Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Palmers Island suburb profile
Palmers Island, NSW · Postcode 2463
This Palmers Island suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Palmers Island, NSW (postcode 2463). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Palmers Island with nearby suburbs.
Palmers Island at a glance
Population
482
Median rent
$313/wk
Household income
$1,404/wk
Median age
49
Palmers Island trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+11.3% over 10 years
Population
482
was 458 in 2016
+24 · +5.2%
Median rent
$313/wk
was $250/wk in 2016
+$63 · +25.2%
Household income
$1,404/wk
was $1,057/wk in 2016
+$347 · +32.8%
Median age
49
was 47 in 2016
+2 · +4.3%
Dig deeper: Palmers Island population growth · Palmers Island then and now
Palmers Island vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Palmers Island, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-25.5% vs area
- Palmers Island$313/wk
- Nearby$315/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-23.8% vs area
- Palmers Island$1,404/wk
- Nearby$1,014/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+22.5% vs area
- Palmers Island49
- Nearby49
- NSW40
Personal income
-12.6% vs area
- Palmers Island$706/wk
- Nearby$547.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Palmers Island compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Palmers Island sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 71,036.1
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6995.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 71,041
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 4954.6
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Palmers Island on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Palmers Island, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Palmers Island people
- Population
- 482
- Median age
- 49
- Born overseas
- 8.7%
- Average household size
- 2.6
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Palmers Island income
- Median household income
- $1,404/wk
- Median personal income
- $706/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Palmers Island housing
- Median rent
- $313/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,733/mo
- Separate houses
- 79.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 47.8%
- Mortgaged
- 31%
- Rented
- 10.3%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 9.2%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Palmers Island work
- Employment to population
- 55.7%
- Unemployment rate
- 6%
- Year 12 or above
- 39.7%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2463)
Compare Palmers Island with nearby suburbs
Palmers Island in numbers
Palmers Island had 482 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 49, 20% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.6 people. 8.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 47.8% own their home outright, 31% are paying a mortgage, 10.3% rent. Separate houses make up 79.3% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $313/wk, 22% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,404/wk, 22% below the typical NSW suburb. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 7 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 5.2% (from 458 to 482). Median rent moved from $250/wk to $313/wk (+25.2%).
Palmers Island suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Palmers Island, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Palmers Island was $313/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Palmers Island, NSW?
- Palmers Island had 482 residents at the 2021 Census, up 5.2% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Palmers Island?
- Median household income in Palmers Island was $1,404/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Palmers Island?
- 10.3% of occupied homes in Palmers Island were rented, 47.8% were owned outright and 31% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Palmers Island suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Palmers Island. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology