Wollongbar vs Lindendale

Wollongbar is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 49 in Lindendale. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wollongbar, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lindendale: a median of $1.2 million, against $865,000 in Wollongbar, though rent is higher in Wollongbar. On these figures, Wollongbar 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

They split

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

  • Wollongbar has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • Lindendale carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 51/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Wollongbar has cheaper houses ($865,000 vs $1,200,000)
  • Lindendale has cheaper land ($275,000 vs $537,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lindendale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($273/wk vs $420/wk)
  • But Wollongbar has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 14%)

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

Commuting to the city

Lindendale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (475 min vs 484 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (724.2 km vs 734.4 km)
  • But Wollongbar is more walkable (27/100 vs 16/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Wollongbar is more walkable (27/100 vs 16/100)
  • Lindendale carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 51/100)

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

Investors

Wollongbar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.3% vs 7.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wollongbar Lindendale
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.

Wollongbar Lindendale
Walkability 27 / 16
Wollongbar — Walkability: 27/100 Lindendale — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 49 / 78
Wollongbar — Safety: 49/100 Lindendale — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Wollongbar — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lindendale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wollongbar has more residents (3,261 vs 263); Wollongbar rents higher ($420/wk vs $273/wk).

Wollongbar Lindendale
Population 3,261
+92% vs other
 263
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.3% +7.3%
Median age 40 49
Median household income $85,228/yr $92,092/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+35% vs other
 $273/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wollongbar Lindendale
0-4 5.5% / 4.2%
Wollongbar — 0-4: 5.5% Lindendale — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 14.4% / 12.5%
Wollongbar — 5-14: 14.4% Lindendale — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 6.8% / 6.1%
Wollongbar — 15-19: 6.8% Lindendale — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 5.2% / 4.6%
Wollongbar — 20-24: 5.2% Lindendale — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 10.6% / 6.8%
Wollongbar — 25-34: 10.6% Lindendale — 25-34: 6.8%
35-44 12.3% / 14.1%
Wollongbar — 35-44: 12.3% Lindendale — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 13.0% / 10.3%
Wollongbar — 45-54: 13.0% Lindendale — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 12.1% / 17.5%
Wollongbar — 55-64: 12.1% Lindendale — 55-64: 17.5%
65-74 11.4% / 15.2%
Wollongbar — 65-74: 11.4% Lindendale — 65-74: 15.2%
75-84 6.9% / 6.5%
Wollongbar — 75-84: 6.9% Lindendale — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 1.9% / 3.4%
Wollongbar — 85+: 1.9% Lindendale — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wollongbar 45.4% couple families
Wollongbar — Couple Families: 45.4% Wollongbar — Lone Person: 28.6% Wollongbar — One Parent Families: 20.7% Wollongbar — Group Household: 4.1% Wollongbar — Other Families: 1.2%
Lindendale 40.3% couple families
Lindendale — Couple Families: 40.3% Lindendale — Lone Person: 31.3% Lindendale — One Parent Families: 22.4% Lindendale — Group Household: 6.0% Lindendale — 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.

Wollongbar 25.1% renting
Wollongbar — Owned Outright: 37.5% Wollongbar — Mortgage: 37.3% Wollongbar — Renting: 25.1%
Lindendale 14.3% renting
Lindendale — Owned Outright: 51.6% Lindendale — Mortgage: 34.1% Lindendale — Renting: 14.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wollongbar Lindendale
Bachelor Degree 12.7% / 18.3%
Wollongbar — Bachelor Degree: 12.7% Lindendale — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 12.2%
Wollongbar — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Lindendale — Certificate III & IV: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 9.9%
Wollongbar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Lindendale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 6.8%
Wollongbar — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Lindendale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.0%
Wollongbar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Lindendale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

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.

Wollongbar Lindendale
England 2.9% / 3.4%
Wollongbar — England: 2.9% Lindendale — England: 3.4%
India 0.3% / 3.0%
Wollongbar — India: 0.3% Lindendale — India: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.9%
Wollongbar — New Zealand: 1.3% Lindendale — New Zealand: 1.9%
Netherlands — / 1.1%
Wollongbar — Netherlands: not among its largest Lindendale — Netherlands: 1.1%
South Africa 0.8% / —
Wollongbar — South Africa: 0.8% Lindendale — South Africa: not among its largest
Malaysia 0.4% / —
Wollongbar — Malaysia: 0.4% Lindendale — Malaysia: 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.

Wollongbar 84.4% houses
Wollongbar — Houses: 84.4% Wollongbar — Flats / Apartments: 8.3% Wollongbar — Townhouses: 7.3%
Lindendale 103.2% houses
Lindendale — Houses: 103.2% Lindendale — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Lindendale — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Wollongbar Lindendale
Median house price $865,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $627,500 —
Median land price $537,000 $275,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 44 days
from 38 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Lindendale has more rural and farming land (98% vs 39%).

Wollongbar Lindendale
Rural and farming 39% 98%
Other and special use 48% 2%
Residential 11% 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

Wollongbar Lindendale
New dwellings approved 238
across Ballina
 138
across Lismore
Approvals change year on year +210% +0%

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.

Wollongbar Lindendale
Houses 3.8%
$815/wk on $1.11M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Wollongbar Lindendale
House price Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Income Higher than 55% of NSW —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 68% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of NSW —

Liveability

Wollongbar is more walkable (27 vs 16).

Wollongbar Lindendale
Grade B —
Score 50/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Wollongbar carries more crime risk (51 vs 22).

Wollongbar Lindendale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
51/100
 Low
22/100
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

Wollongbar Lindendale
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
Lismore, 8.4 km

Schools in Wollongbar

  • Wollongbar Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Lindendale

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

Amenities in the suburb

Wollongbar Lindendale
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 8 2

Mobility

Wollongbar sits further from the CBD (734.4 km vs 724.2 km).

Wollongbar Lindendale
Walkability score 27/100 16/100
Distance to Sydney 734.4 km
+1% vs other
 724.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 484 min 475 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.

Wollongbar Lindendale
Car (driver) 76.1% / 52.1%
Wollongbar — Car (driver): 76.1% Lindendale — Car (driver): 52.1%
Worked from Home 16.8% / 42.1%
Wollongbar — Worked from Home: 16.8% Lindendale — Worked from Home: 42.1%
Walked Only 1.5% / 5.8%
Wollongbar — Walked Only: 1.5% Lindendale — Walked Only: 5.8%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / —
Wollongbar — Car (passenger): 4.2% Lindendale — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 0.7% / —
Wollongbar — Bus: 0.7% Lindendale — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.1%).

Setting

Wollongbar Lindendale
Elevation 173 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 163 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.4 km 16.2 km

NBN connectivity

Wollongbar Lindendale
Connectivity score 79/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
1,544 premises
 0%
111 premises

Council rates

Wollongbar Lindendale
Average residential rate $1,264/yr $1,487/yr
Council Ballina Lismore

Federal electorate

Wollongbar Lindendale
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wollongbar Lindendale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wollongbar

—

Lindendale

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Lindendale

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Full data on Wollongbar Full data on Lindendale
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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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