🔍

Port Macquarie

NSW 2444 • Rest of NSW

47,693
Population (2021)
$66,664
Median Household Income
54.47 km²
Area
$380/wk
Median Rent
CoastalBeachsideRetiree-HavenTourist Hub
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About Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie is a coastal city in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area, where the Hastings River meets the Tasman Sea on the NSW Mid North Coast. It is about 390 kilometres north of Sydney by the Pacific Highway, usually a drive of around four hours. The 2021 Census counted 47,693 residents, up from 44,830 in 2016, and the median age was 48. Nearly 29 per cent of residents were aged 65 or over, households averaged 2.2 people, and the median weekly household income was $1,282.

Town Beach, Flynns Beach and Lighthouse Beach run south from the river mouth toward Tacking Point Lighthouse, and the Koala Hospital is one of the town's best-known institutions. A Woolworths stands at the corner of Bay and Park Streets, and a Coles is on Ocean Drive. There is no railway station in Port Macquarie. The nearest train is at Wauchope, about 19 kilometres west, with Busways services around town and regular flights from Port Macquarie Airport to Sydney.

Port Macquarie falls under postcode 2444 and is governed by the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (Local Government Area). For federal elections, residents vote in the electorate of Cowper, while state elections fall under the Port Macquarie electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2444
Urban Area
Port Macquarie
LGA / Council
Port Macquarie-Hastings
Federal Electorate
Cowper
State Electorate
Port Macquarie
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-31.46°, 152.89°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
54.47 km²
Population Density
876 /km²
Elevation
4m

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🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Port Macquarie for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$890K
725 sales · ▲ 4.7% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$600K
449 sales · ▼ 1.6% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

💰 Income

ATO taxable income Postcode 2444

Median taxable income for individual taxpayers in postcode 2444, comparing the 2019–20 and 2023–24 financial years.

Median 2019–20
$42,274
Median 2023–24
$53,028
▲ 25.4% increase
Average taxable income (2023–24)
$67,097

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 8 (median & average taxable income by postcode). Covers all individuals who lodged a return in postcode 2444; postcodes with fewer than 200 lodgments are suppressed by the ATO.

Census personal income 2016 vs 2021

Personal Income 2016
$29,640
Personal Income 2021
$35,308
▲ 19.1% increase

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$35,308 / yr
$679/wk
Household
$66,664 / yr
$1282/wk
Family
$87,568 / yr
$1684/wk
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$380
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,751
Avg Household Size
2.2 people
Median Age
48 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
4.3%

353 state housing + 501 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Busways 322, 323, 335 — Port Central, Settlement City and Lighthouse Beach 10-25 min
  • Busways 336 — Wauchope Station about 60 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
390 km
By Train
No direct train service. NSW TrainLink coaches connect with North Coast trains at Wauchope, about 19 km west. The rail trip via Wauchope takes most of a day.
By Car (Peak)
4.5-5.5 hours
By Car (Off-Peak)
4-4.5 hours

🛣️ The Pacific Highway is the driving route. Extra time in the peak figure is mostly Sydney traffic at the start or end of the trip. Port Macquarie Airport has regular flights to Sydney.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

The town centre and nearby beaches can be reached on foot, but the coastal suburbs and the trip to Wauchope station need a car or a bus.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    Shop 1a Ocean Drive Port Macquarie 2444 NSW
  • Woolworths
    Cnr Bay And Park Streets Port Macquarie 2444 NSW

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 8 heritage-listed places in or near Port Macquarie, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Courthouse and Norfolk Island pines (former)
Clarence Street (cnr), Port Macquarie • SHR #00554
Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground 1824 - 1886
Gordon Street, Port Macquarie • SHR #01731
Port Macquarie First (Allman Hill) Burying Ground 1822 - 1824
Clarence Street, Port Macquarie • SHR #01730
Port Macquarie Government House Site
2 Clarence Street Port Macquarie • SHR #01517
St Thomas' Anglican Church
Hay Street, Port Macquarie • SHR #01653
Hastings Historical Society Museum
22 Clarence Street Port Macquarie • SHR #00326
Lake Innes House ruins and environs
The Ruins Way, Port Macquarie • SHR #00997
Archaeological Remains of Overseers' Cottages
30-44 Clarence Street Port Macquarie • SHR #01813

