Port Pirie South vs Port Pirie West

In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Port Pirie South: a median of $360,000, against $290,000 in Port Pirie West, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Port Pirie West tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Port Pirie South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (49% vs 40%)

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

First-home buyers

Port Pirie West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($55,000 vs $155,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($290,000 vs $359,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Pirie West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($180/wk vs $200/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Port Pirie West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (67/100 vs 4/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Pirie West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (67/100 vs 4/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, 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 Pirie South and Port Pirie West 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 South Port Pirie West
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 South Port Pirie West
Walkability 4 / 67
Port Pirie South — Walkability: 4/100 Port Pirie West — Walkability: 67/100
Safety 15 / 19
Port Pirie South — Safety: 15/100 Port Pirie West — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Port Pirie South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Port Pirie West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 12 / 36
Port Pirie South — Low flood risk: 12/100 Port Pirie West — Low flood risk: 36/100

Demographics

Port Pirie South has more residents (3,878 vs 2,556); Port Pirie South has higher household incomes ($59,540 vs $42,744).

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Population 3,878
+34% vs other
 2,556
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.5% -2.4%
Median age 43 45
Median household income $59,540/yr
+28% vs other
 $42,744/yr
Median weekly rent $200/wk
+10% vs other
 $180/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
0-4 4.7% / 4.9%
Port Pirie South — 0-4: 4.7% Port Pirie West — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 12.0% / 10.9%
Port Pirie South — 5-14: 12.0% Port Pirie West — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 6.4% / 6.5%
Port Pirie South — 15-19: 6.4% Port Pirie West — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 6.4% / 6.7%
Port Pirie South — 20-24: 6.4% Port Pirie West — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 12.0% / 10.5%
Port Pirie South — 25-34: 12.0% Port Pirie West — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 9.7% / 10.2%
Port Pirie South — 35-44: 9.7% Port Pirie West — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 12.6% / 12.6%
Port Pirie South — 45-54: 12.6% Port Pirie West — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 13.3% / 14.9%
Port Pirie South — 55-64: 13.3% Port Pirie West — 55-64: 14.9%
65-74 11.7% / 13.8%
Port Pirie South — 65-74: 11.7% Port Pirie West — 65-74: 13.8%
75-84 8.2% / 7.4%
Port Pirie South — 75-84: 8.2% Port Pirie West — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 3.0% / 2.0%
Port Pirie South — 85+: 3.0% Port Pirie West — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie South 46.4% lone person
Port Pirie South — Lone Person: 46.4% Port Pirie South — Couple Families: 30.0% Port Pirie South — One Parent Families: 19.1% Port Pirie South — Group Household: 3.1% Port Pirie South — Other Families: 1.4%
Port Pirie West 54.5% lone person
Port Pirie West — Lone Person: 54.5% Port Pirie West — Couple Families: 18.1% Port Pirie West — One Parent Families: 21.7% Port Pirie West — Group Household: 3.7% Port Pirie West — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie South 28.4% renting
Port Pirie South — Owned Outright: 37.6% Port Pirie South — Mortgage: 34.0% Port Pirie South — Renting: 28.4%
Port Pirie West 43.4% renting
Port Pirie West — Owned Outright: 28.3% Port Pirie West — Mortgage: 28.3% Port Pirie West — Renting: 43.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 14.7%
Port Pirie South — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Port Pirie West — Certificate III & IV: 14.7%
Bachelor Degree 6.1% / 3.0%
Port Pirie South — Bachelor Degree: 6.1% Port Pirie West — Bachelor Degree: 3.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.4% / 4.0%
Port Pirie South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4% Port Pirie West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 0.2%
Port Pirie South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Port Pirie West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 0.5%
Port Pirie South — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Port Pirie West — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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 South Port Pirie West
England 1.8% / 2.7%
Port Pirie South — England: 1.8% Port Pirie West — England: 2.7%
Italy 0.8% / 0.3%
Port Pirie South — Italy: 0.8% Port Pirie West — Italy: 0.3%
New Zealand 0.4% / 0.5%
Port Pirie South — New Zealand: 0.4% Port Pirie West — New Zealand: 0.5%
Philippines — / 0.9%
Port Pirie South — Philippines: not among its largest Port Pirie West — Philippines: 0.9%
India 0.4% / 0.2%
Port Pirie South — India: 0.4% Port Pirie West — India: 0.2%
South Africa 0.4% / —
Port Pirie South — South Africa: 0.4% Port Pirie West — South Africa: not among its largest
Greece — / 0.4%
Port Pirie South — Greece: not among its largest Port Pirie West — Greece: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Port Pirie South 88.4% houses
Port Pirie South — Houses: 88.4% Port Pirie South — Townhouses: 11.0% Port Pirie South — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Port Pirie West 86.3% houses
Port Pirie West — Houses: 86.3% Port Pirie West — Townhouses: 12.4% Port Pirie West — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Median house price $359,500 $290,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $155,000 $55,000

