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, as of November 2025, is approximately 19,248. This figure represents an increase of 921 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,327. The growth was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 19,076 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date totalling 454. This results in a population density of 47 persons per square kilometer. Ballina Surrounds' population growth rate of 5.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's growth rate of 3.3%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 48.0% 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 where data is not available from the former source, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. 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, marking a total gain of 24.8% 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. As of FY-26, 33 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.9 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were noted between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost value for new dwellings was $368,000.

This financial year has seen $12.1 million in commercial approvals, reflecting moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Ballina Surrounds exhibits moderately higher development activity, 11.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. New developments consist of 65.0% standalone homes and 35.0% medium and high-density housing, offering a mix of opportunities across price brackets. This marks a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (86.0%).

Ballina Surrounds reflects a low density area with around 193 people per approval. Future projections indicate Ballina Surrounds will add approximately 4,766 residents by 2041, with construction maintaining a reasonable pace to keep up with projected growth. However, increased competition among buyers is expected as the population grows.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 47 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include the Alstonville Cultural Centre Upgrade, Alstonville Medical Centre at 12 Commercial Road, Alstonville Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade, and the 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 2.1% as of June 2025. It has 9,081 residents in work, which is 1.5% below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is at 59.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, public administration & safety is under-represented at 5.3% compared to Rest of NSW's 7.5%.

Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.8%, and employment declined by 4.4%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW had an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a rise in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Ballina Surrounds' local employment could grow by approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to its current employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Ballina Surrounds' income level is below the national average according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Its median income among taxpayers is $45,426 and average income stands at $60,357. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Ballina Surrounds would be approximately $51,154 (median) and $67,968 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes all rank modestly in Ballina Surrounds, between the 38th and 39th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 32.2% of individuals (6,197 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band, similar to regional levels where 29.9% occupy this range. After housing expenses, 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

Ballina Surrounds dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 86.5% houses and 13.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares 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 dwellings at 22.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,900, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,980, while the median weekly rent 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, 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 constitute 73.9% of all households, composed of 29.7% couples with children, 32.0% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for 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, 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

Educational qualifications in Ballina Surrounds trail regional benchmarks; 26.1% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW as of the latest data. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 18.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (27.5%).

Educational participation is notably high; 27.1% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest figures. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education. As of 2021, 11 schools serve 1,630 students while the area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 987) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 10 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents (8.5) fall below the regional average (13.2), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas as of the latest data.

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, operating a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 69 individual routes, offering 888 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 143 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 126 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per 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 (~9624 people), compared to 52.3% across the Rest of NSW, and the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues (8.9%) and arthritis (8.8%), while 66.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 68.0% across the Rest of NSW.

As of June 2021, 23.8% of residents are aged 65 and over (4579 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Ballina Shire are above average, performing even 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 had a cultural diversity score below average, with 87.3% of its population born in Australia, 91.9% being citizens, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 52.0% of people in Ballina Surrounds. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.6% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.3%), Australian (29.3%), and Irish (9.9%). There were also notable divergences in the representation of Welsh (0.7% vs regional 0.6%), Scottish (8.8% vs 9.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (2.7% vs 2.2%) ethnic groups.

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

Ballina Surrounds has a median age of 46, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's national norm of 38. The 55-64 age group comprises 13.6%, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 9.9%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has grown from 11.1% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 12.4%. By 2041, Ballina Surrounds is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 group is expected to grow by 43%, adding 809 people and reaching a total of 2,709 from the previous figure of 1,899. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort is projected to grow by a modest 7%, with an increase of 145 people.