Lennox Head
With 39.8% owning outright and household income in the 78th percentile nationally, Lennox Head operates as a coastal wealth repository where capital sits in land rather than wages. The median house price of $1,400,000 rose 9.4% in 12 months to 2025, yet mortgage-to-income stays at 24.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold. University qualifications at 41.2% run 11.1 points above the national average, but the top employer is Healthcare (20.8%), not the professional services you would expect from that education level. The aging trajectory (median age 42, senior share up 5.6 points over 10 years) explains this: retirees and semi-retirees drive both the education metric and the health sector demand.
Population
7,687
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,081/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
153
Median House
$1.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,400,000 median (2025 PSI derived) climbed 9.4% from $1,330,000 in 2024. Detached houses dominate at 73.7%, with semi-detached at 21.4% and apartments at just 4.4%. Large homes are standard: 43.8% have 4+ bedrooms and 41.9% have 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,192 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, lower than the national stress benchmark. Outright ownership at 39.8% is higher than the national average, reflecting established equity. Car dependency is extreme at 89.7%, with public transport at 0.8%. Lennox Head Public School (government, ICSEA 1,064, 424 students) scores above the national benchmark, though families needing secondary options must look to Ballina.
For Buyers
The $1,400,000 median (2025 PSI derived) climbed 9.4% from $1,330,000 in 2024. Detached houses dominate at 73.7%, with semi-detached at 21.4% and apartments at just 4.4%. Large homes are standard: 43.8% have 4+ bedrooms and 41.9% have 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,192 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, lower than the national stress benchmark. Outright ownership at 39.8% is higher than the national average, reflecting established equity. Car dependency is extreme at 89.7%, with public transport at 0.8%. Lennox Head Public School (government, ICSEA 1,064, 424 students) scores above the national benchmark, though families needing secondary options must look to Ballina.
For Investors
Renters make up 24.0% of households, a moderate pool. Weekly rent of $580 against a $1,400,000 median delivers gross yield of approximately 2.2%, below the national average. The 9.7% vacancy rate is elevated and signals seasonal rental stock, consistent with a coastal tourism market. Development activity is robust at 149 DAs in 12 months, including dual occupancy and pool applications, suggesting ongoing subdivision and densification. Net internal migration of 123 per year and overseas migration of 80 per year provide balanced demand. The 1.77% annual population growth rate is above the national average, but the aging demographic (senior share up 5.6 points) means future tenant demand may skew toward downsizer and retiree profiles.
Development Activity
Total DAs
809
Last 12 Months
153
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+37.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lennox Head iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lennox Head Public School
K-6 · 424 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national median. University qualifications at 41.2% run 11.1 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents at 16.2% sit 5.4 points below national, with English (3,409), Irish (1,285) and Scottish (1,099) ancestries dominating, making this one of the more Anglo-leaning coastal communities. Couples with children (2,714) outnumber childless couples (1,768), though the aging trajectory (senior share up 5.6 points over 10 years, working-age share down 2.5 points) indicates the family cohort is maturing. Average household size of 2.6 is close to the national figure. Professionals (1,193) and Managers (626) are the top 2 occupations.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.7%
Houses
21.4%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 39.8% and mortgage holders at 36.3% together account for 76.1% of tenure, well above the national combined rate. Renters at 24.0% are the minority. Detached houses at 73.7% dominate, with semi-detached at 21.4% providing medium-density options. Prices rose from $1,330,000 to $1,455,000 over 2024-2025, a 9.4% gain with no pullback from peak. Monthly mortgage of $2,192 and rent of $580/week both sit below stress thresholds relative to local incomes (mortgage-to-income 24.3%, rent-to-income 27.9%). The IRSD decile 9 confirms low deprivation, while IRSAD decile 8 places the suburb in the top 20% nationally for socioeconomic advantage.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,192
Rent / wk
$580
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$937
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.7%
Unoccupied
294
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
6,050
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 20.8% (613 workers), followed by Education at 15.7% (462), Construction at 11.9% (351), Professional/Tech at 9.7% (284) and Hospitality at 6.7% (196). The healthcare-education dominance is typical of aging coastal centres. Full-time employment at 53.1% is below the national average, while part-time at 1,737 workers nearly matches full-time (1,969), reflecting semi-retirement and lifestyle-driven work patterns. Unemployment at 3.3% is lower than the national rate. Participation at 62.3% sits below average, consistent with the retiree population. All 4 SEIFA deciles are high (IEO 8, IER 9, IRSD 9, IRSAD 8), indicating broad socioeconomic strength despite the modest full-time employment rate.
