Ballina vs East Ballina

East Ballina is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 56 in Ballina. In both, most households own their home. In Ballina, most households are people living alone. In East Ballina, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in East Ballina: a median of $1.35 million, against $950,000 in Ballina, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ballina tends to suit people living alone, older residents, 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

  • Ballina has more childcare (7 vs 2)
  • East Ballina carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

Ballina

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,355,000)
  • has cheaper units ($675,000 vs $782,500)
  • But East Ballina leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 40%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ballina

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $460/wk)
  • But East Ballina leaves renters under less rental stress (30% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

East Ballina

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Ballina has more GPs (8 vs 1)
  • East Ballina is more walkable (66/100 vs 28/100)

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

Investors

Ballina

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (12.5% vs 5.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ballina East Ballina
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.

Ballina East Ballina
Walkability 28 / 66
Ballina — Walkability: 28/100 East Ballina — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 6 / 54
Ballina — Safety: 6/100 East Ballina — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ballina — Low fire risk: 100/100 East Ballina — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballina has more residents (9,735 vs 5,882); East Ballina has higher household incomes ($80,808 vs $52,676).

Ballina East Ballina
Population 9,735
+40% vs other
 5,882
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.5% +5.6%
Median age 56 48
Median household income $52,676/yr $80,808/yr
+53% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $460/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballina East Ballina
0-4 3.9% / 4.6%
Ballina — 0-4: 3.9% East Ballina — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 8.0% / 11.0%
Ballina — 5-14: 8.0% East Ballina — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 3.8% / 5.3%
Ballina — 15-19: 3.8% East Ballina — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 3.9% / 3.3%
Ballina — 20-24: 3.9% East Ballina — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 9.0% / 9.4%
Ballina — 25-34: 9.0% East Ballina — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 9.6% / 11.8%
Ballina — 35-44: 9.6% East Ballina — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 10.3% / 12.9%
Ballina — 45-54: 10.3% East Ballina — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 13.0% / 14.3%
Ballina — 55-64: 13.0% East Ballina — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 16.2% / 17.1%
Ballina — 65-74: 16.2% East Ballina — 65-74: 17.1%
75-84 13.0% / 7.4%
Ballina — 75-84: 13.0% East Ballina — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 9.2% / 2.7%
Ballina — 85+: 9.2% East Ballina — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ballina 56.9% lone person
Ballina — Lone Person: 56.9% Ballina — Couple Families: 19.6% Ballina — One Parent Families: 16.3% Ballina — Group Household: 6.0% Ballina — Other Families: 1.2%
East Ballina 39.3% lone person
East Ballina — Lone Person: 39.3% East Ballina — Couple Families: 35.9% East Ballina — One Parent Families: 17.6% East Ballina — Group Household: 6.3% East Ballina — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ballina 41.0% renting
Ballina — Owned Outright: 39.4% Ballina — Mortgage: 19.5% Ballina — Renting: 41.0%
East Ballina 28.6% renting
East Ballina — Owned Outright: 46.1% East Ballina — Mortgage: 25.3% East Ballina — Renting: 28.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ballina East Ballina
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 15.6%
Ballina — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% East Ballina — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree 9.3% / 16.6%
Ballina — Bachelor Degree: 9.3% East Ballina — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 9.4%
Ballina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% East Ballina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 4.0%
Ballina — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% East Ballina — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.8%
Ballina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% East Ballina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Ballina East Ballina
England 3.6% / 3.1%
Ballina — England: 3.6% East Ballina — England: 3.1%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.6%
Ballina — New Zealand: 1.7% East Ballina — New Zealand: 1.6%
India 1.0% / —
Ballina — India: 1.0% East Ballina — India: not among its largest
South Africa 0.4% / 0.5%
Ballina — South Africa: 0.4% East Ballina — South Africa: 0.5%
Germany 0.3% / 0.5%
Ballina — Germany: 0.3% East Ballina — Germany: 0.5%
Philippines 0.7% / —
Ballina — Philippines: 0.7% East Ballina — Philippines: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.4%
Ballina — Ireland: not among its largest East Ballina — Ireland: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ballina 52.6% houses
Ballina — Houses: 52.6% Ballina — Townhouses: 32.8% Ballina — Flats / Apartments: 14.6%
East Ballina 61.1% houses
East Ballina — Houses: 61.1% East Ballina — Townhouses: 30.6% East Ballina — Flats / Apartments: 8.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballina East Ballina
Median house price $950,000 $1,355,000
Median unit price $675,000 $782,500
Median land price $705,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 72 sales
 35 days
from 27 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Ballina East Ballina
3 bed $905K / $1.26M
Ballina — 3 bed: $905K (78 sales) East Ballina — 3 bed: $1.26M (47 sales)

