Port Stephens vs Lake Macquarie

Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie are nearby New South Wales areas with different levels of accessibility. Lake Macquarie is far more connected, with 34 intersections per square kilometre compared to 9 in Port Stephens. It is also much easier for residents in Lake Macquarie to reach local services on foot, with 68.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a school, compared to 42.6% in Port Stephens. Lake Macquarie has a far larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, numbering 11,527 people.

Both areas have tracked closely in terms of their First Nations communities since 2011. In both places, the typical First Nations resident is 22 years old and earns a typical personal income of around $600. Unemployment rates for First Nations people are also nearly identical, sitting between 9.4% and 9.6%. While Lake Macquarie is generally more walkable, both areas are considered somewhat walkable, and they share a similar mix of nearby amenities, with public transport and parks being the most common features within walking distance.