Ballina
At a median age of 56, Ballina is 16 years above the national figure and the oldest suburb in this dataset by a wide margin. Only 39.7% participate in the labour force, while 12.9% (1,159 people) need assistance with daily tasks, both figures reflecting a deeply retirement-oriented population. Despite this, the $800,000 median house price pushes mortgage-to-income to 39.5% and rent-to-income to 35.5%, both breaching stress thresholds, because household incomes at $1,013/week sit in the 13.1st percentile nationally. The gentrification score of 41 (active) and 21.5% real income growth suggest an influx of wealthier retirees and lifestyle migrants is repricing the suburb.
Population
9,735
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,013/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
100
Median House
$800K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $800,000 median rose 5.8% from $775,000 in 2024 to $820,000 in 2025. Detached houses at 53.2% remain the majority, but semi-detached at 33.2% and apartments at 10.0% give Ballina more dwelling variety than most regional towns. Two-bedroom homes (36.4%) and three-bedroom (40.3%) dominate, with four-plus at just 15.9%, reflecting the downsizer-oriented market. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 create acute stress at 39.5% mortgage-to-income, the highest in this batch. Only 19.5% hold mortgages, meaning most residents either own outright (39.4%) or rent (41.0%). Walking and cycling at 11.5% is among the highest nationally, consistent with a compact coastal town.
For Buyers
The $800,000 median rose 5.8% from $775,000 in 2024 to $820,000 in 2025. Detached houses at 53.2% remain the majority, but semi-detached at 33.2% and apartments at 10.0% give Ballina more dwelling variety than most regional towns. Two-bedroom homes (36.4%) and three-bedroom (40.3%) dominate, with four-plus at just 15.9%, reflecting the downsizer-oriented market. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 create acute stress at 39.5% mortgage-to-income, the highest in this batch. Only 19.5% hold mortgages, meaning most residents either own outright (39.4%) or rent (41.0%). Walking and cycling at 11.5% is among the highest nationally, consistent with a compact coastal town.
For Investors
Renters at 41.0% provide a deep tenant pool, and median weekly rent of $360 against an $800,000 median produces a gross yield around 2.3%. The vacancy rate of 8.1% is high, suggesting seasonal or short-stay withdrawal from the long-term rental market. 99 DAs in 12 months include commercial development and residential additions, confirming active growth. Internal migration adds 154/year, the primary population driver, indicating lifestyle and retirement inflow from capital cities. Rents grew 46.4% over the decade, well above the national average, and the gentrification score of 41 (active) confirms ongoing repricing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
471
Last 12 Months
100
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ballina iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Emmanuel Anglican College
K-12 · 878 students
Richmond Christian College
K-12 · 327 students
St Francis Xavier Primary School
K-6 · 398 students
Ballina Coast High School
7-12 · 722 students
Ballina Public School
K-6 · 254 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 4,173, with Irish (1,284) and Scottish (1,122) forming a strongly Anglo-Celtic base. Only 14.6% were born overseas, 7.0 points below the national average. Punjabi (43) and Hindi (15) are the leading non-English languages at very small counts. The median age of 56 is 16 years above national, and couples without children (2,392) far outnumber couples with children (1,721), a 39.3% childless-couple share that reflects the retirement-stage household structure. Average household size of 2.0 is well below the national 2.5, and the female share at 54.2% is above average, consistent with the longer female life expectancy in an aging population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
53.2%
Houses
33.2%
Townhouse
10.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 39.4% and renters at 41.0% together account for 80.4%, while mortgage holders at just 19.5% are well below the national average, reflecting a suburb where people either bought decades ago or rent. Detached houses at 53.2% lead, but semi-detached at 33.2% (including retirement village units) is unusually high compared to most regional towns. Two-bedroom homes (36.4%) and three-bedroom (40.3%) dominate. Prices rose from $775,000 to $820,000 in the latest year, a 5.8% gain. Both stress ratios are breached: mortgage-to-income at 39.5% and rent-to-income at 35.5%, making Ballina unaffordable for new entrants at current income levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$615
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.1%
Unoccupied
383
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.5% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
39.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.3%
Couples, no children
6,086
