The Camden Haven town is listed in the top 24 most disadvantaged postcodes tracked in the state in the Dropping off the Edge 2015 report which breaks down the wellbeing of communities according to postcodes.

Port Macquarie did not rate a mention in the top 40 most disadvantaged NSW postcodes, but is in the top 25 per cent of most disadvantaged postcodes tracked in the state, as is much of the Mid-North Coast.

Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills fall into the disadvantaged category.

The report, produced by Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services Australia, maps disadvantage across the country based on 22 social indicators including long-term unemployment, criminal convictions and domestic violence.

Catholic Social Services Australia senior policy adviser Liz Dechaster said the report showed quite a lot of people in Port Macquarie received rent assistance.

The 2444 postcode ranked 38th of 621 localities in the state for rent assistance and ranked at 380 for post school qualifications.

Just 11 postcodes in NSW account for 21.4 per cent of the most disadvantaged rank positions.

Brewarrina, Claymore, Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Wilcannia and Windale were found to be the most disadvantaged.

Jesuit Social Services chief executive officer Julie Edwards says the report shows disadvantage is entrenched in a small number of communities across Australia, most of which have remained similarly disadvantaged for more than a decade.

She said while our social support structures worked for many Australians, this report showed clearly there were a small but significant number of communities we have failed and that a new structure and a new approach is needed.

Catholic Social Services chief executive officer Marcelle Mogg said people could not overcome structural disadvantage when all the odds were stacked against them.

Dropping off the Edge 2015 was compiled using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, NAPLAN, the Australian Early Development Index and state and territory government human services agencies.

The report calls for a new approach targeted at reducing the most severe deep-seated disadvantage, taking into account the unique characteristics and circumstances of each community.

Dropping off the Edge 2015 is supported by an interactive website at www.dote.org.au allowing users to view colour-coded maps of five states and search for a particular location to see where it ranks on a range of indicators.