Portarlington, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Portarlington VIC is 4,436 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Portarlington is $575 per week ($29,900 per year). Median rent in Portarlington is $331 per week ($1,434 per month). Portarlington has a median age of 62 years, older than the national median of 38. Portarlington has a population density of 178 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Portarlington is England. The most common religion is No religion (36.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Greek. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Portarlington is $1,657.

There were 235 recorded offences in Portarlington in 2025-25, a rate of 53 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (93 offences).

Population
4,436
Census 2021
Median income
$575/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$331/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
62years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Portarlington vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Portarlington is $575 a week, 25% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 1,152nd of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $331 a week, $15 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 31.1% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 62, 19 years older than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasurePortarlingtonTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$575/wk$767/wk −25%$766/wk
Household income$1,064/wk$1,687/wk −37%$1,637/wk
Rent$331/wk$316/wk +5%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,657/mo$1,723/mo −4%$1,733/mo
Median age6243 +19 yrs42
Rent share of household income31.1%19.1% +12.0 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Portarlington, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Portarlington Population

4,436 residents at the 2021 Census.

Portarlington Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$575/wk
$29,900 per year
Ranked 7,429 of 14,663
Median Rent
$331/wk
$1,434 per month
Ranked 3,795 of 14,663
Median Age
62years
24 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,657/mo
Avg household size: 2 · 0.6 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Portarlington Rent Prices & Affordability

31% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,064/wk
Median rent $331/wk
Rent to income 31.1%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Portarlington against your income

About $4,611 a month
Median rent $331/wk
Left after rent $733/wk
Rent share 31.1%

Portarlington Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
1010
avg ICSEA score
150
total students
Portarlington Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 150 students
1010
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Portarlington, with a map

Portarlington Map

Portarlington, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Portarlington, Victoria: 38.1395°S, 144.6566°E

Portarlington Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (1)

People in Portarlington

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.2% (2,139) Female 51.8% (2,296)

Population Density

178
people per km²
4,436 people · 24.9 km²

Households

2
Avg household size
0.6
Persons per bedroom
$1,390
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
5.1%
New Zealand
1.7%
Malta
1.5%
Italy
0.8%
Greece
0.7%
Germany
0.6%
Scotland
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Greek
1.3%
Italian
0.8%
Croatian
0.5%
Mandarin
0.2%
German
0.2%
Macedonian
0.2%
Polish
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
42.2%
Australian
31.8%
Irish
15.7%
Scottish
13.2%
Italian
4.7%
Maltese
3.4%
German
3.0%
Greek
2.0%
Dutch
1.7%
Croatian
1.1%
New Zealander
0.9%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
36.9%
Catholic
24.2%
Anglican
11.7%
Not stated
10.7%
Uniting Church
6.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.3%
Eastern Orthodox
2.2%
Christian (other)
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
53.4% 2,143
Separated
4.0% 159
Divorced
11.6% 464
Widowed
9.0% 361
Never married
22.1% 886

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
52.6%
Couple: children under 15
22.3%
Couple: no children under 15
13.6%
One parent: no children under 15
6.5%
One parent: children under 15
5.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
32.5%
2 persons
47.7%
3 persons
8.8%
4 persons
6.9%
5 persons
2.9%
6+ persons
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Portarlington

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,912 occupied private dwellings in Portarlington at the 2021 Census, 20.7% were rented, 54.7% owned outright and 20.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.8% 34 dwellings
Owned outright
54.7% 1,045 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
20.1% 384 dwellings
Rented
20.7% 396 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
3.2% 61 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
91.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
5.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.1%
2 bedrooms
17.3%
3 bedrooms
53.3%
4 bedrooms
23.8%
5 bedrooms
3.0%
6+ bedrooms
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.6%
$300-$449/mo
1.2%
$450-$599/mo
0.9%
$600-$799/mo
5.0%
$800-$999/mo
7.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.1%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
17.1%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
27.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
8.8%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
7.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.5%
1 vehicle
41.5%
2 vehicles
39.2%
3 vehicles
10.8%
4+ vehicles
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Portarlington

