Peterborough, SA: suburb profile

The population of Peterborough SA is 1,490 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Peterborough is $456 per week ($23,712 per year). Median rent in Peterborough is $160 per week ($693 per month). Peterborough has a median age of 55 years, older than the national median of 38. Peterborough has a population density of 40 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Peterborough is England. The most common religion is No religion (44.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Peterborough is $569.

There were 38 recorded offences in Peterborough in 2025-26, a rate of 26 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (12 offences).

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

Peterborough Map

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Peterborough Population

1,490 residents at the 2021 Census.

Peterborough Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$456/wk

$23,712 per year

Ranked 8,603 of 14,663

Median Rent

$160/wk

$693 per month

Ranked 8,125 of 14,663

Median Age

55years

17 years older than the national median

Mortgage

$569/mo

Avg household size: 1.8 · 0.6 per bedroom

Peterborough Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.0% (746) Female 50.0% (745)

Population Density

people per km²

1,490 people · 37.0 km²

Households

1.8

Avg household size

0.6

Persons per bedroom

$970

Family income/wk

Peterborough 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)

Peterborough Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Peterborough, 69.0% are owned outright and 31.0% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

69.0%

Owned with mortgage

31.0%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

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

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
Germany

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

Peterborough Religion

No religion

44.6%

Not stated

16.7%

Catholic

12.3%

Anglican

9.1%

Uniting Church

7.4%

Christian (other)

1.7%

Baptist

1.5%

Christinty Jehvahs Witnses

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Peterborough Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent

32.2%

Year 12 or equivalent

29.6%

Year 11 or equivalent

25.3%

Year 9 or equivalent

13.0%

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

German
Punjabi

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

Peterborough Employment

Employed full-time

16.7% 181 people

Employed part-time

16.9% 184 people

Unemployed

6.0% 65 people

Not in labour force

60.4% 657 people

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

Peterborough Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

53.8%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

16.4%

Bachelor Degree

14.8%

Certificate I/II

9.3%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.8%

Postgraduate Degree

1.9%

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

Peterborough Occupation

Community & Personal Service

22.1%

Labourers

17.3%

Managers

14.4%

Professionals

12.5%

Technicians & Trade Workers

10.6%

Clerical & Administrative

8.2%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

7.7%

Sales Workers

7.2%

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

Peterborough Field of Study

Engineering

23.4%

Society & Culture

16.9%

Management & Commerce

15.9%

Health

13.9%

Education

10.4%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

8.5%

Agriculture & Environment

5.0%

Architecture & Building

4.5%

Information Technology

1.5%

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

Peterborough Dwelling Types

Separate house

96.6%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Peterborough Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

2.6%

$1-$149/wk

1.8%

$150-$299/wk

3.6%

$300-$399/wk

7.9%

$400-$499/wk

19.9%

$500-$649/wk

8.1%

$650-$799/wk

12.6%

$800-$999/wk

10.4%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

6.8%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

3.5%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

4.3%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

1.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

2.2%

$4,000+/wk

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Peterborough Marital Status

Married

36.3% 470

Separated

5.4% 70

Divorced

16.2% 209

Widowed

9.1% 118

Never married

32.9% 426

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Peterborough Ancestry

Australian

41.3%

English

39.7%

Scottish

7.9%

Irish

7.8%

German

7.6%

Australian Aboriginal

6.9%

Polish

1.3%

Dutch

1.1%

Italian

0.9%

Welsh

0.8%

Maori

0.7%

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

Peterborough School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

28.6%

Primary — Catholic

25.8%

Secondary — Government

24.2%

Vocational Education

12.1%

Pre-school

7.7%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

1.6%

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

Peterborough Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

11.6%

No need for assistance

88.4%

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

Peterborough Volunteering

Volunteer

22.4% 247

Not a volunteer

77.6% 854

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Peterborough Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

16.2%

$300-$449/mo

20.6%

$450-$599/mo

14.7%

$600-$799/mo

24.3%

$800-$999/mo

8.1%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

10.3%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

3.7%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Peterborough How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

67.4%

Did not go to work

16.6%

Walked only

9.1%

Car (passenger)

