Ballina Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Ballina Surrounds lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Ballina Surrounds' population was approximately 19,165 as of August 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 838 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 18,327. The increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data from June 2024 (19,078) and validated new addresses post-Census date. Population density was around 47 persons per square kilometer as of August 2025. Ballina Surrounds' growth rate exceeded the SA4 region's 3.2%, standing at 4.6% from 2021 to August 2025. Interstate migration contributed approximately 48.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, while overseas migration and natural growth also played positive roles.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Ballina Surrounds' population is projected to increase by 4,940 persons, recording a total gain of 25.3%.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Ballina Surrounds among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Ballina Surrounds received around 138 dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces this data annually, totaling 691 approvals from FY20 to FY25 and 12 in FY26 so far. On average, 1.9 new residents arrived per new home over the past five financial years. This suggests balanced supply and demand, maintaining stable market conditions.

The average value of new dwellings was $561,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $12.1 million, showing balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of NSW, Ballina Surrounds had 10.0% higher building activity per person over the past five years, offering reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New building activity comprised 65.0% detached dwellings and 35.0% medium-high density housing, expanding affordable alternatives.

This marks a significant shift from current patterns (86.0% houses), likely due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. The area has approximately 193 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. By 2041, Ballina Surrounds is projected to grow by 4,849 residents. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but increasing competition for buyers is expected as the population expands.

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

A total of 49 infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include the Alstonville Medical Centre at 12 Commercial Road, the upgrade of the Alstonville Cultural Centre, the improvement of the Alstonville Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the redevelopment of the Alstonville Cultural Centre. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Ballina Surrounds demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Ballina Surrounds has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.1%.

As of June 2025, there are 9,081 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 59.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, public administration & safety has lower representation at 5.3% versus the regional average of 7.5%. Labour force data for Ballina Surrounds from Jun-24 to Jul-25 shows a decrease of 4.8%, alongside a 4.4% employment decline, leading to a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1%, labour force grow by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ballina Surrounds's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Ballina Surrounds' median income among taxpayers was $45,426 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $60,357 during the same period. For comparison, Rest of NSW's median and average incomes were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By March 2025, current estimates project Ballina Surrounds' median income to be approximately $50,241 and the average income to reach $66,755, based on a 10.6% growth in wages since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Ballina Surrounds rank modestly, between the 38th and 39th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 32.2% of the community (6,171 individuals) falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band, which aligns with broader trends in the surrounding region at 29.9%. After accounting for housing costs, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Ballina Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Ballina Surrounds, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.5% houses and 13.5% other dwellings (including semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's 75.1% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ballina Surrounds stood at 44.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.9% and rented ones at 22.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,900, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,980. The median weekly rent figure in Ballina Surrounds was $410, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $450. Nationally, Ballina Surrounds' mortgage repayments were higher at $1,900 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $410 compared to the national figure of $375.

Ballina Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.9% of all households, consisting of 29.7% couples with children, 32.0% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.1%, with lone person households at 23.0% and group households comprising 3.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Ballina Surrounds aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Ballina Surrounds has 26.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 18.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 27.5%. Educational participation is high, with 27.1% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.1%), secondary (8.2%), tertiary (3.3%).

There are 11 schools serving 1,630 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 987) and balanced educational opportunities. School provision is balanced with 10 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents (8.5) are below the regional average (13.2), suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Ballina Surrounds has 621 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 69 different routes that together offer 888 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 143 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 126 trips per day, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Ballina Surrounds is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Ballina Shire faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~9,582 people), compared to 52.3% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues impact 8.9% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.8%.

A total of 66.1% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.0% across Rest of NSW. The area has 23.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,559 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Ballina Surrounds was found to have a below average level of cultural diversity, with 87.3% of its population born in Australia, 91.9% being citizens, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ballina Surrounds, comprising 52.0% of its people. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented compared to the rest of NSW, making up 0.2% of Ballina Surrounds' population versus 0.6%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (32.3%), Australian (29.3%), and Irish (9.9%). There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Welsh is overrepresented at 0.7% compared to 0.6% regionally, Scottish is slightly overrepresented at 8.8% versus 9.0%, and Australian Aboriginal is higher at 2.7% compared to 2.2%.

Ballina Surrounds hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Ballina Surrounds has a median age of 46, which is higher than both Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and the national norm of 38. The age group of 55-64 shows strong representation at 13.6%, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 9.9%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 11.1% to 11.9% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 12.4%. By 2041, Ballina Surrounds is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 43%, adding 817 people and reaching a total of 2,709 from the previous figure of 1,891. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 7%, with an increase of 154 people.