Portland
At a median house price of $470,000 and a household income at the 21.9th percentile nationally, Portland is one of the more affordable entry points in regional NSW, and the two figures are directly linked. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 2 on both IRSAD and IRSD, placing it in the bottom fifth for advantage and relative disadvantage nationally. Vacancy runs high at 11.4%, which tells a story about demand constraints rather than oversupply. Residents skew notably older, with a median age of 46 compared to the national figure of 40, and the population of 2,447 has grown just 4.8% over the decade, well below the national pace.
Population
2,447
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,150/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$470K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $470,000 is the headline number, but recent data shows prices moved from $410,000 in 2024 to $519,000 in 2025, a 26.6% single-year jump that outpaces most regional markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,272, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, below the conventional 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 98.0% of dwellings, giving buyers a clear product type to budget for. Bedroom distribution leans toward three-bedroom homes at 49.2% and four-plus at 29.0%, with two-bedroom stock at 19.7%. Outright owners account for 49.7% of dwellings compared to just 34.8% on mortgage, indicating a long-established ownership base rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $470,000 is the headline number, but recent data shows prices moved from $410,000 in 2024 to $519,000 in 2025, a 26.6% single-year jump that outpaces most regional markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,272, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.5%, below the conventional 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 98.0% of dwellings, giving buyers a clear product type to budget for. Bedroom distribution leans toward three-bedroom homes at 49.2% and four-plus at 29.0%, with two-bedroom stock at 19.7%. Outright owners account for 49.7% of dwellings compared to just 34.8% on mortgage, indicating a long-established ownership base rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $250 against a $470,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.8%, lower than many regional centres despite the affordable price point. The 11.4% vacancy rate is the main caution flag, running well above the 3% threshold considered balanced and indicating chronic undersupply of demand rather than stock. Renters make up only 15.5% of households, a thin tenant pool relative to the total population. Development activity recorded 26 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and small works rather than new dwellings. Net overseas migration averages 24 persons annually while internal migration is negative at minus 17, leaving population growth at 0.16% per year, or roughly 18 persons annually through to 2031.
Development Activity
Total DAs
166
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+30.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Portland iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Portland
K-6 · 50 students
Portland Central School
K-12 · 204 students
Demographics
Portland's median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure, a significant gap that shapes the suburb's character. The senior share rose 8.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.3 points, confirming an aging trajectory rather than one catching up to national norms. Overseas-born residents sit at 8.0%, which is 13.6 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly English (1,093 counted), followed by Irish (307) and Scottish (228). University qualifications reach just 13.6%, compared to a national figure around 30%, a gap of 16.5 percentage points. Household size averages 2.3, marginally below the national 2.5, consistent with the couples-without-children profile where 32.2% of families have no dependent children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.0%
Houses
0.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure data reveals a stable, long-settled community: 49.7% of dwellings are owned outright, 34.8% carry a mortgage and only 15.5% are rented, a tenure split skewed heavily toward ownership compared to Australian norms. Semi-detached housing accounts for 0.6% of stock, with 98.0% being separate houses, so product diversity is very limited. Bedroom counts favour three-bedroom homes at 49.2% and four-plus at 29.0%. Prices rose from $410,000 in 2024 to $519,000 in 2025, a 26.6% gain in one year, though the current DA Leads figure reflects a median of $470,000 for the broader period. Rent-to-income sits at 21.7%, below the 30% stress benchmark, so tenants who do rent are not under acute financial pressure relative to income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,272
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$576
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.4%
Unoccupied
122
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.2%
Couples, no children
1,821
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 14.8% of the workforce, followed by Mining at 12.2% and Public Administration at 11.7%, with Education at 9.7% and Construction at 8.3%. Mining's second-place ranking reflects Portland's proximity to industrial and resource extraction activity in central-western NSW. By occupation, Community and Personal Services workers lead at 140, with Labourers (130) and Machinery and Drivers (123) close behind, indicating a manual and service workforce rather than a professional one. Unemployment sits at 7.8%, above typical regional benchmarks, and labour force participation at 45.4% is low, partly because 860 residents are not in the labour force at all. SEIFA decile 2 on IEO and IRSD places Portland in the bottom fifth nationally for education, occupation and disadvantage.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
5,044
Unemployed
189
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
29.8%
Participation
45.4%
Employed
846
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.6%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
8.0%
Dwellings
945
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme: 92.1% of residents drive to work, and public transport use registers at just 0.6%, one of the lowest figures among regional NSW suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 3.0%. No schools are recorded inside the Portland boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring areas. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb in the current dataset. SEIFA IRSAD sits at decile 2 nationally, placing Portland in the bottom quintile for socioeconomic advantage, which aligns with the low income at the 21.9th percentile and the high-vacancy housing market. The 11.4% vacancy rate suggests residents have options in the rental and purchase market without competing against strong demand.
Drive
92.1%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.16%/yr
(+18 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth averages 0.16% annually, adding around 18 persons per year, with the medium forecast holding the wider area population near 11,280 by 2031. The 10-year change of 4.8% is well below national rates. Internal migration is slightly negative at minus 17 per year, partially offset by overseas migration averaging plus 24 annually, producing the balanced driver classification. The gentrification score of 15 out of 100 and the stage classification of not gentrifying confirm the suburb is not attracting investment-led transformation. Affordability, measured as housing cost to income, moved marginally from 38.5% in 2011 to 39.6% in 2021, a stable trajectory rather than deteriorating or improving. Real income grew 6.9% over the decade in inflation-adjusted terms.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+24
Net Internal / yr
-17
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Portland compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portland a good suburb to live in?
Portland suits buyers who prioritise affordability and space over amenity density. The median house price of $470,000 is accessible, mortgage-to-income sits at 25.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, and 98.0% of homes are detached houses. The trade-off is a SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 ranking and limited public transport, with 92.1% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in Portland?
The current median house price is $470,000. Recent price data shows a sharp move from $410,000 in 2024 to $519,000 in 2025, a 26.6% rise. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,272, and weekly rent sits at $250, giving an indicative gross yield around 2.8%.
What schools are in Portland?
No schools are recorded inside the Portland boundary in this dataset. Families in Portland rely on schools in neighbouring towns in the Lithgow area. University qualifications among residents reach 13.6%, which is 16.5 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Portland safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Portland in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the bottom fifth nationally. Unemployment at 7.8% is above typical regional benchmarks, which can correlate with elevated crime in some settings.
Is Portland good for property investment?
The $470,000 entry price is accessible, and prices jumped 26.6% between 2024 and 2025. However, the 11.4% vacancy rate indicates weak rental demand, and only 15.5% of households rent, so the tenant pool is shallow. Annual population growth of 0.16% provides limited demand-side pressure. The investment case depends on capital growth rather than yield.
How is Portland's population changing?
Portland's population of 2,447 has grown 4.8% over the past decade, below the national pace. Annual growth averages 0.16%, or about 18 persons per year. The suburb is aging: the senior share rose 8.7 points over the decade while working-age residents declined 4.3 points. Overseas migration adds 24 per year but internal migration removes 17.
How much development is happening in Portland?
Portland recorded 26 development applications in the past 12 months, covering alterations to existing dwellings and smaller works such as decks and monitoring infrastructure. This level of activity is modest for a suburb of 2,447 people and consistent with the slow-growth profile and 0.16% annual population increase.
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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