Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Encounter Bay suburb profile
Encounter Bay, SA · Postcode 5211
This Encounter Bay suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Encounter Bay, SA (postcode 5211). 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 Encounter Bay with nearby suburbs.
Encounter Bay at a glance
Population
5,305
Median rent
$305/wk
Household income
$929/wk
Median age
66
Encounter Bay 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
+24.9% over 10 years
Population
5,305
was 4,901 in 2016
+404 · +8.2%
Median rent
$305/wk
was $280/wk in 2016
+$25 · +8.9%
Household income
$929/wk
was $797/wk in 2016
+$132 · +16.6%
Median age
66
was 64 in 2016
+2 · +3.1%
Dig deeper: Encounter Bay population growth · Encounter Bay then and now
Encounter Bay vs nearby & SA
Median Census 2021 figures for Encounter Bay, nearby suburbs (8), and the SA state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-4.7% vs area
- Encounter Bay$305/wk
- Nearby$284/wk
- SA$320/wk
Household income
-40.4% vs area
- Encounter Bay$929/wk
- Nearby$1,201.5/wk
- SA$1,559/wk
Median age
+61% vs area
- Encounter Bay66
- Nearby49.5
- SA41
Personal income
-34.2% vs area
- Encounter Bay$514/wk
- Nearby$650/wk
- SA$781/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in SA.
Socio-economic profile
How Encounter Bay compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Encounter Bay 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 3975.3
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3934.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3969
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3925.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Encounter Bay on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Encounter Bay, SA.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Encounter Bay people
- Population
- 5,305
- Median age
- 66
- Born overseas
- 24%
- Average household size
- 2.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Encounter Bay income
- Median household income
- $929/wk
- Median personal income
- $514/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Encounter Bay housing
- Median rent
- $305/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,170/mo
- Separate houses
- 70.6%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.3%
- Owned outright
- 44.6%
- Mortgaged
- 13.1%
- Rented
- 12.9%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 27.1%
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
Encounter Bay work
- Employment to population
- 29.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 6%
- Year 12 or above
- 39.9%
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 5211)
Compare Encounter Bay with nearby suburbs
Encounter Bay in numbers
Encounter Bay had 5,305 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 78th most populous suburb or locality in SA out of 1,624. The median age is 66, 57% above the typical SA suburb. The average household has 2 people. 24% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 44.6% own their home outright, 13.1% are paying a mortgage, 12.9% rent. Separate houses make up 70.6% of dwellings, with 0.3% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $305/wk, close to the typical SA suburb.
Median household income was $929/wk, 39% below the typical SA suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 6%. 39.9% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 8.2% (from 4,901 to 5,305). Median rent moved from $280/wk to $305/wk (+8.9%).
Encounter Bay suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Encounter Bay, SA?
- The median weekly rent in Encounter Bay was $305/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Encounter Bay, SA?
- Encounter Bay had 5,305 residents at the 2021 Census, up 8.2% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Encounter Bay?
- Median household income in Encounter Bay was $929/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Encounter Bay?
- 12.9% of occupied homes in Encounter Bay were rented, 44.6% were owned outright and 13.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Encounter Bay suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Encounter Bay. 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