Portland
The 10,016-person coastal township has 88.4% separate houses, 11.6% vacancy and a household income percentile of 21.5, so affordability coexists with lower incomes and softer demand. Portland's role as the main service centre for nearby Heywood and Narrawong helps explain its employment mix, while 41.2% outright ownership supports residential stability. Compared with faster-growing regional markets, its 0.16% annual forecast and 4.8% 10-year population change point to a mature, aging place rather than a growth hotspot.
Population
10,016
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,146/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$450K
October to December 2025
Three-bedroom homes account for 56.4% of the dwelling mix and separate houses represent 88.4%, giving families and downsizers more choice than in apartment-heavy areas. The median monthly mortgage is $1,083 and mortgage costs equal 21.8% of household income, with no recorded mortgage stress.
For Buyers
Three-bedroom homes account for 56.4% of the dwelling mix and separate houses represent 88.4%, giving families and downsizers more choice than in apartment-heavy areas. The median monthly mortgage is $1,083 and mortgage costs equal 21.8% of household income, with no recorded mortgage stress.
For Investors
Portland presents a mixed rental proposition. The weekly median rent is $250 and 27.3% of households rent, while rents have grown 35.1% over the longer forecast period. However, the 11.6% vacancy rate is above what a tightly supplied market would typically show, which may reflect slow population growth, an aging resident base and a large established housing stock. Compared with low-vacancy regional markets, investors should allow for longer letting periods and property-specific demand. Fourteen development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing activity, while Balanced migration and a 0.16% annual growth forecast limit the case for aggressive capital-growth assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
53
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+18.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Portland
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
All Saints Parish School
Bundarra Primary School
Portland Primary School
Portland South Primary School
St John's Lutheran School
Demographics
Portland has an older and less university-oriented population than national benchmarks. The median age is 47, 7 years above the national comparison, while 17.5% of residents hold university qualifications, 12.6 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 10.2%, or 11.4 points below the national comparison, and average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below the national level. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry are prominent, with counts of 4,344, 1,235 and 1,036. No religion accounts for 4,817 people versus 4,135 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Heywood and Narrawong, Portland has the region's larger service-centre role, helping retain 81.1% of residents at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.4%
Houses
9.5%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Portland's housing market remains accessible by comparison with its recent peak, but values have strengthened over the long term. Housing is detached-dominant, with 88.4% separate houses and 56.4% three-bedroom dwellings. Ownership is higher than renting, at 41.2% outright and 30.2% with a mortgage compared with 27.3% renting, which helps explain the suburb's stable tenure profile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $250.
$420
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $430 · units $350
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$617
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.6%
Unoccupied
543
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.3%
Couples with children
47.1%
Couples, no children
19.4%
Single parent
2,665
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Portland's largest employment industry at 23.2%, or 564 workers, followed by manufacturing at 12.9%, education at 12.5%, and construction and public administration at 7.7% each. The occupation mix is broad, led by 629 professionals, 610 community and personal service workers, 598 trades workers, 596 labourers and 499 machinery and drivers. Unemployment is 5.3% among a labour force of 4,397, while participation is 52.1%. Household income of $1,146 per week sits at the 21.5th percentile nationally, and IRSAD and IEO scores sit in decile 2, below higher-income regional centres. Healthcare and education provide essential local employment because Portland serves an older population and wider regional catchment.
Unemployment
5.3%
Labour Force
4,397
Unemployed
234
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.6%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
52.1%
Employed
4,163
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.5%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
10.2%
Dwellings
4,141
Transport to Work
Portland is highly car-dependent, with 82.3% of residents driving to work compared with just 0.1% using public transport; walking and cycling account for 4.8%. That makes access to a reliable vehicle important for commuting and regional trips. Families have access to 8 schools across government, Catholic and independent sectors, including primary, secondary and special education options. Exact enrolment zones should be checked against the property address. The recorded crime rate is 128.6 offences per 1,000 residents, with 1,288 total offences led by 481 property and deception offences and 346 justice procedure offences. Compared with higher-advantage areas, an IRSAD decile of 2 and IEO decile of 2 indicate greater socioeconomic disadvantage, although volunteering reaches 18.2% and can strengthen local support networks.
Drive
82.3%
Public Transport
0.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
6.8%
Population Forecast
+0.16%/yr
(+18 people/yr)
EstablishedPortland is forecast to grow slowly, at 0.16% annually, with Balanced migration rather than a single dominant inflow. The wider area has a projected 4.8% population change over 10 years, while the forecast trajectory is Aging: the senior share rises 8.7 percentage points and the working-age share falls 4.3 points. Compared with faster-growing regional corridors, this profile points to demand shaped more by retirees, services and replacement housing than by large new household formation. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so current growth is unlikely to be driven by rapid demographic upgrading. Stable affordability from 38.5% in 2011 to 39.6% in 2021 supports gradual rather than speculative expansion.
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
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,288
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
128.6
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 Portland compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Portland?
Portland has 8 listed schools across primary, secondary and special education. The mix includes 5 government schools, 1 Catholic school and 2 independent schools, including Portland Secondary College, Bayview College and Portland Bay School. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone because catchments can differ by address.
Is Portland safe?
Portland's recorded crime rate is 128.6 offences per 1,000 residents, with 1,288 offences in total. Property and deception offences account for 481 cases, followed by 346 justice procedure offences and 247 crimes against the person. Safety can vary by street and property type, so buyers and renters should compare recent local conditions before choosing an address.
Is Portland good for property investment?
Portland offers a $250 weekly median rent and a 27.3% renter share, but its 11.6% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied rental market. Rents have grown 35.1%, while 14 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Balanced migration and 0.16% annual growth suggest investors should prioritise dependable tenant demand and realistic vacancy allowances.
How is Portland's population changing?
Portland's population is 10,016 today, with growth forecast at 0.16% annually. The wider area is projected to change by 4.8% over 10 years and has an Aging trajectory. The senior share is expected to rise 8.7 percentage points while the working share falls 4.3 points, so future demand is likely to favour health, care and downsizer-oriented housing.
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.
Explore Portland on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map