Ballina Surrounds

Population growth drivers in Ballina Surrounds are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Ballina Surrounds' population is approximately 19,547 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,220 people, a 6.7% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 18,327. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,074 in June 2024 and an additional 478 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 48 persons per square kilometer. Ballina Surrounds' growth rate exceeded that of the SA4 region (4.1%) and Rest of NSW, indicating it as a growth leader in the area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 48% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 4,940 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 22.9% over the 17-year period.

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

Ballina Surrounds has seen approximately 121 dwellings granted development approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 609 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, 50 approvals have been recorded to date. On average, each new dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 has accommodated around 1.9 new residents per year, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $368,000.

This financial year has seen $12.1 million in commercial approvals, reflecting moderate levels of commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Ballina Surrounds exhibits moderately higher development activity, with an 11.0% increase per person over the five-year period, offering buyer choice while supporting current property values. New developments comprise 65.0% standalone homes and 35.0% medium and high-density housing, providing a wider range of medium-density options to cater to varying price brackets and lifestyle demands. This marks a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly composed of houses (86.0%).

The area reflects low density, with around 193 people per approval. Future projections estimate Ballina Surrounds will add approximately 4,467 residents by 2041, as per the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Construction pace is maintaining a reasonable balance with projected growth; however, increasing population may lead to growing competition among buyers.

Ballina Surrounds has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 47 projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones include the Alstonville Cultural Centre Upgrade, Alstonville Medical Centre - 12 Commercial Road, Alstonville Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade, and 104 Main Street Mixed-Use Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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 labour market in Ballina Surrounds shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Ballina Surrounds has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.4% as of September 2025. There are 9,356 residents in work, with the unemployment rate being 1.5% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of NSW at 61.5%.

According to Census responses, 21.1% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level, while public administration & safety is under-represented at 5.3% compared to Rest of NSW's 7.5%. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.3%, alongside a 1.9% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with a rise in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Ballina Surrounds' employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Ballina Surrounds SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $48,226 and an average income of $62,611 in the financial year 2023. These figures were below national averages for Rest of NSW, which stood at $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By September 2025, estimated median income was approximately $52,499 and average income was $68,158 based on an 8.86% increase since financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 data, Ballina Surrounds' incomes ranked modestly between the 38th and 39th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile showed that 32.2% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to regional levels at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 84.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

Ballina Surrounds' dwellings, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 86.5% houses and 13.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ballina Surrounds was higher at 44.6%, with the rest either mortgaged (32.9%) or rented (22.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,900, surpassing Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent was $410, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Ballina Surrounds' mortgage repayments were higher at $1,900 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375 at $410.

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

Family households account for 73.9% of all households, including 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%. The median household size is 2.5 people, 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 Shire's educational qualifications lag behind regional averages. As of 2016, 26.1% of residents aged 15 and above held university degrees, compared to 32.2% in New South Wales. Bachelor degrees were the most prevalent at 18.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials were also common, with 39.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding them – advanced diplomas accounted for 11.8%, while certificates made up 27.5%.

Educational participation was high, with 27.1% of residents enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This included 10.1% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ballina Surrounds has 658 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 69 individual routes, providing a total of 947 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 142 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, primarily using cars (94%). The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.7 per dwelling, higher than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 21.1% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 135 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly one weekly trip per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops relative to the location's centrepoint.

The level of general health in Ballina Surrounds is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Ballina Shire Council demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~9,851 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues (affecting 8.9% of residents) and arthritis (affecting 8.8%). A total of 66.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 23.9% of residents aged 65 and over (4,665 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 below average cultural diversity, with 87.3% of its population born in Australia, 91.9% being citizens, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Ballina Surrounds is Christianity, comprising 52.0% of the population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to regional averages, making up 0.2% of the population versus 0.1% across Rest of NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English at 32.3%, Australian at 29.3%, and Irish at 9.9%. Notably, Welsh (0.7% vs 0.5%), Scottish (8.8% vs 8.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (2.7% vs 4.6%) groups are overrepresented in Ballina Surrounds compared to regional averages.

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

Ballina Shire's median age is 45 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and considerably older than Australia's national norm of 38. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Ballina Shire has a notably higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (13.3% locally) while those aged 25-34 are under-represented (10.1%). Between 2021 and present, the population aged 35 to 44 has increased from 11.1% to 12.2%, while the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 13.5% to 12.1% and the 55 to 64 age group has dropped from 14.5% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Ballina Shire's age profile. The 25 to 34 age cohort is expected to expand by 726 people (37%), growing from 1,982 to 2,709. In contrast, the 15 to 24 age group is projected to show minimal growth of just 5% (102 people).