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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in East Ballina is $1.38m, with units at $852k. House values have moved 1.8% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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East Ballina has an estimated 5,845 residents, down from 5,882 at the 2021 Census. That puts 899 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to ABS demographic data analysis and new residential addresses confirmed by AreaSearch post-census, the population of the suburb of East Ballina stands at approximately 5,845 as of May 2026. This represents a contraction of 37 individuals (0.6%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 5,882 residents. This shift is derived from a baseline population of 5,833 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS ERP release from June 2025, combined with 27 validated new addresses established after the Census. The suburb's density is calculated at 899 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with typical benchmarks monitored by AreaSearch.
Recent population increases were largely underpinned by arrivals from other states, which accounted for roughly 56.00000000000001% of all inbound demographic growth. Projections for each SA2 region are sourced from the 2024 ABS and Geoscience Australia release, utilizing 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 territories lacking this coverage, figures are supplemented by the 2022 NSW State Government SA2 projections starting from a 2021 baseline. Age-specific growth trends from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic estimates suggest the suburb of East Ballina will experience growth exceeding the national median for regional localities, expanding by 794 residents by 2041 and representing a total increase of 13.4% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Activity in property development is highly constrained in East Ballina, with approvals averaging 3 annually, or 17 approvals over a five-year period. This minimal volume is typical of countryside environments where residential demands are modest and building activity is restricted by local requirements and utility capacities. Because of the low volume of approvals, individual building permits can disproportionately alter yearly growth and comparative analytics. East Ballina records a construction volume that is substantially lower than the Rest of NSW, and the building trend sits far below national benchmarks. New residential approvals are evenly split, consisting of 50.0% freestanding houses and 50.0% multi-unit dwellings.
This balanced distribution toward higher density living offers affordable pathways for first-time buyers, downsizers, and property investors. Reflecting this quiet construction market is the ratio of 1459 people per building approval in the locality. Long-term estimates indicate East Ballina will add 782 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch. If current building rates do not accelerate, residential supply may fail to keep pace with demand, potentially intensifying market competition and supporting price appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around East Ballina
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 87 current infrastructure and development projects close to East Ballina, worth an estimated $3 billion. 19 are already under construction and 28 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local planning decisions, major projects, and infrastructure upgrades are major drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 5 pipeline projects expected to influence the local area. Significant developments include the New Ballina SES Headquarters, the Ballina District Hospital Redevelopment, the Kingsford Smith Reserve Pump Track, and the Norton Street Villas known as Mana Ballina, with details of the most significant works provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
New Ballina SES Headquarters
A purpose-built NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Ballina Unit headquarters and Emergency Operations Centre. The $6.3 million facility replaces an outdated building with a six-bay vehicle shed, modern incident control area, training rooms, and administration offices. The project also features carparking, lighting upgrades, and significant landscaping including 80 new trees. Construction is being jointly funded by Ballina Shire Council and the NSW Government to enhance regional flood and disaster response capabilities.
Ballina District Hospital Redevelopment
Planning and site selection activities are underway for the future long-term clinical sustainability of Ballina District Hospital to serve the growing Northern Rivers region. Independent flood risk studies confirmed that the existing Cherry Street site is unsuitable for significant expansion due to new Probable Maximum Flood limits, shifting the project focus toward identifying a flood-safe greenfield site.
Kingsford Smith Reserve Pump Track
Construction of new pump track facility at Kingsford Smith Reserve for BMX, mountain biking, and skateboarding activities.
Crowley Aged Care Redevelopment
The $22 million multi-stage redevelopment and expansion of the Crowley aged care facility in Ballina, enhancing existing amenities and adding new facilities including a 42-room residential care building, two-story education centre with library and conference rooms, upgraded dining and entertainment areas, new administration building, cafe, and associated civil works to provide high-quality aged care services.
