Banora Point
A median age of 49 places Banora Point 9 years above the national comparison, giving the suburb an older resident profile than many Australian areas. Its 16,460 residents live across 9.26 sq km, with 61.6% of dwellings being separate houses and 46.7% owned outright. For buyers comparing nearby Tweed Heads and Terranora, Banora Point's established, lower-turnover character is important: 78.3% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period, while turnover was 21.7%. The age profile is still shifting, with the senior share up 2.3 percentage points and the young share down 1.1 points. English ancestry accounts for 7,464 residents and Christianity for 8,835, reinforcing an Anglo-leaning profile.
Population
16,460
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,268/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
118
Banora Point is suited to buyers seeking established family housing, but affordability requires careful budgeting because mortgage and rent stress are both elevated. Separate houses account for 61.6% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 35.1% and apartments only 3.3%. The largest bedroom group is three bedrooms at 46.8%, followed by four or more bedrooms at 33.3%, so buyers have more choice in family-sized stock than in smaller apartments. A mortgage payment of $1,871 per month compares with weekly rent of $440, while mortgage costs equal 34.1% of household income and rent equals 34.7%. Compared with the 46.7% outright ownership share, the 31.7% mortgage share highlights a substantial group of owners who have already cleared their loans.
For Buyers
Banora Point is suited to buyers seeking established family housing, but affordability requires careful budgeting because mortgage and rent stress are both elevated. Separate houses account for 61.6% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 35.1% and apartments only 3.3%. The largest bedroom group is three bedrooms at 46.8%, followed by four or more bedrooms at 33.3%, so buyers have more choice in family-sized stock than in smaller apartments. A mortgage payment of $1,871 per month compares with weekly rent of $440, while mortgage costs equal 34.1% of household income and rent equals 34.7%. Compared with the 46.7% outright ownership share, the 31.7% mortgage share highlights a substantial group of owners who have already cleared their loans.
For Investors
The rental case is reasonable but should be assessed against vacancy and development activity rather than rent alone. Renters represent 18.9% of households, the weekly median rent is $440, and the vacancy rate is 5.5%, which is higher than a tightly constrained rental market would normally suggest. Compared with the 46.7% outright ownership share, Banora Point has a smaller tenant base, so investor demand may depend heavily on dwelling quality and exact location. There were 116 development applications in the past 12 months, creating a meaningful pipeline of alterations and new housing that could add competition. Internal migration is the primary growth driver, while rent growth of 39.7% has outpaced the 0.56% annual population trend. Gross yield should be calculated using a current sale price because none is quoted here.
Development Activity
Total DAs
558
Last 12 Months
118
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+61.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Banora Point
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Banora Point has an older and less university-qualified population than the national comparison. The median age is 49, or 9 years above the national figure, while the university-educated share is 21.0%, 9.1 percentage points below the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 16.1%, also 5.5 points below the national figure, and the average household size of 2.4 is 0.1 below the national comparison. These measures align with an aging-resident trajectory: the senior share increased 2.3 percentage points and the young share fell 1.1 points. English ancestry is reported for 7,464 people, followed by Irish at 2,138 and Scottish at 1,973. Christianity counts 8,835 residents, while 6,177 report no religion, making the local profile more established and Anglo-leaning than nearby growth-oriented communities.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.6%
Houses
35.1%
Townhouse
3.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure profile is weighted toward established ownership: 46.7% of households own outright, 31.7% have a mortgage and 18.9% rent. Outright ownership is higher than both mortgaged ownership and renting, which helps explain the suburb's lower turnover rate of 21.7%. Housing is mainly separate houses at 61.6%, with a substantial semi-detached component of 35.1% and only 3.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes represent 46.8% of stock and four-bedroom-or-larger homes 33.3%, compared with just 16.7% for two-bedroom dwellings. The $1,871 monthly mortgage and $440 weekly rent sit alongside mortgage-to-income stress of 34.1% and rent-to-income stress of 34.7%. Compared with the outright-owner share, these costs matter most for newer buyers and renters entering the market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,871
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $440.
