Fernbank Creek vs Port Macquarie

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Fernbank Creek, most households are couple families. In Port Macquarie, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Fernbank Creek tends to suit couples, while Port Macquarie suits people living alone.

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

Port Macquarie

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (48 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (26 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (20 vs 0)
  • But Fernbank Creek is already more of a family suburb (85% vs 48%)

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

First-home buyers

Fernbank Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fernbank Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($275/wk vs $380/wk)
  • But Port Macquarie has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fernbank Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (256 min vs 262 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (381.3 km vs 385.5 km)
  • But Port Macquarie is more walkable (56/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Macquarie

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (18 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 24%)

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

Investors

Port Macquarie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.4% vs -8.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
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.

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Walkability 0 / 56
Fernbank Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Port Macquarie — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 28 / 20
Fernbank Creek — Safety: 28/100 Port Macquarie — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 42 / 31
Fernbank Creek — Low fire risk: 42/100 Port Macquarie — Low fire risk: 31/100

Demographics

Port Macquarie has more residents (47,693 vs 122); Port Macquarie rents higher ($380/wk vs $275/wk).

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Population 122 47,693
+38993% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.3% +6.4%
Median age 50 48
Median household income $84,500/yr
+21% vs other
 $66,664/yr
Median weekly rent $275/wk $380/wk
+38% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
0-4 7.4% / 4.3%
Fernbank Creek — 0-4: 7.4% Port Macquarie — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 8.2% / 11.3%
Fernbank Creek — 5-14: 8.2% Port Macquarie — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 9.0% / 5.8%
Fernbank Creek — 15-19: 9.0% Port Macquarie — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 7.4% / 4.9%
Fernbank Creek — 20-24: 7.4% Port Macquarie — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 9.0% / 9.3%
Fernbank Creek — 25-34: 9.0% Port Macquarie — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 2.5% / 10.5%
Fernbank Creek — 35-44: 2.5% Port Macquarie — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 17.2% / 12.0%
Fernbank Creek — 45-54: 17.2% Port Macquarie — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 18.9% / 13.1%
Fernbank Creek — 55-64: 18.9% Port Macquarie — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 13.9% / 14.1%
Fernbank Creek — 65-74: 13.9% Port Macquarie — 65-74: 14.1%
75-84 4.9% / 10.3%
Fernbank Creek — 75-84: 4.9% Port Macquarie — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 4.9% / 4.5%
Fernbank Creek — 85+: 4.9% Port Macquarie — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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% Fernbank Creek — Group Household: 0.0% Fernbank Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Port Macquarie 31.6% couple families
Port Macquarie — Couple Families: 31.6% Port Macquarie — Lone Person: 45.7% Port Macquarie — One Parent Families: 16.6% Port Macquarie — Group Household: 4.9% Port Macquarie — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fernbank Creek 21.6% renting
Fernbank Creek — Owned Outright: 51.4% Fernbank Creek — Mortgage: 27.0% Fernbank Creek — Renting: 21.6%
Port Macquarie 32.8% renting
Port Macquarie — Owned Outright: 41.3% Port Macquarie — Mortgage: 25.9% Port Macquarie — Renting: 32.8%
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.

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
England 3.3% / 4.5%
Fernbank Creek — England: 3.3% Port Macquarie — England: 4.5%
Philippines 4.1% / 0.6%
Fernbank Creek — Philippines: 4.1% Port Macquarie — Philippines: 0.6%
New Zealand — / 1.5%
Fernbank Creek — New Zealand: not among its largest Port Macquarie — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa — / 0.5%
Fernbank Creek — South Africa: not among its largest Port Macquarie — South Africa: 0.5%
India — / 0.5%
Fernbank Creek — India: not among its largest Port Macquarie — India: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

Qualifications

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

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Certificate III & IV 23.8% / 16.7%
Fernbank Creek — Certificate III & IV: 23.8% Port Macquarie — Certificate III & IV: 16.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 8.4%
Fernbank Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Port Macquarie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Bachelor Degree 4.1% / 11.4%
Fernbank Creek — Bachelor Degree: 4.1% Port Macquarie — Bachelor Degree: 11.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 3.3%
Fernbank Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Port Macquarie — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 1.7%
Fernbank Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Port Macquarie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fernbank Creek 100.0% houses
Fernbank Creek — Houses: 100.0% Fernbank Creek — Townhouses: 0.0% Fernbank Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Port Macquarie 66.1% houses
Port Macquarie — Houses: 66.1% Port Macquarie — Townhouses: 18.0% Port Macquarie — Flats / Apartments: 15.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Median house price $905,000 $892,000
Median unit price — $590,000
Median land price — $589,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 27 days
from 468 sales

Zoning mix

Fernbank Creek has more rural and farming land (60% vs 7%).

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Rural and farming 60% 7%
Residential 0% 41%
Environmental 38% 34%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 7%
Parks and recreation 0% 7%
Industrial 0% 3%
Commercial 0% 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

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

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Houses — 3.9%
$650/wk on $875K
Units — 4.3%
$510/wk on $616K

Ranking within NSW

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
House price Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 42% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 66% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 37% of NSW

Liveability

Port Macquarie is more walkable (56 vs 0).

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Grade — C
Score — 32/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Port Macquarie carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 58).

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
69/100
Crime High
72/100
 High
80/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
82/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Inside the suburb 0 20
Rated above peers 0 4
Rated at peers 0 7
Rated below peers 0 4

Schools in Fernbank Creek

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Port Macquarie

  • Hastings Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Hastings Secondary College, Port Macquarie Campus Government · Secondary above peers
  • MacKillop College Port Macquarie Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • The Nature School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Heritage Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Port Macquarie Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Supermarkets 0 9
Cafes & restaurants 0 90
Parks & reserves 0 48
Childcare 0 26
GPs 0 18
Pharmacies 0 12
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 13
Fuel stations 0 11
EV chargers 1
same for both
Beaches 0 7
Waterways 6 42

Mobility

Port Macquarie sits further from the CBD (385.5 km vs 381.3 km).

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Walkability score 0/100 56/100
Distance to Sydney 381.3 km 385.5 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 256 min 262 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.

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Car (driver) 78.2% / 75.0%
Fernbank Creek — Car (driver): 78.2% Port Macquarie — Car (driver): 75.0%
Worked from Home 14.5% / 14.6%
Fernbank Creek — Worked from Home: 14.5% Port Macquarie — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Car (passenger) 7.3% / 6.1%
Fernbank Creek — Car (passenger): 7.3% Port Macquarie — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Walked Only — / 3.0%
Fernbank Creek — Walked Only: not among its largest Port Macquarie — Walked Only: 3.0%
Bicycle — / 0.6%
Fernbank Creek — Bicycle: not among its largest Port Macquarie — Bicycle: 0.6%

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

Setting

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.1 km 2.9 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Connectivity score 33/100 64/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
52 premises
 34%
26,896 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
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

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

Federal electorate

Fernbank Creek Port Macquarie
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fernbank Creek

River Rural

Port Macquarie

Coastal Regional Centre Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fernbank Creek

Fernbank Creek vs Thrumster Fernbank Creek vs Sancrox Fernbank Creek vs Riverside Fernbank Creek vs Blackmans Point

Other comparisons with Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie vs Thrumster Port Macquarie vs Lake Innes Port Macquarie vs North Shore Port Macquarie vs Riverside
Full data on Fernbank Creek Full data on Port Macquarie
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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