Port Macquarie - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Port Macquarie - South's population is approximately 17,593 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 309 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,284. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 17,462 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 502 persons per square kilometer. Port Macquarie - South's population growth rate of 1.8% since the Census is within 2.8 percentage points of its SA4 region, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 54.1% to overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest population numbers and demographic trends, Port Macquarie - South is expected to increase by approximately 1,468 persons by 2041, recording a total gain of 7.6% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Port Macquarie - South according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Port Macquarie - South has seen approximately 39 new homes approved annually. Development approval data, sourced from the ABS on a financial year basis, totals 198 approvals between FY21 and FY25, with 6 approvals recorded so far in FY26. Each dwelling built over these years attracted an average of 1 person moving to the area, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $622,000, reflecting quality-focused development.

In comparison, Rest of NSW has a building activity 71.0% higher per capita than Port Macquarie - South. This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. The area's building activity is also below national average, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity comprises 78.0% standalone homes and 22.0% medium to high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character. As of now, there are an estimated 758 people per dwelling approval in Port Macquarie - South.

Looking ahead, the area is projected to grow by 1,335 residents by 2041. Construction pace is expected to keep up with this growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as population increases.

Port Macquarie - South has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

AreaSearch identified 15 projects that could impact the area's performance. Key projects include Ocean Estate Port Macquarie, Ocean Drive Duplication, Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility, and Port Macquarie Base Hospital Mechanical and Clinical Infrastructure Upgrade. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Port Macquarie - South demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Port Macquarie - South has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.1%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year.

In this period, 8,225 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.5% below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is somewhat lower at 52.8%, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among Port Macquarie - South residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a particular specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.4% versus the regional average of 5.3%. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data for June 2025 indicates that employment levels increased by 0.8%, while labour force increased by 0.9%. Unemployment remained essentially unchanged during this period. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a rise in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Providing broader context, state-level data to Sep-25 shows that NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lags behind the national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 offer insight into potential future demand within Port Macquarie - South. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to the local employment mix suggests a growth rate of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Port Macquarie - South had a median taxpayer income of $46,603 and an average of $61,152 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998 during the same period. As of March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $51,543 (median) and $67,634 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census reported that household, family, and personal incomes in Port Macquarie - South ranked modestly, between the 27th and 27th percentiles. The earnings profile showed that 28.2% of the community earned between $1,500 and $2,999 (4,961 individuals), which was similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represented 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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 in Port Macquarie - South, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.0% houses and 20.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 75.9% houses and 24.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Macquarie - South stood at 47.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.2% and rented ones at 22.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,814, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $420, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $375. Nationally, Port Macquarie - South's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $420 versus the national figure of $375.

Port Macquarie - South has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.1% of all households, consisting of 26.2% couples with children, 33.8% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.9%, with lone person households at 26.3% and group households making up 2.6%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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 as of 2021 indicate that 23.4% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to the state average of 32.2% in New South Wales. The most common qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 16.1% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 39.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (27.6%). As of 2021, 26.1% of Port Macquarie - South's residents are currently enrolled in formal education, with 9.4% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 3.0% in tertiary education.

The four schools in the area have a combined enrollment of 1,759 students as of 2021, with Port Macquarie - South demonstrating above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1056). The educational mix includes one primary school, two secondary schools, and one K-12 school. As of 2021, there are 10.0 school places per 100 residents in Port Macquarie - South, which is below the regional average of 14.2. Some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Port Macquarie - South has 127 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of buses operating along 92 different routes. Together, these routes facilitate 1,536 weekly passenger trips.

The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 181 meters from their nearest stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 219 trips per day, translating to around 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Port Macquarie - South is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Port Macquarie - South faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~8,796 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.7%) and mental health issues (9.1%). A higher proportion of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments (61.1%) than in Rest of NSW (59.9%). The area has a higher percentage of seniors, with 27.9% aged 65 and over (4,911 people). Health outcomes among seniors are challenging but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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, assessed in terms of cultural diversity, showed that a majority of its residents were born in Australia (85.7%), held citizenship (93.2%), and spoke English exclusively at home (95.5%). Christianity was the prevalent religion in Port Macquarie-South, with 60.2% adherents, slightly higher than the 57.5% regional average for Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.3%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (10.3%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was relatively high at 8.5%, compared to 8.3% regionally; Welsh ancestry was similarly higher at 0.6% versus 0.5%; Dutch ancestry also exceeded the regional average at 1.4%.

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

Port Macquarie - South's median age is 48 years, which is significantly older than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and higher than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that the 75-84 year-olds make up a prominent 10.8%, while the 25-34 age group is relatively smaller at 8.3%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has increased from 10.6% to 11.9% of the population, and the 15-24 cohort has grown from 9.5% to 10.7%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group has declined from 13.7% to 12.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Port Macquarie - South's age profile. The 35-44 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, increasing by 637 people (30%) from 2,098 to 2,736. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 75-84 cohorts.