Yamba vs Iluka

Yamba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 57 against 62 in Iluka. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Yamba, about half of households are people living alone. In Iluka, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Yamba: a median of $932,000, against $830,000 in Iluka, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Iluka tends to suit people living alone.

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

Yamba

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 6)
  • is already more of a family suburb (43% vs 32%)
  • But Iluka carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Iluka

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($340,000 vs $700,000)
  • has cheaper units ($520,000 vs $702,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($830,000 vs $932,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Iluka

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Yamba

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (37/100 vs 26/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (656.7 km vs 670.5 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (431 min vs 436 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Yamba has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • Iluka carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 79/100)

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

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

Yamba Iluka
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.

Yamba Iluka
Walkability 37 / 26
Yamba — Walkability: 37/100 Iluka — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 21 / 41
Yamba — Safety: 21/100 Iluka — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 62 / 5
Yamba — Low fire risk: 62/100 Iluka — Low fire risk: 5/100

Demographics

Yamba has more residents (6,405 vs 1,764); Yamba rents higher ($400/wk vs $300/wk).

Yamba Iluka
Population 6,405
+72% vs other
 1,764
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% +2.7%
Median age 57 62
Median household income $57,512/yr
+25% vs other
 $43,368/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+25% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Yamba Iluka
0-4 4.0% / 2.8%
Yamba — 0-4: 4.0% Iluka — 0-4: 2.8%
5-14 9.0% / 6.7%
Yamba — 5-14: 9.0% Iluka — 5-14: 6.7%
15-19 3.8% / 3.1%
Yamba — 15-19: 3.8% Iluka — 15-19: 3.1%
20-24 3.6% / 2.0%
Yamba — 20-24: 3.6% Iluka — 20-24: 2.0%
25-34 8.0% / 4.3%
Yamba — 25-34: 8.0% Iluka — 25-34: 4.3%
35-44 9.3% / 6.2%
Yamba — 35-44: 9.3% Iluka — 35-44: 6.2%
45-54 9.8% / 9.8%
Yamba — 45-54: 9.8% Iluka — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 14.9% / 21.1%
Yamba — 55-64: 14.9% Iluka — 55-64: 21.1%
65-74 19.4% / 25.1%
Yamba — 65-74: 19.4% Iluka — 65-74: 25.1%
75-84 13.6% / 15.0%
Yamba — 75-84: 13.6% Iluka — 75-84: 15.0%
85+ 4.6% / 4.0%
Yamba — 85+: 4.6% Iluka — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Yamba 51.1% lone person
Yamba — Lone Person: 51.1% Yamba — Couple Families: 26.9% Yamba — One Parent Families: 15.7% Yamba — Group Household: 5.0% Yamba — Other Families: 1.3%
Iluka 59.1% lone person
Iluka — Lone Person: 59.1% Iluka — Couple Families: 16.9% Iluka — One Parent Families: 15.2% Iluka — Group Household: 6.7% Iluka — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Yamba 28.2% renting
Yamba — Owned Outright: 53.1% Yamba — Mortgage: 18.7% Yamba — Renting: 28.2%
Iluka 31.1% renting
Iluka — Owned Outright: 55.5% Iluka — Mortgage: 13.3% Iluka — Renting: 31.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Yamba Iluka
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 20.0%
Yamba — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Iluka — Certificate III & IV: 20.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 6.0%
Yamba — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Iluka — Bachelor Degree: 6.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.9%
Yamba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Iluka — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 1.0%
Yamba — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Iluka — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.0%
Yamba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Iluka — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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.

