Lennox Head vs Skennars Head

Lennox Head is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 47 in Skennars Head. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Lennox Head, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Skennars Head: a median of $1.77 million, against $1.55 million in Lennox Head, though rent is higher in Lennox Head. On these figures, Skennars Head 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Lennox Head has more parks and reserves (9 vs 1)
  • Skennars Head has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 74%)

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

First-home buyers

Lennox Head

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper land ($970,000 vs $1,250,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,550,000 vs $1,770,000)
  • But Skennars Head has cheaper units ($540,000 vs $1,095,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lennox Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Lennox Head

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (37/100 vs 28/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (475 min vs 484 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lennox Head

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 12%)
  • is more walkable (37/100 vs 28/100)
  • But Skennars Head has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 17%)

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

Investors

Lennox Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield.

Where they sit

Lennox Head and Skennars 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.

Lennox Head Skennars 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.

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Walkability 37 / 28
Lennox Head — Walkability: 37/100 Skennars Head — Walkability: 28/100
Safety 60 / 69
Lennox Head — Safety: 60/100 Skennars Head — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 47 / 100
Lennox Head — Low fire risk: 47/100 Skennars Head — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lennox Head has more residents (7,687 vs 1,303); Lennox Head has higher household incomes ($108,212 vs $87,048).

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Population 7,687
+83% vs other
 1,303
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +20.0% —
Median age 42 47
Median household income $108,212/yr
+20% vs other
 $87,048/yr
Median weekly rent $580/wk
+5% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lennox Head Skennars Head
0-4 6.1% / 4.2%
Lennox Head — 0-4: 6.1% Skennars Head — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 13.7% / 14.1%
Lennox Head — 5-14: 13.7% Skennars Head — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 5.3% / 6.1%
Lennox Head — 15-19: 5.3% Skennars Head — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 3.8% / 3.5%
Lennox Head — 20-24: 3.8% Skennars Head — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 10.8% / 5.5%
Lennox Head — 25-34: 10.8% Skennars Head — 25-34: 5.5%
35-44 14.6% / 12.3%
Lennox Head — 35-44: 14.6% Skennars Head — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 14.4% / 14.4%
Lennox Head — 45-54: 14.4% Skennars Head — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 14.2% / 14.9%
Lennox Head — 55-64: 14.2% Skennars Head — 55-64: 14.9%
65-74 11.4% / 15.3%
Lennox Head — 65-74: 11.4% Skennars Head — 65-74: 15.3%
75-84 4.4% / 7.8%
Lennox Head — 75-84: 4.4% Skennars Head — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 1.4% / 1.2%
Lennox Head — 85+: 1.4% Skennars Head — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Skennars Head 43.5% couple families
Skennars Head — Couple Families: 43.5% Skennars Head — Lone Person: 39.0% Skennars Head — One Parent Families: 13.7% Skennars Head — Group Household: 2.7% Skennars Head — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lennox Head 24.0% renting
Lennox Head — Owned Outright: 39.8% Lennox Head — Mortgage: 36.3% Lennox Head — Renting: 24.0%
Skennars Head 16.5% renting
Skennars Head — Owned Outright: 53.0% Skennars Head — Mortgage: 30.5% Skennars Head — Renting: 16.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Bachelor Degree 19.1% / 15.9%
Lennox Head — Bachelor Degree: 19.1% Skennars Head — Bachelor Degree: 15.9%
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 16.5%
Lennox Head — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Skennars Head — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 9.5%
Lennox Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Skennars Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 4.8%
Lennox Head — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Skennars Head — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.4%
Lennox Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Skennars Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

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.

Lennox Head Skennars Head
England 4.3% / 3.7%
Lennox Head — England: 4.3% Skennars Head — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.6%
Lennox Head — New Zealand: 2.0% Skennars Head — New Zealand: 1.6%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.7%
Lennox Head — South Africa: 0.7% Skennars Head — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.5%
Lennox Head — Scotland: 0.6% Skennars Head — Scotland: 0.5%
Canada 0.5% / 0.6%
Lennox Head — Canada: 0.5% Skennars Head — Canada: 0.6%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Lennox Head — Germany: 0.5% Skennars Head — Germany: 0.6%
France — / 1.0%
Lennox Head — France: not among its largest Skennars Head — France: 1.0%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lennox Head 73.5% houses
Lennox Head — Houses: 73.5% Lennox Head — Townhouses: 21.4% Lennox Head — Flats / Apartments: 5.1%
Skennars Head 88.4% houses
Skennars Head — Houses: 88.4% Skennars Head — Townhouses: 9.6% Skennars Head — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Median house price $1,550,000 $1,770,000
Median unit price $1,095,000 $540,000
Median land price $970,000 $1,250,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 106 sales
 44 days
from 14 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.

Lennox Head Skennars Head
4 bed $1.58M / $1.76M
Lennox Head — 4 bed: $1.58M (68 sales) Skennars Head — 4 bed: $1.76M (22 sales)

68 vs 22 sales

5 bed $2.1M / $1.89M
Lennox Head — 5 bed: $2.1M (28 sales) Skennars Head — 5 bed: $1.89M (8 sales)

28 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Other and special use 42% 40%
Rural and farming 32% 40%
Residential 19% 13%
Environmental 4% 5%
Parks and recreation 2% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Lennox Head Skennars 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.

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Houses 3.6%
$1,020/wk on $1.49M
 2.9%
$1,000/wk on $1.77M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lennox Head Skennars Head
House price Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW

Liveability

Lennox Head is more walkable (37 vs 28); Skennars Head scores higher overall (58 vs 48).

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Grade C B
Score 48/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Lennox Head carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0).

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
35/100
 Moderate
54/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lennox Head

  • Lennox Head Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Skennars Head

  • Holy Family Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Xavier Catholic College Ballina Catholic · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 12 0
Parks & reserves 9 1
Childcare 2 3
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 6 2

Mobility

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Walkability score 37/100 28/100
Distance to Sydney 741.6 km 741 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 475 min 484 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 60/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 46.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 29.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Car (driver) 67.5% / 71.1%
Lennox Head — Car (driver): 67.5% Skennars Head — Car (driver): 71.1%
Worked from Home 24.7% / 21.9%
Lennox Head — Worked from Home: 24.7% Skennars Head — Worked from Home: 21.9%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 4.5%
Lennox Head — Car (passenger): 3.4% Skennars Head — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 2.6% / 1.9%
Lennox Head — Walked Only: 2.6% Skennars Head — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bicycle 1.1% / 0.6%
Lennox Head — Bicycle: 1.1% Skennars Head — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.1%).

Setting

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km 1.5 km
4.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lennox Head Skennars Head
Connectivity score 78/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
4,065 premises
 40%
627 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lennox Head

Coastal Professionals River Townhouses

Skennars Head

Acreage Coastal Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lennox Head

Lennox Head vs Ballina Lennox Head vs Broken Head Lennox Head vs Kinvara Lennox Head vs Knockrow

Other comparisons with Skennars Head

Skennars Head vs Ballina Skennars Head vs East Ballina
Full data on Lennox Head Full data on Skennars 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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