$875
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $950 · units $690
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$629
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
382
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.3%
Couples with children
45.5%
Couples, no children
18.7%
Single parent
4,684
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Banora Point's leading industry at 25.2%, or 1,079 workers, well above construction at 12.0% and 515 workers. Education contributes 11.2% and 480 workers, followed by retail at 8.7% and public administration at 7.0%. The occupation mix is similarly broad, led by professionals at 1,080 people, trades at 1,053, community and personal service workers at 996, clerical and administrative workers at 900, and sales workers at 816. The labour force totals 7,077, with participation at 50.7%, full-time employment at 50.5% and unemployment at 4.3%. Household income is $1,268 per week, placing the suburb at the 28.6th percentile. SEIFA results are mixed: IEO decile 3 and IRSAD decile 4 are below IER and IRSD decile 5, suggesting economic resources sit closer to the middle while education and occupational measures rank lower.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
7,077
Unemployed
304
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.5%
Part-time
41.5%
Participation
50.7%
Employed
6,773
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.0%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
16.1%
Dwellings
6,535
Transport to Work
Daily life in Banora Point is strongly car dependent. About 79.4% of residents drive to work, compared with only 0.4% using public transport and 1.8% walking or cycling, while 12.8% work from home. Car use is therefore much higher than public transport use, so access to a vehicle is important for commuting and errands. Families have access to 3 local government schools, comprising 2 primary schools and 1 secondary school, including Banora Point Public School, Centaur Public School and Banora Point High School. School choice should still be checked against the exact address because enrolment zones can cross local streets. The IRSAD result is decile 4 and the IRSD result is decile 5, placing relative disadvantage below the midpoint on one measure and around the midpoint on another. A suburb-wide crime rate is not stated, so current incident information should be checked for the specific street before purchasing.
Drive
79.4%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
12.8%
Population Forecast
+0.56%/yr
(+94 people/yr)
EstablishedBanora Point's forecast is for measured established-area growth rather than a rapid expansion cycle. The annual trend is 0.56%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 8.5% over 10 years. Compared with the 39.7% rent growth recorded in the shift indicators, the population trend is modest, which suggests housing costs have moved faster than local demographic expansion. The trajectory is labelled Mixed: the shift indicators give a gentrification score of 38 and stage of Early signs, but the core gentrification measure is 17 and stage Not gentrifying. Affordability is labelled Improving, with scores of 71.8 in 2011 and 68.5 in 2021. The senior share rose 2.3 points while the working share fell 0.5 points, supporting a gradual aging pattern rather than a strongly youth-led growth story.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+65
Net Internal / yr
+139
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +139/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Banora Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banora Point a good suburb to live in?
Banora Point can suit households wanting established housing, local government schools and a quieter older-resident profile. The median age is 49, separate houses make up 61.6% of dwellings and 79.4% of commuters drive, so it is better suited to car-oriented living than a transit-focused lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Banora Point?
A current median house price is not quoted for Banora Point. Buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type because 61.6% of homes are separate houses and 46.8% have 3 bedrooms. A like-for-like comparison is more useful than applying one figure across houses, semi-detached homes and apartments.
What schools are in Banora Point?
Banora Point has 3 local government schools: Banora Point Public School, Centaur Public School and Banora Point High School. The mix includes 2 primary schools and 1 secondary school. Families should confirm the catchment for the exact address because enrolment zones can differ across nearby streets.
Is Banora Point safe?
A suburb-wide crime rate is not stated, so safety should be checked using current incident information for the exact street and property. Banora Point has 16,460 residents across 9.26 sq km, and conditions can vary between local pockets. Inspect the address at different times before making a decision.
Is Banora Point good for property investment?
Banora Point may suit investors seeking an established market, with 18.9% of households renting, a $440 weekly median rent and a 5.5% vacancy rate. However, 116 development applications in 12 months may add future competition. Internal migration supports demand, but a current sale price is needed to calculate yield.
How is Banora Point's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 8.5% over 10 years, while the annual trend is 0.56% and internal migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed: the senior share rose 2.3 percentage points and the young share fell 1.1 points, indicating gradual aging rather than rapid youth-led growth.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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