Yorke Peninsula - North
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Yorke Peninsula - North reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Yorke Peninsula - North's population is 7,761 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 303 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,458. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 7,719 in June 2024 and 26 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2.1 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Yorke Peninsula - North has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%, outperforming non-metro areas. Interstate migration contributed approximately 91.3% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For other areas and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Population projections indicate an increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas by 2041, with an expected expansion of 520 persons, recording a gain of 6.2% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Yorke Peninsula - North when compared nationally

Yorke Peninsula - North averaged approximately 55 new dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY21 and FY25, around 275 dwellings were approved, with 8 more recorded in FY26 so far. On average, 0.9 new residents moved into each dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes was around $356,000. In FY26, $14.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to the Rest of SA, Yorke Peninsula - North records approximately 66% of building activity per person and ranks among the 76th percentile nationally. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. The population density is around 160 people per approval. Future projections indicate Yorke Peninsula - North adding approximately 478 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Yorke Peninsula - North has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely to impact the region. Key projects are Riverbend Port Hughes, The Dunes Port Hughes, Kulpara Quarry Operations, and SA Public Housing Maintenance and Services Contracts. Relevant details follow.

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

Employment conditions in Yorke Peninsula - North face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Yorke Peninsula - North has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. As of June 2025, it has an unemployment rate of 6.5%, which is 1.9% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%.

The workforce participation rate in Yorke Peninsula - North is 44.4%, significantly lower than Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key employment sectors among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing dominate with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level. Manufacturing has a limited presence at 5.4%, compared to 9.3% regionally.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data analysis. From June 2024 to June 2025, labour force increased by 0.1% while employment declined by 2.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.0 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA had an employment decline of 1.2% and a 1.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Yorke Peninsula - North. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6%, with local growth estimated at approximately 5.0%. Over ten years, national employment is projected to grow by 13.7%, with local growth estimated at around 11.4%. These projections are based on a simple weighting extrapolation and do not account for localised population projections.

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

Yorke Peninsula - North's median taxpayer income was $44,030 and average was $56,551 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national average; Rest of SA had a median income of $46,889 and average of $56,582. By March 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest median income would be approximately $48,798 and average $62,675. The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes in Yorke Peninsula - North fell between the 3rd and 7th percentiles nationally. The $400-$799 income bracket dominated with 31.6% of residents (2,452 people), contrasting with the region where the $1,500-$2,999 bracket led at 27.5%. Economic conditions indicated widespread financial pressure, with 40.8% of households having modest weekly budgets below $800. Despite modest housing costs, with 91.0% of income retained, total disposable income ranked at the 8th percentile nationally.

Yorke Peninsula - North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Yorke Peninsula - North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.2% houses and 6.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is similar to Non-Metro SA's composition of 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yorke Peninsula - North was higher at 58.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (22.8%) or rented (18.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,000, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,083. The median weekly rent figure was $200, compared to Non-Metro SA's $230. Nationally, Yorke Peninsula - North's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,000 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Yorke Peninsula - North features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 65.0% of all households, including 18.1% couples with children, 40.3% couples without children, and 5.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households at 1.7%. The median household size is 2.1 people, aligning with the average for the Rest of South Africa.

Yorke Peninsula - North faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 11.2%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 8.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.1%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 30.5%.

A substantial 22.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 10.4% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 1.5% in tertiary education. As of a recent report (dated 2021-03-15), there are six schools operating within Yorke Peninsula - North, educating approximately 1,046 students. The educational mix includes one primary school and five K-12 schools. Note: for schools with 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Yorke Peninsula - North is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Yorke Peninsula North faces significant health challenges with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 48%, covering around 3,725 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.7%) and asthma (8.5%). About 56.6% reported no medical ailments, similar to the Rest of SA's 56.0%. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 37.5%, totaling around 2,907 people, which is higher than the Rest of SA's 36.2%.

The latest Census data sees Yorke Peninsula - North placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Yorke Peninsula-North has a cultural diversity score below average, with 91.6% of its residents being citizens, 91.0% born in Australia, and 98.2% speaking English at home as their only language. Christianity is the predominant religion in Yorke Peninsula-North, accounting for 53.7% of the population, compared to 48.3% across the Rest of SA. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.9%), Australian (34.5%), and German (8.0%).

Notably, the Australian Aboriginal group is overrepresented in Yorke Peninsula-North at 3.8%, compared to the regional average of 2.6%.

Yorke Peninsula - North ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Yorke Peninsula - North has a median age of 57 years, which is significantly older than the Rest of South Australia's 47 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of South Australia average, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented at 19.5% locally, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 6.6%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 11.2% to 14.1% of the population, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 17.4% to 15.9%. By 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Yorke Peninsula - North's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 342 people (115%) from 297 to 640. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 84% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 25-34 and 65-74 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.