Victor Harbor
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Victor Harbor are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Victor Harbor's population was approximately 17,607 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,760 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 15,847. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,887 in June 2024 and an additional 453 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 137 persons per square kilometer. Victor Harbor's population grew by 11.1% between the 2021 Census and November 2025, outpacing the non-metro area (6.8%) and the state. Interstate migration accounted for approximately 86.3% of overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future demographic trends suggest an above median population growth for regional areas nationally, with Victor Harbor projected to increase by 1,994 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, representing a total increase of 7.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Victor Harbor among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Victor Harbor has seen approximately 240 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1,202 homes. As of FY-26162 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodates around 1.2 new residents per year. This has resulted in stable market conditions with balanced supply and demand.

The average construction value of new properties is $300,000. In the current financial year, $46.1 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of South Australia, Victor Harbor has seen elevated construction levels, recording 14.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This is significantly higher than the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area.

New development predominantly comprises detached dwellings (96.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (4.0%), maintaining the area's low-density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 59 people per approval, Victor Harbor reflects a developing area. Future projections estimate an addition of 1,248 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Victor Harbor has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include Best Life Canterbury Victor Harbor, Victor Retail Depot, Flinders Parade Townhouse Development, and McKinlay Street Car Parking Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.3%, Victor Harbor has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Victor Harbor's workforce is skilled with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 3.3%.

There were 5,751 residents employed, which was 1.3% below the Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 39.1%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 3.3%, compared to 14.5% regionally. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.2% while employment declined by 3.0%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force grow by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Victor Harbor's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. Victor Harbor had a median income among taxpayers of $39,196 and an average level of $50,077. This was lower than national averages of $46,889 and $56,582 across Rest of SA respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $44,225 (median) and $56,502 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Victor Harbor fell between the 3rd and 6th percentiles nationally. The $400 - 799 earnings band captured 33.4% of the community (5,880 individuals), contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket led at 27.5%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (40.5% under $800/week) indicated constrained household budgets across much of the locality. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remained, ranking at only the 5th percentile nationally.

Victor Harbor is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Victor Harbor's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 88.3% houses and 11.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro SA's 92.1% houses and 7.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Victor Harbor stood at 53.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.6% and rented ones at 22.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, aligning with Non-Metro SA's average, while the median weekly rent was $290 compared to Non-Metro SA's $280. Nationally, Victor Harbor's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,300 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Victor Harbor features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.8% of all households, including 15.8% couples with children, 39.3% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.2%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.2.

Educational outcomes in Victor Harbor fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 17.8%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (27.3%).

School and university attendance encompasses 19.4% of the community, including 8.2% in primary education, 5.4% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education. Victor Harbor's 4 schools have a combined enrollment reaching 2,549 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1015) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 1 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (14.5 places per 100 residents vs 11.2 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Victor Harbor is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Victor Harbor faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46%, covering around 8,134 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 14.0% of residents) and mental health issues (9.3%), while 53.4% claim to have no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of SA's 58.3%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 44.7% or approximately 7,877 people, compared to the Rest of SA's 37.0%.

Victor Harbor ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Victor Harbor's population showed low cultural diversity with 79.5% born in Australia, 92.1% being citizens, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion at 47.5%, slightly higher than the Rest of SA's 42.7%. The top three ancestry groups were English (39.0%), Australian (27.5%), and Scottish (8.5%).

Notably, German ethnicity was slightly overrepresented at 6.5% compared to the regional average of 6.7%, while Welsh and Dutch showed similar representation to the region at 0.6% and 1.4% respectively.

Victor Harbor ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Victor Harbor is 60 years, which is significantly higher than Rest of SA's average of 47 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 75-84 year-old group comprises 18.3% of the population, while the 25-34 year-old group makes up only 5.8%. This concentration of those aged 75-84 is well above the national average of 6.0%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of the population that is 75 to 84 years old has increased from 15.0% to 18.3%, while the proportion of those aged 65 to 74 has decreased from 22.4% to 20.5% and the proportion of those aged 55 to 64 has dropped from 14.4% to 13.3%. By 2041, Victor Harbor is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition, with the strongest projected growth in the 85+ cohort, which is predicted to grow by 113%, adding 1,170 residents to reach a total of 2,206. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 94% of the total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, both the 35-44 year-old group and the 15-24 year-old group are expected to see reduced numbers.