Ballina NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Ballina, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Ballina NSW is 9,735 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Ballina is $615 per week ($31,980 per year). Median rent in Ballina is $360 per week ($1,560 per month). Ballina has a median age of 56 years, older than the national median of 38. Ballina has a population density of 475.6 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Ballina is England. The most common religion is No Religion (40% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is IAL Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Ballina is $1,733.

There were 431 recorded offences in Ballina in 2025-26, a rate of 44 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (190 offences).

Ballina Map

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Ballina Population

0
residents (Census 2021)

Ballina Median Income & Rent

💰
Median Income
$615/wk
$31,980 per year
#6854 of 14,663
🏠
Median Rent
$360/wk
$1,560 per month
#2908 of 14,663
👤
Median Age
56years
18 years older than national median
🏡
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2 · 0.7 per bedroom

Ballina Demographics

Gender Split

Male 45.8% (4,456) Female 54.2% (5,281)

Population Density

475.6
people per km²
9,735 people · 20.5 km²

Households

2
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,448
Family income/wk

Ballina Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Ballina Housing Tenure

🏠
Owned outright
66.9% 1,551 dwellings
🏦
Owned with mortgage
33.1% 768 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Ballina Country of Birth

Australia
93.0%
England
4.1%
India
1.4%
Canada
0.4%
Fiji
0.3%
Germany
0.3%
China
0.2%
Brazil
0.1%
France
0.1%
Hong Kong
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Ballina Religion

No Religion
39.6%
Catholic
21.5%
Anglican
18.8%
Not stated
9.7%
Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd
3.8%
Uniting Church
3.4%
Christian (other)
2.0%
Buddhism
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Ballina Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
46.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
34.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
11.0%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Ballina Languages Spoken at Home

IAL Punjabi
27.4%
Other
22.3%
Thai
10.2%
Hindi
9.6%
Italian
8.3%
Portuguese
7.6%
Australian Indigenous
7.6%
Malayalam
7.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Ballina Employment

💼
Employed full-time
23.0% 1,754 people
Employed part-time
19.6% 1,500 people
🔍
Unemployed
1.9% 147 people
🏠
Not in labour force
55.5% 4,237 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Ballina Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
42.0%
Bachelor Degree
24.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.3%
Postgraduate Degree
6.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.8%
Certificate I/II
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Ballina Occupation

Professionals
24.9%
Community & Personal Service
17.9%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.1%
Managers
11.5%
Clerical & Administrative
10.2%
Labourers
8.2%
Sales Workers
7.4%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Ballina Field of Study

Management & Commerce
19.6%
Society & Culture
15.1%
Health
14.7%
Engineering
10.8%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
10.1%
Education
10.1%
Architecture & Building
8.8%
Creative Arts
4.3%
Agriculture & Environment
3.2%
Information Technology
1.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Ballina Dwelling Types

Separate house
61.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
23.0%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
15.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Ballina Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
1.3%
$150-$299/wk
2.0%
$300-$399/wk
4.3%
$400-$499/wk
12.5%
$500-$649/wk
8.1%
$650-$799/wk
9.9%
$800-$999/wk
9.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.5%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.3%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.6%
$4,000+/wk
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Ballina Marital Status

💍
Married
37.6% 3,229
↔️
Separated
4.0% 347
📋
Divorced
13.7% 1,174
🕊️
Widowed
13.2% 1,130
👤
Never married
31.5% 2,701

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Ballina Ancestry

English
33.7%
Australian
30.0%
Irish
10.4%
Scottish
9.0%
Other
4.8%
Aboriginal Australianralian
3.7%
German
3.3%
Italian
2.2%
Indian
0.9%
Dutch
0.8%
Filipino
0.7%
Chinese
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Ballina School & University Attendance

Primary — Government
21.3%
Secondary — Government
19.2%
Vocational Education
18.4%
Primary — Catholic
11.8%
Pre-school
11.1%
Secondary — Catholic
8.1%
Primary — Other Non-Govt
5.9%
Secondary — Other Non-Govt
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Ballina Need for Assistance

Needs assistance
12.9% 2,324
No need for assistance
87.1% 15,689

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Ballina Volunteering

🤝
Volunteer
15.0% 1,182
Not a volunteer
85.0% 6,694

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Ballina Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.7%
$300-$449/mo
2.3%
$450-$599/mo
3.0%
$600-$799/mo
4.0%
$800-$999/mo
6.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
14.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
25.7%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Ballina How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.5%
Did not go to work
14.9%
Walked only
6.1%
Car (passenger)
5.1%
Bicycle
3.3%
Truck
1.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Other
0.5%
Bus
0.4%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Ballina Car Ownership

