Port Stephens · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Over 80,000 people now live in Port Stephens, making it larger than most areas of its kind. The region shows a balanced economic profile, sitting right in the middle of the pack for overall advantage compared to other Australian areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Port Stephens — lower than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents generally have good access to money and resources, scoring higher than about 80% of similar areas. However, education and job skills are lower, falling behind about 60% of other areas.
5
Lower than 57% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
6
Higher than 57% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
8
Higher than 71% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
4
Lower than 64% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
952
Lower than 51% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
The population grew by 6.3% since 2021, a rate that is higher than most areas and slightly above the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
80,070
Higher than 79% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
6.3%
Higher than 72% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Economic activity is strong with 5,254 businesses operating in the area. This is supported by 353 approved dwellings, a figure larger than about 79% of similar regions.
5,254
Higher than 74% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
353
Higher than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Port Stephens [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA16400/port-stephens/topic/economy-advantage
