Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Portarlington
25 km²
A typical resident in Portarlington is 62 years old, making it one of the oldest communities in the region. This seaside town is defined by a high proportion of seniors, with over 43% of the population aged 65 or over. Because of this older age structure, there are far fewer children and a higher need for health support than in most other areas. It is a place where many people own their homes outright and live in quiet, spacious detached houses.
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The population is far older than the national figure, with seniors making up 43.6% of the community. Children under 15 are much less common here than in most areas, accounting for only 9.5% of residents.
English and Australian ancestries are the most common, though 16.8% of people were born overseas, which is higher than in similar areas.
Most residents speak only English at home, but 6.1% use another language, a figure that is higher than in most similar areas.
About half of the community identifies as Christian, while 37.4% report no religion, which is a little below the state and national figures.
A higher number of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher compared to similar areas, though the rate of Year 12 completion is far below the national average.
Typical incomes are much lower than most areas, with the typical household earning $1,064 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746.
Consistent with its older population, 39.4% of residents have a long-term health condition and 7.3% need help with daily activities, both figures being much higher than most areas.
Unpaid care is common, with 14.1% of people providing such support and 26.1% doing significant housework, though far fewer people care for children compared to the state average.
First Nations residents in this area are far older than the national typical age of 24, with a median age of 47 and a high Year 12 completion rate of 62.5%.
Homes tend to be smaller, with only 2.0 people per home, and a high 32.6% of people live alone, which is well above the national average.
Home ownership is very high, with 54.7% of homes owned outright, and the vast majority (90.8%) are separate houses.
While there are many public transport stops, only 1.4% of people commute using them, and most residents rely on cars to get to work.
The area has seen significant movement, with 41.2% of people moving house in the last five years, although recent overseas arrivals are far below the national average.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (39.8%) compared to most areas, with a much lower full-time employment rate than the state average.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with far fewer homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services than the state average.