Primbee vs Port Kembla

Comparing Primbee and Port Kembla, NSW: Port Kembla has more residents (5,088 vs 1,623); Primbee carries more bushfire risk (35 vs 13); and Primbee is more walkable (42 vs 18).

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 Kembla

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • But Primbee carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 87/100)

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Primbee is more walkable (42/100 vs 18/100)
  • Port Kembla sits closer to the CBD (92 km vs 95.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Primbee

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (42/100 vs 18/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 87/100)

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

Investors

Port Kembla

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Primbee Port Kembla
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.

Primbee Port Kembla
Walkability 42 / 18
Primbee — Walkability: 42/100 Port Kembla — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 31 / 13
Primbee — Safety: 31/100 Port Kembla — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 65 / 87
Primbee — Low fire risk: 65/100 Port Kembla — Low fire risk: 87/100

Demographics

Port Kembla has more residents (5,088 vs 1,623); Primbee skews older (44 vs 42).

Primbee Port Kembla
Population 1,623 5,088
+213% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.0% +1.5%
Median age 44 42
Median household income $69,732/yr
+2% vs other
 $68,016/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+3% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Primbee Port Kembla
0-4 5.9% / 5.8%
Primbee — 0-4: 5.9% Port Kembla — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 11.3% / 11.4%
Primbee — 5-14: 11.3% Port Kembla — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 5.4% / 4.5%
Primbee — 15-19: 5.4% Port Kembla — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 5.7% / 6.2%
Primbee — 20-24: 5.7% Port Kembla — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 11.6% / 13.0%
Primbee — 25-34: 11.6% Port Kembla — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 11.0% / 12.3%
Primbee — 35-44: 11.0% Port Kembla — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 11.8% / 12.2%
Primbee — 45-54: 11.8% Port Kembla — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 15.3% / 14.0%
Primbee — 55-64: 15.3% Port Kembla — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 11.5% / 10.3%
Primbee — 65-74: 11.5% Port Kembla — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 7.8% / 6.4%
Primbee — 75-84: 7.8% Port Kembla — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 2.8% / 3.9%
Primbee — 85+: 2.8% Port Kembla — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Primbee 42.2% lone person
Primbee — Lone Person: 42.2% Primbee — Couple Families: 35.5% Primbee — One Parent Families: 18.5% Primbee — Group Household: 2.8% Primbee — Other Families: 1.0%
Port Kembla 40.2% lone person
Port Kembla — Lone Person: 40.2% Port Kembla — Couple Families: 33.0% Port Kembla — One Parent Families: 21.5% Port Kembla — Group Household: 3.7% Port Kembla — 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.

Primbee 31.5% renting
Primbee — Owned Outright: 42.3% Primbee — Mortgage: 26.1% Primbee — Renting: 31.5%
Port Kembla 34.6% renting
Port Kembla — Owned Outright: 38.8% Port Kembla — Mortgage: 26.6% Port Kembla — Renting: 34.6%
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.

Primbee Port Kembla
England 2.9% / 2.0%
Primbee — England: 2.9% Port Kembla — England: 2.0%
Italy 1.5% / 2.4%
Primbee — Italy: 1.5% Port Kembla — Italy: 2.4%
Greece 2.0% / 0.9%
Primbee — Greece: 2.0% Port Kembla — Greece: 0.9%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.6%
Primbee — New Zealand: 0.6% Port Kembla — New Zealand: 1.6%
Germany 0.7% / 0.5%
Primbee — Germany: 0.7% Port Kembla — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

Qualifications

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

Primbee Port Kembla
Certificate III & IV 19.0% / 16.8%
Primbee — Certificate III & IV: 19.0% Port Kembla — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 8.9%
Primbee — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Port Kembla — Bachelor Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 7.0%
Primbee — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Port Kembla — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 3.0%
Primbee — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Port Kembla — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.0%
Primbee — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Port Kembla — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Primbee 81.6% houses
Primbee — Houses: 81.6% Primbee — Flats / Apartments: 7.8% Primbee — Townhouses: 10.6%
Port Kembla 76.7% houses
Port Kembla — Houses: 76.7% Port Kembla — Flats / Apartments: 16.7% Port Kembla — Townhouses: 6.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Primbee Port Kembla
Median house price $1,110,000 $1,147,500
Median unit price — $682,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 15 sales
 28 days
from 24 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.