👥 Population of Port Macquarie

Census 2016
44,830
Census 2021
47,693
▲ 6.4% growth
Est. 2026 projection
~50,740

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
📈 2026 estimate: projection from census growth trend, not an official figure

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area, which contains Port Macquarie. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
220.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Motor vehicle theft
154.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 2.6%
Non-DV assault
487.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 3.6%
Robbery (unarmed)
5.5 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
208.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
View all 62 offence types for Port Macquarie-Hastings →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 38,572
Born Overseas 6,840

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 2,151
  • 2. New Zealand 738
  • 3. Philippines 293
  • 4. South Africa 262
  • 5. India 255
  • 6. Scotland 250
  • 7. Germany 212
  • 8. United States 174
  • 9. Netherlands 172
  • 10. China 139

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 21,452
Australian 19,118
Irish 6,438
Scottish 5,422
Australian Aboriginal 2,356
German 1,970
Italian 1,049
Dutch 729
Chinese 478
Filipino 390

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace

31,580
Both parents born in Australia
8,132
Both parents born overseas
5,433
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
53.4%
No Religion
37.9%
Buddhism
0.8%
Hinduism
0.6%
Islam
0.3%
Sikhism
0.2%
Judaism
0.1%

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📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
2,041 (4.3%)
5-14 years
5,382 (11.3%)
15-19 years
2,758 (5.8%)
20-24 years
2,341 (4.9%)
25-34 years
4,419 (9.3%)
35-44 years
4,995 (10.5%)
45-54 years
5,742 (12.0%)
55-64 years
6,251 (13.1%)
65-74 years
6,726 (14.1%)
75-84 years
4,892 (10.3%)
85+ years
2,147 (4.5%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Port Macquarie known for? +

Port Macquarie is known for its ocean beaches and the mouth of the Hastings River, and as a long-standing holiday and retirement town on the Mid North Coast. The main patrolled beaches are Town Beach, Flynns Beach and Lighthouse Beach, with Tacking Point Lighthouse at the southern end of the coastal walk. The Koala Hospital, run for injured and orphaned koalas, is one of the town's best-known institutions.

How far is Port Macquarie from Sydney CBD? +

Port Macquarie is about 390 kilometres north of Sydney by road, usually 4 to 4.5 hours via the Pacific Highway, or longer if the trip meets Sydney peak traffic. There is no direct train. Regular flights from Port Macquarie Airport are the quick way to Sydney.

Does Port Macquarie have public transport? +

There is no railway station in Port Macquarie. The nearest is Wauchope, about 19 kilometres west on the NSW TrainLink North Coast line, with a connecting coach and Busways route 336. Local Busways routes, including 322, 323 and 335, link Port Central, Settlement City and the beach suburbs, and a car is the practical choice for most residents.

Is Port Macquarie a good place to live? +

Port Macquarie suits retirees and families who want beaches, a regional hospital and a proper town centre, rather than a daily commute to Sydney. The 2021 median weekly household income was $1,282, which fits the older age profile and smaller households. You will want a car, and Sydney is a four-hour drive or a flight away.

What is the postcode for Port Macquarie? +

The postcode for Port Macquarie, New South Wales, is 2444. Wauchope, the nearest railway town, uses a different postcode.

What is the average income in Port Macquarie? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Port Macquarie is about $679 per week (around $35,300 per year). The median household income is $1,282 per week and the median family income is $1,684 per week.

What is the median house price in Port Macquarie? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $890,000, up 4.7% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $600,000, down 1.6% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Port Macquarie? +

The median age in Port Macquarie is 48. The largest age group is 65–74 (6,726 residents, around 14%). Around 21% of residents are under 20 and about 29% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Port Macquarie a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Port Macquarie is part of the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

What is the population of Port Macquarie? +

The population of Port Macquarie is 47,693 according to the 2021 Census, up 6.4% from 44,830 in 2016. Projecting that growth trend forward, the estimated 2026 population of Port Macquarie is around 50,740. This is a projection, not an official ABS figure.

How much is rent in Port Macquarie? +

In Port Macquarie, the median weekly rent is $380, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,751 (2021 Census).