Lismore vs North Lismore

In both, most homes are detached houses. In Lismore, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In North Lismore, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Lismore: a median of $570,000, against $317,000 in North Lismore, though rent is higher in North Lismore. On these figures, Lismore tends to suit renters and people living alone, while North Lismore 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

Lismore

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 4)
  • But North Lismore has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 69%)

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

First-home buyers

North Lismore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($317,000 vs $570,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lismore

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Lismore

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 24/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (476 min vs 482 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (725.4 km vs 728.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lismore

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 3%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 24/100)

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

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

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

Lismore North Lismore
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.

Lismore North Lismore
Walkability 88 / 24
Lismore — Walkability: 88/100 North Lismore — Walkability: 24/100
Safety 2 / 11
Lismore — Safety: 2/100 North Lismore — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lismore — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Lismore — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lismore has more residents (3,656 vs 754); North Lismore rents higher ($320/wk vs $280/wk).

Lismore North Lismore
Population 3,656
+79% vs other
 754
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.2% -1.8%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $53,820/yr $60,632/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $320/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lismore North Lismore
0-4 4.5% / 4.0%
Lismore — 0-4: 4.5% North Lismore — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 11.3% / 13.5%
Lismore — 5-14: 11.3% North Lismore — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 5.8% / 5.4%
Lismore — 15-19: 5.8% North Lismore — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 6.3% / 5.6%
Lismore — 20-24: 6.3% North Lismore — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 13.8% / 10.9%
Lismore — 25-34: 13.8% North Lismore — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 13.3% / 11.9%
Lismore — 35-44: 13.3% North Lismore — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 12.6% / 15.5%
Lismore — 45-54: 12.6% North Lismore — 45-54: 15.5%
55-64 13.4% / 13.7%
Lismore — 55-64: 13.4% North Lismore — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 10.9% / 11.9%
Lismore — 65-74: 10.9% North Lismore — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 5.0% / 4.9%
Lismore — 75-84: 5.0% North Lismore — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 3.0% / 2.1%
Lismore — 85+: 3.0% North Lismore — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lismore 48.9% lone person
Lismore — Lone Person: 48.9% Lismore — One Parent Families: 22.9% Lismore — Couple Families: 17.9% Lismore — Group Household: 8.4% Lismore — Other Families: 1.9%
North Lismore 39.1% lone person
North Lismore — Lone Person: 39.1% North Lismore — One Parent Families: 23.4% North Lismore — Couple Families: 26.8% North Lismore — Group Household: 9.4% North Lismore — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person One Parent Families Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lismore 49.6% renting
Lismore — Owned Outright: 24.6% Lismore — Mortgage: 25.8% Lismore — Renting: 49.6%
North Lismore 25.3% renting
North Lismore — Owned Outright: 39.8% North Lismore — Mortgage: 34.9% North Lismore — Renting: 25.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lismore North Lismore
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 16.6%
Lismore — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% North Lismore — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 11.4% / 10.9%
Lismore — Bachelor Degree: 11.4% North Lismore — Bachelor Degree: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 7.0%
Lismore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% North Lismore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 2.0%
Lismore — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% North Lismore — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 0.7%
Lismore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% North Lismore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Lismore North Lismore
England 2.5% / 3.3%
Lismore — England: 2.5% North Lismore — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.3% / 2.5%
Lismore — New Zealand: 1.3% North Lismore — New Zealand: 2.5%
Germany 0.4% / 0.5%
Lismore — Germany: 0.4% North Lismore — Germany: 0.5%
Philippines 0.6% / —
Lismore — Philippines: 0.6% North Lismore — Philippines: not among its largest
Nepal 0.5% / —
Lismore — Nepal: 0.5% North Lismore — Nepal: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.4%
Lismore — Italy: not among its largest North Lismore — Italy: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lismore 69.4% houses
Lismore — Houses: 69.4% Lismore — Flats / Apartments: 16.9% Lismore — Townhouses: 13.6%
North Lismore 97.0% houses
North Lismore — Houses: 97.0% North Lismore — Flats / Apartments: 2.0% North Lismore — Townhouses: 1.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lismore North Lismore
Median house price $570,000 $317,000
Median unit price $290,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 51 sales
 96 days
from 3 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.

Lismore North Lismore
2 bed $519K / $300K
Lismore — 2 bed: $519K (20 sales) North Lismore — 2 bed: $300K (6 sales)

20 vs 6 sales

3 bed $559K / $390K
Lismore — 3 bed: $559K (62 sales) North Lismore — 3 bed: $390K (9 sales)

62 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

North Lismore has more rural and farming land (57% vs 1%); Lismore has more commercially zoned land (21% vs 1%).

Lismore North Lismore
Rural and farming 1% 57%
Residential 46% 17%
Commercial 21% 1%
Parks and recreation 20% 8%
Environmental 8% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 6%
Industrial 1% 3%
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

Lismore North Lismore
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.

Lismore North Lismore
Houses 6.4%
$800/wk on $650K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lismore North Lismore
House price Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
Income Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Schools Higher than 30% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 99% of NSW —

Liveability

Lismore is more walkable (88 vs 24).

Lismore North Lismore
Grade D
same for both
Score 30/100 28/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Lismore North Lismore
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
89/100
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
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Lismore North Lismore
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Lismore, 1.7 km
 1
Lismore, 4.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 0.4%

Schools in Lismore

  • St Carthage's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Lismore Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Living School Independent · Combined
  • Trinity Catholic College Lismore, St Joseph's Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in North Lismore

  • St John's College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • The Rivers Secondary College, Richmond River High Campus Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lismore North Lismore
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 18 0
Parks & reserves 8 4
Childcare 8 0
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 0
Fuel stations 9 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

North Lismore sits further from the CBD (728.6 km vs 725.4 km).

Lismore North Lismore
Walkability score 88/100 24/100
Distance to Sydney 725.4 km 728.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 476 min 482 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 44/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 96.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 18.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Lismore North Lismore
Car (driver) 69.3% / 72.5%
Lismore — Car (driver): 69.3% North Lismore — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 12.0% / 17.4%
Lismore — Worked from Home: 12.0% North Lismore — Worked from Home: 17.4%
Walked Only 10.5% / 2.7%
Lismore — Walked Only: 10.5% North Lismore — Walked Only: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 6.8% / 4.3%
Lismore — Car (passenger): 6.8% North Lismore — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Bicycle 0.8% / 3.1%
Lismore — Bicycle: 0.8% North Lismore — Bicycle: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.5%).

Setting

Lismore North Lismore
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.9 km 26.3 km

NBN connectivity

Lismore North Lismore
Connectivity score 85/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
3,255 premises
 66%
542 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lismore

Affordable Parks

North Lismore

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lismore

Lismore vs Goonellabah Lismore vs East Lismore Lismore vs Lismore Heights Lismore vs South Lismore Lismore vs Girards Hill

Other comparisons with North Lismore

North Lismore vs Lismore Heights North Lismore vs South Lismore North Lismore vs Tullera North Lismore vs Booerie Creek North Lismore vs Howards Grass
Full data on Lismore Full data on North Lismore
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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