North Macksville vs Nambucca Heads

North Macksville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 53 against 57 in Nambucca Heads. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In North Macksville, about half of households are people living alone. In Nambucca Heads, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in North Macksville: a median of $818,000, against $730,000 in Nambucca Heads, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nambucca Heads tends to suit 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

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But North Macksville is already more of a family suburb (50% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($265,000 vs $1,075,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($730,000 vs $818,158)
  • But North Macksville has cheaper units ($265,000 vs $530,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • North Macksville sits closer to the CBD (477 km vs 485.2 km)
  • Nambucca Heads is more walkable (71/100 vs 21/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 21/100)

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

Investors

North Macksville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.9% vs 5.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

North Macksville and Nambucca Heads drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
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.

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Walkability 21 / 71
North Macksville — Walkability: 21/100 Nambucca Heads — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 20 / 15
North Macksville — Safety: 20/100 Nambucca Heads — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 55 / 49
North Macksville — Low fire risk: 55/100 Nambucca Heads — Low fire risk: 49/100

Demographics

Nambucca Heads has more residents (6,675 vs 669); North Macksville rents higher ($340/wk vs $280/wk).

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Population 669 6,675
+898% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.9% +5.5%
Median age 53 57
Median household income $47,632/yr
+8% vs other
 $43,628/yr
Median weekly rent $340/wk
+18% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
0-4 4.2% / 4.3%
North Macksville — 0-4: 4.2% Nambucca Heads — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 11.7% / 9.3%
North Macksville — 5-14: 11.7% Nambucca Heads — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 4.8% / 4.5%
North Macksville — 15-19: 4.8% Nambucca Heads — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 3.6% / 3.3%
North Macksville — 20-24: 3.6% Nambucca Heads — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 8.1% / 7.4%
North Macksville — 25-34: 8.1% Nambucca Heads — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 7.6% / 8.1%
North Macksville — 35-44: 7.6% Nambucca Heads — 35-44: 8.1%
45-54 10.6% / 9.9%
North Macksville — 45-54: 10.6% Nambucca Heads — 45-54: 9.9%
55-64 16.6% / 15.6%
North Macksville — 55-64: 16.6% Nambucca Heads — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 16.1% / 18.5%
North Macksville — 65-74: 16.1% Nambucca Heads — 65-74: 18.5%
75-84 12.3% / 13.2%
North Macksville — 75-84: 12.3% Nambucca Heads — 75-84: 13.2%
85+ 5.2% / 5.6%
North Macksville — 85+: 5.2% Nambucca Heads — 85+: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Macksville 48.2% lone person
North Macksville — Lone Person: 48.2% North Macksville — Couple Families: 28.3% North Macksville — One Parent Families: 21.5% North Macksville — Group Household: 2.1% North Macksville — Other Families: 0.0%
Nambucca Heads 58.3% lone person
Nambucca Heads — Lone Person: 58.3% Nambucca Heads — Couple Families: 18.8% Nambucca Heads — One Parent Families: 17.0% Nambucca Heads — Group Household: 4.2% Nambucca Heads — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Macksville 18.1% renting
North Macksville — Owned Outright: 59.2% North Macksville — Mortgage: 22.7% North Macksville — Renting: 18.1%
Nambucca Heads 34.9% renting
Nambucca Heads — Owned Outright: 48.1% Nambucca Heads — Mortgage: 16.9% Nambucca Heads — Renting: 34.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Certificate III & IV 17.2% / 17.2%
North Macksville — Certificate III & IV: 17.2% Nambucca Heads — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 6.3%
North Macksville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Nambucca Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Bachelor Degree 7.5% / 6.2%
North Macksville — Bachelor Degree: 7.5% Nambucca Heads — Bachelor Degree: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.7% / 1.4%
North Macksville — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7% Nambucca Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 1.4%
North Macksville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Nambucca Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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.

