Port Macquarie

Population growth drivers in Port Macquarie are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Port Macquarie is around 51,565. This figure reflects an increase of 3,872 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 47,693. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 49,747 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 776 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 973 persons per square kilometer. Port Macquarie's growth rate of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW's 5.9%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb of Port Macquarie is projected to increase by 7,558 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 11.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Port Macquarie among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Port Macquarie averaged approximately 278 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 1,392 homes were approved, with an additional 138 so far in FY-26. Each dwelling supported an average of 2.5 new residents per year over the past five financial years.

The average construction value for new homes was $497,000, indicating a focus on premium developments. Commercial approvals totaled $68.1 million in FY-26. Port Macquarie showed approximately 75% of the construction activity per person compared to the Rest of NSW and ranked at the 68th percentile nationally.

New development consisted of 67.0% standalone homes and 33.0% medium and high-density housing, offering choices across price ranges. With around 201 people per dwelling approval, Port Macquarie exhibited characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 5,740 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest that new housing supply should readily meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Port Macquarie has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects that could impact the region. Notable projects include Port Macquarie Base Hospital Mechanical and Clinical Infrastructure Upgrade, Ocean Estate Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility, and Hastings Residences Port Macquarie. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

The labour market in Port Macquarie demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Port Macquarie has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.9%. The area's unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, but workforce participation is slightly below standard at 57.3% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%.

According to Census responses, 14.2% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.6% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. There appears to be limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.2% while employment declined by 1.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. This compares to Regional NSW where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Port Macquarie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Port Macquarie's median income among taxpayers is $46,231. The average income in the suburb is $60,664. Both figures are below the national average. In Regional NSW, the median income is $52,390 and the average is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Port Macquarie's median income are approximately $50,327 and the average is around $66,039 as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Port Macquarie fall between the 19th and 24th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 27.4% of locals (14,128 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall into this category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Port Macquarie, with only 82.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Port Macquarie displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Port Macquarie's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 66.2% houses and 33.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Macquarie was at 41.3%, similar to Regional NSW, with the rest being mortgaged (25.9%) or rented (32.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,751, above Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Port Macquarie was $380, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 65.0% of all households, including 21.7% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 31.6% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Port Macquarie aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Port Macquarie's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 22.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to NSW's 32.2%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (27.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 4.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Port Macquarie has 406 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 156 different routes, together offering 2,490 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 182 meters. Most residents commute outside Port Macquarie, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 93%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 14.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 355 trips per day, equating to roughly six weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this information, displaying the 100 transport stops closest to Port Macquarie's central location.

Health performance in Port Macquarie is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Port Macquarie faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population, which is around 26,272 people. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.4 and 9.8% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 60.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 27.7% of residents aged 65 and over (14,283 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Port Macquarie's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.9% of its population born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 94.6% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Port Macquarie is Christianity, comprising 57.3% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Regarding ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (32.7%), Australian (29.2%), and Irish (9.8%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 3.6% in Port Macquarie compared to 4.6% regionally, Scottish at 8.3% versus 8.0%, and French at 0.5% versus 0.4%.

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

Port Macquarie's median age at 47 years is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 10.3% of the population, while the 5-14 age group is relatively smaller at 10.6%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 9.3% to 10.9%, while the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 13.1% to 11.7%. By 2041, Port Macquarie's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 7,111 people from the current 5,620. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 age group is forecasted to decline by 95 people.