South Australia · Postcode 5277
Penola postcode and suburb data
South Australia · Phone area code 08 · 338 km from Adelaide
Suburb snapshot
Penola 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.
Detailed comparison table
Penola vs the SA average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Penola | SA avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,369 -SA | $1,545 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $198 -SA | $308 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $1,050 -SA | $1,558 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 47 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 3/10 -SA | 5.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 2.3% -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.
Penola is a locality 338 km from Adelaide in South Australia, classified as outer regional by the ABS. The postcode is 5277. It falls within the South Australia - South East region. The local government area is Wattle Range.
According to the 2021 Census, Penola has a population of 1,622 with a median age of 47. The median weekly household income is $1,369, below the SA average. The unemployment rate is 2.3%, lower than the SA average. The Indigenous population is 17 (1.0% of residents).
Housing in Penola includes a median weekly rent of $198, median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,050, with 642 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the SA average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 76.4% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Penola scores in decile 3 out of 10, which is below the national average.
Schools in Penola include Penola Primary School, Penola High School and Mary MacKillop Memorial School.
Penola is part of the Limestone Coast statistical area in South Australia.
Penola details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 5277 |
| State | South Australia (SA) |
| Phone Area Code | 08 |
| Population (2021) | 1,622 |
| Median Age | 47 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,369/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $804/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $198 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $1,050 |
| Average Household Size | 2.2 persons |
| Area | 252.4 km² |
| Population Density | 6/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 642 |
| Australian Citizens | 90.5% |
| Indigenous Population | 17 (1.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 3/10 (below average) |
| Latitude | -37.3785162 |
| Longitude | 140.8364721 |
| Distance from Adelaide | 338 km |
| Region (SA4) | South Australia - South East |
| Area (SA3) | Limestone Coast |
| Local Government | Wattle Range |
| Federal Electorate | Barker |
| State Electorate | Mount Gambier |
| Time Zone | ACST (UTC+9:30), Australia/Adelaide (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 282 (17.4%) |
| 15–24 years | 141 (8.7%) |
| 25–44 years | 345 (21.3%) |
| 45–64 years | 472 (29.1%) |
| 65+ years | 387 (23.9%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 179 (11.0%) |
| Asthma | 140 (8.6%) |
| Diabetes | 95 (5.9%) |
| Heart Disease | 71 (4.4%) |
| Cancer | 56 (3.5%) |
| Lung Condition | 35 (2.2%) |
| Dementia | 24 (1.5%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 12 (1.9%) |
| 1 vehicle | 232 (36.3%) |
| 2 vehicles | 259 (40.5%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 136 (21.3%) |
Schools in Penola
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Penola. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Penola
Same Postcode (5277)
More Penola 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.