North Lismore vs South Lismore

South Lismore is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in North Lismore. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in South Lismore: a median of $448,000, against $317,000 in North Lismore, though rent is higher in North Lismore. On these figures, North Lismore tends to suit 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

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

North Lismore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($317,000 vs $447,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

South Lismore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (476 min vs 482 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

North 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.

North 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.

North Lismore South Lismore
Walkability 24 / 24
North Lismore — Walkability: 24/100 South Lismore — Walkability: 24/100
Safety 11 / 7
North Lismore — Safety: 11/100 South Lismore — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Lismore — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Lismore — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Lismore has more residents (1,775 vs 754); North Lismore skews older (42 vs 39).

North Lismore South Lismore
Population 754 1,775
+135% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.8% -5.5%
Median age 42 39
Median household income $60,632/yr $65,104/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+6% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Lismore South Lismore
0-4 4.0% / 4.7%
North Lismore — 0-4: 4.0% South Lismore — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 13.5% / 14.3%
North Lismore — 5-14: 13.5% South Lismore — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 5.4% / 7.0%
North Lismore — 15-19: 5.4% South Lismore — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.6% / 7.4%
North Lismore — 20-24: 5.6% South Lismore — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 10.9% / 11.4%
North Lismore — 25-34: 10.9% South Lismore — 25-34: 11.4%
35-44 11.9% / 12.4%
North Lismore — 35-44: 11.9% South Lismore — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 15.5% / 14.8%
North Lismore — 45-54: 15.5% South Lismore — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 13.7% / 13.6%
North Lismore — 55-64: 13.7% South Lismore — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 11.9% / 9.6%
North Lismore — 65-74: 11.9% South Lismore — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 4.9% / 3.6%
North Lismore — 75-84: 4.9% South Lismore — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 2.1% / 0.9%
North Lismore — 85+: 2.1% South Lismore — 85+: 0.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Lismore 39.1% lone person
North Lismore — Lone Person: 39.1% North Lismore — Couple Families: 26.8% North Lismore — One Parent Families: 23.4% North Lismore — Group Household: 9.4% North Lismore — Other Families: 1.3%
South Lismore 37.8% lone person
South Lismore — Lone Person: 37.8% South Lismore — Couple Families: 26.2% South Lismore — One Parent Families: 24.8% South Lismore — Group Household: 8.9% South Lismore — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Lismore 25.3% renting
North Lismore — Owned Outright: 39.8% North Lismore — Mortgage: 34.9% North Lismore — Renting: 25.3%
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.

North Lismore South Lismore
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 18.3%
North Lismore — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% South Lismore — Certificate III & IV: 18.3%
Bachelor Degree 10.9% / 7.2%
North Lismore — Bachelor Degree: 10.9% South Lismore — Bachelor Degree: 7.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 6.4%
North Lismore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% South Lismore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 1.4%
North Lismore — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% South Lismore — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 1.0%
North Lismore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% 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.

North Lismore South Lismore
England 3.3% / 1.4%
North Lismore — England: 3.3% South Lismore — England: 1.4%
New Zealand 2.5% / 1.4%
North Lismore — New Zealand: 2.5% South Lismore — New Zealand: 1.4%
Germany 0.5% / 0.2%
North Lismore — Germany: 0.5% South Lismore — Germany: 0.2%
Italy 0.4% / —
North Lismore — Italy: 0.4% South Lismore — Italy: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.4%
North Lismore — Philippines: not among its largest South Lismore — Philippines: 0.4%
Scotland — / 0.3%
North Lismore — Scotland: not among its largest South Lismore — Scotland: 0.3%
Canada — / 0.3%
North Lismore — Canada: not among its largest South Lismore — Canada: 0.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

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

North Lismore South Lismore
Median house price $317,000 $447,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 96 days
from 3 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.

North Lismore South Lismore
2 bed $300K / $365K
North Lismore — 2 bed: $300K (6 sales) South Lismore — 2 bed: $365K (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

3 bed $390K / $462K
North Lismore — 3 bed: $390K (9 sales) South Lismore — 3 bed: $462K (13 sales)

9 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

South Lismore has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 3%).

North Lismore South Lismore
Rural and farming 57% 48%
Industrial 3% 24%
Residential 17% 10%
Environmental 10% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 10%
Parks and recreation 8% 4%
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

North 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.

North Lismore South Lismore
Houses — 7.1%
$600/wk on $439K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

North Lismore South Lismore
House price Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
Income Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 72% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 100% of NSW

Liveability

North Lismore scores higher overall (28 vs 23).

North Lismore South Lismore
Grade D
same for both
Score 28/100 23/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

North Lismore South Lismore
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 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 7
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

North Lismore South Lismore
Inside the suburb 2 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, 4.2 km
 1
Lismore, 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.4% 0.7%

Schools in North Lismore

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

Schools in South Lismore

  • Lismore South Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Lismore South Lismore
Parks & reserves 4 2
Childcare 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

North Lismore South Lismore
Walkability score 24/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 728.6 km 728 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 482 min 476 min
Public transport score 44/100
Bus
 67/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 18.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

North Lismore South Lismore
Car (driver) 72.5% / 79.1%
North Lismore — Car (driver): 72.5% South Lismore — Car (driver): 79.1%
Worked from Home 17.4% / 7.4%
North Lismore — Worked from Home: 17.4% South Lismore — Worked from Home: 7.4%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 6.6%
North Lismore — Car (passenger): 4.3% South Lismore — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Walked Only 2.7% / 5.3%
North Lismore — Walked Only: 2.7% South Lismore — Walked Only: 5.3%
Bicycle 3.1% / 1.7%
North Lismore — Bicycle: 3.1% South Lismore — Bicycle: 1.7%

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

Setting

North Lismore South Lismore
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 26.3 km 28.0 km

NBN connectivity

North Lismore South Lismore
Connectivity score 81/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 66%
542 premises
 62%
1,373 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Lismore

Acreage Affordable

South Lismore

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Lismore

North Lismore vs Lismore North Lismore vs Lismore Heights North Lismore vs Tullera North Lismore vs Booerie Creek North Lismore vs Howards Grass

Other comparisons with South Lismore

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