Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Cowell suburb profile
Cowell, SA · Postcode 5602
This Cowell suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Cowell, SA (postcode 5602). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Cowell with nearby suburbs.
Cowell at a glance
Population
1,124
Median rent
$200/wk
Household income
$1,161/wk
Median age
53
Cowell trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+6.4% over 10 years
Population
1,124
was 1,109 in 2016
+15 · +1.4%
Median rent
$200/wk
was $198/wk in 2016
+$2 · +1%
Household income
$1,161/wk
was $1,035/wk in 2016
+$126 · +12.2%
Median age
53
was 50 in 2016
+3 · +6%
Dig deeper: Cowell population growth · Cowell then and now
Cowell vs nearby & SA
Median Census 2021 figures for Cowell, nearby suburbs (8), and the SA state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-37.5% vs area
- Cowell$200/wk
- Nearby$210/wk
- SA$320/wk
Household income
-25.5% vs area
- Cowell$1,161/wk
- Nearby$1,248.5/wk
- SA$1,559/wk
Median age
+29.3% vs area
- Cowell53
- Nearby42.5
- SA41
Personal income
-14.3% vs area
- Cowell$669/wk
- Nearby$714/wk
- SA$781/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in SA.
Socio-economic profile
How Cowell compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Cowell sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2945.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2910.5
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2956.8
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 2889.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Cowell on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Cowell, SA.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Cowell people
- Population
- 1,124
- Median age
- 53
- Born overseas
- 7%
- Average household size
- 2.2
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Cowell income
- Median household income
- $1,161/wk
- Median personal income
- $669/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Cowell housing
- Median rent
- $200/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,040/mo
- Separate houses
- 62.6%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.5%
- Owned outright
- 35.6%
- Mortgaged
- 19%
- Rented
- 17.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 22.7%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Cowell work
- Employment to population
- 48.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 2.9%
- Year 12 or above
- 30.9%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 5602)
Compare Cowell with nearby suburbs
Cowell in numbers
Cowell had 1,124 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 402nd most populous suburb or locality in SA out of 1,624. The median age is 53, 26% above the typical SA suburb. The average household has 2.2 people. 7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 35.6% own their home outright, 19% are paying a mortgage, 17.6% rent. Separate houses make up 62.6% of dwellings, with 0.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $200/wk, 35% below the typical SA suburb.
Median household income was $1,161/wk, 24% below the typical SA suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 2.9%. 30.9% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 1.4% (from 1,109 to 1,124). Median rent moved from $198/wk to $200/wk (+1%).
Cowell suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Cowell, SA?
- The median weekly rent in Cowell was $200/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Cowell, SA?
- Cowell had 1,124 residents at the 2021 Census, up 1.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Cowell?
- Median household income in Cowell was $1,161/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Cowell?
- 17.6% of occupied homes in Cowell were rented, 35.6% were owned outright and 19% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Cowell suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Cowell. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology