South Lismore
At $345,000, South Lismore's median house price sits well below the national average, yet the suburb's SEIFA scores place it in decile 2 for both IRSAD and IRSD, ranking it among Australia's most disadvantaged communities. The 1,775-person suburb has 88.3% separate houses, higher than most urban areas, but household income falls in the 27.8th percentile nationally. Weekly household income of $1,252 combined with a 6.8% unemployment rate signals a workforce under structural pressure. Affordability has actually improved over the decade, with the rent-to-income ratio down from 51.4% in 2011 to 46.4% in 2021, pointing to slower price growth relative to wages in this part of northern NSW.
Population
1,775
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,252/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$345K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $345,000 median house price makes South Lismore one of the more accessible markets in NSW compared to the state average. Price history shows a 25% rise from $300,000 in 2024 to $375,000 in 2025. The stock is 88.3% separate houses, with three-bedroom homes dominant at 51% of dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $1,300 represent 24% of median household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners account for 29.4% of households and mortgage holders 38.3%, a split typical of an owner-occupier-leaning suburb at this price point.
For Buyers
The $345,000 median house price makes South Lismore one of the more accessible markets in NSW compared to the state average. Price history shows a 25% rise from $300,000 in 2024 to $375,000 in 2025. The stock is 88.3% separate houses, with three-bedroom homes dominant at 51% of dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $1,300 represent 24% of median household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners account for 29.4% of households and mortgage holders 38.3%, a split typical of an owner-occupier-leaning suburb at this price point.
For Investors
A 32.3% renter share and $300 weekly rent imply a gross yield around 4.5% against the $345,000 median, higher than most Sydney and Melbourne markets. The vacancy rate is 5.9%, elevated and suggesting supply surplus relative to demand. Development activity recorded only 15 applications over the past 12 months, consistent with slow growth. Net internal outmigration of 480 per year from the region works against rental demand, and population is declining at 1.07% annually. Price growth of 25% in 2024-2025 is encouraging, but the investment case depends on affordability-driven buyers from outside rather than local population expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
88
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+28.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Lismore iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lismore South Public School
P-6 · 106 students
Demographics
South Lismore's median age of 39 is about 1 year below the national figure. Overseas-born residents at 7.2% sit 14.4 percentage points below the national average, a strongly Anglo-Celtic community. The top ancestries are English (721), Irish (246) and Scottish (218). University qualifications at 19.3% are 10.8 points below national, consistent with the decile 3 IEO score. Average household size of 2.4 is marginally below national. The aging trajectory is underway, with the senior share rising 4.3 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 2.2 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.3%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
8.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The stock is 88.3% separate houses, above most NSW suburbs, with apartments at 8.3% and semi-detached at 2.3%. Three-bedroom homes are dominant at 51%, with two-bedroom at 26.8% and four-plus at 17.6%. Median price rose 25% from $300,000 to $375,000 over 2024-2025. Tenure splits across 29.4% outright owners, 38.3% mortgage holders and 32.3% renters. Both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income sit at 24%, below the 30% stress threshold. This makes South Lismore affordable by serviceability measures, even though the SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 ranking reflects broader disadvantage.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$638
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
43
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.8%
Couples, no children
1,260
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 29.6% of the local workforce (138 workers), well above what a typical residential suburb generates, reflecting proximity to Lismore's regional hospital. Education follows at 10.5% (49 workers) and Retail at 9.9% (46). By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (157) and Labourers (154) are the two largest groups, a service-heavy, blue-collar profile. Unemployment is 6.8%, above the national average, and participation sits at 56.9%. Household income falls in the 27.8th percentile nationally, consistent with the SEIFA IRSD decile 2 ranking. Real incomes grew 22.9% over the decade.
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
52.2%
Part-time
41.0%
Participation
56.9%
Employed
764
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
7.2%
Dwellings
684
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 85.4% of commuters driving, above the national average, while 7.5% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the 7.33 km2 boundary, so families rely on the wider Lismore area. Crime statistics are unavailable at the suburb level. The SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 ranking nationally indicates elevated disadvantage, and the IER decile 1 score, the lowest tier, signals limited economic resources. About 8.3% of residents (138 people) need daily assistance, above what the median age of 39 would suggest, pointing to a community with care needs that exceed the age profile.
Drive
85.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-1.07%/yr
(-146 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is declining at 1.07% annually, roughly 146 persons per year, with the 10-year change at minus 2.2%, below the national average for established suburbs. Medium forecasts project the broader Lismore area contracting from 14,020 in 2026 to 13,288 by 2031. Internal outmigration at 480 per year outweighs overseas arrivals of 70 per year. The gentrification score of 27 signals early signs stage, supported by 25% price growth in 2024-2025 and 36.4% rent growth over the decade. Affordability improving from 51.4% rent-to-income in 2011 to 46.4% in 2021 may attract price-sensitive buyers from coastal markets.
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 South Lismore compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Lismore a good suburb to live in?
South Lismore offers genuine housing affordability, with a $345,000 median house price and mortgage-to-income at 24%, below the 30% stress threshold. The SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 ranking nationally signals elevated socioeconomic disadvantage, and unemployment sits at 6.8%. It suits buyers prioritising low entry cost and a detached-house lifestyle over amenity density.
What is the median house price in South Lismore?
The median house price is $345,000. Prices rose 25% from $300,000 in 2024 to $375,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, keeping both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income at 24%, below standard stress levels.
What schools are in South Lismore?
No schools are recorded within South Lismore's 7.33 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Lismore area. The local population has a university qualification rate of 19.3%, which is 10.8 points below the national average.
Is South Lismore safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for South Lismore in this dataset. As a broader indicator, the SEIFA IRSD score of 916 places the suburb in decile 2 nationally, the second-lowest tier for relative disadvantage, which typically correlates with higher crime exposure than more advantaged areas. The 6.8% unemployment rate is above the national average.
Is South Lismore good for property investment?
At $345,000 median and $300 weekly rent, the implied gross yield is around 4.5%, higher than most capital city markets. The 5.9% vacancy rate is elevated, and population is declining at 1.07% per year, reducing organic demand growth. The 25% price gain in 2024-2025 shows short-term momentum, but net internal outmigration of 480 per year from the region is a structural headwind.
How is South Lismore's population changing?
Population is declining at approximately 1.07% per year, or about 146 persons annually. The 10-year change is minus 2.2%. Medium forecasts for the broader area project a fall from 14,020 in 2026 to 13,288 by 2031. Internal outmigration of 480 per year outpaces overseas arrivals of 70 per year.
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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