Fernbank Creek vs Thrumster

Thrumster is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 50 in Fernbank Creek. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. On these figures, Fernbank Creek tends to suit older residents, while Thrumster suits families with children.

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

  • is already more of a family suburb (85% vs 75%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 90%)
  • But Thrumster has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fernbank Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($275/wk vs $460/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 23%)

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

Commuting to the city

Thrumster

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (35/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (377.7 km vs 381.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Fernbank Creek has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 11%)
  • Thrumster is more walkable (35/100 vs 0/100)

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

Where they sit

Fernbank Creek and Thrumster 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 Thrumster
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 Thrumster
Walkability 0 / 35
Fernbank Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Thrumster — Walkability: 35/100
Safety 28 / 23
Fernbank Creek — Safety: 28/100 Thrumster — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 42 / 19
Fernbank Creek — Low fire risk: 42/100 Thrumster — Low fire risk: 19/100

Demographics

Thrumster has more residents (2,382 vs 122); Thrumster rents higher ($460/wk vs $275/wk).

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Population 122 2,382
+1852% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.3% —
Median age 50 32
Median household income $84,500/yr $103,376/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $275/wk $460/wk
+67% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
0-4 7.4% / 10.2%
Fernbank Creek — 0-4: 7.4% Thrumster — 0-4: 10.2%
5-14 8.2% / 15.9%
Fernbank Creek — 5-14: 8.2% Thrumster — 5-14: 15.9%
15-19 9.0% / 5.5%
Fernbank Creek — 15-19: 9.0% Thrumster — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 7.4% / 6.6%
Fernbank Creek — 20-24: 7.4% Thrumster — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 9.0% / 17.0%
Fernbank Creek — 25-34: 9.0% Thrumster — 25-34: 17.0%
35-44 2.5% / 14.3%
Fernbank Creek — 35-44: 2.5% Thrumster — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 17.2% / 11.1%
Fernbank Creek — 45-54: 17.2% Thrumster — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 18.9% / 8.0%
Fernbank Creek — 55-64: 18.9% Thrumster — 55-64: 8.0%
65-74 13.9% / 8.1%
Fernbank Creek — 65-74: 13.9% Thrumster — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 4.9% / 2.9%
Fernbank Creek — 75-84: 4.9% Thrumster — 75-84: 2.9%
85+ 4.9% / 0.3%
Fernbank Creek — 85+: 4.9% Thrumster — 85+: 0.3%

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 — One Parent Families: 30.0% Fernbank Creek — Lone Person: 15.0% Fernbank Creek — Group Household: 0.0% Fernbank Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Thrumster 56.1% couple families
Thrumster — Couple Families: 56.1% Thrumster — One Parent Families: 18.6% Thrumster — Lone Person: 20.8% Thrumster — Group Household: 3.2% Thrumster — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person 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%
Thrumster 31.0% renting
Thrumster — Owned Outright: 20.8% Thrumster — Mortgage: 48.2% Thrumster — Renting: 31.0%
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 Thrumster
England 3.3% / 3.8%
Fernbank Creek — England: 3.3% Thrumster — England: 3.8%
Philippines 4.1% / 0.6%
Fernbank Creek — Philippines: 4.1% Thrumster — Philippines: 0.6%
India — / 2.4%
Fernbank Creek — India: not among its largest Thrumster — India: 2.4%
New Zealand — / 1.7%
Fernbank Creek — New Zealand: not among its largest Thrumster — New Zealand: 1.7%
Thailand — / 0.5%
Fernbank Creek — Thailand: not among its largest Thrumster — Thailand: 0.5%

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

Qualifications

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

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Certificate III & IV 23.8% / 18.1%
Fernbank Creek — Certificate III & IV: 23.8% Thrumster — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 8.1%
Fernbank Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Thrumster — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Bachelor Degree 4.1% / 10.4%
Fernbank Creek — Bachelor Degree: 4.1% Thrumster — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 2.9%
Fernbank Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Thrumster — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 1.9%
Fernbank Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Thrumster — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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%
Thrumster 89.6% houses
Thrumster — Houses: 89.6% Thrumster — Townhouses: 8.4% Thrumster — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Median house price $905,000 $865,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $450,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 34 days
from 61 sales

Zoning mix

Fernbank Creek has more rural and farming land (60% vs 32%); Fernbank Creek has more land zoned for conservation (38% vs 23%).

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Rural and farming 60% 32%
Environmental 38% 23%
Residential 0% 35%
Industrial 0% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
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 Thrumster
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 Thrumster
Houses — 3.8%
$695/wk on $950K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
House price Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Income Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 62% of NSW

Liveability

Thrumster is more walkable (35 vs 0).

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Grade — D
Score — 29/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Thrumster carries more bushfire risk (81 vs 58).

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 High
81/100
Crime High
72/100
 High
77/100
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 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Fernbank Creek

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

Schools in Thrumster

  • St Joseph's Regional College Catholic · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 0 2
Childcare 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 3
Waterways 6 1

Mobility

Fernbank Creek sits further from the CBD (381.3 km vs 377.7 km).

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Walkability score 0/100 35/100
Distance to Sydney 381.3 km 377.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 256 min 253 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 Thrumster
Car (driver) 78.2% / 79.0%
Fernbank Creek — Car (driver): 78.2% Thrumster — Car (driver): 79.0%
Worked from Home 14.5% / 12.8%
Fernbank Creek — Worked from Home: 14.5% Thrumster — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Car (passenger) 7.3% / 5.8%
Fernbank Creek — Car (passenger): 7.3% Thrumster — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Walked Only — / 1.9%
Fernbank Creek — Walked Only: not among its largest Thrumster — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus — / 0.3%
Fernbank Creek — Bus: not among its largest Thrumster — Bus: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.0%).

Setting

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.1 km 6.1 km

NBN connectivity

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
Connectivity score 33/100 98/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
52 premises
 97%
1,803 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Fernbank Creek Thrumster
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

Thrumster

Acreage Family Quiet Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fernbank Creek

Fernbank Creek vs Port Macquarie Fernbank Creek vs Sancrox Fernbank Creek vs Riverside Fernbank Creek vs Blackmans Point

Other comparisons with Thrumster

Thrumster vs Port Macquarie Thrumster vs Sancrox Thrumster vs Lake Innes
Full data on Fernbank Creek Full data on Thrumster
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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