Goonellabah vs Lismore.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $702,500 and $353,500.
Lismore (median $353,500) is roughly 99% cheaper to buy into than Goonellabah ($702,500). Over the past year, Goonellabah (+16.5%) ran 10.5 percentage points ahead of Lismore (+6%) on house-price growth.
Lismore scores higher on walkability (2/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Goonellabah (976) sits above Lismore (974). Goonellabah skews owner-occupied (68%), Lismore runs more rental-dense (49% owner).
For buyers
Lismore is the lower entry point at $353,500 median, 99% 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: Lismore delivers the better gross yield (4.56% vs 2.29%), but Goonellabah 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
Goonellabah edges out on average school ICSEA (976 vs 974). Goonellabah also has a higher family-household share (65% vs 52%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Goonellabah or Lismore cheaper to buy in?
Lismore has the lower median house price at $353,500, roughly 99% below Goonellabah ($702,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Goonellabah or Lismore?
Over the past 12 months, Goonellabah grew +16.5% vs +6% in Lismore, a gap of 10.5 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 Goonellabah or Lismore have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Goonellabah scores 976 vs 974 in 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, Goonellabah or Lismore?
Lismore scores 100/100 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, Goonellabah or Lismore?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.56% in Lismore vs 2.29% in Goonellabah. 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 Goonellabah against another suburb