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 August 2021. By August 2025, it decreased to around 11,217, a decrease of 13 people (0.1%). This change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 11,180 in June 2024 and an additional 47 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 175 persons per square kilometer as of August 2025. Over the decade prior to 2025, Portland's population grew at a compound annual growth rate of 0.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

AreaSearch is using 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 uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest population numbers, Portland is expected to increase by 799 persons to 2041, with a total increase of 6.8% over the 17-year period.

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

Portland has recorded approximately 48 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 242 homes. As of FY-26, 16 approvals have been recorded. On average, between FY-21 and FY-25, 0.1 new residents arrived per new home constructed. This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current expectations.

The average value of new dwellings developed is $454,000. In the current financial year, there have been $8.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Portland has recorded construction levels that are 25.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This balances buyer choice with support for current property values, though recent construction activity has eased. New development consists of 81.0% standalone homes and 19.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving Portland's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The area has approximately 290 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Population forecasts suggest that Portland will gain 760 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable 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 projects expected to impact this region: Portland Energy Park, Portland Renewable Fuels Project, Portland Foreshore Multipurpose Facility, and Portland North Employment Precinct. The following details the projects considered most relevant.

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The employment landscape in Portland presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.1%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Portland has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.1%.

As of June 2025, Portland's unemployment rate is 0.6% lower than the rest of Victoria's rate of 3.8%, but its workforce participation is slightly lower at 53.0%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and education & training. Manufacturing stands out with an employment share twice the regional average, while construction is relatively under-represented at 7.4% compared to Victoria's 10.4%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on census data.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Portland's labour force decreased by 1.9%, employment declined by 1.2%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point drop in unemployment. In contrast, the rest of Victoria saw an employment decline of 0.9% and a slight rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia projects 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 ending June 2022 shows median income in Portland was $47,533 and average income was $58,362. This is lower than Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $53,313 and average income $65,459, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year ending June 2022. The 2021 Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Portland are between the 13th and 16th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort in Portland is 28.3% (3,174 people) earning $1,500 - 2,999, similar to the broader area at 30.3%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 87.9% of income retention, 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

Dwelling structures in Portland, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 89.4% houses and 10.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structures comprised 93.1% houses and 6.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Portland was at 42.6%, with the rest either mortgaged (31.9%) or rented (25.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Portland was $1,105, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,083. The median weekly rent figure in Portland was recorded at $250, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $220. Nationally, Portland's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 32.2% and group households comprising 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%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.2%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (29.8%). Educational participation is high at 25.4%, with 9.4% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Portland has a network of 10 schools educating approximately 1,863 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 963) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 6 primary, 3 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. Note: for schools with 'n/a' enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Transport analysis indicates 60 active stops operating in Portland, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 8 routes, offering a total of 254 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is assessed as good, with residents typically situated 268 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 36 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 4 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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Portland. Both younger and older age groups have notable prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population, which amounts to around 5,485 people. This figure is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.4 and 9.8% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 60.0% of Portland's population claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 62.4% in the rest of Victoria. As of September 2021, 26.1% of Portland's residents are aged 65 and over, totaling around 2,928 people. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but perform better than the general population in certain health metrics.

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. The dominant religion in Portland is Christianity, comprising 45.0% of the population. Notably, Judaism, which makes up 0.1% of Portland's population, is overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria, where it comprises 0.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Portland are English (33.1%), Australian (32.3%), and Scottish (9.4%). There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Dutch is overrepresented at 1.7% compared to the regional average of 1.4%, German at 4.3% versus 4.8%, and Maltese at 0.5% versus 0.4%.

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 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 years make up a particularly prominent group (14.8%), while those aged 25-34 are comparatively smaller (9.9%) than in Rest of Vic.. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the age group of 75 to 84 years has grown from 7.3% to 8.2% of Portland's population. Conversely, the age group of 45 to 54 years has declined from 13.1% to 12.1%. By 2041, Portland is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 32%, adding 352 people and reaching a total of 1,466 from the current figure of 1,113. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are expected to experience population declines.