State Electorate · Area profile
Port Macquarie
1,417 km²
A population that has grown by 19% since 2011, Port Macquarie is now a significantly older community. The typical resident is 50, and nearly one in three people is aged 65 or over. This shift toward a senior population helps explain why many homes are owned outright and why there is a higher need for health and disability support. It is a predominantly English-speaking area with a strong connection to its Australian and English roots.
Port Macquarie is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 30.6% of people aged 65 and over. Meanwhile, the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 15.1%, which is well below the New South Wales average.
The community is largely born in Australia (82.1%), and the proportion of people born overseas has fallen to 12.8%, a figure far below the national average.
English is the dominant language, spoken by 91.2% of residents. Only 4.1% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
Over half the population identifies as Christian, while those with no religion make up 37.7%, a figure that has risen by 13 points since 2011.
The area has fewer people with university degrees than most other areas, with 17.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has also fallen to 44.0%, which is far below the state average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,236, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more per week has also fallen since 2011.
Health needs are high here, with 37.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national average, and 8.3% of residents require help with daily activities.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 16.7% of people helping out. Additionally, a higher than average 13.8% of residents provide unpaid care.
Nearly 30% of people live alone, a figure well above the national average. This contributes to a lower typical household size of 2.3 people.
Home ownership is very strong, with 44.1% of dwellings owned outright, far above the state average. Most homes are separate houses, and 72.8% have three or more bedrooms.
Cars are the primary way to travel, with 64.6% of people driving to work. Very few people use public transport to commute, at just 0.4%.
The area is quite mobile, as 42.4% of residents moved in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have fallen to 7.9%.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (49.8%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. The most common industry is health care and social assistance, employing 20.9% of the workforce.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.7. Less than half of all homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.