Lismore Heights
With a median age of 43, three years above the national figure, and household income in the 30.7th percentile nationally, Lismore Heights is a suburb shaped by long-term residents rather than arrivals. Some 76.8% of residents stayed put over the reference period, one of the higher stability rates in regional NSW. Healthcare and Education together account for 50.3% of local employment, anchoring the economy to public-sector services rather than private capital. Median house prices sit at $627,500, more affordable than many coastal NSW markets, and the IRSAD decile of 2 places the suburb in the lower-advantage tier nationally, a key context for how to read both its affordability and its growth outlook.
Population
2,117
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,294/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$628K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $627,500 puts Lismore Heights within reach of buyers priced out of major coastal markets, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,404, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 74.8% of dwellings, giving buyers strong choice in detached stock, with semi-detached at 20.8% and apartments a minor 4.3%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 54.5%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 26.3%. Prices moved from $575,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025, an 11.3% shift over one year, though the dataset covers only two quarters so this should be treated as indicative rather than a confirmed sustained trend.
For Buyers
The median house price of $627,500 puts Lismore Heights within reach of buyers priced out of major coastal markets, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,404, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 74.8% of dwellings, giving buyers strong choice in detached stock, with semi-detached at 20.8% and apartments a minor 4.3%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 54.5%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 26.3%. Prices moved from $575,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025, an 11.3% shift over one year, though the dataset covers only two quarters so this should be treated as indicative rather than a confirmed sustained trend.
For Investors
Lismore Heights carries signals that warrant careful investor analysis. The vacancy rate of 6.6% is elevated compared to a healthy market benchmark around 3%, suggesting more rental supply than demand can currently absorb. Weekly rent of $338 against a $627,500 median implies a gross yield of roughly 2.8%, modest for a regional market. The renter share is 31.3%, providing a meaningful tenant base, but net internal migration runs at negative 480 per year for the broader Lismore area, reflecting ongoing outflow that limits rental demand growth. Development activity is low at 11 applications in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is not the driver of the vacancy. The investment case depends on a long hold and income stability from the healthcare and education workforce anchoring local demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
47
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lismore Heights iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lismore Heights Public School
K-6 · 203 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure and the senior share grew 4.3 points over the decade, confirming an aging trajectory. The working-age share rose only 1.2 points over the same period, meaning the productive base is not keeping pace with older cohorts. University qualifications reach 34.2%, which is 4.1 percentage points above the national average, an above-average education level that reflects the healthcare and education workforce concentration. Overseas-born residents at 11.3% sit 10.3 points below the national figure, making this a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (922), Irish (360), Scottish (251) and German (125) lead the count. The average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, consistent with smaller, older households and a 31.0% couples-without-children share.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.8%
Houses
20.8%
Townhouse
4.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is distributed fairly evenly across owners, mortgagees and renters: 35.0% own outright, 33.7% carry a mortgage and 31.3% rent. The relatively high outright ownership rate, above many comparable regional suburbs, suggests a population that has held properties over a long period. Separate houses make up 74.8% of the stock, the dominant form, while semi-detached homes at 20.8% provide an accessible mid-tier option. The 6.6% vacancy rate is the clearest pressure point, sitting well above a balanced-market level and pointing to softness in rental demand. Price movement from $575,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025 represents 11.3% growth over one year, though this is based on two data points and should be read cautiously. Rent-to-income at 26.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, keeping affordability manageable for current tenants.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,404
Rent / wk
$338
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$742
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
65
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.0%
Couples, no children
1,514
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 31.0% of the local workforce (222 residents), the largest single sector by a wide margin. Education follows at 19.3% (138), giving the combined health and education block a 50.3% share, a public-sector dominance that anchors employment but limits private-sector wage growth. Retail (7.3%), Public Admin (5.9%) and Construction (5.6%) fill out the remainder. By occupation, Professionals lead at 268 workers, followed by Community and Personal service at 175 and Clerical at 120. The unemployment rate of 4.8% is modest, though the participation rate of only 56.8% reflects the large share of residents not in the labour force (613 people), partly explained by the older age profile. Household income in the 30.7th percentile nationally and the IRSD decile of 2 both confirm this is a lower-income area relative to state and national benchmarks.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
6,945
Unemployed
410
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.3%
Part-time
38.9%
Participation
56.8%
Employed
962
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.2%
Postgraduate
9.7%
Born Overseas
11.3%
Dwellings
926
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 89.7% of residents drive to work, compared to a national average substantially lower, and public transport use sits at just 0.8%, reflecting the limited network typical of a regional centre. Walking and cycling account for 2.2% of journeys. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on Lismore city's broader school network. Crime statistics are not available at the suburb level for this area. As a structural indicator, the IRSAD decile of 2 places Lismore Heights in the lower-advantage tier nationally, below average for socioeconomic resources. Volunteering is at 18.9% and need-assistance at 7.8% (156 people), both consistent with an older, community-connected population where informal support networks matter more than formal institutions.
