Portarlington vs St Leonards

St Leonards is the younger of the two, with a median age of 56 against 62 in Portarlington. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Portarlington, most households are people living alone. In St Leonards, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Portarlington: a median of $815,000, against $725,000 in St Leonards, though rent is higher in St Leonards. On these figures, Portarlington tends to suit older residents.

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

Portarlington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 7)

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

First-home buyers

St Leonards

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($480,000 vs $590,000)
  • has cheaper units ($432,000 vs $520,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($725,000 vs $815,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

St Leonards

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (104.6 km vs 106.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Portarlington

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (44% vs 33%)

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

Investors

St Leonards

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (42.8% vs 22.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Portarlington and St Leonards drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Portarlington St Leonards
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.

Portarlington St Leonards
Walkability 0 / 0
Portarlington — Walkability: 0/100 St Leonards — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 58 / 50
Portarlington — Safety: 58/100 St Leonards — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Portarlington — Low fire risk: 100/100 St Leonards — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 47 / 36
Portarlington — Low flood risk: 47/100 St Leonards — Low flood risk: 36/100

Demographics

Portarlington has more residents (4,436 vs 3,542); St Leonards has higher household incomes ($61,516 vs $55,328).

Portarlington St Leonards
Population 4,436
+20% vs other
 3,542
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +22.6% +42.8%
Median age 62 56
Median household income $55,328/yr $61,516/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $331/wk $350/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Portarlington St Leonards
0-4 2.4% / 3.7%
Portarlington — 0-4: 2.4% St Leonards — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 7.1% / 7.5%
Portarlington — 5-14: 7.1% St Leonards — 5-14: 7.5%
15-19 3.2% / 3.2%
Portarlington — 15-19: 3.2% St Leonards — 15-19: 3.2%
20-24 2.8% / 3.0%
Portarlington — 20-24: 2.8% St Leonards — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 5.3% / 9.0%
Portarlington — 25-34: 5.3% St Leonards — 25-34: 9.0%
35-44 7.2% / 8.7%
Portarlington — 35-44: 7.2% St Leonards — 35-44: 8.7%
45-54 10.4% / 12.9%
Portarlington — 45-54: 10.4% St Leonards — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 17.9% / 19.1%
Portarlington — 55-64: 17.9% St Leonards — 55-64: 19.1%
65-74 24.6% / 21.4%
Portarlington — 65-74: 24.6% St Leonards — 65-74: 21.4%
75-84 14.4% / 9.3%
Portarlington — 75-84: 14.4% St Leonards — 75-84: 9.3%
85+ 4.6% / 2.3%
Portarlington — 85+: 4.6% St Leonards — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Portarlington 55.5% lone person
Portarlington — Lone Person: 55.5% Portarlington — Couple Families: 26.3% Portarlington — One Parent Families: 12.6% Portarlington — Group Household: 3.9% Portarlington — Other Families: 1.7%
St Leonards 50.7% lone person
St Leonards — Lone Person: 50.7% St Leonards — Couple Families: 28.0% St Leonards — One Parent Families: 14.7% St Leonards — Group Household: 4.6% St Leonards — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Portarlington 21.7% renting
Portarlington — Owned Outright: 57.3% Portarlington — Mortgage: 21.0% Portarlington — Renting: 21.7%
St Leonards 24.4% renting
St Leonards — Owned Outright: 50.1% St Leonards — Mortgage: 25.6% St Leonards — Renting: 24.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Portarlington St Leonards
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 18.0%
Portarlington — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% St Leonards — Certificate III & IV: 18.0%
Bachelor Degree 9.9% / 10.1%
Portarlington — Bachelor Degree: 9.9% St Leonards — Bachelor Degree: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 9.1%
Portarlington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% St Leonards — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 3.6%
Portarlington — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% St Leonards — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.5%
Portarlington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% St Leonards — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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.

