6.8% / 8.2%
Port Augusta — 75-84: 6.8% Port Paterson — 75-84: 8.2%
85+ 2.4% / —
Port Augusta — 85+: 2.4% Port Paterson — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Port Augusta 49.3% lone person
Port Augusta — Lone Person: 49.3% Port Augusta — Couple Families: 23.8% Port Augusta — One Parent Families: 19.6% Port Augusta — Group Household: 5.1% Port Augusta — Other Families: 2.3%
Port Paterson 27.3% lone person
Port Paterson — Lone Person: 27.3% Port Paterson — Couple Families: 45.5% Port Paterson — One Parent Families: 27.3% Port Paterson — Group Household: 0.0% Port Paterson — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Port Augusta 44.7% renting
Port Augusta — Owned Outright: 31.2% Port Augusta — Mortgage: 24.2% Port Augusta — Renting: 44.7%
Port Paterson 32.0% renting
Port Paterson — Owned Outright: 32.0% Port Paterson — Mortgage: 36.0% Port Paterson — Renting: 32.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Port Augusta Port Paterson
England 1.8% / 6.8%
Port Augusta — England: 1.8% Port Paterson — England: 6.8%
India 1.5% / —
Port Augusta — India: 1.5% Port Paterson — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 0.5% / —
Port Augusta — New Zealand: 0.5% Port Paterson — New Zealand: not among its largest
Germany 0.5% / —
Port Augusta — Germany: 0.5% Port Paterson — Germany: not among its largest
Vietnam 0.4% / —
Port Augusta — Vietnam: 0.4% Port Paterson — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 17.8%
Port Augusta — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Port Paterson — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.5% / 6.8%
Port Augusta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5% Port Paterson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.1% / 4.1%
Port Augusta — Bachelor Degree: 5.1% Port Paterson — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / —
Port Augusta — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Port Paterson — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / —
Port Augusta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Port Paterson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Port Augusta 74.4% houses
Port Augusta — Houses: 74.4% Port Augusta — Townhouses: 14.7% Port Augusta — Flats / Apartments: 10.9%
Port Paterson 104.2% houses
Port Paterson — Houses: 104.2% Port Paterson — Townhouses: 0.0% Port Paterson — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Median house price $318,500 —
Median unit price $792,500 —
Median land price $56,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 51 days
from 101 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Port Paterson has more rural and farming land (56% vs 6%).

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Rural and farming 6% 56%
Residential 41% 0%
Industrial 16% 24%
Environmental 24% 20%
Parks and recreation 9% 0%
Commercial 3% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Port Augusta Port Paterson
New dwellings approved 8
across Port Augusta
same for both
Approvals change year on year -67%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Houses 5.2%
$368/wk on $370K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Port Augusta Port Paterson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 22% of SA Higher than 65% of SA
Schools Higher than 35% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 27% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 30% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 46% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of SA —

Liveability

Port Augusta is more walkable (78 vs 0).

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Grade D —
Score 26/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Port Augusta carries more crime risk (98 vs 83).

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
83/100
Flood — Moderate
62/100
Coastal erosion High
78/100
 High
93/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Inside the suburb 6 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Port Augusta

  • Seaview Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Augusta Park Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Port Augusta Secondary School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Carlton School Government · Combined
  • Open Access College - Port Augusta School of the Air Campus Government · Combined
  • Willsden Primary School Government · Primary

Schools in Port Paterson

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 7 0
Childcare 6 0
GPs 7 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 0
Fuel stations 7 0
EV chargers 2 0

Mobility

Port Augusta sits further from the CBD (309.2 km vs 305.9 km).

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Walkability score 78/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 309.2 km
+1% vs other
 305.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 206 min 208 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 5700
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 5700
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Car (driver) 79.7% / 100.0%
Port Augusta — Car (driver): 79.7% Port Paterson — Car (driver): 100.0%
Car (passenger) 9.2% / —
Port Augusta — Car (passenger): 9.2% Port Paterson — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 5.1% / —
Port Augusta — Walked Only: 5.1% Port Paterson — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 3.3% / —
Port Augusta — Bus: 3.3% Port Paterson — Bus: not among its largest
Worked from Home 2.1% / —
Port Augusta — Worked from Home: 2.1% Port Paterson — Worked from Home: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (100.0%).

Setting

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 458 m 1.0 km

NBN connectivity

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Connectivity score 97/100 29/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 94%
4,443 premises
 0%
28 premises

Council rates

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Average residential rate $2,334/yr
same for both
Council Port Augusta
same for both

Federal electorate

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Division Grey
same for both
Member Tom Venning
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Port Augusta Port Paterson
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Port Augusta

Affordable Coastal Parks

Port Paterson

Coastal Rural Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Augusta

Port Augusta vs Stirling North Port Augusta vs Davenport

Other comparisons with Port Paterson

Port Paterson vs Stirling North
Full data on Port Augusta Full data on Port Paterson
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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