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 February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Port Macquarie is around 51,565. This figure represents an increase of 3,872 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 47,693. The growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 49,747 in June 2024, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 776 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 973 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Port Macquarie's growth rate of 8.1% since the 2021 Census exceeded that of both the Rest of NSW (5.9%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Future population growth projections indicate an above median increase for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to gain 7,623 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 11.4% 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 279 new dwelling approvals annually, with around 1,397 homes approved between financial years FY-21 and FY-25. As of FY-26123 dwellings have been approved so far. Each dwelling, on average, accommodates about 2.5 new residents per year over the past five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes is around $497,000, suggesting developers focus on premium market segments with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled approximately $68.1 million, reflecting robust local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Port Macquarie exhibits about 75% of construction activity per capita and ranks among the 68th percentile nationally in terms of assessed areas.

New developments consist of roughly 67.0% standalone homes and 33.0% medium to high-density housing, offering a mix of attached housing types catering to various price ranges. With around 199 people per dwelling approval, Port Macquarie exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate an increase of approximately 5,897 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand adequately, providing favourable 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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely impacting the area. Key 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 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 well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Employment stability over the past year is relative.

As of September 2025, 23,872 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.9% below the regional average. Workforce participation is somewhat lower at 58.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 14.2% of residents work from home. Employment concentrations include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance (1.4 times the regional level) but lower representation in agriculture, forestry & fishing (0.6%). Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparison of working population vs resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force increased by 0.4% while employment declined by 0.2%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Macquarie's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 comparison, Rest of 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's median income would be approximately $50,327 by September 2025, with the average estimated at $66,039. The 2021 Census data indicates that 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 - 2,999 annually, a pattern also seen in metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall within this income range. 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 suburb'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

Dwelling structure in Port Macquarie, as evaluated at the Census conducted on 28 August 2016, comprised 66.2% houses and 33.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings at the same time. Home ownership in Port Macquarie was 41.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.9% and rented dwellings at 32.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Port Macquarie was $1,751, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Port Macquarie was $380, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Port Macquarie's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.0 percent of all households, including 21.7 percent couples with children, 31.3 percent couples without children, and 11.2 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.0 percent, with lone person households at 31.6 percent and group households comprising 3.4 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of 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; 22.5% of residents aged 15+ hold 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; 26.9% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, 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 that together facilitate 2,490 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing only 182 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents in this primarily residential area commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 93% of residents. 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 might reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 355 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately six weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the hundred nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat prevalent across younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~26,272 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.4% and 9.8% of residents respectively. 60.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. As of 27 June 2018, the area has 27.6% of residents aged 65 and over (14,231 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population as of this date.

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 latest data from June 2016, had a cultural diversity index of below average. This was indicated by the high percentage of its population born in Australia, standing at 84.9%, with 91.0% being Australian citizens and 94.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was found to be the predominant religion in Port Macquarie, accounting for 57.3% of the population, compared to 55.9% across the rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups in Port Macquarie were English (32.7%), Australian (29.2%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, some ethnic groups showed variations from regional averages: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 3.6%, Scottish was slightly higher at 8.3%, and French was notably present at 0.5%.

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

Port Macquarie's median age at 47 years is significantly higher than Rest of NSW's average of 43 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 group is comparatively smaller at 10.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 9.3% to 10.9% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 11.7%. By 2041, Port Macquarie's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 27%, adding 1,514 people and reaching a total of 7,135 from the current 5,620. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 cohort is projected to decline by 109 people.