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
England 3.1% / 3.9%
North Macksville — England: 3.1% Nambucca Heads — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.3%
North Macksville — New Zealand: 1.3% Nambucca Heads — New Zealand: 1.3%
Germany 0.4% / 0.5%
North Macksville — Germany: 0.4% Nambucca Heads — Germany: 0.5%
India 0.4% / 0.4%
North Macksville — India: 0.4% Nambucca Heads — India: 0.4%
Scotland — / 0.5%
North Macksville — Scotland: not among its largest Nambucca Heads — Scotland: 0.5%
Philippines — / 0.5%
North Macksville — Philippines: not among its largest Nambucca Heads — Philippines: 0.5%
Italy 0.4% / —
North Macksville — Italy: 0.4% Nambucca Heads — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Macksville 79.6% houses
North Macksville — Houses: 79.6% North Macksville — Flats / Apartments: 20.4% North Macksville — Townhouses: 0.0%
Nambucca Heads 72.3% houses
Nambucca Heads — Houses: 72.3% Nambucca Heads — Flats / Apartments: 14.8% Nambucca Heads — Townhouses: 12.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Median house price $818,158 $730,000
Median unit price $265,000 $530,500
Median land price $1,075,000 $265,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 68 days
from 3 sales
 42 days
from 50 sales

Zoning mix

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Rural and farming 48% 49%
Environmental 27% 21%
Residential 21% 19%
Parks and recreation 1% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 3%
same for both
Industrial 0% 1%
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

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
New dwellings approved 109
across Nambucca Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -64%
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.

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Houses — 4.0%
$650/wk on $849K
Units — 3.9%
$420/wk on $555K

Ranking within NSW

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Income Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 59% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 21% of NSW

Liveability

Nambucca Heads is more walkable (71 vs 21); Nambucca Heads scores higher overall (29 vs 20).

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Grade D
same for both
Score 20/100 29/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 Moderate
51/100
Crime High
80/100
 High
85/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
95/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in North Macksville

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

Schools in Nambucca Heads

  • Nambucca Heads Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Frank Partridge VC Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Nambucca Valley Christian Community School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Nambucca Heads High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 18
Parks & reserves 2 14
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 4
Waterways 14 25

Mobility

Nambucca Heads sits further from the CBD (485.2 km vs 477 km).

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Walkability score 21/100 71/100
Distance to Sydney 477 km 485.2 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 315 min 317 min
Public transport score 19/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 27.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2447
 0.3%
postcode 2448
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 62
postcode 2447
 53
postcode 2448

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.

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Car (driver) 76.6% / 79.6%
North Macksville — Car (driver): 76.6% Nambucca Heads — Car (driver): 79.6%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 9.9%
North Macksville — Worked from Home: 9.2% Nambucca Heads — Worked from Home: 9.9%
Car (passenger) 10.3% / 6.3%
North Macksville — Car (passenger): 10.3% Nambucca Heads — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only 3.8% / 4.0%
North Macksville — Walked Only: 3.8% Nambucca Heads — Walked Only: 4.0%
Bus — / 0.2%
North Macksville — Bus: not among its largest Nambucca Heads — Bus: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.6%).

Setting

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km 1.2 km
3.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Connectivity score 55/100 67/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 25%
388 premises
 30%
4,315 premises

Council rates

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Average residential rate $1,175/yr
same for both
Council Nambucca Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Macksville Nambucca Heads
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Macksville

Retirees Rural

Nambucca Heads

Coastal Parks Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Macksville

North Macksville vs Macksville North Macksville vs Gumma North Macksville vs Newee Creek North Macksville vs Congarinni North North Macksville vs Wirrimbi

Other comparisons with Nambucca Heads

Nambucca Heads vs Valla Beach Nambucca Heads vs Valla Nambucca Heads vs Scotts Head Nambucca Heads vs Gumma Nambucca Heads vs Hyland Park Nambucca Heads vs Newee Creek
Full data on North Macksville Full data on Nambucca Heads
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or