0 vehicles
11.9%
1 vehicle
49.5%
2 vehicles
28.5%
3 vehicles
7.3%
4+ vehicles
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Ballina Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
7.2%
2 bedrooms
36.5%
3 bedrooms
40.4%
4 bedrooms
13.7%
5 bedrooms
2.0%
6+ bedrooms
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Ballina Population Mobility

16.1%
moved in the last year
48.5%
moved in the last 5 years
3.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
42.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Ballina Indigenous Population

5.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
966
Indigenous residents
17,291
Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Ballina Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,279
Arthritis
479
Heart disease
449
Lung condition
437
Asthma
311
Diabetes
302
Stroke
256
Cancer
235
Kidney disease
206
Dementia
89

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Ballina Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.5%
$1-$149/wk
3.9%
$150-$299/wk
6.7%
$300-$399/wk
6.7%
$400-$499/wk
7.6%
$500-$649/wk
6.7%
$650-$799/wk
13.2%
$800-$999/wk
14.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.8%
$3,500+/wk
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Ballina Family Structure

Couple — no children
39.8%
Couple — children under 15
28.6%
One parent — children under 15
10.9%
One parent — no children under 15
10.4%
Couple — no children under 15
10.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Ballina Military Service

🛡️
Current ADF — Reserves
0.1% 9
🏅
Previously served
4.9% 389
👤
Never served
95.0% 7,505

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Ballina Unpaid Carers

🤲
Provided unpaid assistance
14.1% 1,109
Did not provide
85.9% 6,729

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Ballina Children Ever Born

No children
28.4%
1 child
12.9%
2 children
31.0%
3 children
18.2%
4 children
7.7%
5+ children
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Ballina When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
58
1951–1960
118
1961–1970
177
1971–1980
152
1981–1990
142
1991–2000
91
2001–2010
188
2011–2015
148
2016
33
2017
33
2018
30
2019
44
2020
9
2021
13

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Ballina Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.5%
5–14 hours
27.6%
15–29 hours
12.6%
30+ hours
8.1%
Did not do domestic work
32.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Ballina Household Size

1 person
41.9%
2 persons
36.0%
3 persons
10.7%
4 persons
7.6%
5 persons
2.7%
6+ persons
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Ballina Where Residents Moved From

Same address
7,469
Moved from NSW
713
Moved — same area (SA2)
459
Moved from QLD
123
Moved from overseas
44
Moved from VIC
42
Moved from SA
5
Moved from WA
5
Moved from ACT
5
Moved from NT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Ballina Family Blending

Intact family — no other children
81.1%
Step family — no other children
11.8%
Blended family — no other children
5.0%
Other couple — children only
1.6%
Intact family — other children present
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Ballina Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 431 total

Theft
190
Other Against Property
104
Property Damage
37
Assault
36
Other Against Person
25
Drug Offences
17
Sexual Offences
14
Weapons
7
Robbery
1

Offence trend by year:

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Ballina Schools

5
schools nearby
2
government
1006
avg ICSEA score
1,705
total students
Emmanuel Anglican College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 878 students
1113
ICSEA
Richmond Christian College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 327 students
1069
ICSEA
Southern Cross Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 388 students
1053
ICSEA
Biala Special School Independent
Combined · U · 33 students
898
ICSEA
Southern Cross School of Distance Education Government
Combined · K-12 · 79 students
896
ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Ballina with map →

Ballina Rent Prices & Affordability

36%
of income
Stressed
Household Income $1,013/wk
Median Rent $360/wk
Rent-to-Income 35.5%

Rent exceeds 35% of household income — this area may be under housing stress.

If you earn X in Ballina

≈ $4,390/month
Median rent $360/wk
Left after rent $653/wk
Rent share 35.5%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Ballina vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Frequently Asked Questions About Ballina

What is the population of Ballina NSW?

The population of Ballina NSW is 9,735 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 475.6 people per km².Ballina is ranked #673 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Ballina?

The median personal income in Ballina NSW is $615 per week, or $31,980 per year.The median household income is $1,013 per week.Family income is $1,448 per week.Ballina is ranked #6,854 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Ballina?

Median rent in Ballina NSW is $360 per week ($1,560 per month).Rent represents 35.5% of household income, which is considered stressed.Ballina ranks #2,908 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Ballina?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Ballina NSW is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Ballina?

The median age in Ballina NSW is 56 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Ballina a good suburb to live in?

Ballina is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 9,735.The median income is $615/wk, which is below the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as stressed (35.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10163. All dollar figures in AUD.