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Port Macquarie vs Tamworth

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 188 km apart · Port Macquarie profile · Tamworth profile

Port Macquarie Tamworth

Port Macquarie and Tamworth are two significant regional centres in New South Wales with very different demographic profiles. Port Macquarie is far older, with a typical resident aged 47 and a high share of seniors (28.0%), while Tamworth's typical resident is 37. This age gap is reflected in the housing and workforce; Port Macquarie has a higher share of homes owned outright (38.5%) and more residents with bachelor degrees (19.5%). In contrast, Tamworth has a much higher share of separate houses (84.2%), a larger proportion of children (20.6%), and more adults working or looking for work (59.0%). Tamworth also sees far more recent overseas arrivals (31.4%) and a higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (14.1%).

Since 2011, the two areas have tracked in opposite directions across several key measures. The gap in typical age has flipped, as has the lead in the share of separate houses and full-time employment. Despite these shifting trends, they remain very similar in other ways. Both areas have nearly identical typical weekly family incomes of around $1,800, and about 30% of their residents live alone. They also share similar unemployment rates and a very low reliance on public transport for commuting.

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Where they differ most

Recent arrivals: 22.0 pts higher in Tamworth Under 15: 4.5 pts higher in Tamworth Separate houses: 17.2 pts higher in Tamworth Median age: 10 yrs older in Port Macquarie Full-time: 9.1 pts higher in Tamworth

Demographics & Identity

Population in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +6,319 larger in Port Macquarie gap narrowing

50,193 62nd pct 43,874 59th pct

Median age in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +10 yrs older in Port Macquarie gap narrowing

47 yrs 86th pct 37 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

28.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.0 pts 19.0%

20.3% Young adults (25–44) +5.7 pts ▸ 26.0%

24.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.9 pts 22.0%

16.1% Children (0–14) +4.5 pts ▸ 20.6%

10.8% Youth (15–24) +1.7 pts ▸ 12.4%

Marital status

46.1% Married ◂ +4.4 pts 41.7%

30.7% Never married +7.8 pts ▸ 38.5%

11.8% Divorced ◂ +2.3 pts 9.5%

7.8% Widowed ◂ +1.4 pts 6.4%

3.7% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 4.0%

Age & sex structure

Port Macquarie Tamworth

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

80.9% Australia +1.9 pts ▸ 82.9%

4.5% England ◂ +3.4 pts 1.1%

1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.9 pts 0.7%

0.6% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.6% India +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.1% Vietnam +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.3% China +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.2% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

44.9% English ◂ +7.0 pts 37.9%

40.2% Australian +2.5 pts ▸ 42.6%

13.4% Irish ◂ +3.0 pts 10.4%

11.2% Scottish ◂ +2.2 pts 9.0%

4.1% German ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

2.2% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 1.2%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%

1.0% Chinese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.9% Filipino +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% Indian +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

90.1% English only ◂ +5.0 pts 85.1%

0.3% Mandarin +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Punjabi +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Arabic even 0.2%

0.2% Cantonese even 0.2%

0.1% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

53.1% Christianity +2.6 pts ▸ 55.8%

38.1% No religion ◂ +5.7 pts 32.4%

6.3% Not stated +2.2 pts ▸ 8.5%

0.7% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.8% Buddhism even 0.8%

0.3% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

48.2% Year 12 ◂ +5.9 pts 42.3%

27.8% Year 10 +1.6 pts ▸ 29.4%

11.1% Year 9 or below +1.8 pts ▸ 12.8%

6.8% Year 11 even 6.8%

Highest qualification level

32.3% Certificate III / IV +2.9 pts ▸ 35.2%

21.7% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.9 pts 18.8%

16.0% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.7 pts 13.3%

6.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.4 pts 4.9%

3.4% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.3 pts 3.1%

2.5% Certificate I / II +0.3 pts ▸ 2.8%

Field of qualification

19.2% Management & commerce ◂ +2.2 pts 17.0%

13.6% Health ◂ +0.7 pts 12.9%

12.1% Engineering & related +1.0 pts ▸ 13.1%

12.0% Society & culture ◂ +1.3 pts 10.8%

9.9% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 9.3%

6.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.1 pts 5.9%

5.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.6 pts 5.3%

1.8% Agriculture & environment +0.9 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.4% Creative arts ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

1.9% Information technology ◂ +0.6 pts 1.3%

1.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.4 pts 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +$87 higher in Tamworth gap narrowing

$687 35th pct $774 66th pct

Household income in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +$105 higher in Tamworth gap narrowing

$1,306 35th pct $1,411 49th pct

Family income in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +$101 higher in Tamworth gap narrowing

$1,708 36th pct $1,809 48th pct

Household income distribution

33.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.0 pts 31.0%

26.1% $1,500–$2,999 +4.0 pts ▸ 30.0%

20.3% Under $650 ◂ +2.0 pts 18.4%

7.3% $3,000–$3,999 +0.3 pts ▸ 7.6%

7.0% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 6.2%

Personal income distribution

44.8% Under $650 ◂ +5.9 pts 39.0%

32.4% $650–$1,499 +4.2 pts ▸ 36.6%

13.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.2 pts 13.4%

3.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 2.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

13.3% Arthritis ◂ +3.3 pts 10.1%

11.7% Mental health ◂ +0.6 pts 11.1%

9.7% Asthma +1.6 pts ▸ 11.3%

9.6% Other condition ◂ +1.4 pts 8.2%

5.8% Heart disease ◂ +1.3 pts 4.6%

5.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.1 pts 5.3%

4.5% Cancer ◂ +1.3 pts 3.2%

3.1% Lung condition ◂ +0.9 pts 2.2%

1.5% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

1.5% Dementia ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.1% None +0.4 pts ▸ 56.4%

