Moving to Port Macquarie NSW 2444
What the official numbers say about living in Port Macquarie — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $380 a week, against a median household income of $1,282 a week.
About 65% of homes are owner-occupied and 32% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Port Macquarie grew 15% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (41,398 → 47,693 people).
Around 65% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Nepali, Spanish.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Port Macquarie sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (81% of workers), while 15% work from home.
Nearest ferry wharf: Cruise Port Macquarie, 2.2 km north.
Nearest airport: Port Macquarie Airport, 3.7 km north-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 312 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 15 schools · 74 cafes & restaurants · 5 supermarkets · 19 parks · 9 beaches — see them all on the Port Macquarie profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: MacKillop College Port Macquarie 700 m · Saint Peter's Primary School 900 m · Saint Joseph's Preschool and Long Day Care Centre 950 m · Saint Agnes Primary School 1 km · Port Macquarie Steiner School 1.3 km · Port Eco Kids Village 1.6 km · Westport Public School 1.6 km · Hastings Public School 1.6 km
Groceries: Hastings Co-op IGA 1.5 km · Port Spices - South Indian, Indian, Nepalese & All Asian Groceries 1.5 km · Coles 1.7 km · Gourmand Ingredients 1.8 km · Foodworks 2 km
Parks and reserves: Yarranwood Park 550 m · Bellangry Park 700 m · Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park 1.6 km · Rosendahl Reserve 1.7 km · Treetops Park 1.7 km · Hennessey Park 1.7 km · Mayworth Park 1.8 km · Findlay Park 1.8 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Port Macquarie, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Laughing Kookaburra · Noisy Miner · Little Wattlebird · Lewin's Honeyeater · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Port Macquarie, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Macquarie here | 47,693 | — | 4/10 | 38% |
| Thrumster | 2,382 | — | 7/10 | 50% |
| Lake Cathie | 4,296 | — | 5/10 | 60% |
| King Creek | 1,863 | — | 8/10 | 55% |
| Bonny Hills | 3,045 | — | 6/10 | 78% |
| Wauchope | 6,589 | — | 1/10 | 28% |
| North Haven | 1,619 | — | 1/10 | 65% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Port Macquarie-Hastings — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Cowper — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2444 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Port Macquarie profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $380 a week, and about 32% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 15% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 41,398 people to 47,693. It sits about 312 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Port Macquarie-Hastings council, and the federal seat is Cowper.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: Thrumster · Lake Cathie · King Creek · Bonny Hills · Wauchope · North Haven.
Keep an eye on Port Macquarie
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