Mana Ballina (Norton Street Villas)
An exclusive development of 14 luxury three-bedroom villas inspired by Palm Springs architecture, designed by C2 Architecture with interiors by Mon Palmer from Bare Cabo. Located opposite North Creek, the development features organic colour palette, hit and miss brickwork, stone cladding, and timber-look panels. North-facing villas (1-7) offer 220sqm internal space with private terrace and day bed, while south-facing villas (8-14) provide 226sqm internal space with private balcony and first-floor living with 3.9m ceiling heights.
Aureus Village Centre - Skennars Head
Two lot Torrens Title subdivision to create 1 x 6,402m2 Lot (Proposed Lot 1) and 1 x 6,649m2 Lot (Proposed Lot 2). Construction of a mixed use development (Commercial/Residential) on Proposed Lot 1 comprising 3 retail premises, 5 food and drink premises and 17 shop top housing dwellings, and associated car parking, landscaping and infrastructure works, and subsequent Stratum subdivision and Strata Title subdivision.
Total Tools Ballina
The Total Tools Ballina development is a large-format retail project featuring triple street frontage for enhanced visibility and accessibility. It aims to create a specialist trade and retail hub with Total Tools as the anchor tenant, emphasizing design excellence, customer experience, and sustainability.
Mixed-Use Development at 21 Aureus Boulevard, Skennars Head
Two-lot subdivision for a mixed-use development, including 3 retail premises, 5 food and drink premises, and 17 shop-top housing dwellings, with associated parking, landscaping, and infrastructure.
2,764 residents of East Ballina are employed, from a labour force of 2,873. Unemployment sits at 3.8%, with participation at 57.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,952, about 85% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce of East Ballina is highly educated with significant representation in public services, showing a low unemployment rate of 3.8% and a yearly job growth rate of 3.3% according to statistical aggregations by AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 2,764, maintaining an unemployment rate 0.3% below the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while the participation rate lagged slightly at 57.6% compared to the state regional benchmark of 60.6%. Census data indicates a moderate 19.2% of workers operated from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic restrictions.
Local employment is largely concentrated in the sectors of health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Educational services exhibit a strong local specialization, employing workers at a rate 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, the agriculture, forestry & fishing sector accounts for only 1.7% of the local workforce, which is below the 5.3% average for Regional NSW. A comparison of resident workers against the locally census-recorded jobs suggests that the area provides relatively few employment positions within its boundaries. Based on AreaSearch calculations of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from local areas, the past 12-month period recorded a 3.3% rise in employment and a 4.2% expansion of the labor force, causing unemployment to tick up by 0.8 percentage points. This differs from Regional NSW, where employment shrank by 0.9%, the workforce decreased by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points. Future local employment trends can be evaluated using the May-25 national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia. These five and ten-year national estimates have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. While national employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Weighting these projections against the industry mix of East Ballina suggests a local job increase of 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, representing a basic mathematical extrapolation that excludes local demographic projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in East Ballina is $1,554 a week (about $81,000 a year), with median personal income at $814 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,558 a year against an average of $74,660. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
The latest postcode-level tax data from the ATO for financial year 2023 indicates that incomes in East Ballina are significantly higher than the national average, recording a median of $55,558 and an average of $74,660. In comparison, Regional NSW recorded a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Incorporating Wage Price Index inflation of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $61,292 for the median and $82,365 for the average. Census records show that household, family, and individual incomes are moderate, placing between the 38th and 52nd percentiles.
