Port Sorell
A median age of 52 puts Port Sorell 12 years above the national figure, making it one of Tasmania's most markedly older coastal communities. The suburb holds a $727,500 median house price alongside a 15.3% vacancy rate, two signals that point to a significant holiday and seasonal-use component in its 90.3% detached-house stock. Household income sits in just the 30.9th percentile nationally, yet mortgage-to-income at 24.1% and rent-to-income at 21.2% remain below stress thresholds, because many of the 46.5% who own outright carry no mortgage at all. Population has grown 28.9% over the past decade, driven by net internal migration of 67 people per year.
Population
2,221
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,300/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$728K
YTD 2026
The $727,500 median house price sits below the 2022 peak of $798,000 by 8.8%, offering buyers entry at a post-peak discount after a long-run CAGR of 7.0% since 1996. Separate houses account for 90.3% of dwellings, so buyers face limited apartment or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 55.2%, with 4-plus bedroom at 23.1%, giving family buyers reasonable selection. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,356 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress level compared to many mainland coastal markets. The 46.5% outright ownership rate is high, suggesting much of the stock is held by retirees or debt-free long-term owners who are selective about selling.
For Buyers
The $727,500 median house price sits below the 2022 peak of $798,000 by 8.8%, offering buyers entry at a post-peak discount after a long-run CAGR of 7.0% since 1996. Separate houses account for 90.3% of dwellings, so buyers face limited apartment or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 55.2%, with 4-plus bedroom at 23.1%, giving family buyers reasonable selection. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,356 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress level compared to many mainland coastal markets. The 46.5% outright ownership rate is high, suggesting much of the stock is held by retirees or debt-free long-term owners who are selective about selling.
For Investors
Port Sorell's 15.3% vacancy rate is the standout caution for investors, substantially higher than most mainland regional towns, and reflects the large share of holiday-use dwellings in the stock. Weekly rent is $275, modest against the $727,500 median, producing a thin gross yield. Renter share is only 20.3%, well below the national average, meaning the permanent rental pool is narrow. Net internal migration averages 67 people per year and overseas migration adds 21, giving balanced demand support. Rent grew 27.3% over the past decade, outpacing real income growth of 4.5%, which shows demand for the limited permanent rental stock. Development activity recorded 0 applications in the past 12 months, so new supply is not an immediate pressure.
Schools in Port Sorell iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Port Sorell Primary School
K-6 · 279 students
Demographics
The median age of 52 exceeds the national median by 12 years, driven by a senior share that has risen 11.0 points and a working-age share that has fallen 7.2 points over the decade. The population of 2,221 is 87% Anglo-Celtic by ancestry, led by English (1,035 residents), Scottish (200) and Irish (198), while the overseas-born share of 13.2% sits 8.4 points below the national figure. University qualifications reach 22.6% of residents, which is 7.5 points below the national rate, consistent with a community whose dominant employment is Healthcare (22.8%), Community/Personal services and Managerial roles rather than knowledge-economy professions. Couples without children make up 41.5% of families, the clearest demographic signature of a retirement-destination suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.3%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
2.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely detached: 90.3% separate houses against 4.6% semi-detached and 2.3% apartments, well above the national share of detached dwellings. Tenure splits between 46.5% owned outright, 33.2% with a mortgage and 20.3% renting. The outright ownership rate is high relative to the national average, reinforcing the retiree and established-owner character. Prices have moved from $95,000 in 1996 to $727,500 in 2026, a 665.8% total gain and 7.0% CAGR over 30 years. The current price is 8.8% below the 2022 peak of $798,000, and recent years show a downward trend from $760,000 in 2024 to $727,500 in 2026. The three-bedroom segment at 55.2% is the core of the market.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,356
Rent / wk
$275
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$666
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.3%
Unoccupied
161
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.5%
Couples, no children
1,707
