Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Portland
33 km²
Located on the coast of Victoria's Western District, Portland is a large regional town with a noticeably older population. The typical resident is 47, far older than the national figure of 38, and a quarter of the community are seniors. This creates a distinct character where many people live alone or in retired couples, contributing to a slower pace of life. It is a place where traditional Australian roots remain strong and the community is leaning more towards non-religious identities.
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The community is far older than the state and national average, with 25% of residents aged 65 and over. It also has a slightly higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 3% compared to Victoria's 1%.
Most residents were born in Australia (83.5%), which is far above the national figure. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries, and only 9.5% of the population was born overseas.
English is the dominant language, used in 90% of homes. This means far fewer people use another language at home compared to the rest of Victoria.
Nearly half of the population (48.5%) report having no religion, a figure that is well above both the state and national averages.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 36% of residents completing Year 12 and 10.9% holding a bachelor degree or higher, both far below the state figures.
Incomes are well below the national average, with the typical household earning $1,146 a week. Only 9.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the Victorian average.
Health challenges are much more common here than in other areas. Long-term health conditions affect 37% of residents, and 8.7% need help with daily activities, which is higher than the state average.
Volunteering is common, with 17% of the population helping out, which is well above the Victorian figure. About 13.7% of people provide unpaid care, a rate higher than most areas.
There are 305 First Nations people in the area. Their typical personal income is $503, which is a little below the state figure, and the unemployment rate is a little above the state average at 12.5%.
Living arrangements are unique, with a much higher number of people living alone (34.1%) and one-parent families (18.4%) compared to the rest of the state.
The area is dominated by separate houses (88.2%), and 40.4% are owned outright, which is well above the national figure. Typical weekly rents are $250, well below the state average.
Cars are essential for the 70% of workers who drive, as only 0.1% of people commute by public transport. However, the area has a high number of public transport stops relative to its size.
The population is relatively mobile, with 37.8% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.3% of the community.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (52%) compared to the state average. The most common industries for locals are health care, manufacturing, and retail trade.
The town is somewhat walkable, though it is far below the state average for access to groceries, health services, and parks within a 15-minute walk.