Port Macquarie - East

The area is far older than the national average, with 22.8% of people aged 65 and over. It also has a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than most areas, at 4.5%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the state and national figures. English and Australian ancestries are the most common.

English is the dominant language, with only 5.2% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

People with no religion make up 43.3% of the community, which is well above the national figure. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation at 47.8%.

About a quarter of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is higher than most similar areas. There is a high density of schools, with 2.67 per 1,000 children.

Household incomes are well below the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $1,396. Only 17.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.8% of residents. Mental health conditions are also notably more frequent at 10.8%.

Volunteering is very common, with 18.8% of people helping out, well above the national figure. More people provide unpaid care and have served in the Defence Force compared to most areas.

There are 530 First Nations people in the area. They have a higher Year 12 completion rate (43.4%) than the national average and an unemployment rate that is well below the national figure.

Small households are very common, with 33.9% of people living alone, which is well above the national figure. This helps explain why the typical home holds only 2.2 people.

Renting is much more common here than in most areas, at 40%. Detached houses are also far less frequent than the national average, and homes are typically smaller.

Most people drive to work, and very few use public transport to commute. However, the area has a high number of public transport stops, with 62 in total.

The community is quite mobile, with 44% of people moving in the last five years, which is well above the national figure.

Full-time employment is much lower than in most similar areas. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, which is the most common industry.

The area has a fair amount of businesses, but access to money and resources is lower than in about 60% of similar areas. Population growth since 2021 has been much lower than the state average.

The area is much rainier than the state average, with 1,435mm of annual rainfall. Temperatures are around the middle for the state.

The area is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. While health services and parks are very accessible, fewer homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.