Alstonvale vs Wollongbar

Wollongbar is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 53 in Alstonvale. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Alstonvale, most households are couple families. In Wollongbar, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Alstonvale: a median of $1.98 million, against $865,000 in Wollongbar, though rent is higher in Wollongbar. On these figures, Alstonvale tends to suit couples, while Wollongbar suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Alstonvale carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 51/100)
  • Wollongbar has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Wollongbar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($537,000 vs $1,730,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($865,000 vs $1,980,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Alstonvale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $420/wk)
  • But Wollongbar has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 12%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wollongbar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (27/100 vs 18/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (734.4 km vs 740.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wollongbar

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (27/100 vs 18/100)
  • But Alstonvale carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 51/100)

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

Investors

Wollongbar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.3% vs -2.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Alstonvale and Wollongbar 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 Wollongbar
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 Wollongbar
Walkability 18 / 27
Alstonvale — Walkability: 18/100 Wollongbar — Walkability: 27/100
Safety 87 / 49
Alstonvale — Safety: 87/100 Wollongbar — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Alstonvale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wollongbar — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wollongbar has more residents (3,261 vs 431); Wollongbar rents higher ($420/wk vs $310/wk).

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Population 431 3,261
+657% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.5% +15.3%
Median age 53 40
Median household income $105,976/yr
+20% vs other
 $85,228/yr
Median weekly rent $310/wk $420/wk
+35% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alstonvale Wollongbar
0-4 2.8% / 5.5%
Alstonvale — 0-4: 2.8% Wollongbar — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 10.0% / 14.4%
Alstonvale — 5-14: 10.0% Wollongbar — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 4.4% / 6.8%
Alstonvale — 15-19: 4.4% Wollongbar — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 4.2% / 5.2%
Alstonvale — 20-24: 4.2% Wollongbar — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 6.3% / 10.6%
Alstonvale — 25-34: 6.3% Wollongbar — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 9.0% / 12.3%
Alstonvale — 35-44: 9.0% Wollongbar — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 17.2% / 13.0%
Alstonvale — 45-54: 17.2% Wollongbar — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 24.4% / 12.1%
Alstonvale — 55-64: 24.4% Wollongbar — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 15.1% / 11.4%
Alstonvale — 65-74: 15.1% Wollongbar — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 6.0% / 6.9%
Alstonvale — 75-84: 6.0% Wollongbar — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ 1.4% / 1.9%
Alstonvale — 85+: 1.4% Wollongbar — 85+: 1.9%

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%
Wollongbar 45.4% couple families
Wollongbar — Couple Families: 45.4% Wollongbar — Lone Person: 28.6% Wollongbar — One Parent Families: 20.7% Wollongbar — Group Household: 4.1% Wollongbar — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Wollongbar 25.1% renting
Wollongbar — Owned Outright: 37.5% Wollongbar — Mortgage: 37.3% Wollongbar — Renting: 25.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 17.5%
Alstonvale — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Wollongbar — Certificate III & IV: 17.5%
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 12.7%
Alstonvale — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Wollongbar — Bachelor Degree: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.7% / 8.1%
Alstonvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.7% Wollongbar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 3.1%
Alstonvale — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% Wollongbar — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.2%
Alstonvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Wollongbar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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 Wollongbar
England 7.9% / 2.9%
Alstonvale — England: 7.9% Wollongbar — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.3%
Alstonvale — New Zealand: 0.9% Wollongbar — New Zealand: 1.3%
Canada 0.9% / —
Alstonvale — Canada: 0.9% Wollongbar — Canada: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.8%
Alstonvale — South Africa: not among its largest Wollongbar — South Africa: 0.8%
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Alstonvale — Netherlands: 0.7% Wollongbar — Netherlands: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.4%
Alstonvale — Malaysia: not among its largest Wollongbar — Malaysia: 0.4%
India — / 0.3%
Alstonvale — India: not among its largest Wollongbar — India: 0.3%

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%
Wollongbar 84.4% houses
Wollongbar — Houses: 84.4% Wollongbar — Flats / Apartments: 8.3% Wollongbar — Townhouses: 7.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Median house price $1,980,000 $865,000
Median unit price — $627,500
Median land price $1,730,000 $537,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 87 days
from 4 sales
 44 days
from 38 sales

Zoning mix

Alstonvale has more rural and farming land (99% vs 39%).

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Rural and farming 99% 39%
Other and special use 0% 48%
Residential 0% 11%
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 Wollongbar
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
same for both
Approvals change year on year +210%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Houses — 3.8%
$815/wk on $1.11M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Alstonvale Wollongbar
House price Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
Income Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 63% of NSW

Liveability

Wollongbar is more walkable (27 vs 18).

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Grade — B
Score — 50/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Wollongbar carries more crime risk (51 vs 13).

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
13/100
 Moderate
51/100
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 Wollongbar
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Alstonvale

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Wollongbar

  • Wollongbar Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 3
Childcare 0 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 2 8

Mobility

Alstonvale sits further from the CBD (740.3 km vs 734.4 km).

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Walkability score 18/100 27/100
Distance to Sydney 740.3 km 734.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 482 min 484 min
Public transport score 27/100
Bus
 73/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 10.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 50.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2477
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 75
postcode 2477
same for both

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 Wollongbar
Car (driver) 66.9% / 76.1%
Alstonvale — Car (driver): 66.9% Wollongbar — Car (driver): 76.1%
Worked from Home 29.8% / 16.8%
Alstonvale — Worked from Home: 29.8% Wollongbar — Worked from Home: 16.8%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 4.2%
Alstonvale — Car (passenger): 1.7% Wollongbar — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.5%
Alstonvale — Walked Only: 1.7% Wollongbar — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus — / 0.7%
Alstonvale — Bus: not among its largest Wollongbar — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.1%).

Setting

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Elevation 72 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 173 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.2 km 13.4 km

NBN connectivity

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Connectivity score 30/100 79/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
163 premises
 57%
1,544 premises

Council rates

Alstonvale Wollongbar
Average residential rate $1,264/yr
same for both
Council Ballina
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Alstonvale

Acreage

Wollongbar

—

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Alstonvale

Alstonvale vs Alstonville Alstonvale vs McLeans Ridges Alstonvale vs Teven Alstonvale vs Tuckombil Alstonvale vs Pearces Creek

Other comparisons with Wollongbar

Wollongbar vs Alstonville Wollongbar vs McLeans Ridges Wollongbar vs Lindendale Wollongbar vs Rous
Full data on Alstonvale Full data on Wollongbar
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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