Employment

Employed full-time
21.5% 744 people
Employed part-time
18.1% 625 people
Unemployed
2.0% 70 people
Not in labour force
58.4% 2,021 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
25.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.0%
Managers
16.8%
Community & Personal Service
14.3%
Clerical & Administrative
11.4%
Labourers
6.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.2%
Sales Workers
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
3.1%
$1-$149/wk
1.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.7%
$300-$399/wk
3.8%
$400-$499/wk
10.7%
$500-$649/wk
7.3%
$650-$799/wk
11.2%
$800-$999/wk
7.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.0%
$4,000+/wk
6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.1%
$1-$149/wk
5.0%
$150-$299/wk
8.2%
$300-$399/wk
7.8%
$400-$499/wk
6.2%
$500-$649/wk
6.7%
$650-$799/wk
10.5%
$800-$999/wk
9.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
5.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.7%
$3,500+/wk
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.2%
Did not go to work
18.7%
Car (passenger)
4.5%
Walked only
3.0%
Truck
1.7%
Bus
1.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.4%
Train
0.3%
Ferry
0.3%
Other
0.3%
Bicycle
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
48.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
23.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
19.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.5%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
37.4%
Bachelor Degree
23.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
22.4%
Postgraduate Degree
9.4%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.8%
Certificate I/II
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.6%
Society & Culture
15.4%
Engineering
13.2%
Health
13.0%
Architecture & Building
12.1%
Education
9.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.3%
Creative Arts
4.2%
Agriculture & Environment
3.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.0%
Information Technology
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
33.8%
Secondary: Government
20.0%
Vocational Education
13.4%
Secondary: Catholic
10.5%
Pre-school
8.1%
Primary: Catholic
5.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
83.2%
Has need for assistance
7.3%
Need for assistance not stated
9.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
457
Arthritis
252
Heart disease
234
Diabetes
186
Lung condition
151
Asthma
147
Cancer
111
Stroke
71
Kidney disease
59
Dementia
16

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.8% 566
Did not provide
84.2% 3,024

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
20.3% 737
Not a volunteer
79.7% 2,885

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 4
Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 4
Previously served
4.1% 148
Never served
95.7% 3,474

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.5%
1 child
10.8%
2 children
32.1%
3 children
20.9%
4 children
9.3%
5+ children
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
35
1951: 1960
130
1961: 1970
185
1971: 1980
91
1981: 1990
71
1991: 2000
47
2001: 2010
65
2011: 2015
30
2018
7
2019
13
2020
8
2021
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

15.1%
moved in the last year
45.8%
moved in the last 5 years
4.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
39.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,371
Moved from VIC
399
Moved: same area (SA2)
168
Moved from overseas
11
Moved from QLD
7
Moved from NSW
5
Moved from SA
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
17.1%
5: 14 hours
30.1%
15: 29 hours
16.7%
30+ hours
12.4%
Did not do domestic work
23.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
89.5%
Step family: no other children
7.7%
Blended family: no other children
1.4%
Other couple: children only
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Portarlington Crime Statistics

235 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
93
Assault
35
Break & Enter
31
Justice Procedures
21
Property Damage
17
Fraud
9
Drug Offences
8
Weapons
8
Public Order
8
Traffic
4
Other
1

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Paynesville (Vic.)
Income: $561/wk Rent: $310/wk $21/wk less rent
Maldon (Vic.)
Income: $592/wk Rent: $268/wk $63/wk less rent
Mallacoota
Income: $591/wk Rent: $221/wk $110/wk less rent
Foster
Income: $566/wk Rent: $240/wk $91/wk less rent
Moolap
Income: $630/wk Rent: $290/wk $41/wk less rent
Eagle Point
Income: $599/wk Rent: $310/wk $21/wk less rent
Casterton
Income: $523/wk Rent: $160/wk $171/wk less rent
Heathcote (Vic.)
Income: $490/wk Rent: $255/wk $76/wk less rent

Suburbs near Portarlington

The closest suburb to Portarlington is Indented Head, 4.3 km away.

Indented Head
4.3 km away · income $616/wk · rent $346/wk
St Leonards (Vic.)
4.7 km away · income $629/wk · rent $350/wk
Drysdale
6.0 km away · income $645/wk · rent $340/wk
Clifton Springs
7.7 km away · income $683/wk · rent $350/wk
Curlewis (Vic.)
12.1 km away · income $848/wk · rent $405/wk
Queenscliff (Vic.)
14.1 km away · income $793/wk · rent $369/wk

Compare Portarlington

Frequently Asked Questions About Portarlington

What is the population of Portarlington VIC?

The population of Portarlington VIC is 4,436 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 178 people per km². Portarlington is ranked #1,751 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Portarlington?

The median personal income in Portarlington VIC is $575 per week, or $29,900 per year. The median household income is $1,064 per week. Family income is $1,390 per week. Portarlington is ranked #7,429 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Portarlington?

Median rent in Portarlington VIC is $331 per week ($1,434 per month). Rent represents 31.1% of household income, which is considered moderate. Portarlington ranks #3,795 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Portarlington?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Portarlington VIC is $1,657. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Portarlington?

The median age in Portarlington VIC is 62 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Portarlington a good suburb to live in?

Portarlington is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 4,436. The median income is $575/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (31.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Melbourne Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 22109. All dollar figures in AUD.