Portarlington St Leonards
England 5.1% / 4.5%
Portarlington — England: 5.1% St Leonards — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.6%
Portarlington — New Zealand: 1.7% St Leonards — New Zealand: 1.6%
Italy 0.8% / 1.6%
Portarlington — Italy: 0.8% St Leonards — Italy: 1.6%
Greece 0.7% / 1.4%
Portarlington — Greece: 0.7% St Leonards — Greece: 1.4%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.8%
Portarlington — Scotland: 0.5% St Leonards — Scotland: 0.8%
Germany 0.6% / 0.5%
Portarlington — Germany: 0.6% St Leonards — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Portarlington 90.8% houses
Portarlington — Houses: 90.8% Portarlington — Townhouses: 8.1% Portarlington — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
St Leonards 91.9% houses
St Leonards — Houses: 91.9% St Leonards — Townhouses: 7.0% St Leonards — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Portarlington St Leonards
Median house price $815,000 $725,000
Median unit price $520,000 $432,000
Median land price $590,000 $480,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 57 days
from 83 sales
 52 days
from 92 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Portarlington St Leonards
2 bed $650K / $590K
Portarlington — 2 bed: $650K (16 sales) St Leonards — 2 bed: $590K (14 sales)

16 vs 14 sales

3 bed $775K / $674K
Portarlington — 3 bed: $775K (100 sales) St Leonards — 3 bed: $674K (50 sales)

100 vs 50 sales

4 bed $970K / $760K
Portarlington — 4 bed: $970K (45 sales) St Leonards — 4 bed: $760K (85 sales)

45 vs 85 sales

5 bed $1.09M / $1.02M
Portarlington — 5 bed: $1.09M (10 sales) St Leonards — 5 bed: $1.02M (9 sales)

10 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Portarlington St Leonards
Rural and farming 68% 70%
Residential 15% 13%
Parks and recreation 8% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 1%
Other and special use 2%
same for both
Environmental 0% 1%
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

Portarlington St Leonards
New dwellings approved 3,468
across Greater Geelong
same for both
Approvals change year on year +56%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Portarlington St Leonards
Houses 3.1%
$575/wk on $952K
 3.7%
$540/wk on $760K
Units 4.6%
$515/wk on $580K
 4.8%
$525/wk on $570K

Ranking within VIC

Portarlington St Leonards
House price Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Income Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 22% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 15% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 68% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC

Liveability

Portarlington scores higher overall (45 vs 39).

Portarlington St Leonards
Grade C
same for both
Score 45/100 39/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
same for both

Risk profile

St Leonards carries more flood risk (64 vs 53).

Portarlington St Leonards
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
64/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
69/100
 High
70/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Portarlington St Leonards
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Portarlington

  • Portarlington Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in St Leonards

  • St Leonards Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Portarlington St Leonards
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 7 4
Parks & reserves 10 7
Childcare 2 1
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Portarlington sits further from the CBD (106.6 km vs 104.6 km).

Portarlington St Leonards
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 106.6 km
+2% vs other
 104.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 96 min 95 min
Public transport score 76/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 33.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 30.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3223
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 3223
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.

Portarlington St Leonards
Car (driver) 63.3% / 66.6%
Portarlington — Car (driver): 63.3% St Leonards — Car (driver): 66.6%
Worked from Home 28.2% / 27.0%
Portarlington — Worked from Home: 28.2% St Leonards — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.2%
Portarlington — Car (passenger): 4.1% St Leonards — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 2.7% / 1.5%
Portarlington — Walked Only: 2.7% St Leonards — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus 1.1% / 0.7%
Portarlington — Bus: 1.1% St Leonards — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.6%).

Setting

Portarlington St Leonards
Elevation 35 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
2.7 km to a named beach
 2.0 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Portarlington St Leonards
Connectivity score 70/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
3,388 premises
 65%
4,039 premises

Climate

Portarlington St Leonards
Annual rainfall —
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 22.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Portarlington St Leonards
PM2.5 — 5.0 µg/m³
PM10 — 20.5 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Portarlington St Leonards
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Portarlington St Leonards
Division Corangamite
same for both
Member Libby Coker
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Portarlington St Leonards
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Portarlington

Acreage Coastal Outer Retirees

St Leonards

Acreage Coastal Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Portarlington

Portarlington vs Drysdale Portarlington vs Indented Head Portarlington vs Bellarine

Other comparisons with St Leonards

St Leonards vs Drysdale St Leonards vs Indented Head St Leonards vs Mannerim St Leonards vs Swan Bay
Full data on Portarlington Full data on St Leonards
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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