Port Macquarie - South

An assessment of population growth drivers in Port Macquarie - South reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Port Macquarie - South's population is around 17,776 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 492 people (2.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,284 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,460 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 122 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 508 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 54.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of national regional areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 1,468 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 6.5% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Port Macquarie - South, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Port Macquarie - South has seen around 39 new homes approved each year, totalling 198 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 17 approvals have been recorded. At an average of 1 new resident per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand appear well-balanced, creating stable market conditions, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $355,000. Additionally, $2.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, suggesting the area's residential character.

Relative to the Rest of NSW, Port Macquarie - South has significantly less development activity (71.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 78.0% detached houses and 22.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated count of 758 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Population forecasts indicate Port Macquarie - South will gain 1,152 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Port Macquarie - South has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 15 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Ocean Estate Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie Base Hospital Mechanical and Clinical Infrastructure Upgrade, Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility, and Hastings Residences Port Macquarie, with the below list detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis places Port Macquarie - South well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Port Macquarie - South has a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of just 2.1%. As of December 2025, 8,083 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.9% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (57.0% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 15.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.4% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw the labour force decrease by 1.2% while employment declined by 1.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Port Macquarie - South. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Port Macquarie - South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Port Macquarie - South SA2's income level is lower than average on a national basis according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Port Macquarie - South SA2's median income among taxpayers is $49,519 and the average income stands at $62,880, which compares to figures for Regional NSW's of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $53,906 (median) and $68,451 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Port Macquarie - South, between the 26th and 27th percentiles. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 28.2% of the community (5,012 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 27th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Port Macquarie - South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Port Macquarie - South, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 80.0% houses and 20.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Port Macquarie - South was higher than that of Regional NSW, at 47.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (30.2%) or rented (22.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Regional NSW average at $1,814, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $420, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Port Macquarie - South's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Port Macquarie - South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 71.1% of all households, comprising 26.2% couples with children, 33.8% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.9%, with lone person households at 26.3% and group households comprising 2.6% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people matches the Regional NSW average.

The educational profile of Port Macquarie - South exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Port Macquarie - South trail regional benchmarks, with 23.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (27.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis reveals 148 active transport stops operating within Port Macquarie - South, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 91 individual routes, collectively providing 1,461 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 180 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. Some 15.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 208 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Port Macquarie - South is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Port Macquarie - South faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~8,959 people). The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.7% and 9.1% of residents, respectively, while 61.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 27.6% of residents aged 65 and over (4,915 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Port Macquarie - South is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Port Macquarie - South was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 85.7% of its population born in Australia, 93.2% being citizens, and 95.5% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Port Macquarie - South is Christianity, which makes up 60.2% of people in Port Macquarie - South. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Port Macquarie - South are English, comprising 33.3% of the population, Australian, comprising 29.1% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.3% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 8.5% of Port Macquarie - South (vs 8.0% regionally), Welsh at 0.6% (vs 0.5%) and Dutch at 1.4% (vs 1.0%).

Port Macquarie - South hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Port Macquarie - South's median age of 48 years stands materially older than Regional NSW's 43 and is significantly higher than the Australian median of 38. The age profile shows 75 - 84 year-olds are particularly prominent (10.7%), while the 25 - 34 group is comparatively smaller (8.5%) than in Regional NSW. Post-2021 Census data shows the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 10.6% to 12.2% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.5% to 10.7%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 13.7% to 12.2% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 13.1% to 12.1%. Demographic modeling suggests Port Macquarie - South's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 35 to 44 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 561 people (26%) from 2,174 to 2,736. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 75 to 84 cohorts.