Port Macquarie vs Riverside

Port Macquarie is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 53 in Riverside. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Port Macquarie, about half of households are people living alone. In Riverside, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Riverside: a median of $980,000, against $892,000 in Port Macquarie, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Port Macquarie tends to suit people living alone, while Riverside suits couples.

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

  • Port Macquarie has more parks and reserves (48 vs 0)
  • Riverside carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Riverside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Macquarie

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $415/wk)

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 274 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (385.5 km vs 390.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Port Macquarie is more walkable (56/100 vs 0/100)
  • Riverside carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 80/100)

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 -7.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Port Macquarie Riverside
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.

Port Macquarie Riverside
Walkability 56 / 0
Port Macquarie — Walkability: 56/100 Riverside — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 20 / 64
Port Macquarie — Safety: 20/100 Riverside — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 31 / 11
Port Macquarie — Low fire risk: 31/100 Riverside — Low fire risk: 11/100

Demographics

Port Macquarie has more residents (47,693 vs 298); Riverside has higher household incomes ($75,972 vs $66,664).

Port Macquarie Riverside
Population 47,693
+99% vs other
 298
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.4% -7.5%
Median age 48 53
Median household income $66,664/yr $75,972/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $415/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Port Macquarie Riverside
0-4 4.3% / 4.4%
Port Macquarie — 0-4: 4.3% Riverside — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 11.3% / 11.4%
Port Macquarie — 5-14: 11.3% Riverside — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 5.8% / 3.7%
Port Macquarie — 15-19: 5.8% Riverside — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 4.9% / 3.0%
Port Macquarie — 20-24: 4.9% Riverside — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 9.3% / 7.4%
Port Macquarie — 25-34: 9.3% Riverside — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 10.5% / 10.4%
Port Macquarie — 35-44: 10.5% Riverside — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 12.0% / 9.7%
Port Macquarie — 45-54: 12.0% Riverside — 45-54: 9.7%
55-64 13.1% / 15.4%
Port Macquarie — 55-64: 13.1% Riverside — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 14.1% / 21.8%
Port Macquarie — 65-74: 14.1% Riverside — 65-74: 21.8%
75-84 10.3% / 11.7%
Port Macquarie — 75-84: 10.3% Riverside — 75-84: 11.7%
85+ 4.5% / 1.7%
Port Macquarie — 85+: 4.5% Riverside — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Riverside 57.9% couple families
Riverside — Couple Families: 57.9% Riverside — Lone Person: 29.8% Riverside — One Parent Families: 12.3% Riverside — Group Household: 0.0% Riverside — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Port Macquarie 32.8% renting
Port Macquarie — Owned Outright: 41.3% Port Macquarie — Mortgage: 25.9% Port Macquarie — Renting: 32.8%
Riverside 7.8% renting
Riverside — Owned Outright: 57.3% Riverside — Mortgage: 35.0% Riverside — Renting: 7.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Port Macquarie Riverside
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 19.1%
Port Macquarie — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Riverside — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 12.8%
Port Macquarie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Riverside — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.8%
Bachelor Degree 11.4% / 8.7%
Port Macquarie — Bachelor Degree: 11.4% Riverside — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 3.4%
Port Macquarie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Riverside — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 1.7%
Port Macquarie — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Riverside — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

Port Macquarie Riverside
England 4.5% / 3.4%
Port Macquarie — England: 4.5% Riverside — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.5% / 2.3%
Port Macquarie — New Zealand: 1.5% Riverside — New Zealand: 2.3%
South Africa 0.5% / 2.0%
Port Macquarie — South Africa: 0.5% Riverside — South Africa: 2.0%
Netherlands 0.4% / 1.3%
Port Macquarie — Netherlands: 0.4% Riverside — Netherlands: 1.3%
Taiwan — / 1.3%
Port Macquarie — Taiwan: not among its largest Riverside — Taiwan: 1.3%
Philippines 0.6% / —
Port Macquarie — Philippines: 0.6% Riverside — Philippines: not among its largest
India 0.5% / —
Port Macquarie — India: 0.5% Riverside — India: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

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

Property market

Port Macquarie Riverside
Median house price $892,000 $980,000
Median unit price $590,000 —
Median land price $589,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 468 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Riverside has more rural and farming land (44% vs 7%); Riverside has more land zoned for conservation (56% vs 34%).

Port Macquarie Riverside
Environmental 34% 56%
Rural and farming 7% 44%
Residential 41% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 0%
Parks and recreation 7% 0%
Industrial 3% 0%
Commercial 2% 0%
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

Port Macquarie Riverside
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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Port Macquarie Riverside
House price Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Income Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 42% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 56% 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).

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

Risk profile

Port Macquarie carries more crime risk (80 vs 36); Riverside carries more bushfire risk (89 vs 69).

Port Macquarie Riverside
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 High
89/100
Crime High
80/100
 Low
36/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
82/100
 Moderate
62/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

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

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

Schools in Riverside

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Riverside sits further from the CBD (390.1 km vs 385.5 km).

Port Macquarie Riverside
Walkability score 56/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 385.5 km 390.1 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 262 min 274 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.

Port Macquarie Riverside
Car (driver) 75.0% / 68.6%
Port Macquarie — Car (driver): 75.0% Riverside — Car (driver): 68.6%
Worked from Home 14.6% / 31.4%
Port Macquarie — Worked from Home: 14.6% Riverside — Worked from Home: 31.4%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / —
Port Macquarie — Car (passenger): 6.1% Riverside — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 3.0% / —
Port Macquarie — Walked Only: 3.0% Riverside — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 0.6% / —
Port Macquarie — Bicycle: 0.6% Riverside — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.0%).

Setting

Port Macquarie Riverside
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.9 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 1.7 km

NBN connectivity

Port Macquarie Riverside
Connectivity score 64/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
26,896 premises
 0%
143 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Port Macquarie Riverside
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Port Macquarie

Coastal Regional Centre Retirees River

Riverside

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie vs Thrumster Port Macquarie vs Lake Innes Port Macquarie vs North Shore Port Macquarie vs Fernbank Creek

Other comparisons with Riverside

Riverside vs North Shore Riverside vs Blackmans Point Riverside vs Fernbank Creek
Full data on Port Macquarie Full data on Riverside
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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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