Yamba Iluka
England 3.7% / 2.7%
Yamba — England: 3.7% Iluka — England: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.5%
Yamba — New Zealand: 1.8% Iluka — New Zealand: 1.5%
Netherlands 0.4% / 0.3%
Yamba — Netherlands: 0.4% Iluka — Netherlands: 0.3%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.2%
Yamba — South Africa: 0.4% Iluka — South Africa: 0.2%
Germany 0.4% / —
Yamba — Germany: 0.4% Iluka — Germany: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / —
Yamba — Philippines: 0.4% Iluka — Philippines: not among its largest
India — / 0.2%
Yamba — India: not among its largest Iluka — India: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Yamba 75.1% houses
Yamba — Houses: 75.1% Yamba — Townhouses: 17.0% Yamba — Flats / Apartments: 7.8%
Iluka 71.9% houses
Iluka — Houses: 71.9% Iluka — Townhouses: 14.8% Iluka — Flats / Apartments: 13.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Yamba Iluka
Median house price $932,000 $830,000
Median unit price $702,500 $520,000
Median land price $700,000 $340,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 100 sales
 47 days
from 27 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.

Yamba Iluka
2 bed $658K / $725K
Yamba — 2 bed: $658K (16 sales) Iluka — 2 bed: $725K (12 sales)

16 vs 12 sales

3 bed $835K / $755K
Yamba — 3 bed: $835K (79 sales) Iluka — 3 bed: $755K (23 sales)

79 vs 23 sales

4 bed $1.16M / $945K
Yamba — 4 bed: $1.16M (54 sales) Iluka — 4 bed: $945K (19 sales)

54 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Iluka has more land zoned for conservation (76% vs 51%).

Yamba Iluka
Environmental 51% 76%
Residential 31% 12%
Parks and recreation 9% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 3%
Rural and farming 0% 3%
Industrial 1%
same for both
Planning zones cover 100% of Yamba and 99% of Iluka. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Yamba Iluka
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
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.

Yamba Iluka
Houses 3.9%
$740/wk on $999K
 —
Units 3.9%
$550/wk on $725K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Yamba Iluka
House price Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
Income Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 22% of NSW —

Liveability

Yamba scores higher overall (28 vs 11); Yamba is more walkable (37 vs 26).

Yamba Iluka
Grade D
same for both
Score 28/100 11/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Iluka carries more bushfire risk (95 vs 38); Yamba carries more crime risk (79 vs 59).

Yamba Iluka
Bushfire Low
38/100
 High
95/100
Crime High
79/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
85/100
 High
74/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Yamba Iluka
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Yamba

  • St James' Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Yamba Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Iluka

  • Iluka Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Yamba Iluka
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 12 2
Parks & reserves 19 6
Childcare 4 2
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 5 1
Beaches 5 0
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Iluka sits further from the CBD (670.5 km vs 656.7 km).

Yamba Iluka
Walkability score 37/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 656.7 km 670.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 431 min 436 min
Public transport score 58/100
Bus · Ferry
 29/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 20.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 6.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2464
 0.3%
postcode 2466
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 58
postcode 2464
 52
postcode 2466

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.

Yamba Iluka
Car (driver) 69.5% / 67.3%
Yamba — Car (driver): 69.5% Iluka — Car (driver): 67.3%
Worked from Home 15.6% / 17.0%
Yamba — Worked from Home: 15.6% Iluka — Worked from Home: 17.0%
Walked Only 7.4% / 8.4%
Yamba — Walked Only: 7.4% Iluka — Walked Only: 8.4%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 4.7%
Yamba — Car (passenger): 5.0% Iluka — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bicycle 2.2% / 2.6%
Yamba — Bicycle: 2.2% Iluka — Bicycle: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.5%).

Setting

Yamba Iluka
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 150 m
1.5 km to a named beach
 987 m
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Yamba Iluka
Connectivity score 78/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
4,772 premises
 60%
1,473 premises

Climate

Yamba Iluka
Annual rainfall 1,557 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 11.0°C
same for both

Council rates

Yamba Iluka
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Yamba Iluka
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Yamba Iluka
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Yamba

Coastal Retirees

Iluka

Beach Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Yamba

Yamba vs Palmers Island Yamba vs Wooloweyah Yamba vs Angourie

Other comparisons with Iluka

Iluka vs Goodwood Island
Full data on Yamba Full data on Iluka
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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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