Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Ballina suburb profile
Ballina, NSW · Postcode 2478
This Ballina suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Ballina, NSW (postcode 2478). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Ballina with nearby suburbs.
Ballina at a glance
Population
9,735
Median rent
$360/wk
Household income
$1,013/wk
Median age
56
Ballina trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+22.3% over 10 years
Population
9,735
was 8,655 in 2016
+1,080 · +12.5%
Median rent
$360/wk
was $295/wk in 2016
+$65 · +22%
Household income
$1,013/wk
was $819/wk in 2016
+$194 · +23.7%
Median age
56
was 55 in 2016
+1 · +1.8%
Dig deeper: Ballina population growth · Ballina then and now
Ballina vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Ballina, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-14.3% vs area
- Ballina$360/wk
- Nearby$505/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-45% vs area
- Ballina$1,013/wk
- Nearby$1,656.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+40% vs area
- Ballina56
- Nearby46.5
- NSW40
Personal income
-23.9% vs area
- Ballina$615/wk
- Nearby$793/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Ballina compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Ballina sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2946.8
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3927.8
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1919.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3929
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Ballina on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Ballina, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Ballina people
- Population
- 9,735
- Median age
- 56
- Born overseas
- 13.4%
- Average household size
- 2.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Ballina income
- Median household income
- $1,013/wk
- Median personal income
- $615/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Ballina housing
- Median rent
- $360/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,733/mo
- Separate houses
- 48.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 9.1%
- Owned outright
- 32.7%
- Mortgaged
- 16.2%
- Rented
- 34%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 8.1%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Ballina work
- Employment to population
- 41.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 4%
- Year 12 or above
- 38.4%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2478)
Compare Ballina with nearby suburbs
Ballina in numbers
Ballina had 9,735 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 228th most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 56, 37% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2 people. 13.4% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 32.7% own their home outright, 16.2% are paying a mortgage, 34% rent. Separate houses make up 48.3% of dwellings, with 9.1% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $360/wk, 10% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,013/wk, 44% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4%. 38.4% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 12.5% (from 8,655 to 9,735). Median rent moved from $295/wk to $360/wk (+22%).
Ballina suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Ballina, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Ballina was $360/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Ballina, NSW?
- Ballina had 9,735 residents at the 2021 Census, up 12.5% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Ballina?
- Median household income in Ballina was $1,013/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Ballina?
- 34% of occupied homes in Ballina were rented, 32.7% were owned outright and 16.2% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Ballina suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Ballina. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology