Ballina vs Lennox Head.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $930,000 and $1,550,000. Ballina edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Ballina (median $930,000) is roughly 40% cheaper to buy into than Lennox Head ($1,550,000). Over the past year, Ballina (+8.1%) ran 11.5 percentage points ahead of Lennox Head (-3.4%) on house-price growth.
Ballina scores higher on walkability (14/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Lennox Head (1018) sits above Ballina (1017). Lennox Head skews owner-occupied (75%), Ballina runs more rental-dense (53% owner).
For buyers
Ballina is the lower entry point at $930,000 median, 40% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Ballina carries both higher gross yield (5.03% vs 3.02%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Lennox Head edges out on average school ICSEA (1018 vs 1017). Lennox Head also has a higher family-household share (76% vs 54%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Ballina or Lennox Head cheaper to buy in?
Ballina has the lower median house price at $930,000, roughly 40% below Lennox Head ($1,550,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Ballina or Lennox Head?
Over the past 12 months, Ballina grew +8.1% vs -3.4% in Lennox Head, a gap of 11.5 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Ballina or Lennox Head have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Lennox Head scores 1018 vs 1017 in Ballina. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Ballina or Lennox Head?
Ballina scores 14/100 on walkability vs 2/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Ballina or Lennox Head?
Gross rental yield on houses is 5.03% in Ballina vs 3.02% in Lennox Head. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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