East Lismore vs Monaltrie

East Lismore is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 48 in Monaltrie. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in East Lismore: a median of $658,000, against $225,000 in Monaltrie. On these figures, East Lismore tends to suit people living alone, while Monaltrie suits 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

  • East Lismore has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)
  • Monaltrie is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

Monaltrie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($225,000 vs $658,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

East Lismore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 20%)

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

  • East Lismore is more walkable (72/100 vs 19/100)
  • Monaltrie sits closer to the CBD (720.2 km vs 723.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

East Lismore

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 19/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Monaltrie carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Monaltrie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.5% vs -0.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

East Lismore Monaltrie
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.

East Lismore Monaltrie
Walkability 72 / 19
East Lismore — Walkability: 72/100 Monaltrie — Walkability: 19/100
Safety 23 / 45
East Lismore — Safety: 23/100 Monaltrie — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Lismore — Low fire risk: 100/100 Monaltrie — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

East Lismore has more residents (4,980 vs 235); Monaltrie skews older (48 vs 39).

East Lismore Monaltrie
Population 4,980
+95% vs other
 235
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% +20.5%
Median age 39 48
Median household income $64,272/yr $76,492/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+3% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Lismore Monaltrie
0-4 5.2% / 2.1%
East Lismore — 0-4: 5.2% Monaltrie — 0-4: 2.1%
5-14 11.7% / 12.8%
East Lismore — 5-14: 11.7% Monaltrie — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 6.8% / 4.7%
East Lismore — 15-19: 6.8% Monaltrie — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 7.7% / 6.0%
East Lismore — 20-24: 7.7% Monaltrie — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 13.1% / 10.6%
East Lismore — 25-34: 13.1% Monaltrie — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 10.8% / 7.7%
East Lismore — 35-44: 10.8% Monaltrie — 35-44: 7.7%
45-54 11.5% / 15.7%
East Lismore — 45-54: 11.5% Monaltrie — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 13.1% / 17.0%
East Lismore — 55-64: 13.1% Monaltrie — 55-64: 17.0%
65-74 10.1% / 12.3%
East Lismore — 65-74: 10.1% Monaltrie — 65-74: 12.3%
75-84 6.5% / 6.8%
East Lismore — 75-84: 6.5% Monaltrie — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 3.5% / 3.4%
East Lismore — 85+: 3.5% Monaltrie — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Lismore 43.6% lone person
East Lismore — Lone Person: 43.6% East Lismore — Couple Families: 26.9% East Lismore — One Parent Families: 20.5% East Lismore — Group Household: 7.3% East Lismore — Other Families: 1.7%
Monaltrie 32.8% lone person
Monaltrie — Lone Person: 32.8% Monaltrie — Couple Families: 34.5% Monaltrie — One Parent Families: 32.8% Monaltrie — Group Household: 0.0% Monaltrie — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

East Lismore 39.0% renting
East Lismore — Owned Outright: 32.2% East Lismore — Mortgage: 28.8% East Lismore — Renting: 39.0%
Monaltrie 20.0% renting
Monaltrie — Owned Outright: 51.2% Monaltrie — Mortgage: 28.7% Monaltrie — Renting: 20.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

East Lismore Monaltrie
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 15.7%
East Lismore — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Monaltrie — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 11.2% / 10.6%
East Lismore — Bachelor Degree: 11.2% Monaltrie — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 7.7%
East Lismore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Monaltrie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / —
East Lismore — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Monaltrie — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.3%
East Lismore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Monaltrie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

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.

East Lismore Monaltrie
Netherlands 0.4% / 2.1%
East Lismore — Netherlands: 0.4% Monaltrie — Netherlands: 2.1%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.3%
East Lismore — New Zealand: 0.8% Monaltrie — New Zealand: 1.3%
England 1.9% / —
East Lismore — England: 1.9% Monaltrie — England: not among its largest
South Africa — / 1.3%
East Lismore — South Africa: not among its largest Monaltrie — South Africa: 1.3%
India 0.7% / —
East Lismore — India: 0.7% Monaltrie — India: not among its largest
Philippines 0.6% / —
East Lismore — Philippines: 0.6% Monaltrie — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 0.4% / —
East Lismore — Germany: 0.4% Monaltrie — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Lismore 78.5% houses
East Lismore — Houses: 78.5% East Lismore — Townhouses: 15.2% East Lismore — Flats / Apartments: 6.3%
Monaltrie 97.6% houses
Monaltrie — Houses: 97.6% Monaltrie — Townhouses: 0.0% Monaltrie — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

East Lismore Monaltrie
Median house price $658,000 $225,000
Median unit price $405,000 —
Median land price $380,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 77 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Monaltrie has more rural and farming land (94% vs 12%).

East Lismore Monaltrie
Rural and farming 12% 94%
Residential 46% 0%
Parks and recreation 16% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 4%
Environmental 10% 1%
Industrial 3% 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

East Lismore Monaltrie
New dwellings approved 138
across Lismore
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

East Lismore Monaltrie
Houses 4.8%
$650/wk on $710K
 —
Units 4.9%
$475/wk on $507K
 —

Ranking within NSW

East Lismore Monaltrie
House price Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 51% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 94% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 61% of NSW —

Liveability

East Lismore is more walkable (72 vs 19).

East Lismore Monaltrie
Grade C —
Score 44/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

East Lismore carries more crime risk (77 vs 55).

East Lismore Monaltrie
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 Moderate
55/100
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 6
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

East Lismore Monaltrie
Inside the suburb 8 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Lismore, 0.0 km
 1
Lismore, 3.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 0.0%

Schools in East Lismore

  • Albert Park Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Trinity Catholic College Lismore Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Wyrallah Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Living Academy - Southern Cross University - Z Block Independent · Secondary below peers
  • The Rivers Secondary College, Lismore High Campus Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Monaltrie

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

Amenities in the suburb

East Lismore Monaltrie
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 10 1
Childcare 6 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

East Lismore sits further from the CBD (723.2 km vs 720.2 km).

East Lismore Monaltrie
Walkability score 72/100 19/100
Distance to Sydney 723.2 km 720.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 472 min 469 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2480
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 2480
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.

East Lismore Monaltrie
Car (driver) 74.0% / 74.4%
East Lismore — Car (driver): 74.0% Monaltrie — Car (driver): 74.4%
Worked from Home 12.9% / 11.6%
East Lismore — Worked from Home: 12.9% Monaltrie — Worked from Home: 11.6%
Car (passenger) 7.5% / 9.3%
East Lismore — Car (passenger): 7.5% Monaltrie — Car (passenger): 9.3%
Walked Only 4.2% / 4.7%
East Lismore — Walked Only: 4.2% Monaltrie — Walked Only: 4.7%
Bicycle 0.7% / —
East Lismore — Bicycle: 0.7% Monaltrie — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.4%).

Setting

East Lismore Monaltrie
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.5 km 23.8 km

NBN connectivity

East Lismore Monaltrie
Connectivity score 86/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
2,820 premises
 0%
103 premises

Council rates

East Lismore Monaltrie
Average residential rate $1,487/yr
same for both
Council Lismore
same for both

Federal electorate

East Lismore Monaltrie
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

East Lismore

Affordable Parks Quiet

Monaltrie

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Lismore

East Lismore vs Goonellabah East Lismore vs Lismore East Lismore vs South Lismore East Lismore vs Girards Hill East Lismore vs Loftville

Other comparisons with Monaltrie

Monaltrie vs Goonellabah Monaltrie vs Wyrallah Monaltrie vs South Gundurimba Monaltrie vs Loftville
Full data on East Lismore Full data on Monaltrie
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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