Alstonvale vs Mcleans Ridges

McLeans Ridges is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 53 in Alstonvale. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Alstonvale: a median of $1.98 million, against $1.53 million in McLeans Ridges, though rent is higher in McLeans Ridges. On these figures, McLeans Ridges tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Alstonvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

McLeans Ridges

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,530,000 vs $1,980,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Alstonvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $400/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Alstonvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (740.3 km vs 744.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Alstonvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Where they sit

Alstonvale and Mcleans Ridges drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Walkability 18 / 18
Alstonvale — Walkability: 18/100 Mcleans Ridges — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 87 / 72
Alstonvale — Safety: 87/100 Mcleans Ridges — Safety: 72/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Alstonvale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mcleans Ridges — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

McLeans Ridges has more residents (808 vs 431); McLeans Ridges rents higher ($400/wk vs $310/wk).

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Population 431 808
+87% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.5% —
Median age 53 45
Median household income $105,976/yr $119,860/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk $400/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
0-4 2.8% / 3.7%
Alstonvale — 0-4: 2.8% Mcleans Ridges — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 10.0% / 14.4%
Alstonvale — 5-14: 10.0% Mcleans Ridges — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 4.4% / 7.7%
Alstonvale — 15-19: 4.4% Mcleans Ridges — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 4.2% / 2.8%
Alstonvale — 20-24: 4.2% Mcleans Ridges — 20-24: 2.8%
25-34 6.3% / 9.7%
Alstonvale — 25-34: 6.3% Mcleans Ridges — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 9.0% / 12.3%
Alstonvale — 35-44: 9.0% Mcleans Ridges — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 17.2% / 14.7%
Alstonvale — 45-54: 17.2% Mcleans Ridges — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 24.4% / 16.7%
Alstonvale — 55-64: 24.4% Mcleans Ridges — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 15.1% / 14.5%
Alstonvale — 65-74: 15.1% Mcleans Ridges — 65-74: 14.5%
75-84 6.0% / 3.8%
Alstonvale — 75-84: 6.0% Mcleans Ridges — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 1.4% / 1.2%
Alstonvale — 85+: 1.4% Mcleans Ridges — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alstonvale 56.0% couple families
Alstonvale — Couple Families: 56.0% Alstonvale — Lone Person: 21.0% Alstonvale — One Parent Families: 15.0% Alstonvale — Group Household: 8.0% Alstonvale — Other Families: 0.0%
Mcleans Ridges 63.6% couple families
Mcleans Ridges — Couple Families: 63.6% Mcleans Ridges — Lone Person: 18.8% Mcleans Ridges — One Parent Families: 9.7% Mcleans Ridges — Group Household: 6.1% Mcleans Ridges — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Alstonvale 12.2% renting
Alstonvale — Owned Outright: 52.7% Alstonvale — Mortgage: 35.1% Alstonvale — Renting: 12.2%
Mcleans Ridges 7.4% renting
Mcleans Ridges — Owned Outright: 45.9% Mcleans Ridges — Mortgage: 46.7% Mcleans Ridges — Renting: 7.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 18.3%
Alstonvale — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Mcleans Ridges — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 15.7%
Alstonvale — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Mcleans Ridges — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.7% / 6.9%
Alstonvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.7% Mcleans Ridges — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 6.4%
Alstonvale — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% Mcleans Ridges — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.6%
Alstonvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Mcleans Ridges — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
England 7.9% / 3.3%
Alstonvale — England: 7.9% Mcleans Ridges — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.7%
Alstonvale — New Zealand: 0.9% Mcleans Ridges — New Zealand: 0.7%
South Africa — / 1.4%
Alstonvale — South Africa: not among its largest Mcleans Ridges — South Africa: 1.4%
Canada 0.9% / —
Alstonvale — Canada: 0.9% Mcleans Ridges — Canada: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Alstonvale — Netherlands: 0.7% Mcleans Ridges — Netherlands: not among its largest
China — / 0.6%
Alstonvale — China: not among its largest Mcleans Ridges — China: 0.6%
Germany — / 0.5%
Alstonvale — Germany: not among its largest Mcleans Ridges — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alstonvale 97.5% houses
Alstonvale — Houses: 97.5% Alstonvale — Flats / Apartments: 2.5% Alstonvale — Townhouses: 0.0%
Mcleans Ridges 96.0% houses
Mcleans Ridges — Houses: 96.0% Mcleans Ridges — Flats / Apartments: 2.5% Mcleans Ridges — Townhouses: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Median house price $1,980,000 $1,530,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,730,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 87 days
from 4 sales
 17 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Alstonvale has more rural and farming land (99% vs 79%).

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Rural and farming 99% 79%
Residential 0% 13%
Other and special use 0% 7%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
 138
across Lismore
Approvals change year on year +210% +0%

Ranking within NSW

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
House price Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Income Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW

Liveability

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Grade — B
Score — 60/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

McLeans Ridges carries more crime risk (28 vs 13).

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
13/100
 Low
28/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Waterways 2 6

Mobility

McLeans Ridges sits further from the CBD (744.3 km vs 740.3 km).

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Walkability score 18/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 740.3 km 744.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 482 min 479 min
Public transport score 27/100
Bus
 25/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 10.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2477
 0.6%
postcode 2480
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 75
postcode 2477
 69
postcode 2480

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Car (driver) 66.9% / 68.2%
Alstonvale — Car (driver): 66.9% Mcleans Ridges — Car (driver): 68.2%
Worked from Home 29.8% / 26.3%
Alstonvale — Worked from Home: 29.8% Mcleans Ridges — Worked from Home: 26.3%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 4.2%
Alstonvale — Car (passenger): 1.7% Mcleans Ridges — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.4%
Alstonvale — Walked Only: 1.7% Mcleans Ridges — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.2%).

Setting

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Elevation 72 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 141 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.2 km 16.3 km

NBN connectivity

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
163 premises
 0%
287 premises

Council rates

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Average residential rate $1,264/yr $1,487/yr
Council Ballina Lismore

Federal electorate

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Alstonvale Mcleans Ridges
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Alstonvale

Acreage

Mcleans Ridges

Acreage Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Alstonvale

Alstonvale vs Alstonville Alstonvale vs Wollongbar Alstonvale vs Teven Alstonvale vs Tuckombil Alstonvale vs Pearces Creek

Other comparisons with Mcleans Ridges

Mcleans Ridges vs Wollongbar Mcleans Ridges vs Richmond Hill Mcleans Ridges vs Eltham Mcleans Ridges vs Lindendale Mcleans Ridges vs Pearces Creek
Full data on Alstonvale Full data on Mcleans Ridges
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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