Port Macquarie - West
Statistical Area - sa2

Port Macquarie - West lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Port Macquarie - West's population was around 24,025 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 2,878 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,147. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,563 in June 2024 and an additional 1,252 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population resulted in a density ratio of 443 persons per square kilometer. Port Macquarie - West's growth rate of 13.6% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA4 region (4.6%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch used ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections were utilized, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest population numbers, a significant increase of 5,884 persons was forecasted in Port Macquarie - West by 2041, recording a gain of 21.8% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Port Macquarie - West was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Port Macquarie - West has averaged approximately 299 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, showing 1,495 homes over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional 49 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, around 2.5 people have moved to the area per new home constructed during these five financial years, indicating solid demand that supports property values. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $473,000.

This year has seen $79.0 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Port Macquarie - West exhibits 77.0% higher building activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers, although recent construction activity has eased. This is notably above the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. New development consists primarily of standalone homes (71.0%) and townhouses or apartments (29.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 94 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Looking ahead, Port Macquarie - West is projected to grow by 5,248 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Port Macquarie - West has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

"Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 22 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Port Macquarie Base Hospital Mechanical and Clinical Infrastructure Upgrade, Ocean Drive Duplication, Pacific Highway - Oxley Highway Interchange Upgrade, and Tara Port Macquarie.".

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

Employment conditions in Port Macquarie - West remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Port Macquarie - West has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6%.

As of June 2025, there are 10,675 residents employed at an unemployment rate of 0.5%, lower than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation is significantly lower at 49.9% compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (1.4 times the regional level), retail trade, and accommodation & food. Agriculture, forestry & fishing have limited presence with 0.9% employment compared to 5.3% regionally.

The worker-to-resident ratio of 0.7 indicates above-normal local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6%, labour force by 1.0%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.1%, labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Port Macquarie - West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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

The latest postcode level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2022 shows Port Macquarie - West's median income among taxpayers is $46,603. The average income in the area was $61,152 during this period. Nationally, incomes were higher than those recorded in Port Macquarie - West. In comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998 for financial year 2022. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest the median income in Port Macquarie - West would be approximately $51,543 and the average around $67,634 as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, incomes in Port Macquarie - West fall between the 13th and 18th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile indicates that the predominant cohort consists of 6,558 people (27.3% of locals) with incomes ranging from $800 to $1,499. This is unlike regional trends where a higher proportion, 29.9%, fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Port Macquarie - West, with only 79.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

Port Macquarie - West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Port Macquarie - West, as per the latest Census, comprised 64.4% houses and 35.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 75.9% houses and 24.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Macquarie - West was at 38.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 36.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $385, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $375. Nationally, Port Macquarie - West's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents higher at $375.

Port Macquarie - West features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households are the majority at 63.4%. They include 19.9% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.6%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 3.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

Port Macquarie - West shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 18.2%, substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (30.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education. Twelve schools serve 5,191 students while Port Macquarie - West demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 996) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes five primary, four secondary, and three K-12 schools. The area functions as an education hub with 21.6 school places per 100 residents – significantly above the regional average of 14.2 – attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Port Macquarie - West has 134 active public transport stops. All of these are bus stops. They are serviced by 129 individual routes.

These routes provide a total of 2,129 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport is rated as good. Residents typically live within 223 meters of their nearest stop. On average, there are 304 trips per day across all routes. This averages out to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Port Macquarie - West is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Health challenges are prominent in Port Macquarie - West, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately half the population has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical issues are arthritis (11.6%) and mental health concerns (10.5%), while 57.5% report no medical ailments, compared to 59.9% in Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.7%, numbering approximately 6,664 individuals. Health outcomes among seniors show some challenges but perform better than the general population metrics.

Port Macquarie - West ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Macquarie-West has a cultural diversity below average, with 84.4% of its population born in Australia, 89.8% being citizens, and 93.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion, making up 57.6%. This compares to 57.5% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups are English (32.4%), Australian (30.1%), and Irish (8.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 4.7% (vs regional 3.8%), Maltese at 0.5% (vs 0.4%), and Filipino at 0.9% (vs 0.5%).

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

Port Macquarie - West has a median age of 46, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group shows strong representation at 10.5%, compared to Rest of NSW's figure, while the 55-64 cohort is less prevalent at 10.3%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.7% to 13.2% of the population, and the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 11.3% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 11.5% to 10.3%, and the 65 to 74 group dropped from 14.1% to 13.0%. By 2041, Port Macquarie - West is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 39%, adding 1,169 people and reaching a total of 4,197 from the previous figure of 3,027. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 cohort grows by a modest 5%, adding 122 people.