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, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 24,025. This figure represents a 13.6% increase from the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 21,147 people. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 23,563 in June 2024 and an additional 1,252 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 443 persons per square kilometer. Port Macquarie - West's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (4.6%) and non-metro areas. Interstate migration contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovered areas, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Port Macquarie - West is forecast to increase by 5,884 persons, recording a total gain of 21.8% over the 17-year period.

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 averaged approximately 299 new dwelling approvals annually. Between Financial Year 2021 (FY-21) and FY-25, 1,495 homes were approved, with an additional 82 approved so far in FY-26. Each dwelling built over the past five financial years attracted an average of 2.5 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for these dwellings was $473,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $79.0 million, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Port Macquarie-West exhibits 77.0% higher building activity per capita, offering greater choice for buyers despite recent construction activity easing. This level is significantly above the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. New development comprises 71.0% standalone homes and 29.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused 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. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favorable 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 21 projects likely impacting the region. Notable ones include the Port Macquarie Base Hospital Mechanical and Clinical Infrastructure Upgrade, Ocean Drive Duplication, Pacific Highway - Oxley Highway Interchange Upgrade, and Tara Port Macquarie. The following list details those most relevant.

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% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

As of this date, 10,675 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.5% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was significantly lower at 49.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 0.9% employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%. There is a ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident, indicating local employment opportunities above the norm. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6%, while labour force increased by 1.0%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% decrease in employment, a 0.3% increase in labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5% and lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May 2025, project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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, using simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 had a median taxpayer income of $46,603 and an average of $61,152. This is lower than the national average, with Rest of NSW having a median of $49,459 and average of $62,998. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $51,543 (median) and $67,634 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Port Macquarie - West fall between the 13th and 18th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 27.3% of locals earn between $800 and $1,499, unlike regional trends where 29.9% earn between $1,500 and $2,999. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.5% of income remaining, 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

Port Macquarie - West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 64.4% houses and 35.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, '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 was $385, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $375. Nationally, Port Macquarie - West's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were 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 making up 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 the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, 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. There are 12 schools serving 5,191 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 996) and balanced educational opportunities. The area functions as an education hub with 21.6 school places per 100 residents, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show '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 - West has 134 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 129 unique routes that combined offer 2,129 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as good, with residents located an average of 223 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, there are 304 trips per day across all routes, which equates 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

Critical health challenges are evident in Port Macquarie - West, with various health conditions affecting both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 50% of the total population (~12,012 people) have private health cover, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.6% and 10.5% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 57.5% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 59.9% across Rest of NSW. The area has 27.7% of residents aged 65 and over (6,664 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, performing even better than the general population in 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 had a below-average cultural diversity, with 84.4% of its population born in Australia, 89.8% being citizens, and 93.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 57.6%, similar to the 57.5% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.4%), Australian (30.1%), and Irish (8.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal people were overrepresented at 4.7% compared to the regional average of 3.8%. Maltese and Filipino populations also had higher representation in Port Macquarie-West than regionally, at 0.5% and 0.9%, 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 the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group shows strong representation at 10.5%, compared to Rest of NSW, whereas 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, while 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 is projected to grow by a modest 5%, with an increase of 122 people.