Meerschaum Vale vs Marom Creek

Meerschaum Vale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 51 in Marom Creek. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Meerschaum Vale: a median of $1.12 million, against $960,000 in Marom Creek, and rent is higher there too.

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

First-home buyers

Marom Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($960,000 vs $1,125,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marom Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($264/wk vs $435/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Meerschaum Vale

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (466 min vs 479 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (715.4 km vs 720.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Meerschaum Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Marom Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.0% vs -6.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
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.

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Walkability 14 / 0
Meerschaum Vale — Walkability: 14/100 Marom Creek — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 68 / 72
Meerschaum Vale — Safety: 68/100 Marom Creek — Safety: 72/100
Low fire risk 51 / 48
Meerschaum Vale — Low fire risk: 51/100 Marom Creek — Low fire risk: 48/100

Demographics

Meerschaum Vale has more residents (372 vs 146); Meerschaum Vale rents higher ($435/wk vs $264/wk).

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Population 372
+61% vs other
 146
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.3% +15.0%
Median age 47 51
Median household income $102,336/yr
+4% vs other
 $98,748/yr
Median weekly rent $435/wk
+39% vs other
 $264/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
0-4 4.3% / —
Meerschaum Vale — 0-4: 4.3% Marom Creek — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 9.7% / 10.3%
Meerschaum Vale — 5-14: 9.7% Marom Creek — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 7.5% / 6.8%
Meerschaum Vale — 15-19: 7.5% Marom Creek — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 5.4% / 11.0%
Meerschaum Vale — 20-24: 5.4% Marom Creek — 20-24: 11.0%
25-34 8.1% / 2.1%
Meerschaum Vale — 25-34: 8.1% Marom Creek — 25-34: 2.1%
35-44 12.4% / 10.3%
Meerschaum Vale — 35-44: 12.4% Marom Creek — 35-44: 10.3%
45-54 17.7% / 21.9%
Meerschaum Vale — 45-54: 17.7% Marom Creek — 45-54: 21.9%
55-64 18.3% / 21.2%
Meerschaum Vale — 55-64: 18.3% Marom Creek — 55-64: 21.2%
65-74 11.3% / 11.0%
Meerschaum Vale — 65-74: 11.3% Marom Creek — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 4.0% / 3.4%
Meerschaum Vale — 75-84: 4.0% Marom Creek — 75-84: 3.4%
85+ — / 2.7%
Meerschaum Vale — 85+: not among its largest Marom Creek — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale 57.5% couple families
Meerschaum Vale — Couple Families: 57.5% Meerschaum Vale — Lone Person: 23.8% Meerschaum Vale — One Parent Families: 13.8% Meerschaum Vale — Group Household: 5.0%
Marom Creek 60.0% couple families
Marom Creek — Couple Families: 60.0% Marom Creek — Lone Person: 30.0% Marom Creek — One Parent Families: 10.0% Marom Creek — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale 15.4% renting
Meerschaum Vale — Owned Outright: 45.5% Meerschaum Vale — Mortgage: 39.0% Meerschaum Vale — Renting: 15.4%
Marom Creek 14.5% renting
Marom Creek — Owned Outright: 43.6% Marom Creek — Mortgage: 41.8% Marom Creek — Renting: 14.5%
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.

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Netherlands 1.1% / 4.1%
Meerschaum Vale — Netherlands: 1.1% Marom Creek — Netherlands: 4.1%
England 3.2% / —
Meerschaum Vale — England: 3.2% Marom Creek — England: not among its largest
South Africa 0.8% / —
Meerschaum Vale — South Africa: 0.8% Marom Creek — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.8% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Scotland: 0.8% Marom Creek — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

Qualifications

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

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Certificate III & IV 24.5% / 21.9%
Meerschaum Vale — Certificate III & IV: 24.5% Marom Creek — Certificate III & IV: 21.9%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 14.4%
Meerschaum Vale — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Marom Creek — Bachelor Degree: 14.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.2%
Meerschaum Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Marom Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 2.7%
Meerschaum Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Marom Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Marom Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale 97.0% houses
Meerschaum Vale — Houses: 97.0% Meerschaum Vale — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Marom Creek 101.9% houses
Marom Creek — Houses: 101.9% Marom Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Median house price $1,125,000 $960,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 136 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Marom Creek has more rural and farming land (92% vs 65%).

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Rural and farming 65% 92%
Other and special use 21% 1%
Environmental 14% 7%
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

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
 138
across Lismore
Approvals change year on year +210% +0%

Ranking within NSW

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
House price Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Income Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW

Liveability

Meerschaum Vale is more walkable (14 vs 0).

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
52/100
Crime Low
32/100
 Low
28/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Parks & reserves 0 1
Waterways 3 5

Mobility

Marom Creek sits further from the CBD (720.5 km vs 715.4 km).

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Walkability score 14/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 715.4 km 720.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 466 min 479 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2477
 0.6%
postcode 2480
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 75
postcode 2477
 69
postcode 2480

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.

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Car (driver) 76.6% / 70.6%
Meerschaum Vale — Car (driver): 76.6% Marom Creek — Car (driver): 70.6%
Worked from Home 16.2% / 23.5%
Meerschaum Vale — Worked from Home: 16.2% Marom Creek — Worked from Home: 23.5%
Walked Only 3.2% / 5.9%
Meerschaum Vale — Walked Only: 3.2% Marom Creek — Walked Only: 5.9%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Car (passenger): 3.9% Marom Creek — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.6 km 14.2 km

NBN connectivity

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Connectivity score 29/100 27/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
137 premises
 0%
50 premises

Council rates

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Average residential rate $1,264/yr $1,487/yr
Council Ballina Lismore

Federal electorate

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Meerschaum Vale Marom Creek
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Meerschaum Vale

Rural

Marom Creek

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Meerschaum Vale

Meerschaum Vale vs Wardell Meerschaum Vale vs Uralba Meerschaum Vale vs Dalwood Meerschaum Vale vs Lynwood Meerschaum Vale vs Coolgardie Meerschaum Vale vs Bagotville

Other comparisons with Marom Creek

Marom Creek vs Wyrallah Marom Creek vs Tregeagle Marom Creek vs Dalwood Marom Creek vs Rous Mill Marom Creek vs Tucki Tucki Marom Creek vs Tuckurimba
Full data on Meerschaum Vale Full data on Marom Creek
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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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