4.1%

Bus

1.1%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.8%

Other

0.8%

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

Peterborough Car Ownership

0 vehicles

11.1%

1 vehicle

44.9%

2 vehicles

27.2%

3 vehicles

11.4%

4+ vehicles

5.4%

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

Peterborough Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

3.4%

2 bedrooms

18.7%

3 bedrooms

64.6%

4 bedrooms

12.0%

5 bedrooms

1.2%

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

Peterborough Population Mobility

9.5%

moved in the last year

27.9%

moved in the last 5 years

13.1%

unemployment rate (Census)

35.7%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Peterborough Indigenous Population

8.5%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Peterborough Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

200

Arthritis

104

Heart disease

Diabetes

Asthma

Lung condition

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

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

Peterborough Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

8.8%

$1-$149/wk

3.3%

$150-$299/wk

12.9%

$300-$399/wk

13.9%

$400-$499/wk

13.8%

$500-$649/wk

6.7%

$650-$799/wk

10.9%

$800-$999/wk

8.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

6.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

3.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

2.9%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

2.2%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

3.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.7%

$3,500+/wk

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Peterborough Family Structure

Couple — no children

43.8%

Couple — children under 15

21.6%

One parent — children under 15

17.2%

One parent — no children under 15

8.8%

Couple — no children under 15

8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Peterborough Military Service

Previously served

5.9% 66

Never served

94.1% 1,045

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Peterborough Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

15.3% 167

Did not provide

84.7% 926

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Peterborough Children Ever Born

No children

20.0%

1 child

12.2%

2 children

28.5%

3 children

23.2%

4 children

11.6%

5+ children

4.6%

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

Peterborough When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2018

2019

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

Peterborough Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

15.4%

5–14 hours

25.2%

15–29 hours

12.7%

30+ hours

11.9%

Did not do domestic work

34.8%

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

Peterborough Household Size

1 person

46.8%

2 persons

36.8%

3 persons

7.4%

4 persons

5.1%

5 persons

1.8%

6+ persons

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Peterborough Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,138

Moved from SA

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from NT

Moved from VIC

Moved from NSW

Moved from QLD

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

Peterborough Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

76.9%

Step family — no other children

7.7%

Blended family — no other children

7.7%

Other couple — children only

7.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Peterborough Crime Statistics

38 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Assault

Theft

Property Damage

Break & Enter

Other Against Person

Total offences by year

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

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

Peterborough Schools

schools nearby

government

897

avg ICSEA score

155

total students

Peterborough High School Government

Secondary · U, 7-12 · 53 students

931

ICSEA

Peterborough Primary School Government

Primary · U, R-6 · 40 students

887

ICSEA

St Joseph's School Catholic

Combined · R-9 · 62 students

873

ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Peterborough, with a map

Peterborough Rent Prices & Affordability

23% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $706/wk

Median rent $160/wk

Rent to income 22.7%

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

Median rent in Peterborough against your income

Your weekly income

About $3,059 a month

Median rent $160/wk

Left after rent $546/wk

Rent share 22.7%

Peterborough vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in Peterborough is $456 a week, 40% below the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 695th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $160 a week, $140 less than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 22.7% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 55, 12 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	Peterborough	Typical SA	Typical Australia
Personal income	$456/wk	$759/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$706/wk	$1,494/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$160/wk	$300/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$569/mo	$1,534/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	55	43	42
Rent share of household income	22.7%	19.5%	20.3%

Compare Peterborough (SA)

Frequently Asked Questions About Peterborough

What is the population of Peterborough SA?

The population of Peterborough SA is 1,490 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 40 people per km².Peterborough is ranked #3,403 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Peterborough?

The median personal income in Peterborough SA is $456 per week, or $23,712 per year.The median household income is $706 per week.Family income is $970 per week.Peterborough is ranked #8,603 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Peterborough?

Median rent in Peterborough SA is $160 per week ($693 per month).Rent represents 22.7% of household income, which is considered affordable.Peterborough ranks #8,125 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Peterborough?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Peterborough SA is $569. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Peterborough?

The median age in Peterborough SA is 55 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Peterborough a good suburb to live in?

Peterborough is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 1,490.The median income is $456/wk, which is below the typical SA suburb ($759/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.7% 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: 41143. All dollar figures in AUD.