Collarenebri vs Lightning Ridge

Collarenebri is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 53 in Lightning Ridge. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Collarenebri, about half of households rent. In Lightning Ridge, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Lightning Ridge: a median of $250,000, against $100,000 in Collarenebri, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Collarenebri tends to suit renters, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Lightning Ridge suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Collarenebri

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 62%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (53% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Collarenebri

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($100,000 vs $250,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (17% vs 25%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Collarenebri

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 32%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($180/wk vs $200/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Collarenebri

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (738.6 km vs 767.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (547 min vs 554 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lightning Ridge

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 7%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 20%)

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

Investors

Collarenebri

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-2.5% vs -14.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
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.

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Walkability 0 / 0
Collarenebri — Walkability: 0/100 Lightning Ridge — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 9 / 3
Collarenebri — Safety: 9/100 Lightning Ridge — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 82 / 71
Collarenebri — Low fire risk: 82/100 Lightning Ridge — Low fire risk: 71/100

Demographics

Lightning Ridge has more residents (1,946 vs 634); Lightning Ridge skews older (53 vs 39).

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Population 634 1,946
+207% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.5% -14.8%
Median age 39 53
Median household income $54,184/yr
+24% vs other
 $41,184/yr
Median weekly rent $180/wk $200/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
0-4 5.7% / 4.6%
Collarenebri — 0-4: 5.7% Lightning Ridge — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 13.4% / 9.9%
Collarenebri — 5-14: 13.4% Lightning Ridge — 5-14: 9.9%
15-19 6.9% / 4.5%
Collarenebri — 15-19: 6.9% Lightning Ridge — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 7.4% / 3.3%
Collarenebri — 20-24: 7.4% Lightning Ridge — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 11.5% / 9.8%
Collarenebri — 25-34: 11.5% Lightning Ridge — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 9.6% / 8.9%
Collarenebri — 35-44: 9.6% Lightning Ridge — 35-44: 8.9%
45-54 12.3% / 11.4%
Collarenebri — 45-54: 12.3% Lightning Ridge — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 12.1% / 18.2%
Collarenebri — 55-64: 12.1% Lightning Ridge — 55-64: 18.2%
65-74 13.2% / 15.8%
Collarenebri — 65-74: 13.2% Lightning Ridge — 65-74: 15.8%
75-84 4.7% / 10.9%
Collarenebri — 75-84: 4.7% Lightning Ridge — 75-84: 10.9%
85+ 1.9% / 2.5%
Collarenebri — 85+: 1.9% Lightning Ridge — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Collarenebri 41.6% lone person
Collarenebri — Lone Person: 41.6% Collarenebri — Couple Families: 28.5% Collarenebri — One Parent Families: 24.8% Collarenebri — Group Household: 5.1% Collarenebri — Other Families: 0.0%
Lightning Ridge 57.0% lone person
Lightning Ridge — Lone Person: 57.0% Lightning Ridge — Couple Families: 18.1% Lightning Ridge — One Parent Families: 17.9% Lightning Ridge — Group Household: 5.3% Lightning Ridge — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Collarenebri 48.6% renting
Collarenebri — Owned Outright: 35.3% Collarenebri — Mortgage: 16.2% Collarenebri — Renting: 48.6%
Lightning Ridge 32.0% renting
Lightning Ridge — Owned Outright: 53.8% Lightning Ridge — Mortgage: 14.2% Lightning Ridge — Renting: 32.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Certificate III & IV 8.4% / 13.3%
Collarenebri — Certificate III & IV: 8.4% Lightning Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 13.3%
Bachelor Degree 5.0% / 5.1%
Collarenebri — Bachelor Degree: 5.0% Lightning Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 5.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 3.6% / 5.5%
Collarenebri — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.6% Lightning Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 0.9%
Collarenebri — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Lightning Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%
Postgraduate Degree 0.5% / 0.9%
Collarenebri — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5% Lightning Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.3%).

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.

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Philippines 0.6% / 1.4%
Collarenebri — Philippines: 0.6% Lightning Ridge — Philippines: 1.4%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.3%
Collarenebri — New Zealand: 0.6% Lightning Ridge — New Zealand: 1.3%
England — / 1.5%
Collarenebri — England: not among its largest Lightning Ridge — England: 1.5%
Germany 0.5% / 0.9%
Collarenebri — Germany: 0.5% Lightning Ridge — Germany: 0.9%
India 0.6% / 0.4%
Collarenebri — India: 0.6% Lightning Ridge — India: 0.4%
Indonesia 0.5% / —
Collarenebri — Indonesia: 0.5% Lightning Ridge — Indonesia: not among its largest
Thailand — / 0.5%
Collarenebri — Thailand: not among its largest Lightning Ridge — Thailand: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Collarenebri 92.7% houses
Collarenebri — Houses: 92.7% Collarenebri — Flats / Apartments: 3.6% Collarenebri — Townhouses: 3.6%
Lightning Ridge 61.9% houses
Lightning Ridge — Houses: 61.9% Lightning Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 33.5% Lightning Ridge — Townhouses: 4.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Median house price $100,000 $250,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 117 days
from 3 sales
 168 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Rural and farming 97% 98%
Environmental 3% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
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

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
New dwellings approved 13
across Walgett
same for both
Approvals change year on year -100%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
House price Higher than 1% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
EV adoption —
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW

Liveability

Collarenebri scores higher overall (14 vs 8).

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Grade D
same for both
Score 14/100 8/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Lightning Ridge carries more bushfire risk (29 vs 18).

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Bushfire Low
18/100
 Low
29/100
Crime High
91/100
 High
97/100
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

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Collarenebri

  • Collarenebri Central School Government · Combined

Schools in Lightning Ridge

  • Lightning Ridge Central School Government · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 5 3
Childcare 1 2
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 105 6

Mobility

Lightning Ridge sits further from the CBD (767.1 km vs 738.6 km).

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 738.6 km 767.1 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 547 min 554 min
Public transport score 21/100
Bus
 37/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 2833
 0.0%
postcode 2834
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 84
postcode 2833
 88
postcode 2834

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.

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Car (driver) 62.2% / 68.0%
Collarenebri — Car (driver): 62.2% Lightning Ridge — Car (driver): 68.0%
Worked from Home 16.3% / 10.8%
Collarenebri — Worked from Home: 16.3% Lightning Ridge — Worked from Home: 10.8%
Walked Only 9.9% / 10.4%
Collarenebri — Walked Only: 9.9% Lightning Ridge — Walked Only: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 8.7% / 8.1%
Collarenebri — Car (passenger): 8.7% Lightning Ridge — Car (passenger): 8.1%
Bus 2.9% / 0.8%
Collarenebri — Bus: 2.9% Lightning Ridge — Bus: 0.8%
Bicycle — / 1.9%
Collarenebri — Bicycle: not among its largest Lightning Ridge — Bicycle: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.0%).

Setting

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Elevation 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 146 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Connectivity score 15/100 39/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
135 premises
 0%
1,347 premises

Council rates

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Average residential rate $445/yr
same for both
Council Walgett
same for both

Federal electorate

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Division Parkes
same for both
Member Jamie Chaffey
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Collarenebri Lightning Ridge
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Collarenebri

Affordable Rural

Lightning Ridge

Affordable Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Collarenebri

Collarenebri vs Walgett Collarenebri vs Mungindi Collarenebri vs Rowena Collarenebri vs Bullarah

Other comparisons with Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge vs Walgett Lightning Ridge vs Goodooga Lightning Ridge vs Cumborah
Full data on Collarenebri Full data on Lightning Ridge
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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