Unemployment
1.2%
Labour Force
5,522
Unemployed
68
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.1%
Part-time
43.6%
Participation
62.3%
Employed
3,706
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.2%
Postgraduate
8.8%
Born Overseas
16.2%
Dwellings
2,732
Transport to Work
Car dependency at 89.7% is high, with public transport at just 0.8%, typical of regional NSW coastal towns. Walking and cycling account for 4.9%. Lennox Head Public School (government, ICSEA 1,064, 424 students) scores above the national 1,000 benchmark. The IRSAD decile 8 places the suburb in the top 20% nationally for overall advantage. No crime data is available for this suburb. Volunteering at 19.6% is above the national average, suggesting strong community engagement. Need for assistance at 3.3% (237 people) is below average, though the aging trajectory suggests this figure will increase over the forecast period.
Drive
89.7%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.77%/yr
(+182 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.77% per year (182 persons), above the national average. The 10-year population change was 25.8%. Medium forecasts project 11,121 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 10,282. Migration is balanced: 123 net internal and 80 net overseas per year. The gentrification score of 42 (active stage) reflects ongoing transformation, with population accelerating from 6% to 27% growth rates. Rents grew 52.6% over the decade, outpacing real income growth of 26.7%, indicating tightening affordability. Affordability shifted only marginally from 64.6% in 2011 to 63.3% in 2021, classified as stable. The aging trajectory (senior share up 5.6 points, young share down 1.6) will reshape future service demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
+123
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +35% since 2011, Net internal migration +123/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 27%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lennox Head compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lennox Head a good suburb to live in?
Lennox Head ranks in IRSAD decile 8, placing it in the top 20% nationally for socioeconomic advantage. University qualifications at 41.2% are 11.1 points above the national average. Unemployment sits at 3.3%, lower than the national rate. The trade-off is near-total car dependency at 89.7% and limited secondary schooling within the suburb.
What is the median house price in Lennox Head?
The median house price is $1,400,000 (2025 PSI derived), up 9.4% from $1,330,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,192 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent sits at $580.
What schools are in Lennox Head?
Lennox Head Public School is the suburb's sole school, a government primary with an ICSEA score of 1,064 (above the 1,000 national benchmark) and 424 enrolled students. Secondary students must travel to neighbouring Ballina for high school options.
Is Lennox Head safe?
No crime rate data is currently available for Lennox Head. The IRSD decile 9 indicates very low socioeconomic disadvantage, which nationally correlates with lower crime rates. The 7,687 census population lives across 20.67 km2 at a low density of 372 per km2.
Is Lennox Head good for property investment?
Prices grew 9.4% in the latest 12-month period. Gross yield is approximately 2.2% ($580/week rent on $1,400,000 median). The 9.7% vacancy rate is higher than ideal and likely reflects seasonal holiday rentals. Renters at 24.0% provide a moderate tenant pool, and 149 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing construction activity.
How is Lennox Head's population changing?
Population grows at 1.77% per year (182 persons), with medium forecasts projecting 11,121 by 2031. The 10-year change was 25.8%. Net internal migration of 123 and overseas migration of 80 per year provide balanced inflow. The median age of 42 is 2 years above national, with the senior share increasing 5.6 points over the decade.
What is the development activity in Lennox Head?
Lennox Head recorded 149 development applications in the past 12 months, including dual occupancy proposals, swimming pools and structural additions. This DA count is high relative to the suburb's 7,687 population, averaging roughly 1 application per 52 residents, suggesting active renovation and densification.
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.
Explore Lennox Head on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map