The primary income group is the $1,500 - 2,999 range, comprising 32.1% of the population (1,876 residents), which is comparable to the regional rate of 29.9%. Housing cost pressures are notable, with residents retaining 84.7% of their income, placing the suburb in the 40th percentile, while its SEIFA income status falls in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
East Ballina had 2,409 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 61% detached houses and 7% apartments. 25% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $460 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,800 a month. Rent absorbs 29.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing mix in East Ballina consisted of 61.2% separate houses and 38.8% multi-unit housing types (townhouses, flats, and other dwellings), whereas Regional NSW average stood at 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings. Outright home ownership was particularly high at 46.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgage holders (25.3%) or tenants (28.7%). The median monthly home loan payment was higher than the Regional NSW average at $1,800, and weekly rent was recorded at $460, compared to regional figures of $1,733 and $330. In a national context, mortgage costs in the area are below the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs are significantly higher than the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
East Ballina counted 2,409 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 24% are couples with children, against 34% couples without children. 26% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families comprise the majority of local households at 69.5%, consisting of couples with children at 23.9%, couples without children at 33.5%, and single parent households at 11.5%. The remaining 30.5% are non-family households, which are made up of single person households at 26.1% and group shared homes at 4.2%. The median occupancy of 2.3 people per household is slightly smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
31.1% of adults in East Ballina hold a university qualification, including 22.0% with a bachelor degree and 5.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 24.8% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 603 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 972 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment in the area is high compared to the broader region, with 31.1% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region level of 24.3%. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 22.0%, with postgraduate degrees at 5.3% and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Technical and trade qualifications are also common, with 37.3% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas at 12.5% and certificate level qualifications at 24.8%. Enrolment in education is strong, with 26.1% of local residents actively participating in formal study.
This student population includes 8.7% attending primary schools, 7.2% in secondary education, and 3.5% enrolled in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in East Ballina reaches 122 stops on 39 routes, timetabled for about 400 services a week. The typical home sits about 100 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in East Ballina features 122 active transport stops, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 39 different routes, which provide 400 weekly trips in total. Accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 103 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, resulting in outbound travel patterns where private vehicles represent the main commuting mode at 94%, followed by cycling at 2%. Households own an average of 1.4 cars. Around 19.2% of the working population worked from home, based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era arrangements.
Service frequency averages 57 departures per day across the route network, representing roughly 3 weekly services per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest transit stops relative to the center of the suburb.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.8% of residents in East Ballina report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 79% of areas nationally. 4.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic illness rates, health indicators are strong in East Ballina, showing low rates of common medical conditions across all age cohorts. Additionally, the rate of residents with private health insurance is high, representing approximately 56% of the population (~3,298 people) compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues, affecting 9.7% and 8.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 66.8% of the population reported no long-term medical issues, compared to 63.3% throughout Regional NSW. Residents under the age of 65 experience better than average health outcomes.
Seniors aged 65 and over make up 26.9% of the population (1,572 individuals), which is higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 23.4%. Senior citizens in the area exhibit favorable health metrics, with national rankings consistent with those of the broader community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
East Ballina is largely Australian-born, at 87.3% of residents, with 4.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.4%) and Australian (27.2%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in East Ballina is low, with 87.3% of the population born within Australia, 91.6% holding citizenship, and 95.6% speaking only English in the home. The primary religious affiliation is Christianity, representing 50.8% of the community. However, the most significant relative deviation is found in Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of residents, matching the Regional NSW average of 0.1%. Regarding parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups are English at 32.4%, Australian at 27.2%, and Irish at 11.4%. Differences are evident in other European ancestries, with Scottish ancestry representing 9.6% of residents (compared to 8.0% regionally), French at 0.7% (compared to 0.4%), and Welsh at 0.6% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of East Ballina is 47, older than 88% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 19.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in East Ballina is 47 years, which is older than both the Regional NSW average of 43 years and the national median of 38 years. Residents aged 65 - 74 years are highly represented at 15.9%, while the 15 - 24 age bracket is smaller at 9.6% compared to Regional NSW. The concentration of 65 - 74 year-olds is higher than the national rate of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 11.8% to 13.6% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 7.5% to 8.9%.
In contrast, the 55 to 64 group has fallen from 14.4% to 13.0% and the 65 to 74 demographic decreased from 17.1% to 15.9%. By 2041, demographic shifts are expected to alter the age structure, with the 35 to 44 group growing by 25% (200 people) to reach 995 from 794, while the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 cohorts are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for East Ballina
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 27 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,882 at the 2021 Census → 5,845 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL11348). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.