Port Douglas
With 40.8% of local workers in hospitality, Port Douglas runs on tourism to a degree unusual even by Far North Queensland standards. The suburb holds 3,650 residents across 10.17 sq km, and the median age of 44 is 4 years above the national average. Overseas-born residents account for 38.1%, which is 16.5 percentage points above national, reflecting the international workforce that keeps the town's hotels and restaurants staffed. Household incomes sit at the 35.5th percentile nationally, below state average, because the dominant hospitality jobs carry lower wages than the professional sectors that lift incomes elsewhere.
Population
3,650
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,370/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$428K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is $428,000, estimated from rental data for 2025, lower than many coastal QLD markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,474 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock leans smaller: 41.5% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms and separate houses make up only 36.5% compared to semi-detached at 33.6% and apartments at 27.4%. Outright owners (29.1%) and mortgage holders (27.2%) are nearly equal, reflecting a mix of long-held holiday properties and owner-occupier homes. Income at the 35th percentile nationally means buyers should model carefully against local wage levels.
For Buyers
The median house price is $428,000, estimated from rental data for 2025, lower than many coastal QLD markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,474 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock leans smaller: 41.5% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms and separate houses make up only 36.5% compared to semi-detached at 33.6% and apartments at 27.4%. Outright owners (29.1%) and mortgage holders (27.2%) are nearly equal, reflecting a mix of long-held holiday properties and owner-occupier homes. Income at the 35th percentile nationally means buyers should model carefully against local wage levels.
For Investors
Renters account for 43.8% of households because of the transient hospitality workforce, which makes up 40.8% of employment. Weekly rent averages $350. However, the 24.6% vacancy rate is very elevated compared to typical Australian markets, driven by short-term holiday letting stock. Overseas migration of 142 net arrivals per year supports demand, while internal migration is negative at minus 89 annually. Rent growth has been 2.9% over the measured period. Returns depend on the tourism cycle rather than conventional rental yield, and the high vacancy rate is the dominant risk factor for investors.
Schools in Port Douglas iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Port Douglas State School
Prep-6 · 230 students
Demographics
Port Douglas skews older, with a median age of 44 that is 4 years above national, and the senior share has grown 5.9 points over the decade. The overseas-born share of 38.1% is 16.5 percentage points above national, the largest gap in the brief's comparisons. Ancestry is led by English (1,338 residents), followed by Irish (375) and Scottish (358). Italian (28 speakers) and French (21 speakers) reflect the international tourism workforce. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, consistent with 51.3% of families being couples without children. Volunteering reaches 16% of residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
36.5%
Houses
33.6%
Townhouse
27.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters (43.8%) outnumber both outright owners (29.1%) and mortgage holders (27.2%) because the hospitality workforce and tourism accommodation sector drive high tenant demand. The stock is an unusual three-way split: separate houses 36.5%, semi-detached 33.6% and apartments 27.4%, compared to most Australian suburbs where detached houses dominate. Two-bedroom dwellings lead at 41.5%, with 3-bedroom at 28.7% and 4-plus at 19.1%. The defining characteristic is a 24.6% vacancy rate, well above national norms, driven by seasonally occupied holiday and short-term rental properties. Rent-to-income sits at 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,474
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$824
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
24.6%
Unoccupied
437
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.3%
Couples, no children
1,914
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hospitality dominates at 40.8% of employment (534 workers), a concentration that makes the local economy unusually dependent on tourism relative to national averages. Healthcare employs 8.2% (108 workers), Transport 6.6% (86), Retail 6.5% (85) and Construction 5.9% (77). By occupation, Community and Personal Services leads at 389 workers, followed by Labourers (326) and Managers (260). Full-time employment is 51.3% and unemployment is 4.1%. Household income at the 35.5th percentile nationally reflects how hospitality wages sit structurally below professional sectors. Real income grew 13.6% over the decade.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
3,706
Unemployed
68
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.3%
Part-time
44.6%
Participation
55.5%
Employed
1,776
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.3%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
38.1%
Dwellings
1,308
Transport to Work
The active travel rate of 23.2% walking or cycling is above average for a regional town, reflecting the compact township layout. Car use at 68.3% is the dominant mode, while public transport is negligible at 1.6%. Port Douglas scores decile 5 on IRSAD nationally, the median advantage tier, and decile 4 on the IER economic resources index, below the national median because the high renter share and incomes at the 35.5th percentile depress aggregate wealth measures. Only 3.1% of residents need daily assistance and the volunteering rate of 16.0% is healthy for a town of 3,650 people.
Drive
68.3%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
23.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.3%/yr
(+108 people/yr)
EstablishedPort Douglas grows at 1.3% annually, adding roughly 108 people per year, above the pace expected for an established regional tourism town. The SA2 population recovered from a 2.3% COVID dip and stands at 8,352, with medium-scenario forecasts projecting 9,229 by 2031. Overseas migration drives growth at 142 net arrivals annually, while internal migration runs at minus 89 per year. The gentrification score of 14 is below the threshold for any gentrification signal. Affordability improved from 62.6% in 2011 to 46.1% in 2021, and the aging trajectory continued with the senior share up 5.9 points over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+142
Net Internal / yr
-89
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Douglas compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Douglas a good suburb to live in?
Port Douglas suits residents comfortable with a tourism-driven economy and limited services. The median age of 44 is 4 years above national and 51.3% of families are couples without children, reflecting a lifestyle-focused population. Household incomes are at the 35.5th percentile nationally, so wages are below average, but housing costs are moderate with a $428,000 median and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%.
What is the median house price in Port Douglas?
The median house price is $428,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,474, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $350 and the rent-to-income ratio is 25.5%.
What schools are in Port Douglas?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Douglas suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring areas within the Douglas Shire. The local university qualification rate is 28.3%, which is 1.8 percentage points below the national average.
Is Port Douglas safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Port Douglas in this dataset. As a proxy indicator, Port Douglas scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the upper half nationally, and only 3.1% of the 3,650 residents (about 97 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a moderately advantaged area.
Is Port Douglas good for property investment?
The 43.8% renter share and $350 weekly rent provide a tenant base, but the 24.6% vacancy rate is very high compared to typical Australian markets, reflecting the short-term and holiday rental stock that dominates the suburb. Net overseas migration of 142 per year supports demand, while the median price of $428,000 keeps the entry point accessible. Returns depend heavily on the tourism cycle rather than conventional rental yield.
How is Port Douglas's population changing?
Port Douglas grows at 1.3% annually, adding about 108 people per year, with the broader SA2 population at 8,352 forecast to reach 9,229 by 2031. Overseas migration of 142 net arrivals per year drives growth, offset by an internal outflow of 89 per year. The 10-year population change is 9.4% and the suburb recovered fully from a 2.3% COVID dip.
What languages are spoken in Port Douglas?
About 38.1% of Port Douglas residents were born overseas, which is 16.5 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting the international workforce in the hospitality sector. Italian (28 speakers) and French (21 speakers) are the largest non-English language communities, with Punjabi (13 speakers) also present.
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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