Urban Centre · Area profile
Portland
32 km²
A significantly older population defines Portland, where the typical resident is 47 and a quarter of all people are seniors. This coastal community has seen a notable shift since 2011, as the total population shrank by 22% and the number of children fell sharply. Many residents live alone or in smaller households, creating a quiet residential character. The town is predominantly Australian-born and English-speaking, with a strong presence of detached housing.
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Portland is far older than the national figure, with 25% of residents aged 65 or over, a figure that rose 14 points since 2011. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 3.1%, which is slightly above the Victorian average.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian or British in origin, with 83.5% born in Australia. Only 9.6% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 90.1% of the population. Very few people use another language at home (3.5%), and those who speak little or no English make up just 0.2% of the area.
Nearly half of residents (49%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This trend has grown significantly, rising 16 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The number of residents who completed Year 12 fell 22 points since 2011 to 36.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,159, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Weekly personal income also fell $60 since 2011 to a typical $621.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.7% of people reporting a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities rose to 8.6% since 2011.
Volunteering is more common than the national average at 17.1%, though this is down from 2011. About 13.6% of people provide some form of unpaid care.
Living arrangements are distinct, with 33.4% of people living alone and one-parent families making up 18.1% of households, both figures well above the state average.
The area is dominated by separate houses (88.7%) and high rates of outright home ownership at 40.5%. Typical weekly rent is $250, which is well below the Victorian average of $370.
Car use is the primary way to get to work, with 70.2% of people driving. Very few residents (0.1%) use public transport to commute, and only 6% work from home.
The community is relatively mobile, with 38.2% of people moving in the last five years. However, the number of recent arrivals from overseas fell 9.6 points since 2011.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (52.3%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, manufacturing, and education.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.5. While most homes are near public transport, many residents live far from parks, schools, and groceries compared to the state average.