East Lismore

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

As of Nov 2025, East Lismore's population is estimated at around 4,542 people, reflecting a decrease of 438 people since the 2021 Census. The resident population was estimated by AreaSearch as 4,535 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of additional 22 new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 694 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate a decline of 473 persons by 2041, with specific age cohorts expected to grow, notably the 25 to 34 age group projected to increase by 43 people.

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

East Lismore has averaged approximately five new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. In the past five financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, 28 homes were approved, with no approvals yet in FY-26. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $522,000, indicating a focus on the premium market by developers. This financial year alone, there have been $2.4 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, East Lismore shows significantly reduced construction activity, at 60.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, although recent construction activity has intensified. Nationally, development in East Lismore is also lower, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. New development consists of 40.0% detached dwellings and 60.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 79.0% houses. This denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, potentially due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 662 people, reflecting East Lismore's quiet, low activity development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, housing pressure should be reduced, potentially creating buying opportunities.

East Lismore has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Lismore Flood Recovery and Resilience Program, Wade Park Masterplan, Eastwood Estate Precinct 2 Subdivision, and East Lismore Build-to-Rent Apartments. 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.

East Lismore shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

East Lismore has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.1%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 2,169 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4% (1.2% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%). Workforce participation is on par with Rest of NSW at 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. East Lismore has a particular specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 6.3% of East Lismore's workforce compared to 9.7% in Rest of NSW. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.9%, while employment declined by 1.5%, causing unemployment to fall by 1.3 percentage points in East Lismore. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data from 25-Nov shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Lismore's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, assuming population projections remain constant for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in East Lismore is below the national average. The median income is $43,946 and the average income stands at $56,251. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $52,390 and the average income is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for East Lismore would be approximately $47,840 (median) and $61,235 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in East Lismore all fall between the 15th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the predominant cohort spans 30.2% of locals (1,371 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in East Lismore, with only 82.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 15th percentile.

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

East Lismore's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 79.0% houses and 21.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 86.8% houses and 13.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Lismore was at 32.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented dwellings at 38.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,430, while the median weekly rent was $310. Non-Metro NSW's averages were $1,452 for mortgage repayments and $300 for rents. Nationally, East Lismore's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 60.1% of all households, consisting of 20.9% couples with children, 21.8% couples without children, and 16.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.9%, with lone person households at 34.5% and group households comprising 5.7%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

East Lismore's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks; 23.6% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to NSW's 32.2%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (28.5%).

Educational participation is notably high; 32.4% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 7.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in East Lismore shows that there are 125 active transport stops currently operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 64 individual routes providing service to the area. Each week, these routes facilitate 821 passenger trips collectively.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 97 meters from their nearest transport stop on average. Across all routes, there are an average of 117 trips per day, which equates to approximately six weekly trips per individual stop.

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

East Lismore faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% (~2,235 people) have private health cover, lower than Rest of NSW's 46.8% and the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues affect 11.8% of residents, with asthma impacting 9.3%.

About 61.3% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of NSW's 61.9%. East Lismore has 19.7% (894 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Rest of NSW's 22.9%. Seniors' health outcomes present challenges, largely mirroring the general population's profile.

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

East Lismore, according to a study, had lower cultural diversity compared to the average. It was reported that 89.1% of its population were citizens, 89.8% were born in Australia, and 93.9% spoke English only at home. Christianity was found to be the predominant religion, with 49.4% of people identifying as such.

However, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (29.5%), Australian (28.7%), and Irish (10.8%). Notably, Australian Aboriginals were overrepresented at 5.1%, compared to the regional average of 4.6%. Scottish ancestry was also slightly higher at 8.9% versus 8.5%, and French ancestry showed a slight increase at 0.5% compared to the regional figure of 0.4%.

East Lismore's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in East Lismore is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, East Lismore has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (14.8%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.7%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25-34 grew from 13.1% to 14.0%, while the 45-54 age group declined from 11.5% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in East Lismore's age structure. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 17 people, reaching 176 from 149. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 56% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.