Penola, SA: suburb profile

The population of Penola SA is 1,622 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Penola is $804 per week ($41,808 per year). Median rent in Penola is $198 per week ($858 per month). Penola has a median age of 47 years, older than the national median of 38. Penola has a population density of 6.4 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Penola is England. The most common religion is No religion (46.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Penola is $1,050.

There were 6 recorded offences in Penola in 2025-26, a rate of 4 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (3 offences).

Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

Penola Map

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Penola Population

1,622 residents at the 2021 Census.

Penola Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$804/wk

$41,808 per year

Ranked 3,564 of 14,663

Median Rent

$198/wk

$858 per month

Ranked 7,719 of 14,663

Median Age

47years

9 years older than the national median

Mortgage

$1,050/mo

Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Penola Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.5% (820) Female 49.5% (804)

Population Density

6.4

people per km²

1,622 people · 252.4 km²

Households

2.2

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$1,865

Family income/wk

Penola Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Penola Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Penola, 55.2% are owned outright and 44.8% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

55.2%

Owned with mortgage

44.8%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
India
China
Germany

Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Penola Religion

No religion

46.9%

Catholic

17.1%

Anglican

10.1%

Not stated

8.5%

Presbyterian and Reformed

5.5%

Uniting Church

4.4%

Lutheran

2.5%

Buddhism

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Penola Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

50.6%

Year 11 or equivalent

23.0%

Year 10 or equivalent

21.1%

Year 9 or equivalent

5.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
Nepali
Punjabi
Italian

Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Penola Employment

Employed full-time

41.9% 502 people

Employed part-time

22.1% 265 people

Unemployed

1.6% 19 people

Not in labour force

34.4% 412 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Penola Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

42.6%

Bachelor Degree

25.8%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

19.0%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.0%

Postgraduate Degree

4.3%

Certificate I/II

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Penola Occupation

Professionals

23.0%

Managers

20.9%

Labourers

13.5%

Technicians & Trade Workers

12.5%

Community & Personal Service

11.6%

Clerical & Administrative

8.8%

Sales Workers

6.0%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Penola Field of Study

Management & Commerce

16.5%

Agriculture & Environment

13.6%

Education

12.7%

Engineering

12.5%

Health

10.2%

Society & Culture

10.0%

Natural & Physical Sciences

8.7%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

8.2%

Architecture & Building

4.7%

Creative Arts

2.0%

Information Technology

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

Penola Dwelling Types

Separate house

93.0%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

7.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Penola Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

2.2%

$1-$149/wk

0.7%

$150-$299/wk

0.9%

$300-$399/wk

2.7%

$400-$499/wk

7.2%

$500-$649/wk

7.2%

$650-$799/wk

6.2%

$800-$999/wk

8.6%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

11.2%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.8%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

12.9%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

5.3%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.5%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

3.3%

$4,000+/wk

7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Penola Marital Status

Married

50.4% 673

Separated

3.7% 50

Divorced

10.8% 144

Widowed

6.1% 81

Never married

29.0% 388

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Penola Ancestry

Australian

45.8%

English

39.8%

Scottish

13.9%

Irish

9.7%

German

7.2%

Dutch

2.0%

Italian

1.5%

Australian Aboriginal

1.3%

Chinese

1.0%

Filipino

0.6%

Indian

0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Penola School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

36.3%

Primary — Catholic

21.1%

Secondary — Government

12.3%

Vocational Education

8.5%

Pre-school

8.1%

Secondary — Catholic

6.3%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

6.0%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Penola Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

5.8%

No need for assistance

94.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Penola Volunteering

Volunteer

29.4% 365

Not a volunteer

70.6% 878

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Penola Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

1.6%

$300-$449/mo

2.1%

$450-$599/mo

6.3%

$600-$799/mo

14.3%

$800-$999/mo

24.9%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

24.9%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

14.8%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

9.5%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Penola How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

77.3%

Did not go to work

9.4%

Car (passenger)

5.9%

Walked only

4.6%

Truck

1.6%

Other

0.7%

Bus

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Penola Car Ownership

0 vehicles

1.9%

1 vehicle

36.3%

2 vehicles

40.5%

3 vehicles

13.5%

4+ vehicles

7.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Penola Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

2.7%

2 bedrooms

14.2%

3 bedrooms

58.7%

4 bedrooms

21.0%

5 bedrooms

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Penola Population Mobility

10.4%

moved in the last year

37.1%

moved in the last 5 years

2.3%

unemployment rate (Census)

62.9%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Penola Indigenous Population

1.0%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Penola Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

129

Asthma

Arthritis

Diabetes

Heart disease

Lung condition

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Penola Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

7.5%

$1-$149/wk

3.8%

$150-$299/wk

4.3%

$300-$399/wk

4.8%

$400-$499/wk

4.5%

$500-$649/wk

4.1%

$650-$799/wk

10.6%

$800-$999/wk

13.2%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

14.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

10.4%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

7.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.3%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

5.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.7%

$3,500+/wk

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Penola Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

40.9%

Couple — no children

36.1%

Couple — no children under 15

12.6%

One parent — children under 15

6.9%

One parent — no children under 15

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Penola Military Service

Previously served

2.4% 30

Never served

97.6% 1,225

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Penola Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

11.5% 143

Did not provide

88.5% 1,105

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Penola Children Ever Born

No children

23.9%

1 child

12.5%

2 children

34.1%

3 children

21.9%

4 children

7.1%

5+ children

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

Penola When Migrants Arrived

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Penola Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

19.9%

5–14 hours

30.6%

15–29 hours

16.4%

30+ hours

10.1%

Did not do domestic work

23.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Penola Household Size

1 person

33.4%

2 persons

36.7%

3 persons

12.3%

4 persons

11.6%

5 persons

5.2%

6+ persons

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Penola Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,337

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from SA

Moved from VIC

Moved from QLD

Moved from NSW

Moved from overseas

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Penola Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

93.3%

Step family — no other children

3.4%

Blended family — no other children

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Penola Crime Statistics

6 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft

Break & Enter

Total offences by year

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

Penola Rent Prices & Affordability

14% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,369/wk

Median rent $198/wk

Rent to income 14.5%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Penola against your income

Your weekly income

About $5,932 a month

Median rent $198/wk

Left after rent $1,171/wk

Rent share 14.5%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Keith

Income: $746/wk Rent: $180/wk $18/wk less rent

Risdon Park South

Income: $713/wk Rent: $185/wk $13/wk less rent

Penola vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Penola is $804 a week, 6% above the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 269th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $198 a week, $102 less than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 14.5% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 47, 4 years older than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
Measure	Penola	Typical SA	Typical Australia
Personal income	$804/wk	$759/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,369/wk	$1,494/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$198/wk	$300/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$1,050/mo	$1,534/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	47	43	42
Rent share of household income	14.5%	19.5%	20.3%

Compare Penola

Frequently Asked Questions About Penola

What is the population of Penola SA?

The population of Penola SA is 1,622 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 6.4 people per km².Penola is ranked #3,296 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Penola?

The median personal income in Penola SA is $804 per week, or $41,808 per year.The median household income is $1,369 per week.Family income is $1,865 per week.Penola is ranked #3,564 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Penola?

Median rent in Penola SA is $198 per week ($858 per month).Rent represents 14.5% of household income, which is considered affordable.Penola ranks #7,719 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Penola?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Penola SA is $1,050. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Penola?

The median age in Penola SA is 47 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Penola a good suburb to live in?

Penola is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 1,622.The median income is $804/wk, which is above the typical SA suburb ($759/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (14.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Adelaide Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 41137. All dollar figures in AUD.