Primbee Port Kembla
3 bed $1.01M / $1.15M
Primbee — 3 bed: $1.01M (14 sales) Port Kembla — 3 bed: $1.15M (29 sales)

14 vs 29 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $1.33M
Primbee — 4 bed: $1.11M (18 sales) Port Kembla — 4 bed: $1.33M (8 sales)

18 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Primbee has more land zoned for conservation (46% vs 3%); Port Kembla has more industrially zoned land (40% vs 0%).

Primbee Port Kembla
Environmental 46% 3%
Industrial 0% 40%
Parks and recreation 24% 9%
Residential 24% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 20%
Commercial 0% 13%
Planning zones cover 98% of Primbee and 98% of Port Kembla. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Primbee Port Kembla
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Primbee Port Kembla
Houses 3.8%
$780/wk on $1.06M
 4.3%
$775/wk on $929K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Primbee Port Kembla
House price Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Income Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 11% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW

Liveability

Primbee is more walkable (42 vs 18); Primbee scores higher overall (35 vs 29).

Primbee Port Kembla
Grade C D
Score 35/100 29/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Primbee carries more bushfire risk (35 vs 13); Port Kembla carries more crime risk (87 vs 69).

Primbee Port Kembla
Bushfire Low
35/100
 Low
13/100
Crime Moderate
69/100
 High
87/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
27/100
 High
94/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Primbee Port Kembla
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 8.8 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.0% 1.2%

Schools in Primbee

  • Primbee Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Port Kembla

  • Port Kembla Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Five Islands Secondary College Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Primbee Port Kembla
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 2 5
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Primbee sits further from the CBD (95.1 km vs 92 km).

Primbee Port Kembla
Walkability score 42/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 95.1 km
+3% vs other
 92 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 88 min 85 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 71.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 116.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2502
 0.6%
postcode 2505
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2502
 32
postcode 2505

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.

Primbee Port Kembla
Car (driver) 68.7% / 67.5%
Primbee — Car (driver): 68.7% Port Kembla — Car (driver): 67.5%
Worked from Home 23.8% / 24.9%
Primbee — Worked from Home: 23.8% Port Kembla — Worked from Home: 24.9%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.8%
Primbee — Car (passenger): 3.9% Port Kembla — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Bus 1.6% / 1.0%
Primbee — Bus: 1.6% Port Kembla — Bus: 1.0%
Train 1.2% / 0.9%
Primbee — Train: 1.2% Port Kembla — Train: 0.9%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.3%
Primbee — Walked Only: 0.7% Port Kembla — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.7%).

Setting

Primbee Port Kembla
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 626 m
1.1 km to a named beach
 567 m
2.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Primbee Port Kembla
Connectivity score 73/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
772 premises
 42%
2,920 premises

Climate

Primbee Port Kembla
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Primbee Port Kembla
PM2.5 5.9 µg/m³ 6.2 µg/m³
PM10 19.8 µg/m³ 18.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.45 pphm 0.66 pphm

Council rates

Primbee Port Kembla
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Primbee Port Kembla
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Primbee

Beach Coastal

Port Kembla

Coastal

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Primbee

Primbee vs Warrawong Primbee vs Windang

Other comparisons with Port Kembla

Port Kembla vs Wollongong Port Kembla vs Warrawong Port Kembla vs Coniston Port Kembla vs Cringila Port Kembla vs Spring Hill
Full data on Primbee Full data on Port Kembla
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