Lismore
Statistical Area - sa2

Lismore has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Lismore's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 14,015 people. This figure represents a decrease from the 2021 Census count of 15,229 people, marking an 8.0% decline. The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 14,004, with an additional 38 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this change. This results in a population density ratio of 221 persons per square kilometer, indicating significant space per person and potential room for further development. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth, accounting for approximately 86.7% of overall gains.

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 utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using the 2021 Census as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, population projections indicate a decline of 1,474 persons in Lismore. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow during this period, notably the 25 to 34 age group, which is projected to increase by 124 people.

The level of residential development activity in Lismore is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Lismore has recorded approximately 14 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 73 homes were approved. No residential properties have been approved so far in FY26.

The population has fallen during this period, indicating adequate development activity relative to population change, which is positive for buyers. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $522,000. In the current financial year, $19.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting steady commercial investment activity in Lismore compared to the Rest of NSW. However, construction levels are 65.0% below the regional average per person, reflecting limited new supply and generally supporting stronger demand and values for established dwellings. Building activity has accelerated in recent years, with 36.0% standalone homes and 64.0% townhouses or apartments being constructed. This shift from the area's existing housing, which is currently 77.0% houses, indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Lismore is 1986 people, reflecting its quiet development environment.

With stable or declining population forecasts, Lismore may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Lismore has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Thirty projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area, significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure. Notable projects include the Lismore Flood Recovery and Resilience Program, Northern Rivers Conservatorium Flood Resilience Upgrades, East Lismore Build-to-Rent Apartments, and Wade Park Masterplan. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment drivers in Lismore are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Lismore's workforce is skilled with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 5.3%.

In that month, 6,598 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.6% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was similar to Rest of NSW at 56.4%. Key industries for Lismore residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Notably, health care & social assistance has a strong presence with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, public administration & safety has limited presence at 4.7% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. As per Census data, Lismore hosts more jobs than residents, functioning as an employment hub and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 4.8%, employment declined by 3.3%, leading to a 1.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.1%, labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lismore's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2022, Lismore had a median income among taxpayers of $42,438 with the average level standing at $54,320. This is lower than national averages which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year ending June 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $47,789 and average at $61,170 as of September 2025. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data released in June 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Lismore all fall between the 12th and 19th percentiles nationally. The data shows that 29.1% of Lismore's population (4,078 individuals) fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Lismore, with only 82.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

Lismore is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Lismore's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 76.8% houses and 23.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 86.8% houses and 13.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lismore was at 32.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 38.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,343, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,452. Median weekly rent in Lismore was $300, the same as Non-Metro NSW. Nationally, Lismore's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,343 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 57.1% of all households, including 18.4% couples with children, 20.5% couples without children, and 16.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 42.9%, with lone person households at 36.8% and group households comprising 6.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Lismore shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

Lismore's residents aged 15+ have 24.1% with university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.5%, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (27.6%). Current educational participation is high, with 30.6% enrolled; this includes 9.5% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 5.8% in tertiary education.

Lismore has 15 schools serving 4,618 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 978). It comprises 7 primary, 5 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. The area functions as an education hub with 33.0 school places per 100 residents, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Lismore's public transport system operates 389 active stops, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by 111 unique routes, facilitating a total of 2,041 weekly passenger trips. The city's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located just 112 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 291 bus trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly five weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Lismore faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47%, covering around 6,615 people (national average: 55.3%).

Mental health issues affect 13.3% of residents, while asthma impacts 9.4%. About 59.8% report no medical ailments (Rest of NSW: 61.9%). Lismore has 19.1% seniors (2,672 people), lower than Rest of NSW's 22.9%. Senior health outcomes present challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Lismore, as per the latest data, shows below-average cultural diversity with 88.9% of its population being citizens and 89.2% born in Australia. English is spoken exclusively at home by 94.1%. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 45.5%.

The category 'Other' has a similar representation in Lismore (1.1%) as in Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.7%), Australian (28.0%), and Irish (10.9%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Scottish is overrepresented at 9.0% compared to 8.5% regionally, Australian Aboriginal at 4.8% versus 4.6%, and German at 3.6% versus 3.4%.

Lismore hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Lismore's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of NSW's average of 43, but older than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 15-24 are prominent at 13.4%, while the 75-84 group is smaller at 5.8% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and now, the 25-34 age group has grown from 12.5% to 13.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 11.7% to 10.9%. By 2041, Lismore's population is forecasted to change significantly. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 15%, adding 54 residents to reach 424. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 56% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Conversely, populations in the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decline.