Port Douglas
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Port Douglas are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Port Douglas' population is 6,031 as of Aug 2025. This increase from 5,582 people recorded in the 2021 Census reflects a growth of 449 people (8.0%). The ABS estimated resident population was 6,027 in June 2024, with an additional 458 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 31 persons per square kilometer. Port Douglas' growth exceeded its SA3 area (6.4%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 97.4% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections lack age category splits; thus proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied. Based on projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of regional areas nationally by 2041. The area is expected to grow by 1,672 persons by then, recording a gain of 27.1% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Port Douglas according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Port Douglas has seen approximately 20 new homes approved annually. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a total of 103 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with two approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, around 4.2 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these years, indicating a significant demand outpacing supply. This imbalance typically exerts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

The average expected construction cost of new homes is $2,102,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Commercial approvals valued at $3.3 million have been registered this financial year, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Port Douglas has 13.0% less new development per person.

Nationally, it ranks among the 22nd percentile of areas assessed for new development, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options and strengthening demand for established dwellings. All new construction in the area consists of detached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This is notable as developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (55.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 750 people, indicating a quiet, low-activity development environment. Population forecasts project Port Douglas will gain 1,636 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Port Douglas has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 3rdth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that may affect this region. Notable ones are BeCHe Estate, New Port Estate Stage 2, 71-85 Port Douglas Road Development Site (Fairmont Resort Refused), and Coral Biobank. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Port Douglas ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Port Douglas has an educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 1.6%.

In comparison, Rest of Qld's unemployment rate is 3.9%, but Port Douglas' is 2.3% lower. Workforce participation in both regions is similar at 59.1%. Key industries for residents are accommodation & food, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Port Douglas specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share of 4.1 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 7.9% compared to Rest of Qld's 16.1%. The ratio of 0.6 workers per resident indicates local employment opportunities above average. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Port Douglas' labour force decreased by 1.5% and employment by 1.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%. By Sep-25, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, losing 8,070 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5% and national employment growth of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Douglas' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Port Douglas is $45,118 and average income is $55,853. This is lower than national averages of $50,780 median and $64,844 average for Rest of Qld. By March 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 11.71%, estimated incomes would be approximately $50,401 median and $62,393 average in Port Douglas. Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 54th percentile ($824 weekly) and household income at the 32nd percentile. Income range of $1,500 - 2,999 covers 34.5% (2,080 individuals), similar to metropolitan regions' 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 82.7% income remaining, ranking at the 30th percentile. Port Douglas has a SEIFA income decile rank of 5.

Port Douglas displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Port Douglas, as evaluated at the latest Census conducted in 2016, consisted of 54.7% houses and 45.3% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, compared to Non-Metro Qld's 74.1% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. As of the same Census year, home ownership in Port Douglas stood at 31.9%, with mortgaged dwellings accounting for 31.6% and rented dwellings making up 36.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Port Douglas was recorded as $1,665 during this period, exceeding the Non-Metro Qld average of $1,517. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure for Port Douglas was $350, higher than Non-Metro Qld's $310. Nationally, compared to the Australian averages recorded in 2016, Port Douglas had lower mortgage repayments ($1,863) and rents ($375).

Port Douglas features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.3% of all households, including 19.1% that are couples with children, 37.9% that are couples without children, and 6.4% that are single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.7%, with lone person households at 28.8% and group households making up 7.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

Port Douglas performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 27.3% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. This rate also exceeds that of SA3 area at 21.1%, indicating a community emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%).

Trade and technical skills are prominent with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 13.9% and certificates at 29.2%. Educational participation is high, with 27.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education. Port Douglas's 3 schools have a combined enrollment reaching 225 students while maintaining typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1015) with balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision is split between 1 primary and 2 secondary institutions. Limited local school capacity (3.7 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 11.5) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Port Douglas's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Port Douglas with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is found to be very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,894 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.0 and 7.0% of residents respectively. A total of 73.6% of residents declare themselves as completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 71.7% across Rest of Qld. The area has 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,272 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Port Douglas was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Douglas has a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 14.0% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 34.2% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in Port Douglas, comprising 39.3% of its population. Judaism, however, is overrepresented compared to the rest of Queensland, making up 0.3% of Port Douglas's population versus 0.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (31.1%), Australian (22.6%), and Irish (8.8%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Spanish is overrepresented at 1.5%, French at 1.0%, and Hungarian at 0.4% compared to regional averages of 0.9%, 0.8%, and 0.3% respectively.

Port Douglas hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Port Douglas has a median age of 44 years, which is slightly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and significantly older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 20.4% of the population, while those aged 5-14 are comparatively smaller at 6.9%. This concentration of individuals aged 25-34 is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and the present, the area has become younger, with the median age dropping by 1 year to 44 from a previous figure of 45. During this period, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 17.3% to 20.4%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.4% to 11.4%. The 55 to 64 age group has also decreased, falling from 16.2% to 14.9%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Port Douglas. The 25 to 34 cohort is projected to grow by 41%, adding 505 residents and reaching a total of 1,739. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 1%, with an increase of only 7 residents.