78 vs 47 sales

4 bed $1.13M / $1.43M
Ballina — 4 bed: $1.13M (30 sales) East Ballina — 4 bed: $1.43M (28 sales)

30 vs 28 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Ballina East Ballina
2 bed $631K / $735K
Ballina — 2 bed: $631K (44 sales) East Ballina — 2 bed: $735K (18 sales)

44 vs 18 sales

3 bed $830K / $1.05M
Ballina — 3 bed: $830K (16 sales) East Ballina — 3 bed: $1.05M (12 sales)

16 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Ballina has more rural and farming land (22% vs 0%); Ballina has more land zoned for conservation (27% vs 15%).

Ballina East Ballina
Residential 17% 34%
Other and special use 15% 32%
Environmental 27% 15%
Rural and farming 22% 0%
Parks and recreation 5% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 0%
Industrial 4% 0%
Commercial 2% 1%
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

Ballina East Ballina
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.

Ballina East Ballina
Houses 4.1%
$750/wk on $945K
 3.4%
$890/wk on $1.34M
Units 4.8%
$600/wk on $652K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Ballina East Ballina
House price Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Income Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Schools Higher than 29% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 56% of NSW —

Liveability

East Ballina is more walkable (66 vs 28); East Ballina scores higher overall (59 vs 26).

Ballina East Ballina
Grade D B
Score 26/100 59/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Ballina carries more crime risk (94 vs 46).

Ballina East Ballina
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
94/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
44/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Ballina East Ballina
Inside the suburb 5 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Ballina

  • Ballina Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Richmond Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Francis Xavier Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Ballina Coast High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Biala Special School Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in East Ballina

  • Southern Cross Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Southern Cross School of Distance Education Government · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ballina East Ballina
Supermarkets 7 0
Cafes & restaurants 20 2
Parks & reserves 17
same for both
Childcare 7 2
GPs 8 1
Pharmacies 5 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 11 1
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 8 3

Mobility

Ballina East Ballina
Walkability score 28/100 66/100
Distance to Sydney 733.3 km 735.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 475 min 476 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 69/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 123.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 57.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2478
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 2478
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.

Ballina East Ballina
Car (driver) 71.6% / 72.5%
Ballina — Car (driver): 71.6% East Ballina — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 19.7%
Ballina — Worked from Home: 12.5% East Ballina — Worked from Home: 19.7%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 4.0%
Ballina — Car (passenger): 5.4% East Ballina — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 6.5% / 1.4%
Ballina — Walked Only: 6.5% East Ballina — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bicycle 3.5% / 1.8%
Ballina — Bicycle: 3.5% East Ballina — Bicycle: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.5%).

Setting

Ballina East Ballina
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.1 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 1.1 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Ballina East Ballina
Connectivity score 84/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
6,742 premises
 35%
3,045 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Ballina East Ballina
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ballina East Ballina
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ballina

Regional Centre Retirees Townhouses

East Ballina

Beach Coastal Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with East Ballina

East Ballina vs Skennars Head
Full data on Ballina Full data on East Ballina
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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