The area is just north of Newcastle and is adjacent to the Pacific Highway which runs through Raymond Terrace, the largest town and Council seat.

However, another significant portion of the population lives in a large rural/semi-rural area to the west of the Pacific Highway in the towns and suburbs of Balickera, Butterwick, Duns Creek, Eagleton, East Seaham, Glen Oak, Hinton, Nelsons Plains, Osterley, Seaham, Wallalong and Woodville and in the predominantly residential estate of Brandy Hill.

In the southern part of the area are the rural communities of Bobs Farm, Fern Bay, Fullerton Cove, Salt Ash, Tomago and Williamtown.

Tomago supports both rural and industrial communities while Williamtown is the location for a Royal Australian Air Force base that shares its airfield with Newcastle Airport.

[14][15] The median weekly income for residents within the Port Stephens Council area was significantly lower than the national average.

In excess of 63% of all residents in the Port Stephens Council nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 census, which was significantly higher than the national average of 50.2 per cent.

[13] Port Stephens Council is composed of ten councillors, including the mayor, for a fixed four-year term of office.

[22][28][29] Although the mayor of Dungog Shire opposed the merger, it was reported that the proposal had community support within both local government areas.

It has direct flights to Brisbane, Melbourne, Ballina, Canberra, Dubbo, Gold Coast, Sydney and Taree.

[3][12] These are monitored by five weather stations, four of which are located at the approximate cardinal points of the area, operated by the Bureau of Meteorology.

In 2020, Port Stephens Council adopted a climate change policy[48][49] and joined the Cities Power Partnership.

[50] The policy recognised that climate in Australia is continuing to change and ongoing action is needed to ensure a sustainable future.

[52] GHG emission reduction achievements to date include installing in several council buildings: solar voltaic systems; LED lighting and; programmable logic controllers to deliver energy efficiencies and reduce costs.

CAPS is one of over 30 community groups, businesses and individuals who have joined EcoNetwork Port Stephens[56] which was founded in 1993 as a not-for-profit, apolitical and 100% volunteer-run organisation acting as a significant voice for nature conservation and the environment.