Drive
89.7%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-1.07%/yr
(-146 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is declining: the annual trend is negative 1.07%, or approximately 146 fewer residents each year, and the 10-year population change stands at negative 2.2%. The broader Lismore local government area recorded 14,336 residents in 2023 falling to 13,679 by 2025. Medium forecasts extend this trajectory, projecting further decline to 13,288 by 2031. Net internal migration is deeply negative at minus 480 per year, partly offset by overseas migration of positive 70 annually. The gentrification score of 0 and the signal of not gentrifying align with this outflow pattern. The affordability trend is improving, with the ratio shifting from 51.4% in 2011 to 46.4% in 2021, likely because prices have not risen as fast as incomes, but improving affordability in a declining-population market can also reflect softening demand rather than strengthening value.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+70
Net Internal / yr
-480
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -480/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lismore Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lismore Heights a good suburb to live in?
Lismore Heights offers affordable housing, with a $627,500 median and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold. It suits residents working in healthcare or education, which together account for 50.3% of local jobs. The IRSAD decile of 2 places it in the lower-advantage tier nationally, so services and incomes are below state and national averages.
What is the median house price in Lismore Heights?
The median house price is $627,500, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices rose from $575,000 in 2024 to $640,000 in 2025, a movement of 11.3% over one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,404 and weekly rent is $338.
What schools are in Lismore Heights?
No schools are recorded within the Lismore Heights suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the broader Lismore city area. The local population has a university qualification rate of 34.2%, which is 4.1 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting the healthcare and education workforce.
Is Lismore Heights safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Lismore Heights in this dataset. As a structural indicator, the IRSAD decile of 2 places the suburb in the lower-advantage tier nationally, and 7.8% of residents (156 people) need daily assistance, a rate higher than more affluent areas. The volunteering rate of 18.9% suggests an engaged community.
Is Lismore Heights good for property investment?
The investment case carries clear risks. The vacancy rate of 6.6% is above a balanced-market level of around 3%, and net internal migration for the Lismore area runs at minus 480 per year, limiting rental demand growth. Weekly rent of $338 against a $627,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.8%, modest for a regional market. Long-hold income from the stable healthcare and education workforce is the main support.
How is Lismore Heights's population changing?
Population is declining at approximately 1.07% per year, or around 146 residents annually. The 10-year population change is negative 2.2%. The broader Lismore area fell from 14,336 in 2023 to 13,679 by 2025, and medium forecasts project continued decline to 13,288 by 2031, driven by net internal outflow of minus 480 per year.
What industries employ residents of Lismore Heights?
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 31.0% (222 residents), followed by Education at 19.3% (138). Together these two sectors account for 50.3% of local employment. Retail (7.3%), Public Admin (5.9%) and Construction (5.6%) round out the top five. The unemployment rate is 4.8% and the participation rate is 56.8%.
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 Lismore Heights on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map