Cumberland Reach vs Lower Portland

Cumberland Reach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 46 in Lower Portland. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lower Portland: a median of $2.6 million, against $725,000 in Cumberland Reach, though rent is higher in Cumberland Reach. On these figures, Cumberland Reach tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Cumberland Reach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (0/100 vs 42/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Cumberland Reach

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($725,000 vs $2,595,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 28%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lower Portland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $530/wk)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

Lower Portland

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 8/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (81 min vs 86 min)
  • But Cumberland Reach sits closer to the CBD (80.2 km vs 83.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lower Portland

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 8/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)
  • But Cumberland Reach carries lower crime risk (0/100 vs 42/100)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Lower Portland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.7% vs 14.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Cumberland Reach and Lower Portland drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Walkability 8 / 16
Cumberland Reach — Walkability: 8/100 Lower Portland — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 100 / 58
Cumberland Reach — Safety: 100/100 Lower Portland — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 35 / 11
Cumberland Reach — Low fire risk: 35/100 Lower Portland — Low fire risk: 11/100

Demographics

Lower Portland has more residents (711 vs 208); Cumberland Reach rents higher ($530/wk vs $400/wk).

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Population 208 711
+242% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.9% +20.7%
Median age 38 46
Median household income $124,072/yr
+18% vs other
 $102,180/yr
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+25% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
0-4 9.1% / 4.8%
Cumberland Reach — 0-4: 9.1% Lower Portland — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 10.6% / 12.9%
Cumberland Reach — 5-14: 10.6% Lower Portland — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 6.7% / 7.5%
Cumberland Reach — 15-19: 6.7% Lower Portland — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 8.2% / 4.2%
Cumberland Reach — 20-24: 8.2% Lower Portland — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 8.7% / 8.4%
Cumberland Reach — 25-34: 8.7% Lower Portland — 25-34: 8.4%
35-44 15.9% / 11.1%
Cumberland Reach — 35-44: 15.9% Lower Portland — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 10.1% / 15.9%
Cumberland Reach — 45-54: 10.1% Lower Portland — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 21.2% / 16.7%
Cumberland Reach — 55-64: 21.2% Lower Portland — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 5.8% / 13.9%
Cumberland Reach — 65-74: 5.8% Lower Portland — 65-74: 13.9%
75-84 4.8% / 5.1%
Cumberland Reach — 75-84: 4.8% Lower Portland — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 1.4% / 0.4%
Cumberland Reach — 85+: 1.4% Lower Portland — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cumberland Reach 60.5% couple families
Cumberland Reach — Couple Families: 60.5% Cumberland Reach — Lone Person: 18.6% Cumberland Reach — One Parent Families: 20.9% Cumberland Reach — Group Household: 0.0% Cumberland Reach — Other Families: 0.0%
Lower Portland 61.8% couple families
Lower Portland — Couple Families: 61.8% Lower Portland — Lone Person: 15.8% Lower Portland — One Parent Families: 13.2% Lower Portland — Group Household: 4.6% Lower Portland — Other Families: 4.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cumberland Reach 0.0% renting
Cumberland Reach — Owned Outright: 25.9% Cumberland Reach — Mortgage: 74.1% Cumberland Reach — Renting: 0.0%
Lower Portland 7.5% renting
Lower Portland — Owned Outright: 36.2% Lower Portland — Mortgage: 56.3% Lower Portland — Renting: 7.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
England 1.9% / 3.8%
Cumberland Reach — England: 1.9% Lower Portland — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.4%
Cumberland Reach — New Zealand: 1.4% Lower Portland — New Zealand: 0.4%
China — / 0.7%
Cumberland Reach — China: not among its largest Lower Portland — China: 0.7%
Canada — / 0.6%
Cumberland Reach — Canada: not among its largest Lower Portland — Canada: 0.6%
Fiji — / 0.6%
Cumberland Reach — Fiji: not among its largest Lower Portland — Fiji: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Certificate III & IV 26.4% / 20.1%
Cumberland Reach — Certificate III & IV: 26.4% Lower Portland — Certificate III & IV: 20.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 7.9%
Cumberland Reach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Lower Portland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Bachelor Degree 1.4% / 7.9%
Cumberland Reach — Bachelor Degree: 1.4% Lower Portland — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 2.5%
Cumberland Reach — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Lower Portland — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 2.0%
Cumberland Reach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Lower Portland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cumberland Reach 100.0% houses
Cumberland Reach — Houses: 100.0% Cumberland Reach — Townhouses: 0.0% Cumberland Reach — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Lower Portland 96.6% houses
Lower Portland — Houses: 96.6% Lower Portland — Townhouses: 2.4% Lower Portland — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Median house price $725,000 $2,595,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,050,000

Zoning mix

Cumberland Reach has more rural and farming land (81% vs 60%); Lower Portland has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 19%).

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Rural and farming 81% 60%
Environmental 19% 40%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
New dwellings approved 459
across Hawkesbury
same for both
Approvals change year on year +3%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
House price Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Income Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 47% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Lower Portland is more walkable (16 vs 8).

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Grade — C
Score — 36/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Lower Portland carries more crime risk (42 vs 0); Lower Portland carries more bushfire risk (89 vs 65).

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 High
89/100
Crime None
0/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Parks & reserves 0 1
Waterways 2 14

Mobility

Lower Portland sits further from the CBD (83.6 km vs 80.2 km).

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Walkability score 8/100 16/100
Distance to Sydney 80.2 km 83.6 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 81 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2756
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 2756
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Car (driver) 67.1% / 61.4%
Cumberland Reach — Car (driver): 67.1% Lower Portland — Car (driver): 61.4%
Worked from Home 28.0% / 34.1%
Cumberland Reach — Worked from Home: 28.0% Lower Portland — Worked from Home: 34.1%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 2.7%
Cumberland Reach — Car (passenger): 4.9% Lower Portland — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Walked Only — / 1.9%
Cumberland Reach — Walked Only: not among its largest Lower Portland — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.1%).

Setting

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Elevation 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.0 km 34.0 km

NBN connectivity

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Connectivity score 30/100 28/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
76 premises
 0%
279 premises

Climate

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Annual rainfall 806 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Average residential rate $1,650/yr
same for both
Council Hawkesbury
same for both

Federal electorate

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Division Macquarie
same for both
Member Susan Templeman
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cumberland Reach Lower Portland
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cumberland Reach

Young Families

Lower Portland

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cumberland Reach

Cumberland Reach vs Sackville North

Other comparisons with Lower Portland

Lower Portland vs East Kurrajong Lower Portland vs Maroota Lower Portland vs South Maroota Lower Portland vs Blaxlands Ridge Lower Portland vs Sackville North Lower Portland vs Colo Heights
Full data on Cumberland Reach Full data on Lower Portland
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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