Kinvara vs Lennox Head

Lennox Head is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 50 in Kinvara. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Kinvara, about half of households are people living alone. In Lennox Head, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Kinvara: a median of $1.8 million, against $1.55 million in Lennox Head, though rent is higher in Lennox Head. On these figures, Kinvara tends to suit people living alone, 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

Lennox Head

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 87/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 54%)
  • But Kinvara has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 74%)

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

First-home buyers

Lennox Head

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 36%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,550,000 vs $1,802,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kinvara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $580/wk)

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

  • Kinvara sits closer to the CBD (737.6 km vs 741.6 km)
  • Lennox Head is more walkable (37/100 vs 10/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lennox Head

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (37/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Where they sit

Kinvara 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.

Kinvara 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.

Kinvara Lennox Head
Walkability 10 / 37
Kinvara — Walkability: 10/100 Lennox Head — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 13 / 60
Kinvara — Safety: 13/100 Lennox Head — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 47
Kinvara — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lennox Head — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Lennox Head has more residents (7,687 vs 193); Kinvara skews older (50 vs 42).

Kinvara Lennox Head
Population 193 7,687
+3883% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +20.0%
Median age 50 42
Median household income $94,224/yr $108,212/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $580/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kinvara Lennox Head
0-4 3.1% / 6.1%
Kinvara — 0-4: 3.1% Lennox Head — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 6.2% / 13.7%
Kinvara — 5-14: 6.2% Lennox Head — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 4.1% / 5.3%
Kinvara — 15-19: 4.1% Lennox Head — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.2% / 3.8%
Kinvara — 20-24: 6.2% Lennox Head — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 9.3% / 10.8%
Kinvara — 25-34: 9.3% Lennox Head — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 9.8% / 14.6%
Kinvara — 35-44: 9.8% Lennox Head — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 11.4% / 14.4%
Kinvara — 45-54: 11.4% Lennox Head — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 25.4% / 14.2%
Kinvara — 55-64: 25.4% Lennox Head — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 17.1% / 11.4%
Kinvara — 65-74: 17.1% Lennox Head — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 1.6% / 4.4%
Kinvara — 75-84: 1.6% Lennox Head — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 3.1% / 1.4%
Kinvara — 85+: 3.1% Lennox Head — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kinvara 34.8% couple families
Kinvara — Couple Families: 34.8% Kinvara — Lone Person: 45.7% Kinvara — One Parent Families: 19.6% Kinvara — Group Household: 0.0% Kinvara — Other Families: 0.0%
Lennox Head 48.5% couple families
Lennox Head — Couple Families: 48.5% Lennox Head — Lone Person: 28.1% Lennox Head — One Parent Families: 15.5% Lennox Head — Group Household: 6.5% Lennox Head — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kinvara 32.4% renting
Kinvara — Owned Outright: 43.7% Kinvara — Mortgage: 23.9% Kinvara — Renting: 32.4%
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

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.

Kinvara Lennox Head
England 3.1% / 4.3%
Kinvara — England: 3.1% Lennox Head — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.0%
Kinvara — New Zealand: 1.6% Lennox Head — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Kinvara — South Africa: not among its largest Lennox Head — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.6%
Kinvara — Scotland: not among its largest Lennox Head — Scotland: 0.6%
Canada — / 0.5%
Kinvara — Canada: not among its largest Lennox Head — Canada: 0.5%

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

Qualifications

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

Kinvara Lennox Head
Bachelor Degree 13.5% / 19.1%
Kinvara — Bachelor Degree: 13.5% Lennox Head — Bachelor Degree: 19.1%
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 13.7%
Kinvara — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% Lennox Head — Certificate III & IV: 13.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 9.5%
Kinvara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Lennox Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 5.2%
Kinvara — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Lennox Head — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.5%
Kinvara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Lennox Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kinvara 95.8% houses
Kinvara — Houses: 95.8% Kinvara — Townhouses: 0.0% Kinvara — Flats / Apartments: 4.2%
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

Kinvara Lennox Head
Median house price $1,802,500 $1,550,000
Median unit price — $1,095,000
Median land price — $970,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 29 days
from 106 sales

Zoning mix

Kinvara has more rural and farming land (70% vs 32%); Kinvara has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 4%).

Kinvara Lennox Head
Rural and farming 70% 32%
Other and special use 3% 42%
Residential 10% 19%
Environmental 17% 4%
Parks and recreation 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

Kinvara 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.

Kinvara Lennox Head
Houses — 3.6%
$1,020/wk on $1.49M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Kinvara Lennox Head
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 49% of NSW

Liveability

Lennox Head is more walkable (37 vs 10).

Kinvara Lennox Head
Grade — C
Score — 48/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Lennox Head carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0); Kinvara carries more crime risk (87 vs 40).

Kinvara Lennox Head
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime High
87/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
35/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Kinvara Lennox Head
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Kinvara

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

Schools in Lennox Head

  • Lennox Head Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kinvara Lennox Head
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 12
Parks & reserves 0 9
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 4 6

Mobility

Lennox Head sits further from the CBD (741.6 km vs 737.6 km).

Kinvara Lennox Head
Walkability score 10/100 37/100
Distance to Sydney 737.6 km 741.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 474 min 475 min
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.

Kinvara Lennox Head
Car (driver) 52.7% / 67.5%
Kinvara — Car (driver): 52.7% Lennox Head — Car (driver): 67.5%
Worked from Home 38.7% / 24.7%
Kinvara — Worked from Home: 38.7% Lennox Head — Worked from Home: 24.7%
Walked Only 8.6% / 2.6%
Kinvara — Walked Only: 8.6% Lennox Head — Walked Only: 2.6%
Car (passenger) — / 3.4%
Kinvara — Car (passenger): not among its largest Lennox Head — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Bicycle — / 1.1%
Kinvara — Bicycle: not among its largest Lennox Head — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.5%).

Setting

Kinvara Lennox Head
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km 1.2 km

NBN connectivity

Kinvara Lennox Head
Connectivity score 30/100 78/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
93 premises
 52%
4,065 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Kinvara Lennox Head
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kinvara

Premium Rural

Lennox Head

Coastal Professionals River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kinvara

Kinvara vs Ballina Kinvara vs Cumbalum Kinvara vs Tintenbar Kinvara vs Knockrow

Other comparisons with Lennox Head

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