Port Augusta vs Stirling North

Stirling North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 39 in Port Augusta. 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 Stirling North, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Stirling North: a median of $382,000, against $318,000 in Port Augusta, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Port Augusta tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Stirling North 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 1)
  • Stirling North is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 43%)

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

First-home buyers

Port Augusta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($318,500 vs $382,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Augusta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($194/wk vs $250/wk)

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)
  • Stirling North sits closer to the CBD (306.6 km vs 309.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Augusta

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • But Stirling North carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

Stirling North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.5% vs -1.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Port Augusta and Stirling North 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 Stirling North
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 Stirling North
Walkability 78 / 0
Port Augusta — Walkability: 78/100 Stirling North — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 2 / 32
Port Augusta — Safety: 2/100 Stirling North — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Port Augusta — Low fire risk: 100/100 Stirling North — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Port Augusta has more residents (6,437 vs 2,793); Stirling North has higher household incomes ($95,212 vs $56,784).

Port Augusta Stirling North
Population 6,437
+57% vs other
 2,793
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.9% +4.5%
Median age 39 35
Median household income $56,784/yr $95,212/yr
+68% vs other
Median weekly rent $194/wk $250/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Augusta Stirling North
0-4 6.0% / 5.7%
Port Augusta — 0-4: 6.0% Stirling North — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.3% / 12.3%
Port Augusta — 5-14: 12.3% Stirling North — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.8% / 5.0%
Port Augusta — 15-19: 5.8% Stirling North — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 6.0% / 5.6%
Port Augusta — 20-24: 6.0% Stirling North — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 14.7% / 19.5%
Port Augusta — 25-34: 14.7% Stirling North — 25-34: 19.5%
35-44 11.2% / 15.9%
Port Augusta — 35-44: 11.2% Stirling North — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 12.0% / 11.6%
Port Augusta — 45-54: 12.0% Stirling North — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 13.3% / 11.3%
Port Augusta — 55-64: 13.3% Stirling North — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 9.8% / 8.4%
Port Augusta — 65-74: 9.8% Stirling North — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 6.8% / 3.5%
Port Augusta — 75-84: 6.8% Stirling North — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 2.4% / 0.8%
Port Augusta — 85+: 2.4% Stirling North — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

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%
Stirling North 30.4% lone person
Stirling North — Lone Person: 30.4% Stirling North — Couple Families: 49.0% Stirling North — One Parent Families: 19.1% Stirling North — Group Household: 0.9% Stirling North — Other Families: 0.6%
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%
Stirling North 15.8% renting
Stirling North — Owned Outright: 35.5% Stirling North — Mortgage: 48.8% Stirling North — Renting: 15.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Port Augusta Stirling North
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 17.6%
Port Augusta — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Stirling North — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 5.1% / 4.2%
Port Augusta — Bachelor Degree: 5.1% Stirling North — Bachelor Degree: 4.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.5% / 4.5%
Port Augusta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5% Stirling North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 0.7%
Port Augusta — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Stirling North — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.1%
Port Augusta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Stirling North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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 Stirling North
England 1.8% / 1.8%
Port Augusta — England: 1.8% Stirling North — England: 1.8%
India 1.5% / —
Port Augusta — India: 1.5% Stirling North — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 0.5% / 0.4%
Port Augusta — New Zealand: 0.5% Stirling North — New Zealand: 0.4%
Germany 0.5% / 0.3%
Port Augusta — Germany: 0.5% Stirling North — Germany: 0.3%
Italy 0.4% / 0.2%
Port Augusta — Italy: 0.4% Stirling North — Italy: 0.2%
Vietnam 0.4% / —
Port Augusta — Vietnam: 0.4% Stirling North — Vietnam: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.2%
Port Augusta — Scotland: not among its largest Stirling North — Scotland: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

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%
Stirling North 97.7% houses
Stirling North — Houses: 97.7% Stirling North — Townhouses: 0.4% Stirling North — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Port Augusta Stirling North
Median house price $318,500 $382,500
Median unit price $792,500 —
Median land price $56,500 $63,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 51 days
from 101 sales
 53 days
from 24 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Port Augusta Stirling North
3 bed $311K / $310K
Port Augusta — 3 bed: $311K (132 sales) Stirling North — 3 bed: $310K (23 sales)

132 vs 23 sales

4 bed $358K / $420K
Port Augusta — 4 bed: $358K (36 sales) Stirling North — 4 bed: $420K (25 sales)

36 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Stirling North has more rural and farming land (81% vs 6%); Port Augusta has more land zoned for conservation (24% vs 0%).

Port Augusta Stirling North
Rural and farming 6% 81%
Residential 41% 9%
Environmental 24% 0%
Industrial 16% 5%
Parks and recreation 9% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 4%
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 Stirling North
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 Stirling North
Houses 5.2%
$368/wk on $370K
 5.2%
$450/wk on $449K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Port Augusta Stirling North
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 22% of SA Higher than 73% of SA
Schools Higher than 35% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 47% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 30% of SA Higher than 28% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 99% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 97% of SA

Liveability

Port Augusta is more walkable (78 vs 0); Stirling North scores higher overall (38 vs 26).

Port Augusta Stirling North
Grade D C
Score 26/100 38/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Port Augusta carries more crime risk (98 vs 68).

Port Augusta Stirling North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood — Low
34/100
Coastal erosion High
78/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Port Augusta Stirling North
Inside the suburb 6 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
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 Stirling North

  • Stirling North Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Port Augusta sits further from the CBD (309.2 km vs 306.6 km).

Port Augusta Stirling North
Walkability score 78/100 0/100
Distance to Adelaide 309.2 km 306.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 206 min 203 min
Public transport score 60/100 32/100
Peak arrivals per hour 26.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 5.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 5700
 0.2%
postcode 5710
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 5700
 92
postcode 5710

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 Stirling North
Car (driver) 79.7% / 87.7%
Port Augusta — Car (driver): 79.7% Stirling North — Car (driver): 87.7%
Car (passenger) 9.2% / 5.5%
Port Augusta — Car (passenger): 9.2% Stirling North — Car (passenger): 5.5%
Walked Only 5.1% / 1.8%
Port Augusta — Walked Only: 5.1% Stirling North — Walked Only: 1.8%
Worked from Home 2.1% / 4.1%
Port Augusta — Worked from Home: 2.1% Stirling North — Worked from Home: 4.1%
Bus 3.3% / 0.5%
Port Augusta — Bus: 3.3% Stirling North — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (87.7%).

Setting

Port Augusta Stirling North
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 61 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 458 m 7.0 km

NBN connectivity

Port Augusta Stirling North
Connectivity score 97/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 94%
4,443 premises
 98%
966 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Port Augusta

Affordable Coastal Parks

Stirling North

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Augusta

Port Augusta vs Davenport Port Augusta vs Port Paterson

Other comparisons with Stirling North

Stirling North vs Port Paterson
Full data on Port Augusta Full data on Stirling North
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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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