North Shore vs Port Macquarie

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Port Macquarie, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Port Macquarie 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • North Shore has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 66%)
  • Port Macquarie has more childcare (26 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

North Shore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Macquarie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 16%)

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

Commuting to the city

Port Macquarie

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (262 min vs 288 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (385.5 km vs 392.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Macquarie

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (18 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (34% vs 7%)
  • But North Shore carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 80/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, 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 0.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

North Shore 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.

North Shore 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.

North Shore Port Macquarie
Walkability 0 / 56
North Shore — Walkability: 0/100 Port Macquarie — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 35 / 20
North Shore — Safety: 35/100 Port Macquarie — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 11 / 31
North Shore — Low fire risk: 11/100 Port Macquarie — Low fire risk: 31/100

Demographics

Port Macquarie has more residents (47,693 vs 371); North Shore has higher household incomes ($76,856 vs $66,664).

North Shore Port Macquarie
Population 371 47,693
+12755% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.5% +6.4%
Median age 48
same for both
Median household income $76,856/yr
+13% vs other
 $66,664/yr
Median weekly rent $388/wk
+2% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Shore Port Macquarie
0-4 1.3% / 4.3%
North Shore — 0-4: 1.3% Port Macquarie — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 14.6% / 11.3%
North Shore — 5-14: 14.6% Port Macquarie — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 6.7% / 5.8%
North Shore — 15-19: 6.7% Port Macquarie — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 3.8% / 4.9%
North Shore — 20-24: 3.8% Port Macquarie — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 3.2% / 9.3%
North Shore — 25-34: 3.2% Port Macquarie — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 12.4% / 10.5%
North Shore — 35-44: 12.4% Port Macquarie — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 18.6% / 12.0%
North Shore — 45-54: 18.6% Port Macquarie — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 15.9% / 13.1%
North Shore — 55-64: 15.9% Port Macquarie — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 18.6% / 14.1%
North Shore — 65-74: 18.6% Port Macquarie — 65-74: 14.1%
75-84 4.9% / 10.3%
North Shore — 75-84: 4.9% Port Macquarie — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ — / 4.5%
North Shore — 85+: not among its largest Port Macquarie — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Shore 33.3% lone person
North Shore — Lone Person: 33.3% North Shore — Couple Families: 44.8% North Shore — One Parent Families: 12.6% North Shore — Group Household: 9.2% North Shore — Other Families: 0.0%
Port Macquarie 45.7% lone person
Port Macquarie — Lone Person: 45.7% Port Macquarie — Couple Families: 31.6% Port Macquarie — One Parent Families: 16.6% Port Macquarie — Group Household: 4.9% Port Macquarie — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Shore 15.6% renting
North Shore — Owned Outright: 47.4% North Shore — Mortgage: 37.0% North Shore — Renting: 15.6%
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

Qualifications

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

North Shore Port Macquarie
Certificate III & IV 25.6% / 16.7%
North Shore — Certificate III & IV: 25.6% Port Macquarie — Certificate III & IV: 16.7%
Bachelor Degree 11.6% / 11.4%
North Shore — Bachelor Degree: 11.6% Port Macquarie — Bachelor Degree: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.4%
North Shore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Port Macquarie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 3.3%
North Shore — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Port Macquarie — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 1.7%
North Shore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Port Macquarie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.6%).

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 Shore Port Macquarie
England 1.3% / 4.5%
North Shore — England: 1.3% Port Macquarie — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.5%
North Shore — New Zealand: 2.2% Port Macquarie — New Zealand: 1.5%
Greece 1.1% / —
North Shore — Greece: 1.1% Port Macquarie — Greece: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.6%
North Shore — Philippines: not among its largest Port Macquarie — Philippines: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.5%
North Shore — South Africa: not among its largest Port Macquarie — South Africa: 0.5%
India — / 0.5%
North Shore — India: not among its largest Port Macquarie — India: 0.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Shore 93.0% houses
North Shore — Houses: 93.0% North Shore — Flats / Apartments: 7.0% North Shore — Townhouses: 0.0%
Port Macquarie 66.1% houses
Port Macquarie — Houses: 66.1% Port Macquarie — Flats / Apartments: 15.9% Port Macquarie — Townhouses: 18.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Shore Port Macquarie
Median house price $880,000 $892,000
Median unit price — $590,000
Median land price — $589,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 76 days
from 4 sales
 27 days
from 468 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

North Shore Port Macquarie
3 bed $749K / $816K
North Shore — 3 bed: $749K (9 sales) Port Macquarie — 3 bed: $816K (420 sales)

9 vs 420 sales

4 bed $1M / $1.01M
North Shore — 4 bed: $1M (6 sales) Port Macquarie — 4 bed: $1.01M (332 sales)

6 vs 332 sales

Zoning mix

North Shore has more land zoned for conservation (83% vs 34%); North Shore has more rural and farming land (17% vs 7%).

North Shore Port Macquarie
Environmental 83% 34%
Residential 0% 41%
Rural and farming 17% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 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

North Shore 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

North Shore Port Macquarie
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 42% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% 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).

North Shore Port Macquarie
Grade — C
Score — 32/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

North Shore carries more bushfire risk (89 vs 69); Port Macquarie carries more crime risk (80 vs 65).

North Shore Port Macquarie
Bushfire High
89/100
 Moderate
69/100
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
80/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
78/100
 High
82/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

North Shore Port Macquarie
Inside the suburb 0 20
Rated above peers 0 4
Rated at peers 0 7
Rated below peers 0 4

Schools in North Shore

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

North Shore Port Macquarie
Supermarkets 0 9
Cafes & restaurants 0 90
Parks & reserves 6 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 0 1
Beaches 1 7
Waterways 1 42

Mobility

North Shore sits further from the CBD (392.4 km vs 385.5 km).

North Shore Port Macquarie
Walkability score 0/100 56/100
Distance to Sydney 392.4 km
+2% vs other
 385.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 288 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.

North Shore Port Macquarie
Car (driver) 76.3% / 75.0%
North Shore — Car (driver): 76.3% Port Macquarie — Car (driver): 75.0%
Worked from Home 17.3% / 14.6%
North Shore — Worked from Home: 17.3% Port Macquarie — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 6.1%
North Shore — Car (passenger): 6.5% Port Macquarie — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Walked Only — / 3.0%
North Shore — Walked Only: not among its largest Port Macquarie — Walked Only: 3.0%
Bicycle — / 0.6%
North Shore — Bicycle: not among its largest Port Macquarie — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.3%).

Setting

North Shore Port Macquarie
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.4 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 2.9 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Shore Port Macquarie
Connectivity score 44/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
165 premises
 34%
26,896 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

North Shore 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

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

Federal electorate

North Shore Port Macquarie
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Shore

Coastal Rural

Port Macquarie

Coastal Regional Centre Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Shore

North Shore vs Riverside

Other comparisons with Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie vs Thrumster Port Macquarie vs Lake Innes Port Macquarie vs Riverside Port Macquarie vs Fernbank Creek
Full data on North Shore 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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