Broadwater vs Wardell

Wardell is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 50 in Broadwater. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Broadwater, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Wardell: a median of $800,000, against $710,000 in Broadwater, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Broadwater tends to suit people living alone.

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

Broadwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Broadwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($227,500 vs $329,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($710,000 vs $800,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Broadwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Broadwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (459 min vs 471 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (705.8 km vs 723 km)
  • But Wardell is more walkable (26/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wardell

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (26/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Broadwater Wardell
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.

Broadwater Wardell
Walkability 0 / 26
Broadwater — Walkability: 0/100 Wardell — Walkability: 26/100
Low fire risk 41 / 51
Broadwater — Low fire risk: 41/100 Wardell — Low fire risk: 51/100

Demographics

Wardell rents higher ($350/wk vs $250/wk); Wardell has higher household incomes ($65,208 vs $55,692).

Broadwater Wardell
Population 670 830
+24% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.7% -0.2%
Median age 50 47
Median household income $55,692/yr $65,208/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $350/wk
+40% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Broadwater Wardell
0-4 3.7% / 4.9%
Broadwater — 0-4: 3.7% Wardell — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 12.1% / 11.4%
Broadwater — 5-14: 12.1% Wardell — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 4.5% / 4.9%
Broadwater — 15-19: 4.5% Wardell — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 2.5% / 5.5%
Broadwater — 20-24: 2.5% Wardell — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 7.3% / 9.5%
Broadwater — 25-34: 7.3% Wardell — 25-34: 9.5%
35-44 12.2% / 9.6%
Broadwater — 35-44: 12.2% Wardell — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 14.8% / 14.3%
Broadwater — 45-54: 14.8% Wardell — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 18.7% / 18.2%
Broadwater — 55-64: 18.7% Wardell — 55-64: 18.2%
65-74 16.6% / 13.6%
Broadwater — 65-74: 16.6% Wardell — 65-74: 13.6%
75-84 6.9% / 6.4%
Broadwater — 75-84: 6.9% Wardell — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.2% / 1.8%
Broadwater — 85+: 1.2% Wardell — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Broadwater 47.0% lone person
Broadwater — Lone Person: 47.0% Broadwater — Couple Families: 29.8% Broadwater — One Parent Families: 13.6% Broadwater — Group Household: 7.1% Broadwater — Other Families: 2.5%
Wardell 37.4% lone person
Wardell — Lone Person: 37.4% Wardell — Couple Families: 28.8% Wardell — One Parent Families: 20.5% Wardell — Group Household: 9.1% Wardell — Other Families: 4.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Broadwater 24.6% renting
Broadwater — Owned Outright: 42.3% Broadwater — Mortgage: 33.1% Broadwater — Renting: 24.6%
Wardell 33.9% renting
Wardell — Owned Outright: 34.2% Wardell — Mortgage: 31.8% Wardell — Renting: 33.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Broadwater Wardell
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 20.1%
Broadwater — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Wardell — Certificate III & IV: 20.1%
Bachelor Degree 6.4% / 5.4%
Broadwater — Bachelor Degree: 6.4% Wardell — Bachelor Degree: 5.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.5% / 5.9%
Broadwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5% Wardell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 1.8%
Broadwater — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Wardell — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.2%
Broadwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Wardell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Broadwater Wardell
England 2.4% / 3.4%
Broadwater — England: 2.4% Wardell — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.4%
Broadwater — New Zealand: 0.6% Wardell — New Zealand: 1.4%
Thailand 0.9% / —
Broadwater — Thailand: 0.9% Wardell — Thailand: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / 0.4%
Broadwater — Philippines: 0.4% Wardell — Philippines: 0.4%
Netherlands 0.6% / —
Broadwater — Netherlands: 0.6% Wardell — Netherlands: not among its largest
Brazil — / 0.5%
Broadwater — Brazil: not among its largest Wardell — Brazil: 0.5%
India 0.4% / —
Broadwater — India: 0.4% Wardell — India: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.4%
Broadwater — South Africa: not among its largest Wardell — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Broadwater 78.3% houses
Broadwater — Houses: 78.3% Broadwater — Flats / Apartments: 21.7% Broadwater — Townhouses: 0.0%
Wardell 77.7% houses
Wardell — Houses: 77.7% Wardell — Flats / Apartments: 19.1% Wardell — Townhouses: 3.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Broadwater Wardell
Median house price $710,000 $800,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $227,500 $329,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 88 days
from 4 sales
 77 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Broadwater has more land zoned for conservation (72% vs 19%); Wardell has more rural and farming land (38% vs 26%).

Broadwater Wardell
Environmental 72% 19%
Other and special use 0% 41%
Rural and farming 26% 38%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Residential 0% 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

Broadwater Wardell
New dwellings approved 24
across Richmond Valley
 238
across Ballina
Approvals change year on year -78% +210%

Ranking within NSW

Broadwater Wardell
House price Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Income Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW

Liveability

Wardell is more walkable (26 vs 0).

Broadwater Wardell
Grade D
same for both
Score 13/100 16/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Broadwater carries more bushfire risk (59 vs 49).

Broadwater Wardell
Bushfire Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
49/100
Crime — High
89/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
60/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Broadwater Wardell
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Broadwater

  • Broadwater Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Wardell

  • Wardell Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Cabbage Tree Island Public School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Broadwater Wardell
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 3 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 21 8

Mobility

Wardell sits further from the CBD (723 km vs 705.8 km).

Broadwater Wardell
Walkability score 0/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 705.8 km 723 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 459 min 471 min
Public transport score 29/100
Bus
 38/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 8.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 14.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2472
 0.7%
postcode 2477
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 79
postcode 2472
 75
postcode 2477

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.

Broadwater Wardell
Car (driver) 72.5% / 78.8%
Broadwater — Car (driver): 72.5% Wardell — Car (driver): 78.8%
Worked from Home 16.9% / 13.6%
Broadwater — Worked from Home: 16.9% Wardell — Worked from Home: 13.6%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 4.4%
Broadwater — Car (passenger): 5.9% Wardell — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 4.7% / 3.3%
Broadwater — Walked Only: 4.7% Wardell — Walked Only: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.8%).

Setting

Broadwater Wardell
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.6 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 5.0 km

NBN connectivity

Broadwater Wardell
Connectivity score 30/100 39/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
270 premises
 13%
420 premises

Council rates

Broadwater Wardell
Average residential rate $1,282/yr $1,264/yr
Council Richmond Valley Ballina

Federal electorate

Broadwater Wardell
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Broadwater Wardell
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Broadwater

Affordable Coastal Rural

Wardell

River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Broadwater

Broadwater vs Evans Head Broadwater vs Woodburn Broadwater vs East Wardell Broadwater vs Doonbah Broadwater vs Rileys Hill Broadwater vs Bagotville

Other comparisons with Wardell

Wardell vs Meerschaum Vale Wardell vs Pimlico Wardell vs East Wardell Wardell vs Empire Vale Wardell vs Coolgardie Wardell vs Cabbage Tree Island
Full data on Broadwater Full data on Wardell
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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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