South Australia · Postcode 5221
American River postcode and suburb data
South Australia · Phone area code 08 · 121 km from Adelaide
Suburb snapshot
American River at a glance vs SA
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against SA
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Where American River ranks: household income sits in the bottom 25% of SA suburbs; SEIFA decile 1 places it in the bottom 20% of Australia for socio-economic advantage.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
American River vs the SA average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | American River | SA avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $831 -SA | $1,545 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $200 -SA | $308 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $696 -SA | $1,558 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 63 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 1/10 -SA | 5.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 10.2% +SA | 6.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the SA average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
American River is a remote community in South Australia, with postcode 5221. It lies roughly 121 km from Adelaide, classified by the ABS as remote Australia. The area is administered by Kangaroo Island.
According to the 2021 Census, American River has a population of 280 with a median age of 63. The median weekly household income is $831, below the SA average. The unemployment rate is 10.2%, higher than the SA average. The Indigenous population is 7 (2.5% of residents).
Housing in American River includes a median weekly rent of $200, median monthly mortgage repayment of $696, with 136 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the SA average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 82.8% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, American River scores in decile 1 out of 10, which is well below the national average.
American River is part of the Fleurieu - Kangaroo Island statistical area in South Australia.
American River details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 5221 |
| State | South Australia (SA) |
| Phone Area Code | 08 |
| Population (2021) | 280 |
| Median Age | 63 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $831/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $491/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $200 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $696 |
| Average Household Size | 1.8 persons |
| Area | 1.8 km² |
| Population Density | 154/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 136 |
| Australian Citizens | 85.0% |
| Indigenous Population | 7 (2.5%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.2% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 1/10 (well below average) |
| Latitude | -35.778333 |
| Longitude | 137.772778 |
| Distance from Adelaide | 121 km |
| Region (SA4) | South Australia - South East |
| Area (SA3) | Fleurieu - Kangaroo Island |
| Local Government | Kangaroo Island |
| Federal Electorate | Mayo |
| State Electorate | Mawson |
| Time Zone | ACST (UTC+9:30), Australia/Adelaide (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 21 (7.5%) |
| 15–24 years | 9 (3.2%) |
| 25–44 years | 35 (12.5%) |
| 45–64 years | 92 (32.9%) |
| 65+ years | 120 (42.9%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 51 (18.2%) |
| Cancer | 20 (7.1%) |
| Heart Disease | 18 (6.4%) |
| Diabetes | 15 (5.4%) |
| Asthma | 13 (4.6%) |
| Lung Condition | 12 (4.3%) |
| Dementia | 3 (1.1%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 7 (5.2%) |
| 1 vehicle | 51 (37.8%) |
| 2 vehicles | 56 (41.5%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 21 (15.6%) |
Suburbs Near American River
Same Postcode (5221)
More American River Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.