South Lismore
Healthcare accounts for 29.6% of local industry employment, making it the suburb's most distinctive economic feature. South Lismore has 1,775 residents across 7.33 square kilometres, with a density of 242.3 people per square kilometre. Compared with central Lismore's more urban setting, its 88.3% separate-house share points to a more detached residential pattern. The median age is 39, or 1.0 year below the national comparison, while household income sits at the 27.8th percentile. This creates an established, service-oriented suburb with lower incomes than the national midpoint and a slower-growth profile.
Local council: Lismore
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
17
South Lismore suits buyers who prioritise detached housing and established services over apartment living or rapid capital growth. Separate houses account for 88.3% of dwellings, compared with 8.3% apartments, while 3-bedroom homes make up 51.0% and 4-bedroom-plus homes account for 17.6%. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,300 represents 24.0% of household income, and the $300 weekly rent also represents 24.0%, so both measures sit at the same affordability share. Because the housing stock is dominated by houses, buyers seeking family-sized space may find more choice than those targeting compact units. Address-level valuation remains important because no current median house price is available.
For Buyers
South Lismore suits buyers who prioritise detached housing and established services over apartment living or rapid capital growth. Separate houses account for 88.3% of dwellings, compared with 8.3% apartments, while 3-bedroom homes make up 51.0% and 4-bedroom-plus homes account for 17.6%. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,300 represents 24.0% of household income, and the $300 weekly rent also represents 24.0%, so both measures sit at the same affordability share. Because the housing stock is dominated by houses, buyers seeking family-sized space may find more choice than those targeting compact units. Address-level valuation remains important because no current median house price is available.
For Investors
South Lismore has a meaningful rental base, with 31.9% of households renting and weekly rent recorded at $300. That renting share is lower than the combined owner-occupied categories, creating a mixed tenure market rather than a predominantly investor-held one. The vacancy rate is 5.9%, which can give landlords a larger leasing buffer than a very tight market, although tenant demand still depends on property condition and location. There were 18 development applications in the past 12 months, indicating ongoing but moderate property activity. Investors should also account for the annual growth trend of -1.07% and the fact that overseas migration is the primary forecast migration driver, rather than assuming strong local price momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
93
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+13.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Lismore
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
South Lismore has a median age of 39, which is 1.0 year below the national comparison, but its trajectory is aging. Overseas-born residents account for 7.2%, 14.4 percentage points below the national comparison, while university attendance or completion is 19.3%, 10.8 points lower than the national figure. English ancestry is recorded for 721 people, followed by Irish at 246 and Scottish at 218. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 862, compared with 716 identifying with Christianity. Average household size is 2.4, or 0.1 below the national comparison, and 79.3% stayed at the same address, suggesting relatively stable household patterns. Compared with central Lismore, this points to a less transient and more Anglo-leaning local profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.3%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
8.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly detached, with separate houses representing 88.3% of dwellings, compared with 8.3% apartments and 2.3% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile is led by 3-bedroom dwellings at 51.0%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 26.8%, 4-bedroom-plus homes at 17.6% and 0 or 1-bedroom dwellings at 4.6%. Tenure is split between 29.1% owned outright, 37.8% owned with a mortgage and 31.9% rented, so mortgage and outright ownership together are higher than renting. Both mortgage and rent ratios are recorded at 24.0% of household income, with neither marked as housing stress. Compared with apartment-focused areas, the stock provides more conventional family housing, but the lower-income profile still makes purchase price and maintenance costs important.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $300.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $620 · units $435
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
34.9%
Couples with children
28.4%
Couples, no children
33.0%
Single parent
433
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 29.6% and 138 workers, followed by education at 10.5% and 49, retail at 9.9% and 46, construction at 8.4% and 39, and public administration at 6.4% and 30. Occupations are led by community and personal services at 157 people, labourers at 154 and trades at 118, with professionals at 90 and clerical or administration roles at 74. The unemployment rate is 6.5%, participation is 60.1% and the full-time rate is 49.3%, reflecting a service and practical-work economy with a substantial part-time workforce. SEIFA results are low across all four measures: IEO decile 3, IER decile 1, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 2. The IER result is lower than IEO, indicating economic-resource pressure is sharper than the education and occupation ranking alone.
Unemployment
6.5%
Labour Force
865
Unemployed
56
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.3%
Part-time
45.1%
Participation
60.1%
Employed
809
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
7.2%
Dwellings
684
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car-led: 79.1% are recorded as car drivers, compared with 6.9% walking or cycling and 7.4% working from home. That pattern can make wider Lismore services easier to reach by road, while lower active-transport use means convenience depends more on the exact street and destination. There is 1 local school, Lismore South Public School, a government primary school. Families should check enrolment zones and secondary-school options against the exact address because school access can cross suburb boundaries. The IRSAD result is in decile 2, lower than higher-decile areas, so affordability, transport costs and access to services are important parts of the livability decision. Current street-level safety information should also be checked before purchasing or renting.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.9%
Work from Home
7.4%
Growth Outlook
South Lismore has a slow-growth and aging outlook. The annual forecast trend is -1.07%, while population change across the wider area is -2.2% over 10 years. The forecast trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 4.3% increase in senior share and a 2.2% decline in young share. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, but that inflow is not currently translating into positive local growth. Rents have grown by 36.4%, while affordability improved from 51.4% in 2011 to 46.4% in 2021 and real incomes rose 22.9%. The current gentrification score is 0, classified as Not gentrifying, although a separate shift indicator records 27 and Early signs. This mixed picture favours gradual adaptation rather than a rapid redevelopment story.
Population trend: Lismore council area
South Lismore sits in the Lismore council area. These are the council area's residents, not South Lismore's.
Residents 2025
43,642
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.3%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit households seeking detached housing and access to Lismore services. It has 1,775 residents, 88.3% separate houses and 1 local government primary school. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, the housing is more conventional and family-sized, but 79.1% car use and an IRSAD decile of 2 mean transport costs and service access should be considered.
What is the median house price in South Lismore?
A current median house price should be confirmed through recent comparable sales or an address-level valuation. South Lismore has 88.3% separate houses, with 51.0% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 17.6% containing 4 or more. Those shares are higher than the 8.3% apartment share, but they do not replace a current price check before making an offer.
What schools are in South Lismore?
South Lismore has 1 named local school, Lismore South Public School, which is a government primary school. Families should confirm enrolment zones and compare secondary options across the wider Lismore area for the exact address. The suburb's 88.3% separate-house share is higher than its 8.3% apartment share, but housing type does not indicate school performance.
Is South Lismore safe?
A definitive safety decision requires current street-level incident information rather than a blanket suburb label. South Lismore has 1,775 residents, and 79.1% of commuters are car drivers, so daily experiences can vary by street, route and activity. Compare recent NSW Police information with local hazard advice and inspect the exact property before renting or buying.
Is South Lismore good for property investment?
South Lismore may suit investors seeking lower-cost rental exposure, but returns depend on the purchase price and property condition. Weekly rent is $300, the renting share is 31.9% and vacancy is 5.9%. Compared with a high-growth market, the -1.07% annual trend calls for conservative assumptions. The 18 development applications in 12 months also warrant checking for future local competition.
How is South Lismore's population changing?
South Lismore's current population is 1,775. The wider forecast trend is -1.07% a year and population change over 10 years is -2.2%, with an Aging trajectory. Senior share has risen 4.3 points while young share has fallen 2.2 points, so demand may shift toward accessible homes and services. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the outlook is slower than a strongly expanding profile.
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).
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