Port Macquarie - West

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 24,089 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 2,942 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 21,147. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,575 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 1,276 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 444 persons per square kilometer. Port Macquarie - West's growth rate of 13.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.7%) and the non-metro area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where data was not available, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally was forecast, with Port Macquarie - West expected to increase by 5,884 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 21.5% 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. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, 1,495 homes were approved, with an additional 102 approved in FY-26 to date. Each year, on average, 2.5 new residents are gained for each dwelling built over the past five financial years, indicating solid demand supporting property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $473,000. This year alone, $79.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Port Macquarie - West shows 77.0% higher building activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers despite recent easing in construction activity. This is significantly above the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. New development consists predominantly 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 currently has approximately 94 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Looking ahead, Port Macquarie - West is expected to grow by 5,184 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. 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 26thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 21 such projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Port Macquarie Base Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2, Pacific Highway - Oxley Highway Interchange Upgrade, Ocean Drive Duplication, and Tuffins Lane Sporting Precinct Drainage. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Port Macquarie-West has a skilled workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% as of June 2025, lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.6%. As of June 2025, 10,675 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 0.5% below the Rest of NSW average. Workforce participation in Port Macquarie-West lagged behind the Rest of NSW at 49.9%. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services.

The area had a particularly strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence with 0.9% employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%. The ratio of workers to residents was 0.7, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6% and labour force increased by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points in Port Macquarie-West. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data as of Nov-25 showed NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, as of May-25, projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Macquarie-West's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Port Macquarie - West SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $46,603 and an average of $61,152. This is lower than the national average. Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth from financial year 2022 to September 2025 (12.61%), estimated current incomes are approximately $52,480 median and $68,863 average for Port Macquarie - West. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Port Macquarie - West fall between the 12th and 18th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 27.3% of locals (6,576 people) earn $800-$1,499, unlike regional trends where 29.9% earn $1,500-$2,999. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 79.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 10th percentile.

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 evaluated at 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 38.9%, with the remainder either mortgaged (25.1%) or rented (36.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $1,733. Median weekly rent 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 constitute 63.4% of all households, including 19.9% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for 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's university qualification rate is 18.2%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (12.8%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (30.0%). Educational participation is high at 27.7%, with 8.6% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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.

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. These are served by buses on 129 different routes, offering a total of 2,129 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 223 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 304 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 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

Port Macquarie-West faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately half of its total population (~12,044) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.6% of residents) and mental health issues (impacting 10.5%). Conversely, 57.5% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's figure of 59.9%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.7% (6,682 people), with health outcomes among this demographic presenting some challenges despite performing better than the general population in certain health 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 low cultural diversity, with 84.4% of its population born in Australia, 89.8% being citizens, and 93.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 57.6% of people, similar to the 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 representation is higher at 4.7%, compared to 3.8% regionally. Maltese (0.5%) and Filipino (0.9%) populations also exceed regional averages of 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively.

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 Australia's national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group shows strong representation at 10.5%, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 55-64 cohort is less prevalent at 10.3%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 15-24 age group grew from 11.7% to 13.2% of the population, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 11.3% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 11.5% to 10.3%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 14.1% to 13.0%. By 2041, Port Macquarie - West is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 group growing by 38% (1,161 people) to reach 4,197 from 3,035. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort grows by a modest 5% (116 people).