Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Penola suburb profile
Penola, SA · Postcode 5277
This Penola suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Penola, SA (postcode 5277). 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 Penola with nearby suburbs.
Penola at a glance
Population
1,622
Median rent
$198/wk
Household income
$1,369/wk
Median age
47
Penola 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
+4.2% over 10 years
Population
1,622
was 1,592 in 2016
+30 · +1.9%
Median rent
$198/wk
was $175/wk in 2016
+$23 · +13.1%
Household income
$1,369/wk
was $1,170/wk in 2016
+$199 · +17%
Median age
47
was 43 in 2016
+4 · +9.3%
Dig deeper: Penola population growth · Penola then and now
Penola vs nearby & SA
Median Census 2021 figures for Penola, nearby suburbs (8), and the SA state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-38.1% vs area
- Penola$198/wk
- Nearby$206.5/wk
- SA$320/wk
Household income
-12.2% vs area
- Penola$1,369/wk
- Nearby$1,202/wk
- SA$1,559/wk
Median age
+14.6% vs area
- Penola47
- Nearby48
- SA41
Personal income
+2.9% vs area
- Penola$804/wk
- Nearby$699/wk
- SA$781/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in SA.
Socio-economic profile
How Penola compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Penola 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 4980.9
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3945.3
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3982.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3937.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Penola on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Penola, SA.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Penola people
- Population
- 1,622
- Median age
- 47
- Born overseas
- 8.5%
- 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
Penola income
- Median household income
- $1,369/wk
- Median personal income
- $804/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Penola housing
- Median rent
- $198/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,050/mo
- Separate houses
- 74%
- Flats & apartments
- 1%
- Owned outright
- 33.1%
- Mortgaged
- 26.9%
- Rented
- 18.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 17%
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
Penola work
- Employment to population
- 61.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 2.3%
- Year 12 or above
- 43.5%
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 5277)
Compare Penola with nearby suburbs
Penola in numbers
Penola had 1,622 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 330th most populous suburb or locality in SA out of 1,624. The median age is 47, 12% above the typical SA suburb. The average household has 2.2 people. 8.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 33.1% own their home outright, 26.9% are paying a mortgage, 18.6% rent. Separate houses make up 74% of dwellings, with 1% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $198/wk, 36% below the typical SA suburb.
Median household income was $1,369/wk, 10% below the typical SA suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 2.3%. 43.5% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 4 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 1.9% (from 1,592 to 1,622). Median rent moved from $175/wk to $198/wk (+13.1%).
Penola suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Penola, SA?
- The median weekly rent in Penola was $198/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Penola, SA?
- Penola had 1,622 residents at the 2021 Census, up 1.9% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Penola?
- Median household income in Penola was $1,369/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Penola?
- 18.6% of occupied homes in Penola were rented, 33.1% were owned outright and 26.9% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Penola suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Penola. 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