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Port Stephens vs Port Macquarie

Name: Port Stephens vs Port Macquarie — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 163 km apart · Port Stephens profile · Port Macquarie profile

Port Stephens Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie and Port Stephens are both regional New South Wales hubs with similar population sizes, though they offer different levels of accessibility. Port Macquarie is more geared toward health and education, with 43.0% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and a higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (17.0%). In contrast, Port Stephens is more connected by transit and infrastructure, with a far higher number of public transport stops (659 compared to 281) and more people working from home (17.8% compared to 12.4%).

The gap in educational attainment has widened since 2011, with Port Macquarie seeing a growing lead in residents who completed Year 12. Beyond this, the two areas are remarkably similar in their daily lives. They share the same proportion of people born overseas (12.3%) and a nearly identical typical weekly household income, around $1,300. Both regions also have an aging population, though the difference in typical age has narrowed to just one year.

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Where they differ most

3+ bedrooms: 6.7 pts higher in Port Stephens No car: 1.5 pts higher in Port Macquarie Work from home: 5.4 pts higher in Port Stephens Volunteering: 2.3 pts higher in Port Macquarie Living alone: 2.8 pts higher in Port Macquarie

Demographics & Identity

Population in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +10,366 larger in Port Macquarie gap widening

76,414 63rd pct 86,780 70th pct

Median age in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +1 yrs older in Port Macquarie gap narrowing

48 yrs 88th pct 49 yrs 90th pct

Age structure

27.3% Seniors (65+) +1.9 pts ▸ 29.1%

27.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.1 pts 26.0%

19.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +0.2 pts 18.8%

16.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.4 pts 16.0%

10.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.2 pts 10.1%

Marital status

49.5% Married ◂ +1.5 pts 47.9%

29.3% Never married ◂ +0.2 pts 29.1%

11.0% Divorced +0.6 pts ▸ 11.6%

6.6% Widowed +1.0 pts ▸ 7.6%

3.6% Separated +0.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Port Stephens Port Macquarie

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

82.4% Australia +0.3 pts ▸ 82.7%

4.1% England +0.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.3% New Zealand even 1.4%

0.5% South Africa even 0.4%

0.4% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% India +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% China even 0.2%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Nepal even 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

44.7% English +0.6 pts ▸ 45.2%

41.2% Australian +0.8 pts ▸ 41.9%

11.4% Irish +1.4 pts ▸ 12.8%

11.3% Scottish even 11.3%

4.3% German ◂ +0.3 pts 3.9%

1.9% Italian even 2.0%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

0.7% Chinese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Filipino even 0.6%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.3% Indian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

90.8% English only +0.6 pts ▸ 91.3%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Mandarin even 0.2%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.1%

0.1% Hindi even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

53.4% Christianity +0.1 pts ▸ 53.5%

38.5% No religion ◂ +0.3 pts 38.2%

6.5% Not stated even 6.4%

0.7% Buddhism even 0.7%

0.3% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Islam even 0.2%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +8 more in Port Macquarie

27 51st pct 35 67th pct

Schools/1k kids in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +0.37 more in Port Macquarie

2.16 50th pct 2.53 59th pct

Students in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +3,577 more in Port Macquarie

9,560 47th pct 13,137 65th pct

Avg size in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +21 larger in Port Macquarie

354 38th pct 375 41st pct

ICSEA in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +33 higher in Port Macquarie

969 25th pct 1,002 43rd pct

Highest year of school

39.6% Year 12 +4.4 pts ▸ 44.0%

33.5% Year 10 ◂ +2.9 pts 30.6%

12.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.3 pts 12.5%

7.3% Year 11 ◂ +0.5 pts 6.8%

Highest qualification level

39.3% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.6 pts 35.7%

15.8% Bachelor degree +3.6 pts ▸ 19.4%

16.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.4 pts 15.8%

4.2% Postgraduate degree +0.9 pts ▸ 5.1%

2.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.6 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 2.5%

