Lismore (NSW)

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

As of November 2025, the estimated population of the suburb of Lismore (NSW) is around 3,307, reflecting a decrease of 349 people since the 2021 Census. The resident population estimate of 3,304 by AreaSearch, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses, indicates this decrease. This population level equates to a density ratio of 947 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth, contributing approximately 87.0% of overall population gains. AreaSearch adopts 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 uses the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to contract by 325 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow; notably, the 25 to 34 age group is projected to increase by 31 people over this period.

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

Lismore has seen limited development activity in recent years, averaging three approvals per year since 2017. This totals 18 approvals over the past five years. The rural nature of Lismore drives development based on local housing needs rather than broad market demand.

The small sample size can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics. Compared to the Rest of NSW and national averages, Lismore has much lower development activity. New developments consist of 50% detached houses and 50% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 70% houses. This change indicates decreasing developable sites and reflects evolving lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Lismore is 745 people. With stable or declining population forecasts, Lismore may experience less housing pressure, benefiting buyers.

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 30% nationally

AreaSearch has identified 16 infrastructure projects that could impact the area's performance. Key projects include the Lismore Flood Recovery and Resilience Program, Wade Park Masterplan, East Lismore Build-to-Rent Apartments, and Airforce Road Residential Apartment Development. The following list details those likely to be 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.

Employment conditions in Lismore face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Lismore has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 7.4% as of June 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

This rate is 3.7% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in Lismore lags behind at 50.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Notably, health care & social assistance is particularly specialized with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction is under-represented at 6.5% of Lismore's workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio stands at 0.6, suggesting a higher than average level of local employment opportunities. In the year ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 5.6%, while employment decreased by 3.7% in Lismore, resulting in an unemployment rate fall of 1.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%, 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 project a 6.6% increase in national employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lismore's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not consider 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 financial year 2022 shows Lismore's median income among taxpayers is $39,223. The average income in Lismore during this period was $50,206. This is lower than the national average. In comparison, Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Lismore's median income would be approximately $44,169 by September 2025, with the average estimated to be around $56,537 during this period. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family and personal incomes in Lismore all fall between the 4th and 11th percentiles nationally. The distribution shows that the majority of residents, 29.4% or 972 people, earn between $400 - $799 weekly. This is different from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 29.9%. The concentration of 40.3% in sub-$800 weekly brackets highlights economic challenges faced by a significant portion of Lismore's community. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Lismore, as per the latest Census, consisted of 69.9% houses and 30.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 86.8% houses and 13.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lismore was at 24.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.1% and rented ones at 49.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,452. The median weekly rent figure in Lismore was $280, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Lismore's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 compared to the Australian 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 51.6% of all households, including 14.8% couples with children, 16.5% couples without children, and 18.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 48.4%, with lone person households at 41.3% and group households comprising 7.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Lismore aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Lismore see 25.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees, compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (27.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.2% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education. Lismore's four schools have a combined enrollment reaching 967 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1004) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. Lismore functions as an education hub with 29.2 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 15.3, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

Lismore has 88 active public transport stops serving buses. These are covered by 97 routes offering a total of 1,828 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop is 106 meters for residents.

Daily service averages 261 trips across all routes, translating to about 20 weekly trips per stop.

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

Lismore faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Approximately 47% (~1,549 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (14.7%) and asthma (9.0%). Conversely, 57.4% report no medical ailments, compared to 61.9% in Rest of NSW. In Lismore, 18.3% (~605 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than the 22.9% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors largely mirror those of 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, as per the findings, exhibited lower than average cultural diversity. Its population composition was 84.7% citizens, 87.4% born in Australia, and 93.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was identified as the predominant religion in Lismore, accounting for 42.3% of its population.

Notably, Buddhism showed an overrepresentation in Lismore, comprising 2.1% compared to the regional average of 1.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (28.9%), English (28.5%), and Irish (10.4%). Some ethnic groups showed notable deviations: Scottish at 9.1% in Lismore versus 8.5% regionally, Australian Aboriginal at 4.8% compared to 4.6%, and German at 3.6% against the regional average of 3.4%.

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

Lismore's median age is 41 years, which is lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 14.4% of Lismore's population, compared to a higher percentage in the Rest of NSW. The 75-84 cohort is less prevalent in Lismore at 5.2%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.1% to 12.9% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 11.3% to 10.3%. Demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Lismore's age profile by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow strongly at a rate of 20%, adding 19 residents to reach a total of 115. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 52% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age cohorts.