Blackmans Point vs Fernbank Creek

Fernbank Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 58 in Blackmans Point. In both, most households own their home. In Blackmans Point, about half of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Fernbank Creek, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Blackmans Point: a median of $1.2 million, against $905,000 in Fernbank Creek, though rent is higher in Fernbank Creek. On these figures, Blackmans Point tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Fernbank Creek suits couples and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Fernbank Creek

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 40%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (85% vs 41%)
  • But Blackmans Point carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 72/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Fernbank Creek

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 65%)
  • has cheaper houses ($905,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Blackmans Point has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 22%)
  • Fernbank Creek leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 35%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Fernbank Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (381.3 km vs 386.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Blackmans Point

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 72/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 24%)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Blackmans Point

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.7% vs -8.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Blackmans Point and Fernbank Creek drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Walkability 0 / 0
Blackmans Point — Walkability: 0/100 Fernbank Creek — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 67 / 28
Blackmans Point — Safety: 67/100 Fernbank Creek — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 42 / 42
Blackmans Point — Low fire risk: 42/100 Fernbank Creek — Low fire risk: 42/100

Demographics

Fernbank Creek has higher household incomes ($84,500 vs $38,324); Blackmans Point has more residents (178 vs 122).

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Population 178
+31% vs other
 122
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.7% -8.3%
Median age 58 50
Median household income $38,324/yr $84,500/yr
+120% vs other
Median weekly rent $260/wk $275/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
0-4 — / 7.4%
Blackmans Point — 0-4: not among its largest Fernbank Creek — 0-4: 7.4%
5-14 7.3% / 8.2%
Blackmans Point — 5-14: 7.3% Fernbank Creek — 5-14: 8.2%
15-19 2.2% / 9.0%
Blackmans Point — 15-19: 2.2% Fernbank Creek — 15-19: 9.0%
20-24 5.1% / 7.4%
Blackmans Point — 20-24: 5.1% Fernbank Creek — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 9.6% / 9.0%
Blackmans Point — 25-34: 9.6% Fernbank Creek — 25-34: 9.0%
35-44 3.4% / 2.5%
Blackmans Point — 35-44: 3.4% Fernbank Creek — 35-44: 2.5%
45-54 13.5% / 17.2%
Blackmans Point — 45-54: 13.5% Fernbank Creek — 45-54: 17.2%
55-64 29.2% / 18.9%
Blackmans Point — 55-64: 29.2% Fernbank Creek — 55-64: 18.9%
65-74 24.2% / 13.9%
Blackmans Point — 65-74: 24.2% Fernbank Creek — 65-74: 13.9%
75-84 3.4% / 4.9%
Blackmans Point — 75-84: 3.4% Fernbank Creek — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 5.1% / 4.9%
Blackmans Point — 85+: 5.1% Fernbank Creek — 85+: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point 25.0% couple families
Blackmans Point — Couple Families: 25.0% Blackmans Point — Lone Person: 58.9% Blackmans Point — One Parent Families: 16.1%
Fernbank Creek 55.0% couple families
Fernbank Creek — Couple Families: 55.0% Fernbank Creek — Lone Person: 15.0% Fernbank Creek — One Parent Families: 30.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point 32.0% renting
Blackmans Point — Owned Outright: 50.7% Blackmans Point — Mortgage: 17.3% Blackmans Point — Renting: 32.0%
Fernbank Creek 21.6% renting
Fernbank Creek — Owned Outright: 51.4% Fernbank Creek — Mortgage: 27.0% Fernbank Creek — Renting: 21.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
England 1.7% / 3.3%
Blackmans Point — England: 1.7% Fernbank Creek — England: 3.3%
Philippines — / 4.1%
Blackmans Point — Philippines: not among its largest Fernbank Creek — Philippines: 4.1%
New Zealand 2.2% / —
Blackmans Point — New Zealand: 2.2% Fernbank Creek — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 23.8%
Blackmans Point — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Fernbank Creek — Certificate III & IV: 23.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 9.8%
Blackmans Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Fernbank Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.6% / 4.1%
Blackmans Point — Bachelor Degree: 9.6% Fernbank Creek — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 4.1%
Blackmans Point — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Fernbank Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.3%
Blackmans Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Fernbank Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point 40.5% houses
Blackmans Point — Houses: 40.5% Blackmans Point — Flats / Apartments: 53.2% Blackmans Point — Townhouses: 6.3%
Fernbank Creek 100.0% houses
Fernbank Creek — Houses: 100.0% Fernbank Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Fernbank Creek — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Median house price $1,200,000 $905,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Blackmans Point has more rural and farming land (79% vs 60%); Fernbank Creek has more land zoned for conservation (38% vs 20%).

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Rural and farming 79% 60%
Environmental 20% 38%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
New dwellings approved 546
across Port Macquarie-Hastings
same for both
Approvals change year on year +33%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Income Higher than 3% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW

Liveability

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Fernbank Creek carries more crime risk (72 vs 33).

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
same for both
Crime Low
33/100
 High
72/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 6

Mobility

Blackmans Point sits further from the CBD (386.5 km vs 381.3 km).

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 386.5 km
+1% vs other
 381.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 259 min 256 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2444
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 2444
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Car (driver) 53.1% / 78.2%
Blackmans Point — Car (driver): 53.1% Fernbank Creek — Car (driver): 78.2%
Worked from Home 30.6% / 14.5%
Blackmans Point — Worked from Home: 30.6% Fernbank Creek — Worked from Home: 14.5%
Car (passenger) 8.2% / 7.3%
Blackmans Point — Car (passenger): 8.2% Fernbank Creek — Car (passenger): 7.3%
Walked Only 8.2% / —
Blackmans Point — Walked Only: 8.2% Fernbank Creek — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.2%).

Setting

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.8 km 3.1 km

NBN connectivity

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Connectivity score 30/100 33/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
88 premises
 4%
52 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.92 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Average residential rate $1,325/yr
same for both
Council Port Macquarie-Hastings
same for both

Federal electorate

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Blackmans Point Fernbank Creek
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Blackmans Point

Quiet Retirees Rural

Fernbank Creek

River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blackmans Point

Blackmans Point vs Sancrox Blackmans Point vs Riverside Blackmans Point vs Pembrooke

Other comparisons with Fernbank Creek

Fernbank Creek vs Port Macquarie Fernbank Creek vs Thrumster Fernbank Creek vs Sancrox Fernbank Creek vs Riverside
Full data on Blackmans Point Full data on Fernbank Creek
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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