Ballina vs Lennox Head

Lennox Head is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 56 in Ballina. In both, most households own their home. In Ballina, most households are people living alone. In Lennox Head, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lennox Head: a median of $1.55 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, while Lennox Head suits families with children and couples.

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 schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • Lennox Head carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

Ballina

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,550,000)
  • has cheaper units ($675,000 vs $1,095,000)
  • has cheaper land ($705,000 vs $970,000)
  • But Lennox Head leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 40%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $580/wk)
  • But Lennox Head leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Ballina sits closer to the CBD (733.3 km vs 741.6 km)
  • Lennox Head is more walkable (37/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ballina

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 2)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (38% vs 17%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 26%)
  • But Lennox Head carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 94/100)

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

Investors

Lennox Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.0% vs 12.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Ballina and Lennox Head 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 Lennox Head
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 Lennox Head
Walkability 28 / 37
Ballina — Walkability: 28/100 Lennox Head — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 6 / 60
Ballina — Safety: 6/100 Lennox Head — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 47
Ballina — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lennox Head — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Lennox Head has higher household incomes ($108,212 vs $52,676); Lennox Head rents higher ($580/wk vs $360/wk).

Ballina Lennox Head
Population 9,735
+21% vs other
 7,687
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.5% +20.0%
Median age 56 42
Median household income $52,676/yr $108,212/yr
+105% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $580/wk
+61% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballina Lennox Head
0-4 3.9% / 6.1%
Ballina — 0-4: 3.9% Lennox Head — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 8.0% / 13.7%
Ballina — 5-14: 8.0% Lennox Head — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 3.8% / 5.3%
Ballina — 15-19: 3.8% Lennox Head — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 3.9% / 3.8%
Ballina — 20-24: 3.9% Lennox Head — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 9.0% / 10.8%
Ballina — 25-34: 9.0% Lennox Head — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 9.6% / 14.6%
Ballina — 35-44: 9.6% Lennox Head — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 10.3% / 14.4%
Ballina — 45-54: 10.3% Lennox Head — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 13.0% / 14.2%
Ballina — 55-64: 13.0% Lennox Head — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 16.2% / 11.4%
Ballina — 65-74: 16.2% Lennox Head — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 13.0% / 4.4%
Ballina — 75-84: 13.0% Lennox Head — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 9.2% / 1.4%
Ballina — 85+: 9.2% Lennox Head — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

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%
Lennox Head 28.1% lone person
Lennox Head — Lone Person: 28.1% Lennox Head — Couple Families: 48.5% Lennox Head — One Parent Families: 15.5% Lennox Head — Group Household: 6.5% Lennox Head — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Lennox Head 24.0% renting
Lennox Head — Owned Outright: 39.8% Lennox Head — Mortgage: 36.3% Lennox Head — Renting: 24.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ballina Lennox Head
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 13.7%
Ballina — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Lennox Head — Certificate III & IV: 13.7%
Bachelor Degree 9.3% / 19.1%
Ballina — Bachelor Degree: 9.3% Lennox Head — Bachelor Degree: 19.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 9.5%
Ballina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Lennox Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 5.2%
Ballina — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Lennox Head — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.5%
Ballina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Lennox Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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 Lennox Head
England 3.6% / 4.3%
Ballina — England: 3.6% Lennox Head — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.0%
Ballina — New Zealand: 1.7% Lennox Head — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.7%
Ballina — South Africa: 0.4% Lennox Head — South Africa: 0.7%
India 1.0% / —
Ballina — India: 1.0% Lennox Head — India: not among its largest
Scotland 0.3% / 0.6%
Ballina — Scotland: 0.3% Lennox Head — Scotland: 0.6%
Philippines 0.7% / —
Ballina — Philippines: 0.7% Lennox Head — Philippines: not among its largest
Canada — / 0.5%
Ballina — Canada: not among its largest Lennox Head — Canada: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

