Ballina

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

As of Nov 2025, Ballina's population is estimated at around 9,917, reflecting an increase of 182 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 1.9% change from the previous figure of 9,735. AreaSearch validated this estimate by examining the resident population of 9,896, derived from ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024, and adding an additional 120 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 484 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Ballina has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outperforming its SA4 region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 56.99999999999999% to overall population gains in recent periods.

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 from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, Ballina is projected to experience above median population growth compared to national non-metropolitan areas, expanding by 1,955 persons to reach a total of 11,872 by 2041, reflecting a gain of 19.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Ballina recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Ballina saw around 26 new homes approved annually, with 131 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25 and 3 so far in FY-26. Each dwelling gained an average of 2.4 new residents over these years. New homes were built at an average cost of $750,000, indicating focus on the premium market.

Commercial approvals totaled $33.2 million in FY-26. Ballina had 55.0% less development activity than Rest of NSW per person from FY-21 to FY-25. Detached dwellings accounted for 55.0% and attached dwellings 45.0%. The area had an estimated 358 people per dwelling approval. By 2041, Ballina is forecasted to gain 1,890 residents.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not meet population growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include New Ballina SES Headquarters, Total Tools Ballina, Ballina District Hospital Redevelopment, and Solhaven. The following 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 employment landscape in Ballina presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.3%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Ballina has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.3%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 3834 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Ballina lags significantly at 42.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Ballina has a particular specialisation in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 2.2% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicates a higher than average level of local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.5%, while employment declined by 4.1% in Ballina, resulting in a fall in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 provide insights into potential future demand within Ballina. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ballina's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

Ballina had a median income among taxpayers of $42,399 in financial year 2022. The average level stood at $56,975 that year. Both figures were below the national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 respectively for Rest of NSW. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income would be approximately $47,746 and average income $64,160 based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ballina fell between the 3rd and 13th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile showed that the $400 - $799 band captured 30.5% of the community (3,024 individuals), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket led at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Ballina, with only 77.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

Ballina displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Ballina's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 53.2% houses and 46.8% other dwellings. In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 75.1% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ballina stood at 39.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.7% and rented ones at 40.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,980. Median weekly rent in Ballina was $360, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $450. Nationally, Ballina's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 53.8% of all households, including 14.3% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 46.2%, with lone person households at 41.8% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Ballina fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 19.0%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 27.6%.

A substantial 23.1% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.6% in primary, 6.1% in secondary, and 2.9% in tertiary education. Ballina's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,800 students and demonstrate typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 965), offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 18.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.2, indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Ballina has 163 active public transport stops. These include train and bus services. There are 64 routes in total, offering 1,317 weekly passenger trips combined.

Residents have excellent accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 100 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency is 188 trips across all routes, which translates to around 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Ballina is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Ballina faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% (~4,909 people), compared to 52.3% across Rest of NSW, and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.9%) and mental health issues (10.5%).

About 54.7% of residents report no medical ailments, lower than the 68.0% in Rest of NSW. Ballina has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 37.0% (~3,669 people), compared to 23.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges despite performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Ballina ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ballina had a cultural diversity level below average, with 88.7% of its population being citizens, 85.4% born in Australia, and 93.9% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, comprising 55.5% of Ballina's population, compared to 42.2% across the Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.3%), Australian (28.8%), and Irish (10.0%).

Notably, Scottish representation was higher in Ballina at 8.7%, compared to 9.0% regionally, while Australian Aboriginal was at 3.5% versus 2.2%, and French was at 0.5% versus 0.9%.

Ballina ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Ballina's median age is 55 years, which is higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and also older than the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 years are particularly prominent, making up 13.6% of the population, while those aged 5-14 years make up only 8.0%. This concentration of 75-84 year-olds is well above the national average of 6.0%. Between 2021 and the present day, the proportion of Ballina's population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 7.7% to 8.8%, while the 65 to 74 age group has declined from 16.2% to 14.9%. The 55 to 64 age group has also decreased, dropping from 13.0% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ballina's age structure. The number of residents aged 85 and older is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 604 people (72%) from 842 to 1,447. This aging population trend continues as those aged 65 and older are expected to represent half of the anticipated population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups.