Portarlington
A median age of 62 makes Portarlington one of Victoria's oldest resident bases, sitting 22 years above the national figure. That demographic fact explains much else: a 37.1% vacancy rate signals the large proportion of holiday homes and weekenders, household income lands in only the 16.1st percentile nationally because most residents are retirees on fixed incomes, and 57.3% own outright with no mortgage. Despite modest incomes, house prices reached $878,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, supported by Bellarine Peninsula lifestyle demand. Population grew 46.7% over the decade at 2.65% annually, driven mainly by internal migration averaging 383 arrivals per year.
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
20
Median House
$878K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $878,500 median house price (Apr-Jun 2024) sits above most regional VIC markets. Prices climbed from $390,000 in 2013 to a peak of $1,020,000 in Jan-Mar 2024, then pulled back 13.9% to the current level. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 90.7%, with only 8.1% semi-detached and 0.6% apartments. The most common configuration is 3-bedroom homes at 53.3%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 27.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,657, but mortgage-to-income runs at 36.0%, above the 30% stress threshold, because local incomes are low relative to prices.
For Buyers
The $878,500 median house price (Apr-Jun 2024) sits above most regional VIC markets. Prices climbed from $390,000 in 2013 to a peak of $1,020,000 in Jan-Mar 2024, then pulled back 13.9% to the current level. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 90.7%, with only 8.1% semi-detached and 0.6% apartments. The most common configuration is 3-bedroom homes at 53.3%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 27.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,657, but mortgage-to-income runs at 36.0%, above the 30% stress threshold, because local incomes are low relative to prices.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $331 against the $878,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.0%, below most metropolitan benchmarks. The 37.1% vacancy rate is the standout risk: it reflects seasonal holiday homes rather than chronic tenant shortage. Rental stress is flagged at 31.1% rent-to-income, capping further rent growth. The investment case rests on capital growth rather than yield: CAGR was 6.0% over 14 years, and net internal migration of 383 per year sustains demand. With 16 development applications in 12 months and an active gentrification score of 40, new supply additions are limited.
Development Activity
Total DAs
40
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+150.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Portarlington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Portarlington Primary School
Prep-6 · 150 students
Demographics
The median age of 62 is 22 years above the national figure, placing Portarlington firmly in the retiree demographic. Aging accelerated over the decade: the senior share rose 7.6 points while the working-age share fell 3.0 points. Only 35.8% participate in the labour force because most residents are retired. Overseas-born residents at 18.4% are 3.2 points below national. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic: English (1,873), Irish (696) and Scottish (585). Average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, and 52.1% of families are couples with no dependent children. University qualifications at 24.5% run 5.6 points below the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.7%
Houses
8.1%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 57.3% is well above the national figure of around 31%, because the retiree and holiday-home base holds properties debt-free. Only 21.0% carry a mortgage and 21.7% rent. Separate houses account for 90.7% of stock. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.3%, with 4-plus bedroom at 27.3%. The price cycle ran from $390,000 in 2013 to a peak of $1,020,000 in Jan-Mar 2024, then pulled back 13.9% to $878,500 by Apr-Jun 2024. Long-run CAGR is 6.0% over 14 years. Mortgage-to-income at 36.0% and rent-to-income at 31.1% both exceed stress thresholds, because local incomes are low compared to national benchmarks.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,657
Rent / wk
$331
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
52.1%
Couples, no children
3,113
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 20.9% (222 workers), followed by Construction at 13.1% (139), Professional/Tech at 9.7% and Education at 9.4%. Professionals (296) and Managers (240) are the top occupations. The labour force participation rate of 35.8% is far below the national norm because the majority are retired. Unemployment is 5.1% and the full-time rate is 54.5%. SEIFA places the suburb at IRSD decile 5 and IRSAD decile 4, near the national median on both disadvantage measures. Household incomes sit in only the 16.1st percentile nationally because retirement incomes are structurally lower than working-age wages, even though real income grew 20.6% over the decade.
Unemployment
6.0%
Labour Force
4,497
Unemployed
271
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.5%
Part-time
40.4%
Participation
35.8%
Employed
1,363
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.5%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
18.4%
Dwellings
1,914
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 88.1%, well above national averages, because the Bellarine Peninsula has minimal public transport at only 2.0% usage. Walking and cycling account for 4.1% of trips. The crime rate is 45.1 per 1,000 residents across 200 recorded offences. Property offences lead at 106, a pattern typical of high-vacancy coastal areas where 37.1% of dwellings sit empty for extended periods. No schools are recorded inside the Portarlington boundary, so families rely on surrounding towns. Volunteering at 20.3% is above typical regional rates. The IRSAD decile of 4 sits slightly below the national median, and the IEO decile of 5 places education and occupation outcomes at the median nationally.
Drive
88.1%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.65%/yr
(+288 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 46.7% over the decade, well above the national average, at 2.65% annually. Internal migration delivers a net 383 arrivals per year, more than 16 times the overseas contribution of 23. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 12,345 by 2031, up from 10,874 in 2025. The gentrification score of 40 is rated Active, driven by accelerating migration inflows. Affordability improved modestly, with the housing-cost-to-income ratio falling from 58.8% in 2011 to 56.2% in 2021. The young-adult share fell 3.1 points while the senior share rose 7.6 points, so growth is adding older residents rather than young families.
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?
Portarlington suits retirees and lifestyle buyers well. With 57.3% of residents owning their home outright, a median age of 62 and a volunteering rate of 20.3%, it is a settled, community-oriented area. The trade-offs are limited public transport at 2.0% usage, no local schools in the dataset, and a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4, slightly below the national median.
What is the median house price in Portarlington?
The median house price was $878,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 13.9% from the peak of $1,020,000 in Jan-Mar 2024. Long-run CAGR is 6.0% over 14 years from $390,000 in 2013. Weekly rent averages $331 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,657.
What schools are in Portarlington?
No schools are recorded inside the Portarlington boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Drysdale and Geelong. University qualifications in the suburb are at 24.5%, which is 5.6 points below the national figure, reflecting the largely retired resident base.
Is Portarlington safe?
Portarlington recorded 200 offences in the latest period, a crime rate of 45.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 106 of those, which is common in coastal areas with high vacancy rates of 37.1% where unoccupied homes attract opportunistic crime. Crimes against the person were 40 incidents.
Is Portarlington good for property investment?
The investment case is primarily capital growth: CAGR of 6.0% over 14 years is solid, and net internal migration of 383 per year supports demand. However, the 37.1% vacancy rate and weekly rent of $331 against the $878,500 median imply a gross yield near 2.0%, low by comparison to most regional markets. Rent-to-income is 31.1%, limiting further rent growth.
How is Portarlington's population changing?
Population grew 46.7% over the decade at 2.65% per year, driven by internal migration averaging 383 net arrivals annually. The SA2 population reached 10,874 in 2025 and medium forecasts project 12,345 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 7.6 points and working-age share down 3.0 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 Portarlington on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map