Portland
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Portland's population was 11,230 as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it decreased to around 11,217, a drop of 13 people (0.1%). This change is inferred from ABS' Jun 2024 estimate of 11,180 and 47 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 175 persons per square kilometer in Aug 2025. Over the past decade, Portland had a compound annual growth rate of 0.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovered areas, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on latest numbers, Portland is expected to increase by 799 persons to 2041, a 6.8% total increase over 17 years, slightly below the median of regional areas nationally.

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

Portland has recorded approximately 38 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, around 194 dwellings were approved, with 7 already recorded in FY26. On average, only 0.1 new residents per year per dwelling constructed have been seen over these five years.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction value of new properties is $454,000. Additionally, there have been $8.4 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating the area's residential character.

Compared to the Rest of Vic., Portland records somewhat elevated construction levels, with a 25.0% increase above the regional average per person over the past five years. This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New building activity shows 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 290 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Portland is expected to grow by 760 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Portland has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four major projects that may impact this region. Key projects include Portland Renewable Fuels Project, Portland Energy Park, Portland Foreshore Multipurpose Facility, and Portland North Employment Precinct. Below are details on those likely to have the most relevance.

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

While Portland retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.1%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Portland's workforce is balanced across various sectors, with an unemployment rate of 3.1% as of June 2025. The city has 5,072 employed residents, with a 0.6% lower unemployment rate than the rest of Victoria (Rest of Vic.), which stands at 3.8%.

However, workforce participation is slightly below average at 53.0%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries in Portland include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and education & training. Manufacturing is particularly strong, with an employment share twice the regional level (16.2% vs. 8.1%).

Conversely, construction is under-represented at 7.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 10.4%. Over the year to June 2025, Portland's labour force decreased by 1.9%, with employment down by 1.2%, leading to a fall in unemployment of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment drop by 0.9% and unemployment rise by 0.4%. State-wide, Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year to Sep-25, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Portland's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows income in Portland is below national average. Median assessed income is $47,533 and average income stands at $58,362. This contrasts with Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Portland are approximately $52,339 (median) and $64,262 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Portland fall between the 13th and 16th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 28.3% of locals (3,174 people) predominantly earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, aligning with regional levels where this cohort represents 30.3%. Housing costs are modest, allowing for retention of 87.9% of income. However, total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

Portland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Portland, as per the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures consisted of 89.4% houses and 10.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 93.1% houses and 6.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Portland was at 42.6%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (31.9%) or rented (25.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Portland was $1,105, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $250. Nationally, Portland's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.1% of all households, including 21.8% couples with children, 31.0% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 32.2% and group households making up 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of Vic.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.8%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.2%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (29.8%).

Educational participation is high at 25.4%, including primary education (9.4%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (1.9%). Portland has a network of 10 schools educating approximately 1,863 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 963) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 6 primary, 3 secondary, and 1 K-12 school.

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

Portland has 60 active public transport stops operating within the city. These stops are served by a mix of bus routes, totaling eight individual routes. The combined weekly passenger trips across all routes amount to 254.

Residents' accessibility to these services is rated as good, with an average distance of 268 meters from their nearest transport stop. Across all routes, the service frequency averages 36 trips per day, which equates to approximately four weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Portland is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Portland faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health coverage is relatively low at approximately 49% of Portland's total population (~5,485 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (12.4%) and mental health issues (9.8%). A majority, 60.0%, report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of Vic.'s 62.4%. Portland has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.1% (~2,928 people). Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are better than those in the general population.

Portland is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Portland's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.3% of its population being citizens, 90.0% born in Australia, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Portland, comprising 45.0% of the population. However, Judaism is most overrepresented, making up 0.1% compared to 0.0% across Rest of Vic.

The top three ancestry groups are English (33.1%), Australian (32.3%), and Scottish (9.4%). Notably, Dutch (1.7%) and German (4.3%) groups are overrepresented in Portland compared to regional averages of 1.4% and 4.8%, respectively. Maltese representation is also slightly higher at 0.5%.

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

Portland's median age is 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Vic average of 43 and substantially exceeds the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 make up a particularly prominent group at 14.8%, while the 25-34 group is comparatively smaller at 9.9% than in Rest of Vic, with this concentration being well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.3% to 8.2% of Portland's population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 12.1%. By 2041, Portland is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 group growing by 32%, adding 352 people to reach a total of 1,466 from 1,113. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.