Nimbin vs Stony Chute

Nimbin is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 53 in Stony Chute. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Nimbin, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Nimbin: a median of $720,000, against $600,000 in Stony Chute, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nimbin tends to suit people living alone, while Stony Chute 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

They split

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

  • Nimbin has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • Stony Chute is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 37%)

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

First-home buyers

Stony Chute

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($600,000 vs $720,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Stony Chute

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 38%)
  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Nimbin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (761.4 km vs 764.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Stony Chute

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (76/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Nimbin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.8% vs -7.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Nimbin Stony Chute
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.

Nimbin Stony Chute
Walkability 21 / 14
Nimbin — Walkability: 21/100 Stony Chute — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 10 / 24
Nimbin — Safety: 10/100 Stony Chute — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 41 / 81
Nimbin — Low fire risk: 41/100 Stony Chute — Low fire risk: 81/100

Demographics

Nimbin has more residents (1,607 vs 156); Nimbin rents higher ($300/wk vs $200/wk).

Nimbin Stony Chute
Population 1,607
+90% vs other
 156
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.8% -7.7%
Median age 50 53
Median household income $41,496/yr $47,788/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+33% vs other
 $200/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nimbin Stony Chute
0-4 3.9% / 1.9%
Nimbin — 0-4: 3.9% Stony Chute — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 11.2% / 5.1%
Nimbin — 5-14: 11.2% Stony Chute — 5-14: 5.1%
15-19 4.3% / 7.7%
Nimbin — 15-19: 4.3% Stony Chute — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 4.0% / 4.5%
Nimbin — 20-24: 4.0% Stony Chute — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 8.5% / 7.7%
Nimbin — 25-34: 8.5% Stony Chute — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 10.6% / 7.7%
Nimbin — 35-44: 10.6% Stony Chute — 35-44: 7.7%
45-54 13.8% / 14.1%
Nimbin — 45-54: 13.8% Stony Chute — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 21.2% / 20.5%
Nimbin — 55-64: 21.2% Stony Chute — 55-64: 20.5%
65-74 17.3% / 19.2%
Nimbin — 65-74: 17.3% Stony Chute — 65-74: 19.2%
75-84 4.5% / 5.1%
Nimbin — 75-84: 4.5% Stony Chute — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 0.9% / 3.2%
Nimbin — 85+: 0.9% Stony Chute — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nimbin 53.9% lone person
Nimbin — Lone Person: 53.9% Nimbin — Couple Families: 18.6% Nimbin — One Parent Families: 18.0% Nimbin — Group Household: 7.5% Nimbin — Other Families: 2.0%
Stony Chute 41.4% lone person
Stony Chute — Lone Person: 41.4% Stony Chute — Couple Families: 29.3% Stony Chute — One Parent Families: 19.0% Stony Chute — Group Household: 10.3% Stony Chute — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nimbin 19.9% renting
Nimbin — Owned Outright: 55.4% Nimbin — Mortgage: 24.7% Nimbin — Renting: 19.9%
Stony Chute 11.9% renting
Stony Chute — Owned Outright: 62.7% Stony Chute — Mortgage: 25.4% Stony Chute — Renting: 11.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Nimbin Stony Chute
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 21.2%
Nimbin — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% Stony Chute — Certificate III & IV: 21.2%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 16.0%
Nimbin — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Stony Chute — Bachelor Degree: 16.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 7.7%
Nimbin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Stony Chute — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 5.8%
Nimbin — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Stony Chute — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.9%
Nimbin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Stony Chute — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Nimbin Stony Chute
England 5.2% / 5.1%
Nimbin — England: 5.2% Stony Chute — England: 5.1%
New Zealand 2.1% / 3.2%
Nimbin — New Zealand: 2.1% Stony Chute — New Zealand: 3.2%
Japan 0.3% / 1.9%
Nimbin — Japan: 0.3% Stony Chute — Japan: 1.9%
Netherlands — / 1.9%
Nimbin — Netherlands: not among its largest Stony Chute — Netherlands: 1.9%
Germany 1.7% / —
Nimbin — Germany: 1.7% Stony Chute — Germany: not among its largest
France 0.6% / —
Nimbin — France: 0.6% Stony Chute — France: not among its largest
Scotland 0.4% / —
Nimbin — Scotland: 0.4% Stony Chute — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nimbin 91.5% houses
Nimbin — Houses: 91.5% Nimbin — Flats / Apartments: 6.9% Nimbin — Townhouses: 1.6%
Stony Chute 96.8% houses
Stony Chute — Houses: 96.8% Stony Chute — Flats / Apartments: 3.2% Stony Chute — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Nimbin Stony Chute
Median house price $720,000 $600,000
Median unit price $410,000 —
Median land price $417,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 82 days
from 16 sales
 68 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Nimbin Stony Chute
Rural and farming 93% 99%
Environmental 4% 1%
Residential 3% 0%
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

Nimbin Stony Chute
New dwellings approved 138
across Lismore
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Nimbin Stony Chute
House price Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
Income Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 58% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Nimbin Stony Chute
Grade D —
Score 11/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Nimbin carries more bushfire risk (59 vs 19); Nimbin carries more crime risk (90 vs 76).

Nimbin Stony Chute
Bushfire Moderate
59/100
 Low
19/100
Crime High
90/100
 High
76/100
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

Nimbin Stony Chute
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Nimbin

  • Tuntable Falls Community School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Nimbin Central School Government · Combined at peers

Schools in Stony Chute

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Nimbin Stony Chute
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 2 0
GPs 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Waterways 9 5

Mobility

Stony Chute sits further from the CBD (764.2 km vs 761.4 km).

Nimbin Stony Chute
Walkability score 21/100 14/100
Distance to Sydney 761.4 km 764.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 510 min 514 min
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.

Nimbin Stony Chute
Car (driver) 66.2% / 43.6%
Nimbin — Car (driver): 66.2% Stony Chute — Car (driver): 43.6%
Worked from Home 20.7% / 47.3%
Nimbin — Worked from Home: 20.7% Stony Chute — Worked from Home: 47.3%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 9.1%
Nimbin — Car (passenger): 4.5% Stony Chute — Car (passenger): 9.1%
Walked Only 5.8% / —
Nimbin — Walked Only: 5.8% Stony Chute — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 1.8% / —
Nimbin — Bicycle: 1.8% Stony Chute — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.2%).

Setting

Nimbin Stony Chute
Elevation 69 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 250 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 31.1 km 38.5 km

NBN connectivity

Nimbin Stony Chute
Connectivity score 29/100 28/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
795 premises
 0%
81 premises

Climate

Nimbin Stony Chute
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Nimbin Stony Chute
Average residential rate $1,487/yr
same for both
Council Lismore
same for both

Federal electorate

Nimbin Stony Chute
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Nimbin Stony Chute
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Nimbin

Acreage

Stony Chute

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nimbin

Nimbin vs Tuntable Creek Nimbin vs Blue Knob Nimbin vs Terania Creek Nimbin vs Coffee Camp

Other comparisons with Stony Chute

Stony Chute vs Larnook Stony Chute vs Lillian Rock Stony Chute vs Blue Knob Stony Chute vs Cawongla Stony Chute vs Wadeville
Full data on Nimbin Full data on Stony Chute
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