South Lismore

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

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of South Lismore is around 1,665. This figure reflects a decrease of 110 people since the Census in 2021, when the population was reported as 1,775. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS data from June 2024, which shows a resident population of 1,654. This results in a density ratio of 227 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections until 2041, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data from 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered areas, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to decline by 210 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 25 to 34 age group are projected to increase, with an anticipated growth of 9 people in this cohort over this period.

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

South Lismore had 2 new dwelling approvals annually from 2016 to 2020, totalling 10. This low activity is typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited construction due to local demand and infrastructure capacity. The small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

South Lismore had less construction activity than Rest of NSW and below national averages during this period. Recent building activity consisted entirely of attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers, marking a departure from the existing 88.0% houses pattern. This suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 366 people during this period, reflecting the quiet development environment. With stable or declining population expected, South Lismore may see reduced housing pressure, potentially creating buying opportunities.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, South Lismore should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

South Lismore has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include the Lismore Flood Recovery and Resilience Program, East Lismore Build-to-Rent Apartments, Lismore Flood Restoration - Roads and Bridges, and Northern Rivers Conservatorium Flood Resilience Upgrades. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in South Lismore has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

South Lismore has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, well-represented essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. Over the past year, employment remained relatively stable. As of December 2025779 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate at 1.8% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation matching Regional NSW's 61.3%.

According to Census data, only 7.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. The key industries for employment among South Lismore residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, health care & social assistance has employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training is under-represented with only 6.9% of South Lismore's workforce compared to Regional NSW's 9.6%.

With a ratio of 1.2 workers per resident as of the Census, South Lismore functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.3%, while labour force decreased by 0.4%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2% during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Lismore's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

South Lismore's median income among taxpayers was $41,847 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $53,564 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Regional NSW, which were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will reach approximately $45,555 and average income will be around $58,310, based on an 8.86% increase from financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 data, household, family, and personal incomes in South Lismore all fall between the 17th and 17th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 34.1% of individuals (567 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to the regional average of 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in South Lismore, with only 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally.

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

South Lismore's dwellings, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 88.3% houses and 11.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Lismore was at 29.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.3% and rented ones at 32.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in South Lismore was $300, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, South Lismore's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

South Lismore features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 61.4% of all households, including 21.1% couples with children, 18.0% couples without children, and 19.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.6%, with lone person households at 31.5% and group households comprising 7.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the Regional NSW average.

South Lismore faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 10.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 9.6% and certificates for 31.5%. Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.4% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

South Lismore has 54 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are connected by 45 different routes that facilitate a total of 604 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest stop is 116 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility in the area. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 91% of residents, with walking accounting for 6%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.2% of residents work from home, a figure that might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 86 trips per day, translating to roughly 11 weekly trips per stop.

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

South Lismore faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial among both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low, at approximately 48% of the total population (~802 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and 55.7% nationally.

Mental health issues affect 14.2% of residents, while asthma impacts 10.4%. Conversely, 60.2% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (236 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW.

The latest Census data sees South Lismore placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

South Lismore was found to have a cultural diversity below average, with 91.8% of its population being citizens, 92.8% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in South Lismore is Christianity, comprising 43.9% of the population. Notably, the category 'Other' is overrepresented in South Lismore, making up 1.3% of the population compared to 0.8% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian at 30.9%, English at 29.3%, and Irish at 10.0%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Scottish is overrepresented at 8.9% (vs 8.0% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 4.7% (vs 4.6%), and German at 4.3% (vs 3.1%).

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

The median age in South Lismore is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially matches Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, South Lismore has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (14.8%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (4.1%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25-34 grew from 11.5% to 12.6%, while the 5-14 age group declined from 14.3% to 12.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in South Lismore's age structure. Notably, the 85+ age group is projected to grow by 11%, reaching 24 people from its current 21. The combined 65+ age groups will account for all of the total population growth, reflecting South Lismore's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 25-34 age groups are projected to decrease in number.