Newport
Newport's strongest signal is high-income, educated inner-west family demand at a price point already near its recent peak. Household income sits in the 94.4 percentile, university attainment is 53.0%, or 22.9 percentage points above the national level, and the median house price is $1,315,000. Compared with nearby Williamstown and Spotswood, Newport reads as a house-led, mortgage-belt suburb rather than an apartment market: 66.8% of homes are separate houses and 42.0% of dwellings are mortgaged. Density is 2,728.3 people per sq km, so buyers get a relatively compact suburb with established streets, station access and schools, but limited cheap entry points.
Population
13,658
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,657/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Median House
$1.3M
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers face a premium but comparatively stable market. The median house price is $1,315,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, only 0.1% below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $1,316,000, so recent buyers are not chasing a large discount. The suburb still suits families because 66.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 24.9% are semi-detached and 50.2% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage pressure is manageable relative to income: the typical $2,507 monthly mortgage equals 21.8% of income, while household income ranks in the 94.4 percentile. The trade-off is that cheaper apartment options are limited at 7.9%.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a premium but comparatively stable market. The median house price is $1,315,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, only 0.1% below the Jul-Sep 2023 peak of $1,316,000, so recent buyers are not chasing a large discount. The suburb still suits families because 66.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 24.9% are semi-detached and 50.2% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage pressure is manageable relative to income: the typical $2,507 monthly mortgage equals 21.8% of income, while household income ranks in the 94.4 percentile. The trade-off is that cheaper apartment options are limited at 7.9%.
For Investors
Newport has a solid renter base without looking like a pure rental market. Renting covers 29.2% of households, below the 42.0% share with a mortgage but close to the 28.9% owned outright share, which supports demand from both families and mobile professionals. Weekly rent is $471 and rent-to-income is 17.7%, lower than mortgage-to-income at 21.8%, so tenants are less stretched than purchasers. The 8.0% vacancy rate means leasing strategy matters because oversupply risk is higher than in a tight market. Development is measured, with 15 applications over 12 months, so new competing stock is present but not dominant.
Development Activity
Total DAs
39
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+625.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$4.1M
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Newport iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Newport Lakes Primary School
Prep-6 · 566 students
Sacred Heart School
Prep-6 · 297 students
Newport Gardens Primary School
Prep-6 · 516 students
Australian Islamic Centre College
Prep-6 · 151 students
Demographics
Newport is affluent, educated and slightly younger than the national profile. The median age is 38, which is 2.0 years below the national comparison, and 53.0% of residents hold a university qualification, 22.9 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents are 23.9%, only 2.3 points above national, so the suburb leans more Anglo than many inner Melbourne areas. English ancestry leads with 4,621 people, followed by Irish at 1,926 and Scottish at 1,510, while Arabic has 171 speakers and Greek 154. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, consistent with family housing rather than high-density singles.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.8%
Houses
24.9%
Townhouse
7.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Newport's housing market has nearly doubled over the long run. The median house price rose from $695,000 in 2013 to $1,315,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, an 89.2% increase and a 4.7% annualised gain across 14 years. Prices are just 0.1% below the $1,316,000 peak, so the market is holding close to its high rather than resetting. Ownership is balanced: 28.9% own outright, 42.0% are mortgaged and 29.2% rent. Compared with apartment-heavy inner suburbs, Newport remains house-led, with 66.8% separate houses and only 7.9% apartments. The main constraint is entry cost, because family-sized 3 bedroom homes account for 50.2% of stock.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,507
Rent / wk
$471
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,241
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
431
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.7%
Couples, no children
11,319
Total families
Economy & Employment
Newport's economy is professional and education-heavy, which helps explain its high incomes and resilient housing demand. Professional/Tech is the largest industry at 14.6% or 829 workers, followed by Healthcare at 13.3%, Education at 12.2%, Public Admin at 9.2% and Construction at 8.8%. Occupations are led by 2,525 professionals and 1,510 managers, far above lower-skilled categories such as Sales at 492. Labour force participation is 67.8%, full-time work is 69.1% and unemployment is 4.4%. SEIFA is consistently high: IEO decile 9, IRSAD decile 9 and IRSD decile 9, while IER decile 8 is slightly lower, suggesting strong advantage but not the very top economic-resource tier.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
13,157
Unemployed
328
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.1%
Part-time
26.5%
Participation
67.8%
Employed
6,922
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.0%
Postgraduate
14.7%
Born Overseas
23.9%
Dwellings
4,953
Transport to Work
Newport's livability is strongest for families wanting local schools, established housing and rail-oriented access, although daily travel is still car-led. Four schools sit in the suburb with an ICSEA range from 1,032 to 1,126; Newport Lakes Primary School and Sacred Heart School both reach 1,126, while Newport Gardens Primary School is 1,106, giving buyers a strong Government and Catholic mix. Public transport commuting is 8.1%, compared with 82.0% driving, so station proximity matters street by street. Safety is moderate rather than standout, with 698 offences and a crime rate of 51.1 per 1,000. IRSAD decile 9 supports above-average local amenity and household capacity.
Drive
82.0%
Public Transport
8.1%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.08%/yr
(+220 people/yr)
EstablishedNewport is forecast to keep growing at a modest established-suburb pace rather than through a major redevelopment surge. The trend rate is 1.08% a year, or about 220 people annually, with the medium scenario rising from 20,360 in 2026 to 21,459 in 2031. Migration is the key reason: overseas migration averages +260 people a year, compared with net internal migration of -78, and is the primary driver. The shift profile is mixed, with rent growth of 42.4% and real income growth of 32.3%. Gentrification is not the main story now, with a score of 17 and stage of Not gentrifying, despite a longer signal of population +21% since 2011.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+260
Net Internal / yr
-78
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +21% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +260/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
698
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
51.1
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Newport compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newport a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Newport suits households seeking a high-income, school-rich inner-west suburb. Household income ranks in the 94.4 percentile, there are 4 local schools, and 66.8% of homes are separate houses. The main drawback is price, with a $1,315,000 median house value.
What is the median house price in Newport?
The median house price in Newport is $1,315,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is only 0.1% below the recent peak of $1,316,000 in Jul-Sep 2023, and 89.2% above the 2013 level of $695,000.
What schools are in Newport?
Newport has 4 local schools: Newport Lakes Primary School, Sacred Heart School, Newport Gardens Primary School and Australian Islamic Centre College. ICSEA scores range from 1,032 to 1,126, with Government, Catholic and Independent sectors represented.
Is Newport safe?
Newport recorded 698 offences and a crime rate of 51.1 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences are the largest category with 494 incidents, so safety is more about household security and street choice than a broad high-violence profile.
Is Newport good for property investment?
Newport has investment appeal through a 29.2% rental share, $471 weekly rent and strong household incomes, but the 8.0% vacancy rate means pricing and presentation matter. Development is not excessive, with 15 applications in 12 months.
How is Newport's population changing?
Newport is forecast to grow by 1.08% a year, or about 220 people annually. The medium scenario reaches 21,459 by 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration averaging +260 people a year compared with -78 net internal migration.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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