Goonellabah
Detached houses dominate 77.8% of dwellings, yet Goonellabah remains comparatively moderate-income, with household income at the 32.8 percentile nationally. The suburb holds 13,351 residents at a median age of 41, 1.0 year above the national benchmark, and its overseas-born share of 10.2% is 11.4 percentage points below national. Compared with inner Lismore and East Lismore, it reads as a larger residential ridge market: mostly houses, a modest 4.2% apartment share, and steady aging demand because established owners make up a large part of the base.
Population
13,351
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,318/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
107
Median House
$667K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are mostly choosing a house market: 77.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 18.0% are semi-detached and apartments are just 4.2%. The median house price is $667,300, while the 2025 price point of $696,000 is at the recorded peak and 13.2% higher than 2024. Family-sized stock is common because 45.5% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 36.2% have 4 or more. Mortgage costs use 27.3% of income, below the local rent-to-income figure of 24.3% only in scale, so buyers should weigh purchase stability against a real upfront price step.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mostly choosing a house market: 77.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 18.0% are semi-detached and apartments are just 4.2%. The median house price is $667,300, while the 2025 price point of $696,000 is at the recorded peak and 13.2% higher than 2024. Family-sized stock is common because 45.5% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 36.2% have 4 or more. Mortgage costs use 27.3% of income, below the local rent-to-income figure of 24.3% only in scale, so buyers should weigh purchase stability against a real upfront price step.
For Investors
Investors see a mixed, income-led market rather than a pure scarcity play. Renters are 29.8%, below the 37.1% owned outright share and 33.1% mortgage share, so tenant depth is meaningful but not dominant. Weekly rent is $320 and rent-to-income is 24.3%, keeping the rent stress flag false; however, vacancy is 5.2%, higher than a very tight rental setting. Supply is active, with 87 development lodgements in 12 months, while balanced migration adds about 75 internal and 53 overseas residents annually.
Development Activity
Total DAs
622
Last 12 Months
107
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+3.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Goonellabah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Summerland Christian College
K-12 · 628 students
Blue Hills College
K-12 · 201 students
The Rivers Secondary College, Kadina High Campus
7-12 · 262 students
Goonellabah Public School
K-6 · 226 students
Demographics
Goonellabah skews older and more locally rooted than the national profile. Median age is 41, 1.0 year above national, while the overseas-born share is 10.2%, 11.4 percentage points below national. University attainment is 27.2%, 2.9 points below national, matching an economy weighted to health, education and services rather than CBD professional concentration. English ancestry leads at 5,501 people, followed by Irish at 1,706 and Scottish at 1,459; household size of 2.4 is slightly below national, which fits the aging trajectory.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.8%
Houses
18.0%
Townhouse
4.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is detached and owner-heavy, with 37.1% owned outright, 33.1% mortgaged and 29.8% renting. The latest series moved from $615,000 in 2024 to $696,000 in 2025, a 13.2% rise; the peak-to-latest change is 0.0%, so prices are sitting at the recorded high rather than below it. The house price-to-income ratio is about 9.7 times the $1,318 weekly household income, which explains why mortgage-to-income is 27.3% despite a moderate $1,560 monthly mortgage. Larger homes dominate, with 81.7% at 3 bedrooms or more.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,560
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$705
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
291
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.3%
Couples, no children
9,986
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors work at 29.1% and 1,117 workers, well above the next sectors: education at 14.4%, retail at 8.4%, construction at 7.5% and public admin at 6.4%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,170, but community and personal service at 832, clerical/admin at 817 and labourers at 727 show a broad service workforce. Unemployment is 4.9% with 54.1% participation. SEIFA is below average: IEO decile 3, IER 4, IRSD 3 and IRSAD 3; the slightly higher IER suggests economic resources hold up better than education and occupation scores, likely because of outright ownership.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
6,801
Unemployed
246
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.3%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
54.1%
Employed
5,612
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.2%
Postgraduate
5.7%
Born Overseas
10.2%
Dwellings
5,263
Transport to Work
Daily life is car based: 90.9% drive to work, compared with only 0.5% using public transport and 1.6% walking or cycling, so access is strongest for households with cars. Education coverage is practical, with 4 local schools across Independent and Government sectors and an ICSEA range of 847 to 1042. Summerland Christian College, an Independent combined school, is the academic high point at ICSEA 1042 and 628 enrolments, with Blue Hills College at 999 adding another combined option. IRSAD decile 3 signals below average advantage, so services matter for livability.
Drive
90.9%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.56%/yr
(+79 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is slow and steady rather than explosive. The trend forecast is 0.56% a year, or about 79 people, lifting the medium population path from 14,147 in 2026 to 14,540 in 2031. Migration is balanced, with average net internal migration of 75 a year and overseas migration of 53, so demand is not reliant on a single channel. The shift profile is aging: senior share rose 5.0 points and young share fell 1.6, while rent growth was 30.6%. Gentrification is scored 9 and labelled Not gentrifying, lower than an active renewal market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+53
Net Internal / yr
+75
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +75/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Goonellabah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goonellabah a good suburb to live in?
Goonellabah suits households wanting space and car-based convenience, with 77.8% separate houses, 4 local schools and a median age of 41. It is less suited to commuters relying on public transport, which accounts for only 0.5% of trips to work.
What is the median house price in Goonellabah?
The median house price is $667,300. The latest price series shows $696,000 in 2025, which is 13.2% higher than the 2024 figure of $615,000 and equal to the recorded peak.
What schools are in Goonellabah?
There are 4 local schools: Summerland Christian College, Blue Hills College, The Rivers Secondary College Kadina High Campus, and Goonellabah Public School. ICSEA scores range from 847 to 1042 across Government and Independent sectors.
Is Goonellabah safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not published here, so safety should be checked by street and time of day. For context, Goonellabah has 13,351 residents across 23.11 sq km, and local conditions can vary between estates.
Is Goonellabah good for property investment?
It can work for income-focused investors, but vacancy of 5.2% is a watch point. Renters make up 29.8% of households, weekly rent is $320, and 87 development lodgements suggest supply is still active.
How is Goonellabah's population changing?
Population growth is forecast at 0.56% a year, or about 79 people annually. The medium path rises from 14,147 in 2026 to 14,540 in 2031, supported by balanced migration of 75 internal and 53 overseas net additions a year.
What development is happening in Goonellabah?
Development activity is notable, with 87 lodgements over 12 months. Recent examples include dwelling houses, alterations and additions, driveways, hardstand spaces and supporting development, so buyers should check nearby approvals before purchasing.
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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