Meerschaum Vale vs Uralba

Meerschaum Vale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 55 in Uralba. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Meerschaum Vale, most households are couple families. In Uralba, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Uralba: a median of $1.7 million, against $1.12 million in Meerschaum Vale, though rent is higher in Meerschaum Vale. On these figures, Meerschaum Vale tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget, while Uralba suits older residents.

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

  • Meerschaum Vale is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 62%)
  • Uralba carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 32/100)

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

First-home buyers

Meerschaum Vale

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,125,000 vs $1,700,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 25%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Uralba

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($265/wk vs $435/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Meerschaum Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (715.4 km vs 731.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Uralba

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 32/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 15%)

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

Investors

Uralba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (23.1% vs -6.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Meerschaum Vale and Uralba 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 Uralba
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 Uralba
Walkability 14 / 18
Meerschaum Vale — Walkability: 14/100 Uralba — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 68 / 83
Meerschaum Vale — Safety: 68/100 Uralba — Safety: 83/100
Low fire risk 51 / 75
Meerschaum Vale — Low fire risk: 51/100 Uralba — Low fire risk: 75/100

Demographics

Meerschaum Vale rents higher ($435/wk vs $265/wk); Meerschaum Vale has more residents (372 vs 266).

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Population 372
+28% vs other
 266
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.3% +23.1%
Median age 47 55
Median household income $102,336/yr
+8% vs other
 $94,224/yr
Median weekly rent $435/wk
+39% vs other
 $265/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
0-4 4.3% / 3.8%
Meerschaum Vale — 0-4: 4.3% Uralba — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 9.7% / 10.5%
Meerschaum Vale — 5-14: 9.7% Uralba — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 7.5% / 6.0%
Meerschaum Vale — 15-19: 7.5% Uralba — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 5.4% / 4.1%
Meerschaum Vale — 20-24: 5.4% Uralba — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 8.1% / 3.0%
Meerschaum Vale — 25-34: 8.1% Uralba — 25-34: 3.0%
35-44 12.4% / 9.8%
Meerschaum Vale — 35-44: 12.4% Uralba — 35-44: 9.8%
45-54 17.7% / 11.7%
Meerschaum Vale — 45-54: 17.7% Uralba — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 18.3% / 24.1%
Meerschaum Vale — 55-64: 18.3% Uralba — 55-64: 24.1%
65-74 11.3% / 16.9%
Meerschaum Vale — 65-74: 11.3% Uralba — 65-74: 16.9%
75-84 4.0% / 7.1%
Meerschaum Vale — 75-84: 4.0% Uralba — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ — / 3.0%
Meerschaum Vale — 85+: not among its largest Uralba — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

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%
Uralba 47.0% couple families
Uralba — Couple Families: 47.0% Uralba — Lone Person: 30.3% Uralba — One Parent Families: 15.2% Uralba — Group Household: 7.6%
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%
Uralba 10.3% renting
Uralba — Owned Outright: 56.7% Uralba — Mortgage: 33.0% Uralba — Renting: 10.3%
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 Uralba
England 3.2% / 3.4%
Meerschaum Vale — England: 3.2% Uralba — England: 3.4%
Netherlands 1.1% / 1.5%
Meerschaum Vale — Netherlands: 1.1% Uralba — Netherlands: 1.5%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.5%
Meerschaum Vale — South Africa: 0.8% Uralba — South Africa: 1.5%
Italy — / 1.1%
Meerschaum Vale — Italy: not among its largest Uralba — Italy: 1.1%
Scotland 0.8% / —
Meerschaum Vale — Scotland: 0.8% Uralba — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

Qualifications

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

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Certificate III & IV 24.5% / 18.4%
Meerschaum Vale — Certificate III & IV: 24.5% Uralba — Certificate III & IV: 18.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 15.8%
Meerschaum Vale — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Uralba — Bachelor Degree: 15.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.4%
Meerschaum Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Uralba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 6.4%
Meerschaum Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Uralba — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.0%
Meerschaum Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Uralba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

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%
Uralba 97.0% houses
Uralba — Houses: 97.0% Uralba — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Median house price $1,125,000 $1,700,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Rural and farming 65% 64%
Other and special use 21% 19%
Environmental 14% 17%
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 Uralba
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
same for both
Approvals change year on year +210%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
House price Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Income Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 45% of NSW
same for both

Liveability

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
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 carries more bushfire risk (49 vs 25); Meerschaum Vale carries more crime risk (32 vs 17).

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 Low
25/100
Crime Low
32/100
 Low
17/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
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 Uralba
Parks & reserves 0 1
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Uralba sits further from the CBD (731.6 km vs 715.4 km).

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Walkability score 14/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 715.4 km 731.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 466 min 470 min
Public transport score 21/100
Bus
 26/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 5.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 4 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2477
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 75
postcode 2477
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.

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Car (driver) 76.6% / 68.2%
Meerschaum Vale — Car (driver): 76.6% Uralba — Car (driver): 68.2%
Worked from Home 16.2% / 24.5%
Meerschaum Vale — Worked from Home: 16.2% Uralba — Worked from Home: 24.5%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.5%
Meerschaum Vale — Car (passenger): 3.9% Uralba — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 3.2% / 2.7%
Meerschaum Vale — Walked Only: 3.2% Uralba — Walked Only: 2.7%

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

Setting

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.6 km 5.6 km

NBN connectivity

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

Council rates

Meerschaum Vale Uralba
Average residential rate $1,264/yr
same for both
Council Ballina
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Meerschaum Vale

Rural

Uralba

Acreage Professionals Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Meerschaum Vale

Meerschaum Vale vs Wardell Meerschaum Vale vs Dalwood Meerschaum Vale vs Lynwood Meerschaum Vale vs Marom Creek Meerschaum Vale vs Coolgardie Meerschaum Vale vs Bagotville

Other comparisons with Uralba

Uralba vs Alstonville Uralba vs West Ballina Uralba vs Pimlico Uralba vs Teven Uralba vs Lynwood Uralba vs Coolgardie
Full data on Meerschaum Vale Full data on Uralba
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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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