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 27.0% (620 workers), the highest single-sector concentration in this batch, reflecting the aged-care and health services infrastructure serving the retirement population. Education at 10.6%, Construction at 10.2%, Retail at 8.8%, and Hospitality at 8.6% follow. The hospitality component reflects Ballina's role as a tourist destination. Professionals (624) lead occupations, with Community/Personal (575) and Labourers (502) close behind. Full-time employment at 53.9% is low by national standards, consistent with high part-time and casual work. The IEO decile 4 and IER decile 3 confirm below-average education and economic resource levels.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
8,145
Unemployed
328
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.9%
Part-time
41.8%
Participation
39.7%
Employed
3,256
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.9%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
4,309
Transport to Work
Five schools serve the suburb: Emmanuel Anglican College (Independent, ICSEA 1,113, 878 students) and Richmond Christian College (Independent, 1,069, 327 students) rank well above the national benchmark. St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary (1,045, 398 students) also exceeds it. Ballina Coast High School (Government Secondary, 952, 722 students) and Ballina Public School (Government Primary, 869, 254 students) fall below. Walking and cycling at 11.5% is among the highest in this dataset, reflecting the compact coastal town layout. The IRSAD decile 4 indicates below-average advantage, despite the active gentrification.
Drive
82.0%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
11.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+203 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.05% per year (203 persons), reaching an estimated 19,370 in 2025. Internal migration of 154/year is the primary driver, reflecting lifestyle and retirement inflow, supplemented by overseas arrivals of 78/year. The 10-year change of 16.7% is above the national average. The gentrification score of 41 (active) with accelerating growth (6% to 12%) and strong internal migration confirm Ballina is being repriced by incoming residents. The senior share grew by 4.3 points while the young share contracted 2.1 points. Medium projections forecast 20,441 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+78
Net Internal / yr
+154
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +20% since 2011, Net internal migration +154/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 12%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ballina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballina a good suburb to live in?
Ballina suits retirees and lifestyle migrants, with 11.5% walking/cycling, 5 schools (2 with ICSEA above 1,100), and a coastal setting. The $800,000 median creates severe stress: mortgage-to-income at 39.5% and rent-to-income at 35.5% both breach the 30% threshold. Household incomes at the 13.1st percentile make affordability the critical constraint.
What is the median house price in Ballina?
The median is $800,000 (PSI-derived), rising 5.8% from $775,000 in 2024 to $820,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and median weekly rent is $360. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 39.5% is the highest in this batch, reflecting household incomes at the 13.1st percentile nationally.
What schools are in Ballina?
Five schools serve Ballina: Emmanuel Anglican College (Independent, ICSEA 1,113, 878 students), Richmond Christian College (Independent, 1,069, 327 students), St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary (1,045, 398 students), Ballina Coast High School (Government Secondary, 952, 722 students), and Ballina Public School (Government Primary, 869, 254 students).
Is Ballina safe?
Crime-specific data is not available in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 4 indicates moderate disadvantage, and the 4.3% unemployment rate is near the national average. The high retiree population (median age 56) and 39.4% outright ownership are typically associated with lower violent crime, though property crime in tourist-adjacent areas can be elevated.
Is Ballina good for property investment?
Gross yield is approximately 2.3% ($360/week on $800,000), and the 8.1% vacancy rate is high, likely reflecting seasonal and short-stay market dynamics. Capital growth was 5.8% over the latest year, and rents grew 46.4% over the decade. Internal migration of 154/year drives demand. The gentrification score of 41 (active) signals ongoing repricing by wealthier incomers.
How is Ballina's population changing?
Population grows at 1.05% per year (203 persons), reaching an estimated 19,370 in 2025. Internal migration adds 154/year, primarily lifestyle and retirement inflow. The median age of 56 is 16 years above national, and 12.9% (1,159 people) need assistance with daily tasks. The gentrification score of 41 (active) confirms the suburb is being repriced by incoming residents.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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