Cumbalum vs Ballina.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,175,500 and $930,000. Ballina edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Ballina (median $930,000) is roughly 26% cheaper to buy into than Cumbalum ($1,175,500). Over the past year, Cumbalum (+12.5%) ran 4.4 percentage points ahead of Ballina (+8.1%) on house-price growth.
Ballina scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 14/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Ballina (1017) sits above Cumbalum (1011). Cumbalum skews owner-occupied (80%), Ballina runs more rental-dense (53% owner).
For buyers
Ballina is the lower entry point at $930,000 median, 26% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Ballina delivers the better gross yield (5.03% vs 3.98%), but Cumbalum has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
Ballina edges out on average school ICSEA (1017 vs 1011). Cumbalum also has a higher family-household share (86% vs 54%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Cumbalum or Ballina cheaper to buy in?
Ballina has the lower median house price at $930,000, roughly 26% below Cumbalum ($1,175,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Cumbalum or Ballina?
Over the past 12 months, Cumbalum grew +12.5% vs +8.1% in Ballina, a gap of 4.4 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 Cumbalum or Ballina have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Ballina scores 1017 vs 1011 in Cumbalum. 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, Cumbalum or Ballina?
Ballina scores 14/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Cumbalum or Ballina?
Gross rental yield on houses is 5.03% in Ballina vs 3.98% in Cumbalum. 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).
Compare Cumbalum against another suburb