Yorke Peninsula - North

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 around 7,958 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 500 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,458. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,719 in June 2024 and an additional 119 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2.2 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Yorke Peninsula - North has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%, outpacing non-metro areas. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 91.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area projected to expand by 520 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 3.5% in total 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 annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 275 homes approved during this period and an additional 21 approved so far in FY26. The average population growth per dwelling built in the area was around 0.9 people per year over these five years, indicating that supply has been meeting or exceeding demand, providing more buyer choices while supporting potential population growth beyond projections. The average construction cost value of new homes being built is approximately $268,000.

In FY26, there have been commercial approvals totalling $14.3 million, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development in the area. Compared to Rest of SA, Yorke Peninsula - North records about 66% of building activity per person and ranks among the 76th percentile of areas assessed nationally based on recent building activity. All new housing supply consists entirely of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers with an average of around 160 people per dwelling approval.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Yorke Peninsula - North is expected to grow by approximately 281 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Yorke Peninsula - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects that may impact the area: Riverbend Port Hughes, The Dunes Port Hughes, Kulpara Quarry Operations, and SA Public Housing Maintenance and Services Contracts.

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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. Its unemployment rate is 6.8%.

Over the past year, it has shown relative employment stability. As of September 2025, 2,905 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.5% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%. Workforce participation lags significantly at 44.4%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

The area has a particularly strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level. However, manufacturing is under-represented at 5.4%, compared to Rest of SA's 9.3%. There appears to be limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force increased by 1.9% while employment decreased by 0.0%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.8 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of SA recorded employment growth of 0.3%, labour force growth of 2.3%, and a rise in unemployment of 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Yorke Peninsula - North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.0% over five years and 11.4% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's data from financial year 2022 shows median income in Yorke Peninsula - North SA2 is $44,030, with average income at $56,551. This is below national averages of $46,889 (median) and $56,582 (average) for Rest of SA. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $49,679 and average income $63,806, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83%. Census data from 2021 indicates household incomes in Yorke Peninsula - North fall between the 3rd and 7th percentiles nationally. The most common income bracket is $400 - $799, with 31.6% of locals (2,514 people) earning within this range, unlike regional trends where 27.5% earn between $1,500 - $2,999. Notably, 40.8% of households earn below $800 weekly, indicating affordability pressures. Despite modest housing costs with 91.0% of income retained, total disposable income ranks at the 8th percentile nationally.

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

Yorke Peninsula - North's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 93.2% houses and 6.9% other dwellings. Non-Metro SA had a similar composition of 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yorke Peninsula - North stood at 58.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.8% and rented ones at 18.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,000, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,083. Median weekly rent in the area was $200, compared to Non-Metro SA's $230. Nationally, Yorke Peninsula - North's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,000 versus Australia's 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 account for the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households comprising 1.7%. The median household size is 2.1 people, aligning with the Rest of SA average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 11.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 8.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (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.

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 is low at approximately 48% (around 3,819 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 13.7% of residents) and asthma (impacting 8.5%). Notably, 56.6% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of SA's 56.0%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 37.5% (2,981 people), compared to Rest of SA's 36.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but perform better than the general population in certain metrics.

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 had a cultural diversity index below average, with 91.6% citizens and 91.0% born in Australia. English was the language spoken exclusively at home by 98.2%. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 53.7%, compared to 48.3% across Rest of SA.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.9%), Australian (34.5%), and German (8.0%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation stood at 3.8%, higher than the regional average of 2.6%.

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

Yorke Peninsula - North's median age is 57 years, which is older than Rest of SA's 47 years and significantly higher than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of SA average, the 65-74 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. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 17.4% to 15.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Yorke Peninsula - North's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 335 people (110%) from 304 to 640. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 87% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 5-14 and 25-34 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.