Field of qualification

19.4% Engineering & related ◂ +5.5 pts 13.9%

17.6% Management & commerce +0.3 pts ▸ 17.8%

9.9% Health +2.8 pts ▸ 12.7%

10.1% Society & culture +1.5 pts ▸ 11.6%

7.8% Education +2.2 pts ▸ 10.0%

6.6% Architecture & building +0.1 pts ▸ 6.7%

6.1% Food, hospitality & personal services even 6.0%

2.3% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 2.3%

2.2% Agriculture & environment even 2.2%

1.9% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.2 pts 1.7%

1.4% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +$10 higher in Port Stephens gap narrowing

$657 17th pct $647 16th pct

Household income in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +$74 higher in Port Stephens gap narrowing

$1,338 20th pct $1,264 14th pct

Family income in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +$70 higher in Port Stephens gap narrowing

$1,646 18th pct $1,576 13th pct

Household income distribution

32.9% $650–$1,499 +1.4 pts ▸ 34.3%

26.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.0 pts 25.6%

18.8% Under $650 +1.9 pts ▸ 20.7%

7.7% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.8 pts 6.9%

6.6% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 6.2%

Personal income distribution

46.1% Under $650 +0.9 pts ▸ 47.0%

30.9% $650–$1,499 +1.1 pts ▸ 32.0%

13.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.2 pts 12.3%

2.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 2.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

14.1% Arthritis ◂ +0.1 pts 14.0%

11.5% Mental health ◂ +0.2 pts 11.3%

9.6% Asthma even 9.6%

9.1% Other condition +0.4 pts ▸ 9.6%

6.3% Diabetes ◂ +0.6 pts 5.7%

6.1% Heart disease even 6.0%

4.4% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 4.6%

2.8% Lung condition +0.4 pts ▸ 3.2%

1.3% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.9% Dementia +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

54.4% None +1.1 pts ▸ 55.4%

23.5% One condition ◂ +0.2 pts 23.3%

9.0% Two conditions ◂ +0.3 pts 8.7%

4.9% Three or more +0.3 pts ▸ 5.2%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +200 larger in Port Stephens

4,930 86th pct 4,730 86th pct

Median age in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie even

22 yrs 21st pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +$8 higher in Port Macquarie

$577 39th pct $585 42nd pct

Household income in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +$46 higher in Port Stephens

$1,565 47th pct $1,519 43rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +0.1 larger in Port Stephens gap narrowing

2.4 29th pct 2.3 14th pct

Family composition

48.4% Couples with children ◂ +1.4 pts 47.1%

35.1% Couples without children +1.5 pts ▸ 36.6%

15.7% One-parent families ◂ +0.2 pts 15.5%

0.8% Other families even 0.9%

Household size

40.3% 2 people ◂ +0.3 pts 40.0%

26.0% 1 person +2.8 pts ▸ 28.8%

13.2% 3 people ◂ +0.6 pts 12.6%

11.9% 4 people ◂ +0.7 pts 11.2%

5.6% 5 people ◂ +0.7 pts 4.9%

3.0% 6 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 2.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +$15 higher in Port Macquarie gap widening

$360 51st pct $375 58th pct

Mortgage in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie even gap narrowing

$1,733 43rd pct $1,733 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.7% Owned outright +0.8 pts ▸ 42.5%

29.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +3.4 pts 26.3%

24.3% Rented +1.7 pts ▸ 25.9%

2.9% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 2.7%

1.4% Not stated +1.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Types of homes

80.8% Separate house ◂ +5.1 pts 75.7%

13.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.3 pts 13.3%

3.7% Flat or apartment +5.9 pts ▸ 9.6%

1.6% Other dwelling ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

Bedrooms per home

40.0% 3 bedrooms +0.1 pts ▸ 40.1%

32.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +5.7 pts 26.9%

15.4% 2 bedrooms +4.8 pts ▸ 20.2%

7.6% 5 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 6.5%

2.7% 1 bedroom +1.0 pts ▸ 3.7%

0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

47.4% $350–$549 +4.1 pts ▸ 51.5%

33.7% $200–$349 ◂ +5.7 pts 27.9%

8.8% Under $200 +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%

6.0% $550–$749 +1.0 pts ▸ 7.0%

0.7% $750 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.6% $1,800–$2,999 +2.4 pts ▸ 34.9%

32.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.6 pts 31.8%

17.4% Under $1,000 +0.3 pts ▸ 17.8%

11.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 10.8%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +378 more in Port Stephens

