Penola

Penola is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Penola's population is estimated at around 1,674 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 52 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,622 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,671 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6.6 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's 3.2% growth since census positions it within 1.7 percentage points of the SA3 area (4.9%). Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 56.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is anticipated. The suburb is expected to expand by 61 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 3.5% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Penola, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Penola has experienced approximately 4 dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years ending FY-25, totalling around 22 homes. In FY-26 up to date, there have been 3 approvals recorded. On average, these developments have attracted about 1.3 new residents per year. The average construction cost of dwellings in Penola is $346,000, slightly above the regional average.

This financial year has seen $1.5 million in commercial development approvals, indicating minimal commercial activity compared to residential. Compared to Rest of SA and nationally, Penola has roughly half the building activity per person and ranks around the 45th percentile for areas assessed, suggesting limited housing choices supporting demand for existing homes. Recent activity comprises entirely detached dwellings, maintaining the area's low density character. As of FY-25, there were approximately 367 people in Penola per dwelling approval.

According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Penola is projected to grow by 58 residents by 2041. With current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating further population growth beyond projections.

Penola has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, major undertakings, and planning schemes. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially impact this area. Notable initiatives include the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan, Limestone Coast Energy Park, Melbourne to Adelaide Freight Rail Improvements, and Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, with the following list specifying those most pertinent.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The exceptional employment performance in Penola places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Penola has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate was 1.4% as of December 2025. Employment grew by an estimated 3.4% in the past year.

As of this date, 964 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.3%, lower than Regional SA's rate of 5.7%. Workforce participation in Penola was 69.3%, higher than Regional SA's 58.3%. Only 8.7% of residents worked from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance.

Manufacturing is particularly specialized in Penola with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance is under-represented at 9.4% compared to Regional SA's 13.9%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. From December 2024 to December 2025, employment increased by 3.4% while labour force grew by 3.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA had employment growth of 0.7% and a 2.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Penola's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.2% over five years and 10.3% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows Penola's median income is $52,580 and average income is $66,548. This is slightly below the national average. Regional SA has a median income of $48,920 and an average of $58,933. By March 2026, estimated incomes are approximately $57,927 (median) and $73,316 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17%. Census data shows personal income is at the 50th percentile ($804 weekly) and household income at the 25th percentile. The predominant income cohort in Penola is 29.4% (492 people), earning $1,500 - $2,999 annually. This aligns with metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 27.5%. Housing costs allow residents to retain 90.5% of their income, but disposable income ranks below average at the 34th percentile.

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

Penola's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.4% houses and 9.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Penola was at 42.2%, aligning with Regional SA. Mortgaged dwellings were 35.0% while rented ones were 22.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,050, below the Regional SA average of $1,153. Median weekly rent in Penola was $198, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Penola's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.0% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 32.3% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 35.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (25.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 13.7% in primary, 5.8% in secondary, and 2.5% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Penola's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Penola residents shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health conditions are standard across both young and old age groups.

Private health cover is at 53% of the total population (~892 people), slightly above Regional SA's 48.9%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.9%) and asthma (7.7%), with 66.5% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 62.5% in Regional SA. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of 20XX (exact year not specified), 27.2% of Penola's population is aged 65 and over (455 people). Health outcomes among seniors are strong, ranking nationally higher than the general population.

Penola is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Penola was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 90.5% of its population being citizens, born in Australia on September 2016 census data. 90.9% were born there and 96.2% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 46.0% of Penola's people.

The 'Other' category comprised 0.8%, similar to Regional SA's 0.8%. Ancestry-wise, Australian was top at 35.1%, followed by English at 30.5% and Scottish at 10.7%. Notably, German, Dutch and French groups were overrepresented: Germans made up 5.5% (vs regional 8.2%), Dutch 1.5% (vs 1.3%) and French 0.5% (vs 0.3%).

Penola hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Penola is 48 years, which is similar to Regional South Australia's average of 47 years but higher than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to Regional SA, Penola has a notably over-represented cohort aged 55-64 (15.9%) and an under-represented cohort aged 35-44 (9.7%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 75-84 increased from 7.4% to 9.2%, while those aged 15-24 rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. Conversely, the cohorts aged 5-14 decreased from 13.1% to 10.7% and those aged 25-34 dropped from 10.6% to 9.2%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate significant changes in Penola's population structure. The cohort aged 85+ is projected to grow by 104%, adding 54 residents to reach a total of 106. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 96% of the population growth, highlighting aging demographic trends. Conversely, both cohorts aged 25-34 and 55-64 are expected to decrease in numbers.