Lismore vs South 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 South Lismore, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Lismore: a median of $570,000, against $448,000 in South Lismore, though rent is higher in South Lismore. On these figures, Lismore tends to suit renters and people living alone, while South 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 schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 2)
  • But South Lismore has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 69%)

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

First-home buyers

South Lismore

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($447,500 vs $570,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lismore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Lismore

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 24/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (725.4 km vs 728 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lismore

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 24/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 11%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Lismore is growing faster (2.2% vs -5.5%)
  • South Lismore returns a higher gross yield on houses (7.1% vs 6.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Lismore and South 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 South 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 South Lismore
Walkability 88 / 24
Lismore — Walkability: 88/100 South Lismore — Walkability: 24/100
Safety 2 / 7
Lismore — Safety: 2/100 South Lismore — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lismore — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Lismore — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lismore has more residents (3,656 vs 1,775); South Lismore has higher household incomes ($65,104 vs $53,820).

Lismore South Lismore
Population 3,656
+51% vs other
 1,775
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.2% -5.5%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $53,820/yr $65,104/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $300/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lismore South Lismore
0-4 4.5% / 4.7%
Lismore — 0-4: 4.5% South Lismore — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 11.3% / 14.3%
Lismore — 5-14: 11.3% South Lismore — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 5.8% / 7.0%
Lismore — 15-19: 5.8% South Lismore — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 6.3% / 7.4%
Lismore — 20-24: 6.3% South Lismore — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 13.8% / 11.4%
Lismore — 25-34: 13.8% South Lismore — 25-34: 11.4%
35-44 13.3% / 12.4%
Lismore — 35-44: 13.3% South Lismore — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 12.6% / 14.8%
Lismore — 45-54: 12.6% South Lismore — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 13.4% / 13.6%
Lismore — 55-64: 13.4% South Lismore — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 10.9% / 9.6%
Lismore — 65-74: 10.9% South Lismore — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 5.0% / 3.6%
Lismore — 75-84: 5.0% South Lismore — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 3.0% / 0.9%
Lismore — 85+: 3.0% South Lismore — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

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%
South Lismore 37.8% lone person
South Lismore — Lone Person: 37.8% South Lismore — One Parent Families: 24.8% South Lismore — Couple Families: 26.2% South Lismore — Group Household: 8.9% South Lismore — Other Families: 2.3%
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%
South Lismore 32.3% renting
South Lismore — Owned Outright: 29.4% South Lismore — Mortgage: 38.3% South Lismore — Renting: 32.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lismore South Lismore
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 18.3%
Lismore — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% South Lismore — Certificate III & IV: 18.3%
Bachelor Degree 11.4% / 7.2%
Lismore — Bachelor Degree: 11.4% South Lismore — Bachelor Degree: 7.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 6.4%
Lismore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% South Lismore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 1.4%
Lismore — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% South Lismore — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.0%
Lismore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% South Lismore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Lismore South Lismore
England 2.5% / 1.4%
Lismore — England: 2.5% South Lismore — England: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.4%
Lismore — New Zealand: 1.3% South Lismore — New Zealand: 1.4%
Philippines 0.6% / 0.4%
Lismore — Philippines: 0.6% South Lismore — Philippines: 0.4%
Germany 0.4% / 0.2%
Lismore — Germany: 0.4% South Lismore — Germany: 0.2%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.3%
Lismore — Scotland: 0.3% South Lismore — Scotland: 0.3%
Nepal 0.5% / —
Lismore — Nepal: 0.5% South Lismore — Nepal: not among its largest
Canada — / 0.3%
Lismore — Canada: not among its largest South Lismore — Canada: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.5%).

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%
South Lismore 88.7% houses
South Lismore — Houses: 88.7% South Lismore — Flats / Apartments: 9.0% South Lismore — Townhouses: 2.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lismore South Lismore
Median house price $570,000 $447,500
Median unit price $290,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 51 sales
 74 days
from 9 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 South Lismore
2 bed $519K / $365K
Lismore — 2 bed: $519K (20 sales) South Lismore — 2 bed: $365K (5 sales)

20 vs 5 sales

3 bed $559K / $462K
Lismore — 3 bed: $559K (62 sales) South Lismore — 3 bed: $462K (13 sales)

62 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

South Lismore has more rural and farming land (48% vs 1%); South Lismore has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 1%).

Lismore South Lismore
Rural and farming 1% 48%
Residential 46% 10%
Industrial 1% 24%
Commercial 21% 1%
Parks and recreation 20% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 10%
Environmental 8% 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 South 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 South Lismore
Houses 6.4%
$800/wk on $650K
 7.1%
$600/wk on $439K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lismore South Lismore
House price Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
Income Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 27% 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 90% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW

Liveability

Lismore is more walkable (88 vs 24); Lismore scores higher overall (30 vs 23).

Lismore South Lismore
Grade D
same for both
Score 30/100 23/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Lismore South Lismore
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
93/100
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
same for both

Schools

Lismore South Lismore
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Lismore, 1.7 km
 1
Lismore, 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 0.7%

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 South Lismore

  • Lismore South Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lismore South Lismore
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 18 0
Parks & reserves 8 2
Childcare 8 2
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 4 1
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 1
Fuel stations 9 3
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

South Lismore sits further from the CBD (728 km vs 725.4 km).

Lismore South Lismore
Walkability score 88/100 24/100
Distance to Sydney 725.4 km 728 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 476 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 67/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 96.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.0
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 South Lismore
Car (driver) 69.3% / 79.1%
Lismore — Car (driver): 69.3% South Lismore — Car (driver): 79.1%
Worked from Home 12.0% / 7.4%
Lismore — Worked from Home: 12.0% South Lismore — Worked from Home: 7.4%
Walked Only 10.5% / 5.3%
Lismore — Walked Only: 10.5% South Lismore — Walked Only: 5.3%
Car (passenger) 6.8% / 6.6%
Lismore — Car (passenger): 6.8% South Lismore — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Bicycle 0.8% / 1.7%
Lismore — Bicycle: 0.8% South Lismore — Bicycle: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.1%).

Setting

Lismore South Lismore
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.9 km 28.0 km

NBN connectivity

Lismore South Lismore
Connectivity score 85/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
3,255 premises
 62%
1,373 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Lismore South 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

South Lismore

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lismore

Lismore vs Goonellabah Lismore vs East Lismore Lismore vs Lismore Heights Lismore vs Girards Hill Lismore vs North Lismore

Other comparisons with South Lismore

South Lismore vs East Lismore South Lismore vs Caniaba South Lismore vs North Lismore South Lismore vs Loftville South Lismore vs Booerie Creek South Lismore vs Tuncester
Full data on Lismore Full data on South 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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or