Lismore

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Lismore's population is around 14,028 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a decrease of 1,201 people (7.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,229 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,960 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 59 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 221 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 86.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to decline by 1,474 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 25 to 34 age group, which is projected to increase by 124 people. See the age section for more details.

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

Lismore has recorded around 14 residential properties granted approval each year, with 73 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 1 so far in FY-26. Given population has fallen over the past period, development activity has been adequate in relative terms, which is a positive for buyers, while new dwellings are developed at an average construction cost of $372,000. Additionally, $19.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Lismore shows substantially reduced construction (65.0% below the regional average per person). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings, though building activity has accelerated in recent years. This level is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. New building activity consists of 36.0% standalone homes and 64.0% townhouses or apartments. This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 77.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated count of 1986 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment.

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

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 30 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Lismore Flood Recovery and Resilience Program, Wade Park Masterplan, East Lismore Build-to-Rent Apartments, and East Lismore Medium Density Precincts, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most 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.

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

Lismore has a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.9%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 6,535 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 2.0% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (59.1% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 12.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area shows particularly strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 4.7% versus the regional average of 7.5%. With 1.0 workers for every resident, as at the Census, the area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.1% and the labour force decreased by 0.5%, resulting in unemployment falling by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW, where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Lismore. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Lismore's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Lismore SA2 is below the national average, with the median assessed at $44,745 while the average income stands at $53,495. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $48,709 (median) and $58,235 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Lismore all fall between the 11th and 18th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 29.1% of residents (4,082 people), consistent with broader trends across the area showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 12th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Lismore, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 76.8% houses and 23.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Lismore lagged that of Regional NSW, at 32.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (29.5%) or rented (38.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NSW average at $1,343, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Lismore's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are 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 dominate at 57.1% of all households, comprising 18.4% couples with children, 20.5% couples without children, and 16.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 42.9%, with lone person households at 36.8% and group households comprising 6.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Educational qualifications in Lismore trail regional benchmarks, with 24.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (27.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 434 active transport stops operating within Lismore comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 111 individual routes, collectively providing 2,075 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 110 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 90%, with 6% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 12.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 296 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Lismore, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 47% of the total population (~6,537 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW, while the national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 13.3% and 9.4% of residents, respectively, while 59.8% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 18.9% of residents aged 65 and over (2,654 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Lismore was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 88.9% of its population being citizens, 89.2% born in Australia, and 94.1% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Lismore is Christianity, which makes up 45.5% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other, which comprises 1.1% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Lismore are English, comprising 29.7% of the population, Australian, comprising 28.0% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.0% of Lismore (vs 8.0% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 4.8% (vs 4.6%) and French at 0.5% (vs 0.4%).

Lismore's median age exceeds the national pattern

At 42 years, Lismore's median age is similar to the Regional NSW average of 43 while considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows 25 - 34 year-olds are particularly prominent (13.6%), while the 75 - 84 group is comparatively smaller (5.8%) than in Regional NSW. In the period since 2021, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 12.5% to 13.6% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.7% to 10.4%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Lismore. The 85+ cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 16%, adding 59 residents to reach 424. Senior residents (65+) will drive 100% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. On the other hand, population declines are projected for the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 cohorts.