Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Portarlington suburb profile
Portarlington, VIC · Postcode 3223
This Portarlington suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Portarlington, VIC (postcode 3223). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Portarlington with nearby suburbs.
Portarlington at a glance
Population
4,436
Median rent
$331/wk
Household income
$1,064/wk
Median age
62
Portarlington trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+34.1% over 10 years
Population
4,436
was 3,619 in 2016
+817 · +22.6%
Median rent
$331/wk
was $270/wk in 2016
+$61 · +22.6%
Household income
$1,064/wk
was $892/wk in 2016
+$172 · +19.3%
Median age
62
was 59 in 2016
+3 · +5.1%
Dig deeper: Portarlington population growth · Portarlington then and now
Portarlington vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Portarlington, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-15.2% vs area
- Portarlington$331/wk
- Nearby$348/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-45.1% vs area
- Portarlington$1,064/wk
- Nearby$1,313.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
+59% vs area
- Portarlington62
- Nearby50
- Melbourne39
Personal income
-31.8% vs area
- Portarlington$575/wk
- Nearby$664/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Portarlington compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Portarlington sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 4995
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 4969
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3983.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 5978.1
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Portarlington on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Portarlington, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Portarlington people
- Population
- 4,436
- Median age
- 62
- Born overseas
- 16.8%
- Average household size
- 2.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Portarlington income
- Median household income
- $1,064/wk
- Median personal income
- $575/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Portarlington housing
- Median rent
- $331/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,657/mo
- Separate houses
- 57%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.4%
- Owned outright
- 34.3%
- Mortgaged
- 12.6%
- Rented
- 13%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 37.1%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Portarlington work
- Employment to population
- 38%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 40.4%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3223)
Compare Portarlington with nearby suburbs
Portarlington in numbers
Portarlington had 4,436 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 390th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 62, 51% above the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2 people. 16.8% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 34.3% own their home outright, 12.6% are paying a mortgage, 13% rent. Separate houses make up 57% of dwellings, with 0.4% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $331/wk, 5% below the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,064/wk, 40% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.6%. 40.4% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 4 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 22.6% (from 3,619 to 4,436). Median rent moved from $270/wk to $331/wk (+22.6%).
Portarlington suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Portarlington, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Portarlington was $331/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Portarlington, VIC?
- Portarlington had 4,436 residents at the 2021 Census, up 22.6% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Portarlington?
- Median household income in Portarlington was $1,064/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Portarlington?
- 13% of occupied homes in Portarlington were rented, 34.3% were owned outright and 12.6% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Portarlington suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Portarlington. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Melbourne