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Port Sorell's employed workforce at 22.8% (142 workers), followed by Construction at 13.2% (82) and Education at 12.7% (79), a pattern typical of a regional coastal community serving an older resident base. By occupation, Professionals (159) and Community/Personal service workers (139) lead, with Managers (125) close behind. The unemployment rate is 4.5% against 43 unemployed residents, and the full-time employment rate is 58.9%. Participation at 50.8% is low nationally, because 784 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a large retiree cohort. SEIFA scores place the suburb at IRSAD decile 4 and IEO decile 3, below state and national medians, indicating moderate disadvantage in education and economic opportunity compared to the broader population.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
3,346
Unemployed
79
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
50.8%
Employed
918
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.6%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
13.2%
Dwellings
885
Transport to Work
Port Sorell is entirely car-dependent: 92.5% of residents drive to work, public transport usage is just 1.0%, and walking or cycling accounts for 0.9%. This is significantly higher car reliance than the national average and reflects the suburb's coastal-fringe layout with limited transit infrastructure. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families with children travel to neighbouring towns for schooling. The IRSAD decile of 4 places the suburb in the lower half nationally for relative advantage, and the IER decile of 5 sits at the national median for economic resources. On the positive side, housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 21.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.1% are both below stress thresholds. The volunteering rate of 18.1% and 6.5% needing daily assistance reflect the active-retirement character of the community.
Drive
92.5%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.81%/yr
(+125 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 28.9% over the past decade at a trend rate of 1.81% per year, adding roughly 125 residents annually, and the SA2-area population reached 6,896 in 2025. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 7,748 by 2031. Net internal migration of 67 per year is the primary engine, supplemented by 21 overseas arrivals annually, a balanced mix unlike the purely retiree-driven inflows of some coastal towns. The gentrification score of 34 places the suburb in an early-signs stage: population up 31% since 2011, accelerating from a score of 10 to 20 in recent periods. Despite growth, the trajectory is aging, with a young share falling 2.1 points over the decade, so population gains are concentrated in older arrivals rather than families with children.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+21
Net Internal / yr
+67
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal migration +67/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 20%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Sorell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Sorell a good suburb to live in?
Port Sorell suits retirees and lifestyle buyers well. The median age is 52, which is 12 years above the national figure, and 46.5% of residents own their home outright. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 24.1% and rent-to-income at 21.2%. The trade-offs are limited public transport at 1.0% of commuters and an IEO decile of 3, indicating below-average education and economic opportunity compared to national benchmarks.
What is the median house price in Port Sorell?
The median house price is $727,500 as of YTD 2026, down from a 2022 peak of $798,000, a fall of 8.8%. Over 30 years from 1996, prices have grown 665.8% at a 7.0% CAGR. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,356, and weekly rent is $275.
What schools are in Port Sorell?
No schools are recorded within the Port Sorell suburb boundary in this dataset. With a median age of 52 and 41.5% of families being couples without children, the suburb's demographic profile means most schooling demand is served by facilities in nearby towns such as Devonport, approximately 15 kilometres away.
Is Port Sorell safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Port Sorell in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb has an IRSD decile of 5, placing it at the national median for relative disadvantage. The volunteering rate of 18.1% and a small population of 2,221 are consistent with a close community, though individual crime risk cannot be assessed from this data alone.
Is Port Sorell good for property investment?
Investment carries meaningful caution. The 15.3% vacancy rate is high compared to most regional markets, reflecting substantial holiday-use stock among the 90.3% detached houses. The renter share is only 20.3%, limiting the permanent tenant pool. Weekly rent of $275 against a $727,500 median implies a thin gross yield. Rent did grow 27.3% over the decade, and net internal migration of 67 per year provides steady demand, but yield-focused investors face a challenging entry equation.
How is Port Sorell's population changing?
The population grew 28.9% over the past decade, with a current trend of 1.81% annual growth adding about 125 residents per year. Medium forecasts for the broader SA2 area project growth from 6,896 in 2025 to 7,748 by 2031. Growth is driven primarily by net internal migration of 67 per year, but the trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 11.0 points and working-age share down 7.2 points over the decade.
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.
Explore Port Sorell on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map