Port Macquarie Surrounds

Port Macquarie Surrounds is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Port Macquarie Surrounds' population is around 5,359 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 58 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,301 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,331 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 102 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.9 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate an increase just below the median of locations outside capital cities, with the area expected to expand by 281 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 4.7% in total over the 16 years.

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

Port Macquarie Surrounds has recorded approximately 15 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 76 homes were approved, and as of FY-26, 16 have been approved so far. Despite a declining population in recent years, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $408,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. This financial year, $572,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity compared to residential. When measured against the Rest of NSW, Port Macquarie Surrounds has significantly less development activity, 64.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated count of 376 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Port Macquarie Surrounds is expected to grow by 253 residents through to 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Port Macquarie Surrounds has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 36 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Beechwood Road Upgrade Stage 6 including Steels Bridge Wauchope, The Sanctuary Port Macquarie, Sovereign Hills Master Planned Community, and Thrumster Business Park. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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 assessment positions Port Macquarie Surrounds ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Port Macquarie Surrounds has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate as of December 2025 was 2.8%. At that time, 2732 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.1% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was broadly similar to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, a moderate 20.9% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents comprised agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area had particularly notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels at 3.3 times the regional average.

In contrast, accommodation & food employed only 4.9% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 7.8%. An analysis of SALM and ABS data for a 12-month period showed labour force decreasing by 1.4%, while employment declined by 1.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Port Macquarie Surrounds. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Port Macquarie Surrounds' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Port Macquarie Surrounds SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $45,244 and an average income of $55,050 in the financial year 2023, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are lower than those for Regional NSW, which were $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). By March 2026, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% suggest the median income will be approximately $49,913 and the average will be around $60,731. The 2021 Census revealed that household, family, and personal incomes in Port Macquarie Surrounds fell between the 16th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets showed that 29.2% of individuals (1,564 people) earned between $1,500 and $2,999, which is consistent with surrounding regions at 29.9%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 87.0% income retention, total disposable income ranked at the 27th percentile nationally.

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

In Port Macquarie Surrounds, as per the latest Census evaluation, 96.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 3.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Port Macquarie Surrounds was 52.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.2% and rented ones at 13.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,668, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Port Macquarie Surrounds was $300, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Port Macquarie Surrounds' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 75.3% of all households, including 29.4% couples with children, 36.0% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.7%, with lone person households at 22.0% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Port Macquarie Surrounds fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 46.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (34.5%). Educational participation is high, with 27.0% currently enrolled in formal education: 10.6% in primary, 8.1% in secondary, and 2.5% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Port Macquarie Surrounds has 154 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 46 routes providing 309 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is moderate with residents typically living 406 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, primarily by car (93%), with 5% walking. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.9, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 20.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 44 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Port Macquarie Surrounds's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Port Macquarie's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks. AreaSearch assessed mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence as standard for both young and old age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 47% of the total population (~2540 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.6%) and mental health issues (8.5%). Around 65.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 29.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1555 people), exceeding Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors rank particularly high, surpassing national averages for the general population.

The latest Census data sees Port Macquarie Surrounds placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Macquarie Surrounds, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data from June 2016, showed a cultural diversity below average. The population was predominantly citizens at 90.6%, born in Australia also at 90.6%, and speaking English only at home at 97.6%. Christianity was the dominant religion, with 56.1% of people adhering to it, slightly higher than the Regional NSW average of 55.9%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were Australian at 33.4%, English at 32.7%, and Irish at 9.3%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation compared to regional averages: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 3.5% (regional average 4.6%), Scottish at 8.1% (regional average 8.0%), and German at 3.3% (regional average 3.1%).

Port Macquarie Surrounds ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Port Macquarie Surrounds has a median age of 50, which is higher than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and also above the national average of 38. The age group of 65-74 years old makes up 18.3% of the population in Port Macquarie Surrounds, compared to 12.9% in Regional NSW and 9.4% nationally. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age cohort is less prevalent at 6.7%. According to data from the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 6.3% to 8.8%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 8.8% to 10.6%. However, the 55 to 64 age group decreased from 18.5% to 16.6%, and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 12.5% to 10.8%. Demographic projections indicate significant changes in Port Macquarie Surrounds' age profile by 2041. The 75 to 84 age cohort is expected to grow by 166 people (35%), from 472 to 639. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above are projected to account for 61% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, population declines are forecasted for the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 age cohorts.