Portland (NSW)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Portland reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, Portland's population is estimated at around 2,540, reflecting an increase of 93 people since the 2021 Census. The ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch indicate this growth. The resident population was estimated at 2,481 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, with an additional 45 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to the increase. This results in a density ratio of 25 persons per square kilometer for Portland. The suburb's population growth of 3.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (2.9%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Portland expected to grow by 355 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 11.8% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Portland, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates that Portland has seen approximately 11 new homes approved each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 55 homes. As of FY26, two approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built over this period is 0.4 persons per year. This suggests that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new homes being built in Portland is $654,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, $3.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the rest of NSW, Portland has similar development levels per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas.

The new building activity shows 86.0% detached dwellings and 14.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population count of 551 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Portland is expected to grow by 300 residents through to 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that may impact this region: The Foundations Portland, Mt Piper Battery Energy Storage System, Sunny Corner Wind Farm, and Great Western Battery. These are the key projects, with the following list providing details on those most relevant.

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The labour market performance in Portland lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Portland has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, and essential services sectors are well represented. The unemployment rate is 4.5%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, Portland has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is 0.8% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Portland lags behind the rest of NSW, at 48.9% compared to 56.4%. The leading employment industries among Portland residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and mining. Mining has a particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 4.1 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance has limited presence in Portland, with only 12.0% of employment compared to the regional average of 16.9%. There appears to be limited local employment opportunities in Portland, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.4%, while employment declined by 4.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 2.1 percentage points. In comparison, across the Rest of NSW, employment fell by 0.1%, the labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 provide insight into potential future demand within Portland. These projections suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Portland's employment mix suggests that local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Portland's median assessed income in financial year 2022 was $43,198, lower than the national average. The average income stood at $52,990. In comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $48,645 (median) and $59,672 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Portland all fall between the 9th and 10th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprises 28.3% earning $400-$799 weekly (718 residents), differing from the region where the $1500-$2999 category predominates at 29.9%. Portland retains 87.7% of income for housing costs, but its total disposable income ranks at just the 14th percentile nationally.

Portland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Portland, according to the latest Census data, 98.0% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 2.0% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro NSW where 91.0% of dwellings were houses and 9.0% were other types. Home ownership in Portland stood at 49.6%, with mortgaged properties making up 35.1% and rented dwellings accounting for 15.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,272, significantly lower than the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,600. The median weekly rent in Portland was recorded at $250, compared to $300 in Non-Metro NSW. Nationally, Portland's mortgage repayments were notably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Portland features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 66.5% of all households, including 23.8% couples with children, 29.4% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 31.3% and group households comprising 1.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

Portland faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 44.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.0%) and certificates (36.5%).

Educational participation is high at 28.2%, including 10.7% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education. Portland Central School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School serve a total of 213 students. The area has varied educational conditions (ICSEA: 891) with one primary and one K-12 school. There are 8.4 school places per 100 residents, below the regional average of 13.8, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Portland operates 70 active public transport stops. These are served by 14 bus routes offering a total of 121 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 182 meters to the nearest one.

The service frequency is 17 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per stop.

Health performance in Portland is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Portland faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is low at approximately 48%, covering around 1,217 people, compared to 50.8% across the Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 12.2%) and mental health issues (8.8%).

Notably, 60.0% of residents report being free from medical ailments, compared to 62.9% in the Rest of NSW. Portland has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.8%, with around 680 people falling into this category, compared to 23.1% across the Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly aligned with the general population's health profile.

The latest Census data sees Portland placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Portland's cultural diversity is below average. As of the 2016 Census, 88.6% of its population were Australian citizens, with 92.0% born in Australia and 97.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Portland, comprising 62.8%, compared to 59.9% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.4%), Australian (31.8%), and Irish (9.7%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 5.4% compared to the regional average of 4.9%. Maltese and Maori populations also showed higher representation in Portland at 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively, compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.2%.

Portland hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Portland's median age is 46, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly greater than Australia's national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 15.2% of Portland's population, compared to Rest of NSW's figure, while the 15-24 cohort comprises only 9.9%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.8% to 9.5% of Portland's population, while the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 12.0% to 10.6%. By 2041, Portland is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 group is expected to grow by 38%, reaching 334 people from the current figure of 241. This growth will be led by those aged 65 and above, who are projected to comprise 60% of Portland's population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 5-14 age cohorts.