Castle Hill vs Port Macquarie
The verdict
Port Macquarie is more affordable, with a median house price of $890K versus $2.49M in Castle Hill. Castle Hill rates higher for education (87 vs 51). Port Macquarie rates higher for liveability (100 vs 90). Port Macquarie is closer to the coast (3.4 km vs 25.9 km). On the separate residential safety score, Castle Hill rates higher (100 vs 44/100 in Port Macquarie).
Scores
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 76 |
| Transport | 86 | 74 |
| Education | 87 | 51 |
| Liveability | 90 | 100 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,874 | 47,693 |
| Median age | 42 | 48 |
| Median household income (wk) | $2,551 | $1,282 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 60.4% | 31.3% |
| Born in Australia | 53.3% | 80.9% |
| Avg household size | 3 | 2.2 |
Growth: Castle Hill High Growth · Port Macquarie Stable
Property
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $2.49M | $890K |
| Median unit price | $1.01M | $594K |
| House price YoY | 4.5% | 2.3% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $950 | $680 |
| Rental yield (house) | 2.0% | 4.0% |
| Days on market (house) | 40 | 31 |
Median price history
Safety
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 100 | 44 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 69 | 298 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 49 | 182 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 120 | 625 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 3,423 | 9,396 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 13 | 20 |
| Government | 5 | 7 |
| Independent | 5 | 8 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,122 | 1,005 |
See the full school list on each profile: Castle Hill · Port Macquarie
Transport
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 86 | 74 |
| Train stations | 0 | 1 |
| Bus stops | 243 | 0 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 58 | Data not available |
| Nearest train station (km) | 6.6 km | 2.7 km |
Liveability
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 29.0°C | 27.0°C |
| Winter max temp | 18.0°C | 19.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 950 | 1,500 |
| Supermarkets | 4 | 10 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 40 | 91 |
| Parks | 51 | 51 |
| Playgrounds | 31 | 24 |
| Swimming pools | 635 | 29 |
| Medical GPs | 7 | 14 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 25.9 km | 3.4 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 25.0 km | 311.8 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | Data not available | 3.4 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 4.7 km | 1.4 km |
Population & growth
| Castle Hill | Port Macquarie | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 40,874 | 47,693 |
| Estimated 2025 | 43,410 | 48,371 |
| Projected 2041 | 69,176 | 50,813 |
| Annual growth rate | 1.52% | 0.35% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Castle Hill or Port Macquarie?
Castle Hill has the higher residential safety score (Castle Hill 100/100 vs Port Macquarie 44/100).
Which is more affordable, Castle Hill or Port Macquarie?
Port Macquarie is more affordable, with a median house price of $890K versus $2.49M.
Which has better schools, Castle Hill or Port Macquarie?
Castle Hill has a higher average school ICSEA (Castle Hill 1122 vs Port Macquarie 1005; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Castle Hill or Port Macquarie?
Castle Hill has the higher transport score (Castle Hill 86/100 vs Port Macquarie 74/100).
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