Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Lightning Ridge suburb profile
Lightning Ridge, NSW · Postcode 2834
This Lightning Ridge suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Lightning Ridge, NSW (postcode 2834). 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 Lightning Ridge with nearby suburbs.
Lightning Ridge at a glance
Population
1,946
Median rent
$200/wk
Household income
$792/wk
Median age
53
Lightning Ridge 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
-21.5% over 10 years
Population
1,946
was 2,284 in 2016
-338 · -14.8%
Median rent
$200/wk
was $150/wk in 2016
+$50 · +33.3%
Household income
$792/wk
was $681/wk in 2016
+$111 · +16.3%
Median age
53
was 51 in 2016
+2 · +3.9%
Dig deeper: Lightning Ridge population growth · Lightning Ridge then and now
Lightning Ridge vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Lightning Ridge, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-52.4% vs area
- Lightning Ridge$200/wk
- Nearby$185/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-57% vs area
- Lightning Ridge$792/wk
- Nearby$1,382.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+32.5% vs area
- Lightning Ridge53
- Nearby35.5
- NSW40
Personal income
-41.1% vs area
- Lightning Ridge$476/wk
- Nearby$732/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Lightning Ridge compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Lightning Ridge ranks among Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1822.9
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 1833.6
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1853
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 1872.7
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Lightning Ridge on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Lightning Ridge, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Lightning Ridge people
- Population
- 1,946
- Median age
- 53
- Born overseas
- 15.2%
- 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
Lightning Ridge income
- Median household income
- $792/wk
- Median personal income
- $476/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Lightning Ridge housing
- Median rent
- $200/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $867/mo
- Separate houses
- 51.6%
- Flats & apartments
- 1.5%
- Owned outright
- 40.9%
- Mortgaged
- 10.8%
- Rented
- 24.4%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 17.1%
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
Lightning Ridge work
- Employment to population
- 33.3%
- Unemployment rate
- 11%
- Year 12 or above
- 27.9%
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 2834)
Compare Lightning Ridge with nearby suburbs
Lightning Ridge in numbers
Lightning Ridge had 1,946 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 53, 29% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2 people. 15.2% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 40.9% own their home outright, 10.8% are paying a mortgage, 24.4% rent. Separate houses make up 51.6% of dwellings, with 1.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $200/wk, 50% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $792/wk, 56% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 11%. 27.9% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 1 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 14.8% (from 2,284 to 1,946). Median rent moved from $150/wk to $200/wk (+33.3%).
Lightning Ridge suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Lightning Ridge, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Lightning Ridge was $200/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Lightning Ridge, NSW?
- Lightning Ridge had 1,946 residents at the 2021 Census, down 14.8% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Lightning Ridge?
- Median household income in Lightning Ridge was $792/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Lightning Ridge?
- 24.4% of occupied homes in Lightning Ridge were rented, 40.9% were owned outright and 10.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Lightning Ridge suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Lightning Ridge. 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