Portarlington
A 37.1% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Portarlington's 4436-resident profile, alongside a median age of 62, which is 22.0 years above the national comparison. Housing is strongly detached, with 90.7% separate houses, while the forecast trend reaches 2.65% annually. That mix points to a coastal retirement market with spare or holiday-use dwellings, yet internal migration and an active gentrification score of 40 are adding momentum. Compared with nearby Drysdale and Clifton Springs, Portarlington reads as more age-oriented and low-density, with 56.2% of homes owned outright.
Population
4,436
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,064/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$820K
October to December 2025
Mortgage costs equal 36.0% of household income, so affordability is tighter than the 31.1% rent-to-income level and requires a careful buffer. The stock is mostly detached, with 90.7% separate houses; 53.3% have 3 bedrooms and 27.3% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-led markets, Portarlington suits buyers prioritising land and established houses because apartments represent just 0.6% of dwellings.
For Buyers
Mortgage costs equal 36.0% of household income, so affordability is tighter than the 31.1% rent-to-income level and requires a careful buffer. The stock is mostly detached, with 90.7% separate houses; 53.3% have 3 bedrooms and 27.3% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-led markets, Portarlington suits buyers prioritising land and established houses because apartments represent just 0.6% of dwellings.
For Investors
Portarlington presents a mixed rental case. Weekly rent is $331 and 21.3% of occupied dwellings are rented, but the 37.1% vacancy rate is high enough to make tenant demand and letting periods important checks. Development activity reached 19 applications in 12 months, including subdivision applications, so new supply is visible without being a dominant pipeline. Forecast growth of 2.65% a year is driven by internal migration, which may support demand, while the active gentrification score of 40 points to an evolving market rather than a settled yield play.
Development Activity
Total DAs
41
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+216.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Portarlington
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Portarlington Primary School
Demographics
Portarlington has an older, smaller-household profile: median age is 62, 22.0 years above the national comparison, and average household size is 2.0, or 0.5 below the national figure. Couples without children account for 64.4% of families, compared with 23.2% for couples with children, helping explain demand for low-maintenance housing. University attainment is 24.5%, 5.6 percentage points below the national comparison, while 18.4% were born overseas, 3.2 points below nationally. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1873, 696 and 585. Greek, Italian and Croatian are recorded languages, with 32, 19 and 12 speakers. The profile is more Anglo-leaning and age-oriented than nearby Drysdale and Clifton Springs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.7%
Houses
8.1%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Portarlington's price path is strong over the long run but volatile recently. Ownership is concentrated: 56.2% own outright, 20.7% have a mortgage and 21.3% rent. Separate houses make up 90.7%, compared with 0.6% apartments, while 53.3% of homes have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage stress is 36.0% of income and rent stress 31.1%, so the lower latest price than the peak does not remove payment pressure. Compared with nearby Drysdale and Clifton Springs, the housing profile is notably detached and low-rise.
Mortgage / mo
$1,657
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$331
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$575
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
37.1%
Unoccupied
1,131
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.0% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.2%
Couples with children
64.4%
Couples, no children
11.2%
Single parent
1,271
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Portarlington's largest listed industry at 20.9% and 222 workers, followed by construction at 13.1% and 139, professional and technical services at 9.7% and 103, education at 9.4% and 100, and public administration at 7.1% and 76. This mix supports essential local services and trades, while limiting the breadth of high-income employment nearby. Unemployment is 4.6%, but participation is only 39.7%: 2024 people are outside the labour force, consistent with a median age of 62. Professionals number 296 and managers 240, yet household income is $1,064 weekly, at the 16.1st percentile nationally. SEIFA sits at decile 5 for IEO, IER and IRSD, and decile 4 for IRSAD, below the other three measures and indicating weaker relative advantage.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
1,595
Unemployed
74
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.8%
Part-time
40.8%
Participation
39.7%
Employed
1,521
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.5%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
18.4%
Dwellings
1,914
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 63.3% drive, only 1.4% use public transport and 2.9% walk or cycle, while 28.2% work from home. That suits a low-density coastal setting but makes access to services more dependent on a vehicle than in transit-rich suburbs. Portarlington has 1 local government primary school; families should check enrolment zones and travel times for secondary options because school access can extend beyond suburb boundaries. Recorded crime is 45.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 200 total offences, including 106 property and deception offences and 40 crimes against the person. IRSAD is in decile 4, below the decile 5 scores for IEO, IER and IRSD. Volunteering is 20.3% and need for assistance is 8.1%, adding useful context for community support.
Drive
63.3%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
28.2%
Population Forecast
+2.65%/yr
(+288 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is running at 2.65% annually, which is faster than a flat established-suburb market, and the primary driver is internal migration. Across the wider area, population change reaches 46.7% over 10 years, while the shift is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 7.6 percentage points and the young share has fallen 3.1 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 40, although another shift measure records Early signs at 25, suggesting momentum is uneven rather than uniform. Rent growth of 41.7% adds pressure and incentive for reinvestment, while the affordability measure shifted from 58.8 in 2011 to 56.2 in 2021. Compared with a stagnant market, Portarlington combines strong demand signals with an older trajectory.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+23
Net Internal / yr
+383
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +383/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 45%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
200
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
45.1
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 Portarlington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portarlington a good suburb to live in?
With a median age of 62, 56.2% outright ownership and 90.7% separate houses, Portarlington suits buyers seeking a quieter, low-density coastal setting. Compared with transit-rich suburbs, car use is high at 63.3% and public transport is 1.4%. The 45.1 per 1,000 crime rate is worth checking against the exact street and property type.
What schools are in Portarlington?
Portarlington has 1 local government primary school, Portarlington Primary School. Families seeking secondary or specialist options should check enrolment zones, transport and travel times for the exact address, as access can be more limited than in larger centres. The suburb's average household size is 2.0 and its median age is 62.
Is Portarlington safe?
The recorded crime rate is 45.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 200 total offences. Property and deception offences account for 106, while crimes against the person total 40. Compare the exact street, lighting, parking and property security before deciding, because suburb-level figures do not describe every location equally.
How is Portarlington's population changing?
Portarlington is on an aging trajectory. The median age is 62, the senior share has increased 7.6 percentage points and the young share has fallen 3.1 points. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 46.7% over 10 years, with annual growth of 2.65% driven primarily by internal migration. Compared with a flat market, that indicates growth with an older resident mix.
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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