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Port Macquarie vs Port Stephens

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

State Electorate comparison ≈ 141 km apart · Port Macquarie profile · Port Stephens profile

Port Macquarie Port Stephens

Port Macquarie and Port Stephens are both large regional hubs in New South Wales. Port Macquarie is more oriented towards health and education, with 43.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and a higher share of professionals. It also has a higher proportion of older residents, with 30.6% aged 65 and over. Port Stephens is more reliant on larger homes, as 80.2% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms, and it has far more public transport options, with 8.62 stops per 1,000 people compared to 3.59 in Port Macquarie.

Since 2011, the two areas have converged across several measures. The gap in education has narrowed, with Port Macquarie's higher share of bachelor degrees and Year 12 completions now much closer to those in Port Stephens. They also share very similar profiles in terms of overseas births, religion, and the typical personal income of residents. Both areas have a high proportion of retirees, with Port Macquarie's 30.6% and Port Stephens' 27.3% both sitting far above the national figure.

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Where they differ most

3+ bedrooms: 7.4 pts higher in Port Stephens Separate houses: 6.3 pts higher in Port Stephens Volunteering: 2.4 pts higher in Port Macquarie No car: 1.6 pts higher in Port Macquarie Work from home: 5.3 pts higher in Port Stephens

Demographics & Identity

Population in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +4,325 larger in Port Macquarie gap widening

80,749 82nd pct 76,424 77th pct

Median age in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +2 yrs older in Port Macquarie gap narrowing

50 yrs 99th pct 48 yrs 94th pct

Age structure

30.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.4 pts 27.3%

26.3% Older adults (45–64) +0.8 pts ▸ 27.1%

18.1% Young adults (25–44) +0.9 pts ▸ 19.0%

15.1% Children (0–14) +1.3 pts ▸ 16.4%

9.9% Youth (15–24) +0.4 pts ▸ 10.3%

Marital status

48.6% Married +0.9 pts ▸ 49.5%

28.2% Never married +1.1 pts ▸ 29.3%

11.8% Divorced ◂ +0.8 pts 11.0%

7.7% Widowed ◂ +1.2 pts 6.6%

3.7% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 3.6%

Age & sex structure

Port Macquarie Port Stephens

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

82.1% Australia +0.3 pts ▸ 82.4%

4.3% England ◂ +0.3 pts 4.1%

1.4% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

0.5% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.4% South Africa even 0.5%

0.4% India ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.2% China even 0.2%

0.1% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Nepal even 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

45.6% English ◂ +0.9 pts 44.7%

41.3% Australian ◂ +0.1 pts 41.2%

13.1% Irish ◂ +1.7 pts 11.4%

11.5% Scottish ◂ +0.2 pts 11.3%

4.0% German +0.3 pts ▸ 4.3%

2.0% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 1.9%

1.5% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.9% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.7% Filipino even 0.6%

0.6% Indian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.4% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

91.2% English only ◂ +0.5 pts 90.8%

0.2% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Mandarin even 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

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

53.9% Christianity ◂ +0.5 pts 53.4%

37.7% No religion +0.7 pts ▸ 38.5%

6.4% Not stated +0.1 pts ▸ 6.5%

0.7% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.5% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.4% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.3% Islam even 0.3%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +0.63 more in Port Macquarie

2.79 74th pct 2.16 60th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +7 more in Port Macquarie

34 83rd pct 27 71st pct

Students in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +2,212 more in Port Macquarie

11,772 71st pct 9,560 51st pct

Avg size in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +8 larger in Port Stephens

346 26th pct 354 27th pct

ICSEA in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +42 higher in Port Macquarie

1,011 44th pct 969 21st pct

Highest year of school

44.0% Year 12 ◂ +4.3 pts 39.7%

30.6% Year 10 +2.8 pts ▸ 33.5%

12.4% Year 9 or below +0.3 pts ▸ 12.7%

6.8% Year 11 +0.6 pts ▸ 7.3%

Highest qualification level

35.0% Certificate III / IV +4.3 pts ▸ 39.3%

19.7% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.9 pts 15.8%

15.8% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.3 pts ▸ 16.2%

5.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.1 pts 4.2%

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

2.4% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

Field of qualification

14.0% Engineering & related +5.3 pts ▸ 19.4%

17.9% Management & commerce ◂ +0.3 pts 17.6%

12.7% Health ◂ +2.8 pts 9.9%

11.3% Society & culture ◂ +1.2 pts 10.1%

10.1% Education ◂ +2.2 pts 7.8%

6.6% Architecture & building even 6.6%

5.9% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.1 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.3% Creative arts ◂ +0.1 pts 2.3%

2.2% Agriculture & environment even 2.2%

1.8% Natural & physical sciences +0.2 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.6% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +$18 higher in Port Stephens gap narrowing

$640 12th pct $658 14th pct

Household income in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +$102 higher in Port Stephens gap narrowing

$1,236 8th pct $1,338 15th pct

Family income in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +$94 higher in Port Stephens gap narrowing

$1,552 10th pct $1,646 15th pct

Household income distribution

34.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.6 pts 32.9%

24.9% $1,500–$2,999 +1.7 pts ▸ 26.6%

21.1% Under $650 ◂ +2.3 pts 18.8%

6.7% $3,000–$3,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

6.3% $4,000 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

Personal income distribution

47.6% Under $650 ◂ +1.4 pts 46.1%

31.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 30.9%

12.4% $1,500–$2,999 +1.2 pts ▸ 13.6%

2.6% $3,000 or more even 2.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

14.6% Arthritis ◂ +0.5 pts 14.1%

11.2% Mental health +0.3 pts ▸ 11.5%

9.6% Asthma even 9.6%

9.6% Other condition ◂ +0.4 pts 9.1%

5.9% Diabetes +0.4 pts ▸ 6.3%

6.3% Heart disease ◂ +0.2 pts 6.1%

4.8% Cancer ◂ +0.4 pts 4.4%

3.3% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 2.8%

1.6% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

1.3% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

54.9% None ◂ +0.6 pts 54.4%

23.6% One condition ◂ +0.1 pts 23.5%

8.9% Two conditions +0.1 pts ▸ 9.0%

5.4% Three or more ◂ +0.5 pts 4.9%

Community Participation

Family & Households

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

2.3 14th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

45.8% Couples with children +2.6 pts ▸ 48.4%

38.4% Couples without children ◂ +3.3 pts 35.1%

14.9% One-parent families +0.8 pts ▸ 15.7%

0.9% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Household size

40.9% 2 people ◂ +0.5 pts 40.3%

29.4% 1 person ◂ +3.4 pts 26.0%

12.2% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 13.2%

10.7% 4 people +1.2 pts ▸ 11.9%

4.6% 5 people +1.0 pts ▸ 5.6%

2.2% 6 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 3.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +$20 higher in Port Macquarie gap narrowing

$380 57th pct $360 48th pct

Mortgage in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens even gap narrowing

$1,733 41st pct $1,733 41st pct

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

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

44.1% Owned outright ◂ +2.4 pts 41.6%

25.2% Owned with a mortgage +4.6 pts ▸ 29.8%

25.5% Rented ◂ +1.2 pts 24.3%

2.7% Other tenure +0.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.6% Not stated ◂ +1.2 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

74.5% Separate house +6.3 pts ▸ 80.8%

13.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.1 pts ▸ 13.6%

10.3% Flat or apartment ◂ +6.6 pts 3.7%

1.4% Other dwelling +0.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

Bedrooms per home

39.7% 3 bedrooms +0.3 pts ▸ 40.0%

26.8% 4 bedrooms +5.8 pts ▸ 32.6%

20.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.1 pts 15.4%

6.3% 5 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 7.6%

4.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.3 pts 2.7%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

