Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of Port Melbourne is estimated at around 18,891, reflecting an increase of 1,258 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 17,633. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population as 18,274 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 349 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,953 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Port Melbourne's growth rate of 7.1% since census is within 2.8 percentage points of the national average (9.9%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Port Melbourne is projected to increase by 5,954 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 27.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Port Melbourne among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Port Melbourne recorded approximately 219 residential properties granted approval each year between FY-20 and FY-25. This totals an estimated 1,096 homes over these six financial years. As of FY-26, 92 approvals have been recorded. On average, around 0.5 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25.

New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand during this period. The average construction cost value of new homes was $662,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, commercial approvals amounted to $18.6 million, reflecting moderate levels of commercial development.

New development comprised 2.0% detached houses and 98.0% medium and high-density housing. Port Melbourne had an average of approximately 44 people per approval during this period. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 5,279 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Port Melbourne has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 70 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Barak Beacon Port Melbourne, Defence Science Technology Group Redevelopment, University of Melbourne Fishermans Bend Campus, and Port Lane. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Port Melbourne has been broadly consistent with national averages

Port Melbourne has a highly educated workforce. In the technology sector specifically, representation is notable. The unemployment rate was 4.6% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 3.7%.

As of December 2025, 11,686 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.1% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation was higher at 76.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 50.7% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance.

Port Melbourne showed strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance had lower representation at 10.3% compared to the regional average of 14.2%. There were 1.7 workers for every resident as of the Census, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 3.7% and labour force increased by 4.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Melbourne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Port Melbourne's median income among taxpayers was $75,353 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $112,559 during the same period. These figures are significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. By September 2025, current estimates suggest Port Melbourne's median income could reach approximately $81,570 and average income around $121,845, based on an 8.25% growth in wages since financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Port Melbourne rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes all between the 86th and 96th percentiles. The $4000+ income bracket dominates Port Melbourne, with 29.1% of residents (5,497 people) falling into this category, unlike metropolitan trends where 32.8% earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly. A substantial proportion of residents, 41.5%, exceed $3,000 weekly income. Despite high housing costs consuming 17.2% of income, disposable income in Port Melbourne ranks at the 83rd percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Port Melbourne features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

As of the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures in Port Melbourne consisted of 6.0% houses and 94.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership within Port Melbourne stood at 26.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.1% and rented dwellings at 44.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, surpassing Melbourne metro's average of $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $540 compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Port Melbourne's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Port Melbourne features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 58.6% of all households, including 20.9% couples with children, 28.3% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 41.4%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households comprising 4.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6 people.

Port Melbourne demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

In Port Melbourne, educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 50.2% possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. This educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: bachelor degrees are most common at 31.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 23.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 11.8% and certificates 12.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.9% in primary education, 6.1% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Port Melbourne has 98 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These include a mix of light rail and bus services. There are 10 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 7,788 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Port Melbourne being primarily residential. The dominant mode of transport among residents is car at 71%, followed by walking at 9% and cycling at 6%.

Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents work from home, with 50.7% doing so, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 1,112 trips per day, equating to approximately 79 weekly trips per individual stop.

Port Melbourne's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Port Melbourne's health outcomes show exceptional results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 71% of the total population (13,423 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 7.5% and 7.1% of residents respectively. 74.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 18.7% of residents aged 65 and over (3,532 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Port Melbourne was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Melbourne, surveyed in June 2016, exhibited higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 21.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 32.0% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 45.4%. Judaism showed overrepresentation at 0.9%, compared to 1.0% regionally.

Ancestry-wise, the top groups were English (24.7%), Australian (18.0%), and Other (10.6%). Notable ethnic group divergences included Greek at 5.0% (vs regional 2.7%), French at 0.9% (vs 0.5%), and Russian at 0.7% (vs 0.4%).

Port Melbourne's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Port Melbourne is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 45-54 are particularly prominent, making up 16.1% of the population, while those aged 15-24 comprise only 9.1%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of the population aged 75-84 has grown from 5.2% to 6.9%, and the 55-64 cohort has increased from 12.7% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has decreased from 15.4% to 13.1%, and the 35-44 age group has dropped from 17.7% to 16.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 45-54 age cohort is expected to increase significantly by 49%, growing from 3,041 to 4,531 people. Meanwhile, the 0-4 age group is projected to grow modestly by 6%, adding 42 individuals.