Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Port Kembla suburb profile
Port Kembla, NSW · Postcode 2505
This Port Kembla suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Port Kembla, NSW (postcode 2505). 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 Port Kembla with nearby suburbs.
Port Kembla at a glance
Population
5,088
Median rent
$340/wk
Household income
$1,308/wk
Median age
42
Port Kembla 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
+1.8% over 10 years
Population
5,088
was 5,014 in 2016
+74 · +1.5%
Median rent
$340/wk
was $270/wk in 2016
+$70 · +25.9%
Household income
$1,308/wk
was $1,016/wk in 2016
+$292 · +28.7%
Median age
42
was 43 in 2016
-1 · -2.3%
Dig deeper: Port Kembla population growth · Port Kembla then and now
Port Kembla vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Port Kembla, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-19% vs area
- Port Kembla$340/wk
- Nearby$375/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-29% vs area
- Port Kembla$1,308/wk
- Nearby$1,348.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+5% vs area
- Port Kembla42
- Nearby39
- NSW40
Personal income
-19.8% vs area
- Port Kembla$648/wk
- Nearby$646/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Port Kembla compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Port Kembla sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2930.5
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3933
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2944.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3925.7
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Port Kembla on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Port Kembla, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Port Kembla people
- Population
- 5,088
- Median age
- 42
- Born overseas
- 23.6%
- Average household size
- 2.4
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Port Kembla income
- Median household income
- $1,308/wk
- Median personal income
- $648/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Port Kembla housing
- Median rent
- $340/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,950/mo
- Separate houses
- 70.8%
- Flats & apartments
- 14.5%
- Owned outright
- 34.8%
- Mortgaged
- 23.9%
- Rented
- 31%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 7.9%
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
Port Kembla work
- Employment to population
- 48.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 5.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 42.5%
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 2505)
Compare Port Kembla with nearby suburbs
Port Kembla in numbers
Port Kembla had 5,088 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 500th most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 42, close to the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.4 people. 23.6% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 34.8% own their home outright, 23.9% are paying a mortgage, 31% rent. Separate houses make up 70.8% of dwellings, with 14.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $340/wk, 15% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,308/wk, 27% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 5.8%. 42.5% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 1.5% (from 5,014 to 5,088). Median rent moved from $270/wk to $340/wk (+25.9%).
Port Kembla suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Port Kembla, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Port Kembla was $340/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Port Kembla, NSW?
- Port Kembla had 5,088 residents at the 2021 Census, up 1.5% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Port Kembla?
- Median household income in Port Kembla was $1,308/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Port Kembla?
- 31% of occupied homes in Port Kembla were rented, 34.8% were owned outright and 23.9% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Port Kembla suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Port Kembla. 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