23.2% One condition ◂ +1.9 pts 21.2%

8.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 7.5%

5.1% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 4.2%

Community Participation

Family & Households

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

2.3 14th pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

47.7% Couples with children +2.6 pts ▸ 50.3%

35.2% Couples without children ◂ +7.3 pts 27.9%

16.2% One-parent families +4.3 pts ▸ 20.5%

0.9% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

38.4% 2 people ◂ +4.7 pts 33.7%

31.0% 1 person ◂ +0.9 pts 30.1%

12.7% 3 people +2.0 pts ▸ 14.6%

11.2% 4 people +1.4 pts ▸ 12.6%

4.7% 5 people +1.2 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.1% 6 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +$85 higher in Port Macquarie gap widening

$385 86th pct $300 48th pct

Mortgage in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +$300 higher in Port Macquarie gap narrowing

$1,800 76th pct $1,500 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Port Macquarie in Tamworth even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

38.5% Owned outright ◂ +8.5 pts 30.0%

31.1% Rented +6.4 pts ▸ 37.5%

25.4% Owned with a mortgage +3.5 pts ▸ 28.9%

3.2% Other tenure ◂ +1.4 pts 1.8%

1.8% Not stated even 1.8%

Types of homes

67.1% Separate house +17.2 pts ▸ 84.2%

17.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.0 pts 12.5%

14.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +12.4 pts 2.2%

0.5% Other dwelling even 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

40.1% 3 bedrooms +1.6 pts ▸ 41.7%

25.5% 4 bedrooms +5.5 pts ▸ 31.0%

22.2% 2 bedrooms ◂ +6.4 pts 15.8%

6.0% 5 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 5.9%

4.3% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.8 pts 3.5%

0.3% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

52.9% $350–$549 ◂ +22.4 pts 30.6%

26.1% $200–$349 +26.9 pts ▸ 52.9%

8.7% Under $200 +3.1 pts ▸ 11.8%

8.2% $550–$749 ◂ +7.2 pts 0.9%

1.1% $750 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

30.2% $1,000–$1,799 +17.9 pts ▸ 48.1%

37.2% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +13.9 pts 23.2%

17.1% Under $1,000 +1.4 pts ▸ 18.6%

11.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.8 pts 5.5%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

64.7% Car (driver) ◂ +1.3 pts 63.4%

12.5% Worked at home ◂ +1.7 pts 10.8%

5.2% Car (passenger) +1.0 pts ▸ 6.3%

2.6% Walked ◂ +0.4 pts 2.2%

0.5% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.4% Bus ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

42.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.0 pts 39.0%

35.5% 2 vehicles +1.2 pts ▸ 36.7%

10.2% 3 vehicles +0.8 pts ▸ 11.0%

6.9% No vehicle +0.5 pts ▸ 7.4%

4.6% 4 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 5.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

22.5% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.0 pts 18.5%

11.0% Retail trade ◂ +0.3 pts 10.7%

10.4% Education & training ◂ +0.9 pts 9.5%

3.1% Manufacturing +7.0 pts ▸ 10.1%

9.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.3 pts 7.5%

9.0% Construction ◂ +1.3 pts 7.7%

5.6% Public administration & safety +0.2 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.9% Transport & warehousing +1.9 pts ▸ 4.7%

4.3% Professional & technical ◂ +0.8 pts 3.6%

3.7% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.4% Electricity, gas & water ◂ +2.5 pts 0.9%

3.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.1 pts 3.3%

Occupations people work in

23.5% Professionals ◂ +5.0 pts 18.5%

15.6% Community & personal service ◂ +2.2 pts 13.4%

8.9% Labourers +6.5 pts ▸ 15.4%

13.0% Technicians & trades +0.8 pts ▸ 13.7%

12.4% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.0 pts 11.4%

11.2% Managers ◂ +1.2 pts 10.1%

10.0% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 9.4%

3.8% Machinery operators & drivers +2.8 pts ▸ 6.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +0.1 higher in Port Macquarie

5.5 71st pct 5.4 67th pct

Types ≤15 min in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +0.1 more in Port Macquarie

5.3 71st pct 5.2 67th pct

15-min city in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +4.7 pts higher in Tamworth

57.8% 59th pct 62.5% 68th pct

Walk to shops in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +7.7 pts higher in Tamworth

46.2% 28th pct 53.9% 49th pct

Walk to transit in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +1.2 pts higher in Port Macquarie

88.9% 75th pct 87.7% 70th pct

Walk to school in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +3.0 pts higher in Tamworth

62.9% 47th pct 65.9% 56th pct

Walk to a park in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +0.9 pts higher in Port Macquarie

91.5% 60th pct 90.6% 55th pct

Walk to health in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +10.0 pts higher in Port Macquarie

49.0% 72nd pct 39.0% 43rd pct

Amenities/1k in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +1.9 more in Tamworth

13.5 37th pct 15.5 54th pct

Intersections/km² in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +40 higher in Port Macquarie

58 90th pct 18 46th pct

Mean slope in Port Macquarie in Tamworth +1.4 pts higher in Port Macquarie

7.0% 85th pct 5.6% 60th pct

Compare Port Macquarie with nearby areas

Camden Haven Kempsey Taree Forster - Tuncurry Coffs Harbour Nelson Bay Armidale Medowie Grafton Newcastle - Maitland Tamworth Singleton

Compare Tamworth with nearby areas

Armidale Muswellbrook Singleton Taree Newcastle - Maitland Camden Haven Medowie Kempsey Forster - Tuncurry Port Macquarie Nelson Bay Morisset - Cooranbong

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Port Macquarie vs Tamworth [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1028/port-macquarie/vs/1032/tamworth