Port Macquarie

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, Port Macquarie's estimated population as of May 2026 is around 49,492. This reflects a growth of 1,799 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 47,693. The growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 49,133 residents, based on latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2025), and an additional 779 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 934 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Port Macquarie's growth of 3.8% since census is within 1.1 percentage points of Rest of NSW (4.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics project an above median growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to increase by 6,350 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 12.1% over the 16 years.

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. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 1,392 homes were approved, with an additional 180 approved in FY-26 so far. Each dwelling is estimated to accommodate about 2 new residents per year on average over the past 5 financial years.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $497,000, indicating a focus on premium developments. In FY-26, there have been $68.1 million in commercial approvals. Relative to Rest of NSW, Port Macquarie shows around 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 68th percentile nationally.

New development consists of approximately 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 shows characteristics of a low density area. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 5,991 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Port Macquarie has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that could impact the area significantly due to their influence on local infrastructure. Notable among these are the 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 provides details of 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 3.0%. The area's unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, while workforce participation is somewhat lower at 55.8%.

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. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.6% versus the regional average of 5.3%.

The labour force decreased by 2.0% and employment declined by 2.5% during the year to December 2025, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Port Macquarie's 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 2023 shows Port Macquarie's median taxpayer income is $46,231 and average income is $60,664. This is below the national average. Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Port Macquarie are approximately $51,002 (median) and $66,925 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals household, family, and personal incomes in Port Macquarie fall between the 19th and 24th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows 27.4% of locals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 per year, reflecting patterns seen in metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 82.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 17th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Port Macquarie's dwellings, 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. Mortgaged dwellings made up 25.9%, while rented dwellings accounted for 32.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,751, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Port Macquarie was $380, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Port Macquarie's 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 comprise 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 make up 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, 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

Educational qualifications in Port Macquarie show that 22.5% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university degrees, compared to the state benchmark of 32.2% in New South Wales (NSW). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 27.9%. Educational participation is high in Port Macquarie, 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 individual routes, carrying a total of 2,490 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest transport stop is 182 meters. Most commuters travel outward from Port Macquarie, with cars being the primary mode of transportation 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 approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 51% of the total population (~25,216 people) has private health cover, which is relatively low. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.4 and 9.8% of residents respectively. Conversely, 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 due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 28.6% of residents aged 65 and over (14,154 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, as per the census data from June 2016, demonstrated lower cultural diversity with 84.9% of its population born in Australia and 91.0% being citizens. English was spoken at home by 94.6%. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 57.3%, slightly higher than the 55.9% regional average for Regional NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.7%), Australian (29.2%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal people were overrepresented at 3.6% compared to the regional average of 4.6%. Similarly, Scottish (8.3%) and French (0.5%) populations were higher than their respective regional averages of 8.0% and 0.4%.

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

Port Macquarie's median age is 48 years, which is older than Regional NSW's median of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's median of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 make up a prominent 10.9%, while the 5-14 age group is smaller at 10.6% compared to Regional NSW. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 9.3% to 10.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age cohort has declined from 13.1% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Port Macquarie's age profile will change significantly. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow steadily by 1,390 people (27%), reaching 6,538 from the current 5,147. Meanwhile, numbers in the 55 to 64 age range are expected to fall by 52.