Side by sideSuburb comparison

East Lismore vs South Lismore.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $615,000 and $380,000. South Lismore edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

South Lismore (median $380,000) is roughly 62% cheaper to buy into than East Lismore ($615,000). Over the past year, South Lismore (+16.9%) ran 2.1 percentage points ahead of East Lismore (+14.8%) on house-price growth.

South Lismore scores higher on walkability (10/100 vs 20/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving East Lismore (974) sits above South Lismore (971).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

South Lismore is the lower entry point at $380,000 median, 62% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

South Lismore carries both higher gross yield (8.48% vs 5.24%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.

For families

East Lismore edges out on average school ICSEA (974 vs 971).

Common questionsEast Lismore vs South Lismore

Common questions

Is East Lismore or South Lismore cheaper to buy in?

South Lismore has the lower median house price at $380,000, roughly 62% below East Lismore ($615,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, East Lismore or South Lismore?

Over the past 12 months, South Lismore grew +16.9% vs +14.8% in East Lismore, a gap of 2.1 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 East Lismore or South Lismore have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), East Lismore scores 974 vs 971 in South Lismore. 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, East Lismore or South Lismore?

South Lismore scores 20/100 on walkability vs 10/100. 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, East Lismore or South Lismore?

Gross rental yield on houses is 8.48% in South Lismore vs 5.24% in East Lismore. 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

East Lismore
Metric
South Lismore

Price & Market

$615,000
Median house
$380,000
$240,480
Median unit
$240,480
+14.8%
Annual growth (house)
+16.9%
Days on market

Rental

$620/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$620/wk
$435/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$435/wk
60.0%
Owner occupied
66.0%
38.0%
Renter occupied
32.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

10
Walk score
20
0
Transit score
0
100
Bike score
100
4,980
Population
1,775
39
Median age
39

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
974
Avg ICSEA
971

Climate

1304 mm
Annual rainfall
1304 mm
28.9°C
Mean max (Jan)
28.9°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).