Ballina

Population growth drivers in Ballina are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Ballina's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 18,855 people. This figure represents a growth of 226 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 18,629. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,813 in June 2025 and an additional 182 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 521 persons per square kilometer, indicating ample space per person and potential for further development. Ballina's growth rate of 1.2% since the census is within 2.5 percentage points of the SA4 region's growth rate of 3.7%, suggesting competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 59.9% to recent population gains in the area.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, regional areas across Australia are expected to experience above median population growth. The area is projected to increase by 2,966 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.5% over the 16-year period, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Ballina when compared nationally

Ballina has recorded approximately 35 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 177 homes. As of FY26, 24 approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of 3.3 people move to the area for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating significant demand outpacing supply. This typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

New homes are being constructed at an average value of $437,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments. In FY26, $35.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Ballina records markedly lower building activity, 68.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity consists of 54.0% standalone homes and 46.0% townhouses or apartments, offering options across different price points.

The estimated count of 467 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Ballina will gain 2,924 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Ballina has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include the New Ballina SES Headquarters, Total Tools Ballina, Ballina District Hospital Redevelopment, and Solhaven. The following list highlights projects of particular relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Ballina shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Ballina has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 4.0%. As of December 2025, 7,817 residents are employed, aligning with Regional NSW's 3.9% unemployment rate but with lower workforce participation at 49.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

A moderate 14.6% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance is notably concentrated, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 2.1%, compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Ballina's labour force decreased by 0.3% and employment declined by 0.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Regional NSW saw a 1.2% employment decline during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ballina's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released in financial year 2023, Ballina SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $49,374 and an average level of $64,544. Both figures are below the national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). They also compare lower than Regional NSW's levels respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $54,469 (median) and $71,205 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ballina fall between the 10th and 21st percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that 27.4% of Ballina's population falls within the $400 - $799 income range, differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Ballina, with only 80.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Ballina displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Ballina's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 57.7% houses and 42.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ballina stood at 43.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.6% and rented ones at 35.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Regional NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $390, higher than Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Ballina's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Ballina features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 60.0% of all households, including 17.1% couples with children, 30.1% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 40.0%, with lone person households at 35.8% and group households comprising 4.2%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Ballina fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 21.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (27.1%).

A total of 24.0% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, with 8.0% in primary, 6.6% in secondary, and 3.0% in tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Ballina has 401 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 76 routes, providing 1,412 weekly passenger trips collectively. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 100 meters to the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. The dominant mode of transport is car at 90%, followed by walking at 5% and cycling at 3%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 201 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per stop. The map accompanying this analysis shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Ballina is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Ballina faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both younger and older age cohorts show high prevalence of common health conditions. Only approximately 51% (~9,653 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.4%) and mental health issues (9.7%). A total of 58.6% claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 33.8% (6,365 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally in line with the general population.

Ballina is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Ballina's population showed low cultural diversity, with 89.5% being citizens, 86.7% born in Australia, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 54.5% of Ballina's population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.4%), Australian (28.6%), and Irish (10.2%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented at 8.9%, Australian Aboriginal at 3.4%, and French at 0.5%.

Ballina ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Ballina is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and well above the national norm of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, the 75-84 cohort is notably over-represented at 12.8% locally, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 9.1%. The concentration of the 75-84 age group in Ballina is well above the national average of 6.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 11.4% to 12.8%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 17.0% to 15.3%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 13.5% to 12.3%. Population forecasts for Ballina indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow significantly at 73%, adding 775 residents to reach 1,843. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age cohorts.