Port Douglas

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 approximately 6,030 as of November 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 448 people, representing an 8.0% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5,582. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,024 as of June 2024 and an additional 459 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 31 persons per square kilometer. Port Douglas' 8.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (6.5%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 97.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. It is noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied where utilized. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of regional areas nationally is forecast. The area is expected to grow by 1,672 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting 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. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25103 homes were approved, with a further 3 approved in FY-26. On average, 4.2 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed over these five years.

This demand significantly outpaces supply, potentially putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. The average construction value of these new homes is $547,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, $3.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Port Douglas' primarily residential nature.

Compared to the Rest of Qld, Port Douglas has 13.0% less new development per person. Nationally, it ranks at the 22nd percentile for areas assessed, suggesting limited buyer options and strengthening demand for established dwellings. All new construction in Port Douglas consists of detached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes. This trend reflects strong demand for such properties despite densification trends. The area has an estimated 750 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet development environment. Population forecasts suggest Port Douglas will gain 1,637 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Port Douglas has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 21 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include 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.

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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 September 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.8%.

In comparison, Rest of Qld's unemployment rate is 4.1%, but Port Douglas' rate is 2.3% lower. Workforce participation in Port Douglas is similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are accommodation & food, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Port Douglas specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share 4.1 times the regional level, but health care & social assistance is under-represented at 7.9% compared to Rest of Qld's 16.1%.

The ratio of workers per resident indicates above-normal local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Port Douglas' labour force decreased by 1.5%, with employment down by 1.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Meanwhile, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%. As of 25-Nov-25, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Douglas' employment mix suggests local employment growth of 5.9% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that income in Port Douglas SA2 is lower than average nationally. The median income is $45,118 and the average income stands at $55,853. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's figures where the median income is $50,780 and the average income is $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Port Douglas SA2 would be approximately $51,430 (median) and $63,667 (average) as of September 2025. According to census data, personal income ranks at the 53rd percentile ($824 weekly), while household income sits at the 32nd percentile. The data shows that 34.5% of the population (2,080 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen in metropolitan regions where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 82.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 30th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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 held on 28 August 2016, comprised 54.7% houses and 45.3% other dwellings including semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 74.1% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Port Douglas was at 31.9%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged at 31.6% or rented at 36.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,665, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $350. Nationally, Port Douglas's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863 as of 2021, while rents are less than the national figure of $375 during the same period.

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% couples with children, 37.9% couples without children, and 6.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.7%, consisting of 28.8% lone person households and 7.1% group households. 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 of 27.3% among residents aged 15+, exceeding both the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and the SA3 area average of 21.1%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 13.9% and certificates for 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.

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 shows robust health performance in Port Douglas with very low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Approximately 48% (~2,894) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Arthritis and mental health issues are most prevalent at 7.0% each. 73.6% report no medical ailments, higher than Rest of Qld's 71.7%. 21.1% (~1,272) are aged 65 and over. Seniors' health outcomes exceed the general population in metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Port Douglas was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number 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 predominant religion in Port Douglas, comprising 39.3% of the population. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, making up 0.3% compared to 0.2% across the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 31.1%, Australian at 22.6%, and Irish at 8.8%. Some other ethnic groups show notable differences: Spanish is overrepresented at 1.5% (vs regional 0.9%), French at 1.0% (vs 0.8%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.3%).

Port Douglas hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

At 44 years, Port Douglas's median age is marginally above the Rest of Qld average of 41, and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 20.4% of the population, while those aged 5-14 comprise only 6.9%, which is comparatively smaller than in Rest of Qld. This concentration of individuals aged 25-34 is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the area has become younger, with median age dropping from 45 to 44 years. Key changes include the growth of the 25 to 34 age group from 17.3% to 20.4%, while the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 13.4% to 11.4% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 16.2% to 14.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Port Douglas, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 41%, adding 505 residents to reach a total of 1,739. The 15-24 age group is expected to display more modest growth at 2%, adding only 7 residents.