Wardell vs Pimlico

Pimlico is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 47 in Wardell. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Pimlico, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Pimlico: a median of $1 million, against $800,000 in Wardell, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wardell tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Pimlico suits couples.

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

  • Wardell has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • Pimlico is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 49%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Wardell has cheaper houses ($800,000 vs $1,002,500)
  • Pimlico leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wardell

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $395/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Pimlico

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (464 min vs 471 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (720.9 km vs 723 km)
  • But Wardell is more walkable (26/100 vs 16/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wardell

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (26/100 vs 16/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 17%)

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

Investors

Pimlico

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.5% vs -0.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wardell Pimlico
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.

Wardell Pimlico
Walkability 26 / 16
Wardell — Walkability: 26/100 Pimlico — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 11 / 14
Wardell — Safety: 11/100 Pimlico — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 51 / 71
Wardell — Low fire risk: 51/100 Pimlico — Low fire risk: 71/100

Demographics

Wardell has more residents (830 vs 358); Pimlico has higher household incomes ($84,500 vs $65,208).

Wardell Pimlico
Population 830
+57% vs other
 358
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.2% +20.5%
Median age 47 41
Median household income $65,208/yr $84,500/yr
+30% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $395/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wardell Pimlico
0-4 4.9% / 4.5%
Wardell — 0-4: 4.9% Pimlico — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 11.4% / 12.8%
Wardell — 5-14: 11.4% Pimlico — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 4.9% / 6.1%
Wardell — 15-19: 4.9% Pimlico — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 5.5% / 5.9%
Wardell — 20-24: 5.5% Pimlico — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 9.5% / 10.6%
Wardell — 25-34: 9.5% Pimlico — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 9.6% / 14.2%
Wardell — 35-44: 9.6% Pimlico — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 14.3% / 14.5%
Wardell — 45-54: 14.3% Pimlico — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 18.2% / 12.8%
Wardell — 55-64: 18.2% Pimlico — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 13.6% / 9.8%
Wardell — 65-74: 13.6% Pimlico — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 6.4% / 6.1%
Wardell — 75-84: 6.4% Pimlico — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 1.8% / 0.8%
Wardell — 85+: 1.8% Pimlico — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wardell 28.8% couple families
Wardell — Couple Families: 28.8% Wardell — Lone Person: 37.4% Wardell — One Parent Families: 20.5% Wardell — Group Household: 9.1% Wardell — Other Families: 4.1%
Pimlico 46.2% couple families
Pimlico — Couple Families: 46.2% Pimlico — Lone Person: 22.1% Pimlico — One Parent Families: 26.9% Pimlico — Group Household: 4.8% Pimlico — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wardell 33.9% renting
Wardell — Owned Outright: 34.2% Wardell — Mortgage: 31.8% Wardell — Renting: 33.9%
Pimlico 18.6% renting
Pimlico — Owned Outright: 49.6% Pimlico — Mortgage: 31.9% Pimlico — Renting: 18.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wardell Pimlico
Certificate III & IV 20.1% / 18.7%
Wardell — Certificate III & IV: 20.1% Pimlico — Certificate III & IV: 18.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.9% / 7.3%
Wardell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9% Pimlico — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Bachelor Degree 5.4% / 5.3%
Wardell — Bachelor Degree: 5.4% Pimlico — Bachelor Degree: 5.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.7%
Wardell — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Pimlico — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.7%
Wardell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Pimlico — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Wardell Pimlico
England 3.4% / 0.8%
Wardell — England: 3.4% Pimlico — England: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.8%
Wardell — New Zealand: 1.4% Pimlico — New Zealand: 0.8%
Scotland — / 1.1%
Wardell — Scotland: not among its largest Pimlico — Scotland: 1.1%
Brazil 0.5% / —
Wardell — Brazil: 0.5% Pimlico — Brazil: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / —
Wardell — Philippines: 0.4% Pimlico — Philippines: not among its largest
South Africa 0.4% / —
Wardell — South Africa: 0.4% Pimlico — South Africa: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wardell 77.7% houses
Wardell — Houses: 77.7% Wardell — Flats / Apartments: 19.1% Wardell — Townhouses: 3.2%
Pimlico 98.3% houses
Pimlico — Houses: 98.3% Pimlico — Flats / Apartments: 1.7% Pimlico — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Wardell Pimlico
Median house price $800,000 $1,002,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $329,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 77 days
from 7 sales
 77 days
from 5 sales

Zoning mix

Pimlico has more rural and farming land (76% vs 38%).

Wardell Pimlico
Rural and farming 38% 76%
Other and special use 41% 8%
Environmental 19% 16%
Residential 1% 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

Wardell Pimlico
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
same for both
Approvals change year on year +210%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Wardell Pimlico
House price Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Wardell is more walkable (26 vs 16).

Wardell Pimlico
Grade D —
Score 16/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Wardell carries more bushfire risk (49 vs 29).

Wardell Pimlico
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 Low
29/100
Crime High
89/100
 High
86/100
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

Wardell Pimlico
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Wardell

  • Wardell Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Cabbage Tree Island Public School Government · Primary

Schools in Pimlico

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

Amenities in the suburb

Wardell Pimlico
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 8 37

Mobility

Wardell sits further from the CBD (723 km vs 720.9 km).

Wardell Pimlico
Walkability score 26/100 16/100
Distance to Sydney 723 km 720.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 471 min 464 min
Public transport score 38/100
Bus
 25/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 14.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2477
 1.1%
postcode 2478
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 75
postcode 2477
 66
postcode 2478

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.

Wardell Pimlico
Car (driver) 78.8% / 79.6%
Wardell — Car (driver): 78.8% Pimlico — Car (driver): 79.6%
Worked from Home 13.6% / 12.2%
Wardell — Worked from Home: 13.6% Pimlico — Worked from Home: 12.2%
Walked Only 3.3% / 4.8%
Wardell — Walked Only: 3.3% Pimlico — Walked Only: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.4%
Wardell — Car (passenger): 4.4% Pimlico — Car (passenger): 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.6%).

Setting

Wardell Pimlico
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km 4.3 km

NBN connectivity

Wardell Pimlico
Connectivity score 39/100 30/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
420 premises
 0%
137 premises

Council rates

Wardell Pimlico
Average residential rate $1,264/yr
same for both
Council Ballina
same for both

Federal electorate

Wardell Pimlico
Division Page Richmond
Member Kevin Hogan Justine Elliot
Party The Nationals Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Wardell Pimlico
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wardell

River Rural

Pimlico

River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wardell

Wardell vs Broadwater Wardell vs Meerschaum Vale Wardell vs East Wardell Wardell vs Empire Vale Wardell vs Coolgardie Wardell vs Cabbage Tree Island

Other comparisons with Pimlico

Pimlico vs West Ballina Pimlico vs Uralba Pimlico vs Empire Vale Pimlico vs Keith Hall Pimlico vs Coolgardie
Full data on Wardell Full data on Pimlico
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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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