South Lismore

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

The population of South Lismore, as estimated by AreaSearch based on ABS updates and new addresses validated since the 2021 Census, is around 1,644 as of November 2025. This figure reflects a decrease of 131 people (7.4%) compared to the previous population count of 1,775 in the 2021 Census. The current estimated resident population of 1,641 is derived from AreaSearch's examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 10 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 224 persons per square kilometer, indicating significant space per person and potential room for further development. The primary driver behind population growth in South Lismore has been overseas migration, contributing approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs 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. These projections indicate a decline in overall population over the period from 2032 to 2041, with South Lismore's population expected to reduce by 181 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow during this time. Notably, the 25 to 34 age group is projected to expand by 14 people over this period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in South Lismore, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

South Lismore has seen limited development activity over the past five years, with an average of two approvals per year (a total of 12 approvals). This low level of development is typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and constraints on construction activity caused by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that the small sample size can significantly impact annual growth and relative statistics.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, South Lismore has much lower development activity, with levels also below national averages. All new constructions in the area have been medium or high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift is notable given that currently 88.0% of housing in the area are houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. South Lismore's population density, at around 274 people per approval, reflects a low-density area. With stable or declining population forecasts, South Lismore may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, South Lismore may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

South Lismore has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 10 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones are 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 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 performance in South Lismore has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

South Lismore's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of June 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

In June 2025781 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate 1.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was similar to the regional average at 60.6%. Key employment industries included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area had a particular focus on health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, education & training showed lower representation at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 9.6%. There were 1.2 workers per resident as recorded in the Census, indicating that South Lismore functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 4.9% while employment declined by 3.3%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 1.5 percentage points. This contrasted 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 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Lismore's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

South Lismore's median taxpayer income was $41,847 and average income was $53,564 in financial year 2022. This is lower than the national average of $52,992 (median) and $67,606 (average). In Rest of NSW, median income was $49,459 and average income was $62,998. By September 2025, estimates suggest South Lismore's median income will be approximately $47,124 and average income $60,318, based on a 12.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in South Lismore fall between the 17th and 17th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprises 34.1% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly. Housing affordability is severe, 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 dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 88.3% houses and 11.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 86.8% houses and 13.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Lismore was 29.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.3% and rented ones at 32.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,452. The median weekly rent in South Lismore was $300, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure but significantly lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 38.6%, with lone person households at 31.5% and group households making up 7.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

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 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 at 9.6% and certificates at 31.5%. Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 11.4% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 3.6% in tertiary education.

Lismore South Public School serves South Lismore with an enrollment of 120 students; it focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. The area has limited local school capacity (7.3 places per 100 residents vs the regional average of 15.3), leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Public transport analysis indicates 52 active transport stops operating within South Lismore, consisting of a mix of bus services. These stops are serviced by 46 individual routes, collectively providing 562 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 116 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 80 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant challenges in South Lismore, with high prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover rate is low at approximately 48%, covering around 791 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 14.2% and 10.4% of residents respectively. Around 60.2% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 61.9%. South Lismore has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 14.5%, or 238 people, compared to the Rest of NSW's 22.9%.

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, as per data collected on June 2016, had a cultural diversity index of below average. Its population composition was 91.8% citizens, with 92.8% born in Australia and 96.5% speaking English at home. Christianity dominated the religious landscape, accounting for 43.9%.

The category 'Other' showed an overrepresentation in South Lismore, comprising 1.3%, compared to 1.1% across Rest of NSW. Ancestry-wise, Australians topped the list at 30.9%, followed by English at 29.3% and Irish at 10.0%. Notable differences were observed in Scottish representation (8.9% vs regional 8.5%), Australian Aboriginal (4.7% vs 4.6%) and German (4.3% vs 3.4%).

South Lismore's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in South Lismore is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, South Lismore has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (4.1%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25-34 grew from 11.5% to 12.5%, while the age group of 5-14 decreased from 14.3% to 13.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in South Lismore's age structure, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 1 person (reaching 207 from 205), while the 0-4 and 35-44 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.