Overall score
Indented Head
48.6/100
Portarlington
48.5/100
Indented Head vs Portarlington, VIC Suburb Comparison
Indented Head for families and beach lifestyle; Portarlington for retirees and investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Indented HeadPortarlington
Crime rate
Indented Head
14.6 / 1k
Portarlington
30.8 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Indented Head
22
Portarlington
9
Population
Indented Head
1,391
Portarlington
4,436
Metric leadIndented Head 5Portarlington 33 tiedacross 11 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesPortarlington
- Best for familiesIndented Head
- Best for beach lifestyleIndented Head
- Best for investmentPortarlington
- Best for best valueIndented Head
- Best for best schoolsIndented Head
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Indented Head | Portarlington |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 48.6/100 | 48.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 42.3/100 | 42.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 14.6 / 1k | 30.8 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | — | 9 |
| Public transport stops | 22 | 36 |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 22 | 9 |
| Planning activity | 14 | 104 |
| Green cover | 0.0% | 4.9% |
| Population | 1,391 | 4,436 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 6/10 | 4/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Indented Head is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm, and Portarlington is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm. Portarlington sits among greener hillside streets, while Indented Head keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Indented Head tends to lead on housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and nearby cafés and amenities, while Portarlington stands out for public transport access and a larger local community.
Choose Indented Head if you are weighing retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, and value-focused buyers; lean toward Portarlington for investors and households prioritising schools.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.