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%
Lennox Head 73.5% houses
Lennox Head — Houses: 73.5% Lennox Head — Townhouses: 21.4% Lennox Head — Flats / Apartments: 5.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballina Lennox Head
Median house price $950,000 $1,550,000
Median unit price $675,000 $1,095,000
Median land price $705,000 $970,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 72 sales
 29 days
from 106 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 Lennox Head
2 bed $631K / $862K
Ballina — 2 bed: $631K (44 sales) Lennox Head — 2 bed: $862K (10 sales)

44 vs 10 sales

3 bed $830K / $1.38M
Ballina — 3 bed: $830K (16 sales) Lennox Head — 3 bed: $1.38M (7 sales)

16 vs 7 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 Lennox Head
2 bed $798K / $1.2M
Ballina — 2 bed: $798K (14 sales) Lennox Head — 2 bed: $1.2M (11 sales)

14 vs 11 sales

3 bed $905K / $1.41M
Ballina — 3 bed: $905K (78 sales) Lennox Head — 3 bed: $1.41M (56 sales)

78 vs 56 sales

4 bed $1.13M / $1.58M
Ballina — 4 bed: $1.13M (30 sales) Lennox Head — 4 bed: $1.58M (68 sales)

30 vs 68 sales

Zoning mix

Ballina has more land zoned for conservation (27% vs 4%).

Ballina Lennox Head
Other and special use 15% 42%
Rural and farming 22% 32%
Environmental 27% 4%
Residential 17% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 0%
Parks and recreation 5% 2%
Industrial 4% 0%
Commercial 2% 0%
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 Lennox Head
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 Lennox Head
Houses 4.1%
$750/wk on $945K
 3.6%
$1,020/wk on $1.49M
Units 4.8%
$600/wk on $652K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Ballina Lennox Head
House price Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools Higher than 29% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 56% of NSW —

Liveability

Lennox Head scores higher overall (48 vs 26); Lennox Head is more walkable (37 vs 28).

Ballina Lennox Head
Grade D C
Score 26/100 48/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Lennox Head carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0); Ballina carries more crime risk (94 vs 40).

Ballina Lennox Head
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime High
94/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
49/100
 Low
35/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

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

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 Lennox Head

  • Lennox Head Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ballina Lennox Head
Supermarkets 7 2
Cafes & restaurants 20 12
Parks & reserves 17 9
Childcare 7 2
GPs 8 2
Pharmacies 5 2
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 11 1
Fuel stations 4 1
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 8 6

Mobility

Lennox Head sits further from the CBD (741.6 km vs 733.3 km).

Ballina Lennox Head
Walkability score 28/100 37/100
Distance to Sydney 733.3 km 741.6 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 475 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 75/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 123.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 46.8
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 Lennox Head
Car (driver) 71.6% / 67.5%
Ballina — Car (driver): 71.6% Lennox Head — Car (driver): 67.5%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 24.7%
Ballina — Worked from Home: 12.5% Lennox Head — Worked from Home: 24.7%
Walked Only 6.5% / 2.6%
Ballina — Walked Only: 6.5% Lennox Head — Walked Only: 2.6%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 3.4%
Ballina — Car (passenger): 5.4% Lennox Head — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Bicycle 3.5% / 1.1%
Ballina — Bicycle: 3.5% Lennox Head — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.6%).

Setting

Ballina Lennox Head
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.1 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 1.2 km

NBN connectivity

Ballina Lennox Head
Connectivity score 84/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
6,742 premises
 52%
4,065 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Ballina Lennox Head
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

Lennox Head

Coastal Professionals River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ballina

Ballina vs East Ballina Ballina vs West Ballina Ballina vs Cumbalum Ballina vs Skennars Head Ballina vs Kinvara Ballina vs Keith Hall

Other comparisons with Lennox Head

Lennox Head vs Skennars Head Lennox Head vs Broken Head Lennox Head vs Kinvara Lennox Head vs Knockrow
Full data on Ballina Full data on Lennox Head
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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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