Port Pirie vs Solomontown

Solomontown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 77 in Port Pirie. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Port Pirie, most households rent and the large majority of households are people living alone. In Solomontown, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Solomontown: a median of $294,000, against $218,000 in Port Pirie, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Port Pirie tends to suit renters, people living alone, and older residents.

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

Solomontown

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (42% vs 10%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 68%)
  • But Port Pirie has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Port Pirie

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($80,000 vs $280,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($218,000 vs $294,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Pirie

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 36%)
  • has cheaper rent ($173/wk vs $195/wk)
  • But Solomontown leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Port Pirie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 20/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Pirie

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 20/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (69% vs 21%)

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

Investors

Solomontown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-1.7% vs -9.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Port Pirie and Solomontown 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 Pirie Solomontown
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 Pirie Solomontown
Walkability 75 / 20
Port Pirie — Walkability: 75/100 Solomontown — Walkability: 20/100
Safety 1 / 8
Port Pirie — Safety: 1/100 Solomontown — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Port Pirie — Low fire risk: 100/100 Solomontown — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 2 / 5
Port Pirie — Low flood risk: 2/100 Solomontown — Low flood risk: 5/100

Demographics

Solomontown has more residents (1,088 vs 176); Port Pirie skews older (77 vs 44).

Port Pirie Solomontown
Population 176 1,088
+518% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -9.7% -1.7%
Median age 77 44
Median household income $31,148/yr $43,472/yr
+40% vs other
Median weekly rent $173/wk $195/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie Solomontown
0-4 2.8% / 5.3%
Port Pirie — 0-4: 2.8% Solomontown — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 — / 10.6%
Port Pirie — 5-14: not among its largest Solomontown — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 4.0% / 5.1%
Port Pirie — 15-19: 4.0% Solomontown — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 3.4% / 7.9%
Port Pirie — 20-24: 3.4% Solomontown — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 7.4% / 13.4%
Port Pirie — 25-34: 7.4% Solomontown — 25-34: 13.4%
35-44 6.8% / 8.6%
Port Pirie — 35-44: 6.8% Solomontown — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 8.5% / 13.2%
Port Pirie — 45-54: 8.5% Solomontown — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 4.0% / 14.3%
Port Pirie — 55-64: 4.0% Solomontown — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 14.2% / 10.8%
Port Pirie — 65-74: 14.2% Solomontown — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 23.3% / 8.0%
Port Pirie — 75-84: 23.3% Solomontown — 75-84: 8.0%
85+ 31.8% / 2.4%
Port Pirie — 85+: 31.8% Solomontown — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie 81.6% lone person
Port Pirie — Lone Person: 81.6% Port Pirie — One Parent Families: 10.5% Port Pirie — Couple Families: 0.0% Port Pirie — Group Household: 7.9% Port Pirie — Other Families: 0.0%
Solomontown 51.9% lone person
Solomontown — Lone Person: 51.9% Solomontown — One Parent Families: 21.4% Solomontown — Couple Families: 20.3% Solomontown — Group Household: 3.3% Solomontown — Other Families: 3.0%
Lone Person One Parent Families Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie 57.5% renting
Port Pirie — Owned Outright: 27.5% Port Pirie — Mortgage: 15.0% Port Pirie — Renting: 57.5%
Solomontown 36.0% renting
Solomontown — Owned Outright: 33.6% Solomontown — Mortgage: 30.5% Solomontown — Renting: 36.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Port Pirie Solomontown
Certificate III & IV 12.5% / 15.0%
Port Pirie — Certificate III & IV: 12.5% Solomontown — Certificate III & IV: 15.0%
Bachelor Degree 3.4% / 3.1%
Port Pirie — Bachelor Degree: 3.4% Solomontown — Bachelor Degree: 3.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma — / 2.7%
Port Pirie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: not among its largest Solomontown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 2.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 0.5%
Port Pirie — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Solomontown — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.4%
Port Pirie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Solomontown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