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 Pirie South Port Pirie West
2 bed $320K / $230K
Port Pirie South — 2 bed: $320K (13 sales) Port Pirie West — 2 bed: $230K (19 sales)

13 vs 19 sales

3 bed $359K / $300K
Port Pirie South — 3 bed: $359K (63 sales) Port Pirie West — 3 bed: $300K (51 sales)

63 vs 51 sales

4 bed $460K / $385K
Port Pirie South — 4 bed: $460K (21 sales) Port Pirie West — 4 bed: $385K (13 sales)

21 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Port Pirie West has more land zoned for conservation (89% vs 0%); Port Pirie South has more rural and farming land (72% vs 0%).

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Environmental 0% 89%
Rural and farming 72% 0%
Residential 17% 7%
Industrial 7% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
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 South Port Pirie West
New dwellings approved 53
across Port Pirie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +75%
same for both

Ranking within SA

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 27% of SA Higher than 8% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 59% of SA Higher than 86% of SA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 23% of SA Higher than 22% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of SA Higher than 77% of SA

Liveability

Port Pirie West is more walkable (67 vs 4); Port Pirie West scores higher overall (25 vs 10).

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Grade D
same for both
Score 10/100 25/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Port Pirie South carries more flood risk (88 vs 64).

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
85/100
 High
81/100
Flood High
88/100
 Moderate
64/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Port Pirie South

  • Risdon Park Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Mark's College - Bosco Campus Catholic · Combined

Schools in Port Pirie West

  • Port Pirie West Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 2 0
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Walkability score 4/100 67/100
Distance to Adelaide 227.5 km 227.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 155 min 152 min
Public transport score 45/100 25/100
Peak arrivals per hour 13.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.2
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 South Port Pirie West
Car (driver) 87.7% / 78.3%
Port Pirie South — Car (driver): 87.7% Port Pirie West — Car (driver): 78.3%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 8.2%
Port Pirie South — Car (passenger): 6.5% Port Pirie West — Car (passenger): 8.2%
Walked Only 2.3% / 8.3%
Port Pirie South — Walked Only: 2.3% Port Pirie West — Walked Only: 8.3%
Worked from Home 2.7% / 3.1%
Port Pirie South — Worked from Home: 2.7% Port Pirie West — Worked from Home: 3.1%
Bicycle 0.9% / 2.1%
Port Pirie South — Bicycle: 0.9% Port Pirie West — Bicycle: 2.1%

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

Setting

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.7 km
3.2 km to a named beach
 2.1 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Port Pirie South Port Pirie West
Connectivity score 59/100 60/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
1,987 premises
 27%
1,508 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Port Pirie South

Acreage Affordable

Port Pirie West

Acreage Affordable Coastal

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Pirie South

Port Pirie South vs Risdon Park Port Pirie South vs Risdon Park South Port Pirie South vs Solomontown Port Pirie South vs Port Pirie Port Pirie South vs Bungama Port Pirie South vs Coonamia

Other comparisons with Port Pirie West

Port Pirie West vs Risdon Park Port Pirie West vs Port Pirie
Full data on Port Pirie South Full data on Port Pirie West
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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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