51.2% $350–$549 ◂ +3.7 pts 47.4%

28.2% $200–$349 +5.4 pts ▸ 33.7%

9.2% Under $200 ◂ +0.4 pts 8.8%

7.3% $550–$749 ◂ +1.3 pts 6.0%

1.0% $750 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

Monthly mortgage distribution

34.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 32.6%

30.7% $1,000–$1,799 +1.8 pts ▸ 32.5%

18.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +1.4 pts 17.4%

11.1% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 11.5%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +369 more in Port Stephens

290 58th pct 659 95th pct

Stops/1k in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +5.03 more in Port Stephens

3.59 28th pct 8.62 100th pct

Departures/1k in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +616.3 more in Port Stephens

369.7 24th pct 986.0 49th pct

PT routes in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +22 more in Port Macquarie

40 76th pct 18 28th pct

How people get to work

64.6% Car (driver) ◂ +8.5 pts 56.0%

12.5% Worked at home +5.3 pts ▸ 17.8%

4.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.2 pts 3.6%

2.6% Walked ◂ +0.6 pts 2.0%

0.6% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.4% Bus even 0.4%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

40.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.1 pts 36.5%

36.8% 2 vehicles +1.6 pts ▸ 38.4%

11.3% 3 vehicles +1.7 pts ▸ 12.9%

5.9% 4 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 8.2%

5.6% No vehicle ◂ +1.6 pts 4.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

20.9% Health care & social assistance ◂ +6.4 pts 14.5%

10.1% Construction +0.9 pts ▸ 11.0%

10.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.8 pts 10.0%

10.3% Education & training ◂ +3.2 pts 7.1%

9.6% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.3 pts 9.3%

5.4% Public administration & safety +2.5 pts ▸ 7.9%

3.4% Manufacturing +2.7 pts ▸ 6.2%

4.3% Professional & technical +0.8 pts ▸ 5.0%

3.1% Transport & warehousing +1.7 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.9% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.5% Administrative & support +0.3 pts ▸ 3.8%

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

Occupations people work in

21.6% Professionals ◂ +6.7 pts 14.9%

13.9% Technicians & trades +3.3 pts ▸ 17.2%

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

12.2% Clerical & administrative +0.2 pts ▸ 12.4%

11.5% Managers ◂ +0.3 pts 11.3%

9.5% Labourers +1.6 pts ▸ 11.2%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +0.2 pts 9.4%

4.6% Machinery operators & drivers +3.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

Walkability

Walk score in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +0.3 higher in Port Macquarie

4.7 33rd pct 4.4 29th pct

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

4.6 35th pct 4.2 27th pct

15-min city in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +1.6 pts higher in Port Macquarie

51.5% 32nd pct 49.9% 31st pct

Walk to shops in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +2.7 pts higher in Port Stephens

43.5% 23rd pct 46.1% 27th pct

Walk to transit in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +6.0 pts higher in Port Stephens

71.3% 29th pct 77.3% 35th pct

Walk to school in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +9.2 pts higher in Port Macquarie

50.9% 23rd pct 41.7% 14th pct

Walk to a park in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +3.4 pts higher in Port Stephens

79.8% 26th pct 83.1% 29th pct

Walk to health in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +19.1 pts higher in Port Macquarie

43.8% 45th pct 24.8% 13th pct

Amenities/1k in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +3.8 more in Port Stephens

13.5 44th pct 17.4 70th pct

Intersections/km² in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +0 higher in Port Stephens

7 26th pct 8 26th pct

Mean slope in Port Macquarie in Port Stephens +0.6 pts higher in Port Macquarie

6.9% 75th pct 6.3% 68th pct

Compare Port Macquarie with nearby areas

Myall Lakes Oxley Port Stephens Coffs Harbour Maitland Newcastle Wallsend Charlestown

Compare Port Stephens with nearby areas

Newcastle Wallsend Charlestown Maitland Swansea Lake Macquarie Wyong The Entrance

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Port Macquarie vs Port Stephens [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED10068/port-macquarie/vs/SED10069/port-stephens