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 Pirie Solomontown
England 5.1% / 1.7%
Port Pirie — England: 5.1% Solomontown — England: 1.7%
Italy 1.7% / 1.1%
Port Pirie — Italy: 1.7% Solomontown — Italy: 1.1%
Philippines 2.3% / 0.3%
Port Pirie — Philippines: 2.3% Solomontown — Philippines: 0.3%
Scotland 2.3% / 0.3%
Port Pirie — Scotland: 2.3% Solomontown — Scotland: 0.3%
Netherlands 2.3% / —
Port Pirie — Netherlands: 2.3% Solomontown — Netherlands: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.7%
Port Pirie — New Zealand: not among its largest Solomontown — New Zealand: 1.7%
Thailand — / 0.5%
Port Pirie — Thailand: not among its largest Solomontown — Thailand: 0.5%
India — / 0.4%
Port Pirie — India: not among its largest Solomontown — India: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie 68.3% houses
Port Pirie — Houses: 68.3% Port Pirie — Townhouses: 39.0% Port Pirie — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Solomontown 90.3% houses
Solomontown — Houses: 90.3% Solomontown — Townhouses: 6.4% Solomontown — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Port Pirie Solomontown
Median house price $218,000 $294,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $80,000 $280,000

Zoning mix

Solomontown has more land zoned for conservation (46% vs 23%); Port Pirie has more commercially zoned land (24% vs 7%).

Port Pirie Solomontown
Environmental 23% 46%
Industrial 41% 30%
Commercial 24% 7%
Residential 0% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 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 Pirie Solomontown
New dwellings approved 53
across Port Pirie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +75%
same for both

Ranking within SA

Port Pirie Solomontown
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 3% of SA Higher than 9% of SA
Schools Higher than 26% of SA —
Walkability Higher than 90% of SA Higher than 72% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 23% of SA Higher than 24% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of SA Higher than 75% of SA

Liveability

Port Pirie is more walkable (75 vs 20).

Port Pirie Solomontown
Grade — D
Score — 7/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Port Pirie Solomontown
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
99/100
 High
92/100
Flood High
98/100
 High
95/100
Coastal erosion High
89/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Port Pirie Solomontown
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Port Pirie

  • St Mark's College - Benedict Campus Catholic · Combined at peers
  • John Pirie Secondary School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Mid North Education Centre Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Solomontown

  • Solomontown Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Port Pirie Solomontown
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 0 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 0 1

Mobility

Port Pirie Solomontown
Walkability score 75/100 20/100
Distance to Adelaide 227.1 km 227.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 151 min 149 min
Public transport score 32/100 28/100
Peak arrivals per hour 5.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 5.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 5540
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 58
postcode 5540
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 Pirie Solomontown
Car (driver) 57.1% / 82.7%
Port Pirie — Car (driver): 57.1% Solomontown — Car (driver): 82.7%
Walked Only 42.9% / 6.2%
Port Pirie — Walked Only: 42.9% Solomontown — Walked Only: 6.2%
Car (passenger) — / 8.8%
Port Pirie — Car (passenger): not among its largest Solomontown — Car (passenger): 8.8%
Worked from Home — / 1.3%
Port Pirie — Worked from Home: not among its largest Solomontown — Worked from Home: 1.3%
Bicycle — / 1.0%
Port Pirie — Bicycle: not among its largest Solomontown — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.7%).

Setting

Port Pirie Solomontown
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.9 km
1.2 km to a named beach
 2.8 km
990 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Port Pirie Solomontown
Connectivity score 60/100 54/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
375 premises
 17%
680 premises

Climate

Port Pirie Solomontown
Annual rainfall 472 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Port Pirie Solomontown
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 23.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Port Pirie Solomontown
Average residential rate $1,855/yr
same for both
Council Port Pirie
same for both

Federal electorate

Port Pirie Solomontown
Division Grey
same for both
Member Tom Venning
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Port Pirie

Beach Coastal Retirees Rural Townhouses

Solomontown

Acreage Affordable Beach Coastal Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Pirie

Port Pirie vs Risdon Park Port Pirie vs Port Pirie South Port Pirie vs Port Pirie West

Other comparisons with Solomontown

Solomontown vs Port Pirie South Solomontown vs Bungama Solomontown vs Coonamia
Full data on Port Pirie Full data on Solomontown
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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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