Moving to American River SA 5221
What the official numbers say about living in American River — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $200 a week, against a median household income of $831 a week.
About 78% of homes are owner-occupied and 16% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
American River grew 30% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (215 → 280 people).
Around 58% of households are families, averaging 1.8 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Germany; most spoken languages besides English: Japanese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), American River scores below the national average (decile 1 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (78% of workers), while 15% work from home.
Nearest airport: Kingscote Airport, 23.7 km west.
The Adelaide CBD is roughly 121 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 3 cafes & restaurants — see them all on the American River profile.
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around American River, most often seen first: Australian Pied Oystercatcher · Black Swan · Australian Pelican · White-faced Heron · Australian White Ibis · Rainbow Lorikeet.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to American River, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American River here | 280 | — | 1/10 | 31% |
| Penneshaw | 269 | — | 4/10 | 16% |
| Kingscote | 1,962 | — | 3/10 | 10% |
| Cape Jervis | 343 | — | 1/10 | 8% |
| Normanville | 1,965 | — | 3/10 | 6% |
| Yankalilla | 963 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
| Carrickalinga | 409 | — | 3/10 | 5% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Kangaroo Island — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Mayo — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 5221 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full American River profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $200 a week, and about 16% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 30% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 215 people to 280. It sits about 121 km from the Adelaide CBD in a straight line. Local government is Kangaroo Island council, and the federal seat is Mayo.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: Penneshaw · Kingscote · Cape Jervis · Normanville · Yankalilla · Carrickalinga.
Keep an eye on American River
One email when this data meaningfully changes — new census figures, prices, rankings. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.