Port Melbourne
The suburb has 17,633 residents, a median age of 42 and household income at the 89.7th percentile nationally. Its stock is apartment-led, with 50.0% apartments and only 6.0% separate houses, while 43.9% is semi-detached. Compared with detached-house pockets of nearby Albert Park, this is a denser, more compact setting. High work-from-home participation at 52.5% supports local routines, but the 149.8 crimes per 1,000 residents warrants practical street-by-street checking.
Population
17,633
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,372/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
63
Median House
$1.6M
October to December 2025
Port Melbourne suits buyers who prioritise inner-city access, compact housing and proximity to employment over a large detached block. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 41.6% of stock and three-bedroom homes 34.4%, so downsizers and smaller households have more choice than buyers seeking four-plus bedrooms, which represent 8.4%. Mortgage payments equal 24.3% of household income without a stress flag. Compared with a detached-house suburb, the local mix can reduce land and maintenance exposure, but apartment owners should examine owners corporation costs. Prices remain 16.2% below the Apr-Jun 2023 peak, despite being 55.8% above 2013 levels.
For Buyers
Port Melbourne suits buyers who prioritise inner-city access, compact housing and proximity to employment over a large detached block. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 41.6% of stock and three-bedroom homes 34.4%, so downsizers and smaller households have more choice than buyers seeking four-plus bedrooms, which represent 8.4%. Mortgage payments equal 24.3% of household income without a stress flag. Compared with a detached-house suburb, the local mix can reduce land and maintenance exposure, but apartment owners should examine owners corporation costs. Prices remain 16.2% below the Apr-Jun 2023 peak, despite being 55.8% above 2013 levels.
For Investors
Port Melbourne has a large renter base, with 43.8% of households renting and weekly rent at $540. That supports tenant demand, while 65 development applications in the latest 12 months indicate continuing construction and planning activity. The 14.5% vacancy rate is higher than in a tightly held rental market, which can lengthen letting periods and limit short-term rent competition, even though rents have grown 13.8%. Apartment and semi-detached housing dominates, so investment performance will depend on building quality, owners corporation fees and the exact position of each property. Compared with a lower-vacancy suburb, investors need a larger buffer for incentives or downtime. Internal migration is the primary forecast growth driver, adding a demand tailwind, but the high-growth trend of 6.0% annually also warrants careful price discipline.
Development Activity
Total DAs
104
Last 12 Months
63
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+96.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$1.7M
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Port Melbourne
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Port Melbourne Primary School
Port Melbourne Secondary College
Port Phillip Specialist School
Demographics
Port Melbourne is older and more highly educated than the national profile. The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national comparison, while 53.9% of residents have university qualifications, 23.8 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 32.0%, or 10.4 points above the national comparison. Average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below the national level, consistent with couples without children making up 48.6% of families. English ancestry is recorded for 5,742 people, followed by Irish at 2,232 and Scottish at 1,859. Greek is the most common listed language other than English, with 359 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 147. Compared with nearby Albert Park, Port Melbourne's smaller households and apartment concentration reinforce its professional, urban demographic character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
6.0%
Houses
43.9%
Townhouse
50.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Port Melbourne's price history shows a premium market with substantial cyclical movement. Tenure is mixed: 26.1% own outright, 28.8% hold a mortgage and 43.8% rent. Compared with the detached-house pockets of Albert Park, Port Melbourne has a more compact housing profile, with 50.0% apartments and 43.9% semi-detached dwellings. The bedroom mix is concentrated in two-bedroom homes at 41.6%, and mortgage and rent costs represent 24.3% and 22.8% of household income respectively.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $540.
$795
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $980 · units $745
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,366
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.5%
Unoccupied
1,324
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.4%
Couples with children
48.6%
Couples, no children
14.2%
Single parent
4,633
Total families
Economy & Employment
Port Melbourne has a high-income, professional employment base. Household income is $2,372 per week, placing the suburb at the 89.7th percentile, while professionals number 3,492 and managers 2,385. The leading industries are Professional/Tech at 18.3%, Healthcare at 11.6%, Finance at 9.4%, Education at 8.4% and Construction at 7.7%. Labour conditions are comparatively solid, with unemployment at 4.0%, participation at 67.1% and full-time employment at 68.9%. Compared with a lower-income suburb, the occupational mix helps explain an IEO decile of 10 and IRSAD decile of 9. The lower IER decile of 5 and IRSD decile of 8 point to more uneven economic resources than the education and occupation measures alone suggest, so local prosperity should not be assumed to be uniform.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
10,199
Unemployed
405
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.9%
Part-time
25.1%
Participation
67.1%
Employed
9,794
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.9%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
32.0%
Dwellings
7,830
Transport to Work
Livability is shaped by a high work-from-home rate of 52.5%, relatively low public transport use at 3.8%, car driving at 34.1% and walking or cycling at 7.4%. Three local schools span government primary, government secondary and government specialist settings, giving families several education types nearby, although enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. The crime rate is 149.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 2,641 total offences and 1,769 property and deception offences, making security and street context important. Compared with what an IRSAD decile of 9 might imply, the crime rate is a higher-risk consideration. The IEO decile of 10 also indicates strong educational and occupational conditions, while the compact housing mix and 2.1-person average household size support an urban lifestyle.
Drive
34.1%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
7.4%
Work from Home
52.5%
Population Forecast
+6.0%/yr
(+189 people/yr)
High GrowthPort Melbourne is classified as a high-growth market, with forecast annual growth of 6.0% driven primarily by internal migration. The shift trajectory is labelled Mixed, while rent growth has reached 13.8%, creating stronger income pressure for renters and potential yield support for landlords. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, indicating that current momentum is not being characterised as a new gentrification phase. Compared with a stable-growth suburb, the 6.0% annual trend and 65 recent development applications point to more active change, with apartment supply and internal migration likely to shape the next cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+42
Net Internal / yr
+238
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,641
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
149.8
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 Port Melbourne compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Port Melbourne?
Port Melbourne has 3 local government schools covering primary, secondary and specialist education. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact property address, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries and may affect access to the preferred campus.
Is Port Melbourne safe?
Safety is mixed rather than uniform. Port Melbourne recorded 2,641 offences and a rate of 149.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 1,769 property and deception offences. Check recent local conditions, lighting, building security and the immediate street before renting or buying.
Is Port Melbourne good for property investment?
It can suit investors who accept apartment-market risks. Renting accounts for 43.8%, weekly rent is $540 and rent growth is 13.8%, but the 14.5% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly held market. A total of 65 development applications also points to ongoing supply and competition.
How is Port Melbourne's population changing?
The growth outlook is strong, with forecast annual growth of 6.0% and internal migration identified as the primary driver. The wider trend is labelled Mixed, while the suburb has 17,633 residents today and a median age of 42, indicating an established population alongside continued change.
What languages are spoken in Port Melbourne?
Overseas-born residents represent 32.0% of Port Melbourne's population. Greek is the most common listed language other than English, with 359 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 147 and Italian at 123, reflecting several established language groups.
Is Port Melbourne undergoing substantial development?
Port Melbourne recorded 65 development applications in the latest 12 months, including planning permits and residential work. That volume is higher than a quiet low-change suburb and may bring both improved housing choice and additional construction disruption, depending on the street and project.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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