659 86th pct 281 51st pct

Stops/1k in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +5.39 more in Port Stephens

8.62 95th pct 3.24 28th pct

Departures/1k in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +638.2 more in Port Stephens

986.2 57th pct 348.0 34th pct

PT routes in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +21 more in Port Macquarie

18 35th pct 39 70th pct

Stop walk in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie

6 57th pct —

Drive to city in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie

126 88th pct —

How people get to work

56.1% Car (driver) +9.3 pts ▸ 65.3%

17.8% Worked at home ◂ +5.4 pts 12.4%

3.6% Car (passenger) +1.1 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.0% Walked +0.5 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.4% Bus even 0.4%

0.3% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

36.5% 1 vehicle +3.2 pts ▸ 39.6%

38.4% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.5 pts 36.9%

12.9% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.2 pts 11.7%

8.2% 4 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 6.3%

4.0% No vehicle +1.5 pts ▸ 5.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

14.5% Health care & social assistance +6.1 pts ▸ 20.7%

11.0% Construction ◂ +0.7 pts 10.3%

10.0% Retail trade +0.8 pts ▸ 10.8%

7.1% Education & training +3.0 pts ▸ 10.1%

9.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.4 pts 8.9%

7.9% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.6 pts 5.3%

6.2% Manufacturing ◂ +2.7 pts 3.5%

5.0% Professional & technical ◂ +1.0 pts 4.1%

4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.7 pts 3.2%

4.3% Other services ◂ +0.2 pts 4.1%

3.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.4 pts 3.4%

1.1% Electricity, gas & water +1.8 pts ▸ 2.9%

Occupations people work in

14.9% Professionals +5.6 pts ▸ 20.6%

17.2% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.0 pts 14.2%

14.1% Community & personal service +1.3 pts ▸ 15.4%

12.4% Clerical & administrative even 12.3%

11.3% Managers +0.3 pts ▸ 11.6%

11.2% Labourers ◂ +1.5 pts 9.7%

9.4% Sales workers +0.3 pts ▸ 9.7%

7.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.7 pts 4.9%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +12,152 higher in Port Macquarie

80,297 60th pct 92,449 67th pct

Growth in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +1.6 pts higher in Port Macquarie

5.1% 44th pct 6.7% 60th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +211 higher in Port Macquarie

1,182 74th pct 1,393 86th pct

Max temp in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +0.3 higher in Port Macquarie

24.0 52nd pct 24.3 56th pct

Min temp in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +1.5 higher in Port Stephens

13.0 64th pct 11.5 47th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +0.2 higher in Port Macquarie

4.4 40th pct 4.6 43rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +0.4 more in Port Macquarie

4.2 36th pct 4.5 44th pct

15-min city in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +0.1 pts higher in Port Stephens

49.9% 41st pct 49.8% 40th pct

Walk to shops in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +4.2 pts higher in Port Stephens

46.1% 33rd pct 42.0% 26th pct

Walk to transit in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +9.1 pts higher in Port Stephens

77.4% 47th pct 68.2% 40th pct

Walk to school in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +8.9 pts higher in Port Macquarie

41.8% 19th pct 50.6% 30th pct

Walk to a park in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +3.7 pts higher in Port Stephens

83.2% 41st pct 79.5% 37th pct

Walk to health in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +18.2 pts higher in Port Macquarie

24.8% 16th pct 43.0% 50th pct

Amenities/1k in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +4.6 more in Port Stephens

17.4 62nd pct 12.7 29th pct

Intersections/km² in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +5 higher in Port Stephens

8 36th pct 3 30th pct

Mean slope in Port Stephens in Port Macquarie +0.8 pts higher in Port Macquarie

6.3% 65th pct 7.1% 75th pct

Compare Port Stephens with nearby areas

Newcastle Lake Macquarie - East Maitland Lake Macquarie - West Great Lakes Wyong Lower Hunter Gosford

Compare Port Macquarie with nearby areas

Kempsey - Nambucca Taree - Gloucester Great Lakes Coffs Harbour Armidale Port Stephens Maitland Newcastle

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Port Stephens vs Port Macquarie [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/10603/port-stephens/vs/10804/port-macquarie