Moving to Portland VIC 3305
What the official numbers say about living in Portland — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $415,000 for a median house or $300,000 for a unit (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 98% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $250 a week, against a median household income of $1,146 a week.
About 71% of homes are owner-occupied and 27% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Portland grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (9,601 → 10,016 people).
Around 63% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Nepali, Tagalog, Filipino.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Portland scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (88% of workers), while 7% work from home.
Nearest tram stop: Powerhouse Museum, 400 m south.
Nearest airport: Portland Airport, 12.1 km west.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 300 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 10 schools · 8 cafes & restaurants · 3 supermarkets · 6 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the Portland profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Portland Primary School 450 m · Portland Bay School 600 m · Bayview College 650 m · Portland Secondary College 950 m · All Saints Parish School 1.3 km · St John's Lutheran Primary School 1.3 km · Portland Secondary College Victoria Parade Campus 1.4 km · Bundarra Primary School 1.5 km
Groceries: IGA 150 m · ALDI 350 m · Woolworths 550 m
Parks and reserves: Friendly Society Reserve 400 m · Hanlon Park 600 m · Portland Botanic Gardens 900 m · Alexandra Park 1.6 km · Husson Fauna Park 1.9 km · Flinders Park 1.9 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Portland, most often seen first: Silver Gull · Common Starling · Masked Lapwing · Little Raven · New Holland Honeyeater · Eurasian Blackbird.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Portland, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland here | 10,016 | $415,000 | 2/10 | 13% |
| Heywood | 1,815 | $330,000 | 1/10 | 32% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Glenelg — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Wannon — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3305 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Portland profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Portland has a median sale price of $415,000 (2024 sales), and a unit $300,000. Renters pay a median $250 a week, and about 27% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 9,601 people to 10,016. It sits about 300 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line. Local government is Glenelg council, and the federal seat is Wannon.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: Heywood.
Keep an eye on Portland
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