Side by sideSuburb comparison

Lennox Head vs East Ballina.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,550,000 and $1,317,000. East Ballina edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

East Ballina (median $1,317,000) is roughly 18% cheaper to buy into than Lennox Head ($1,550,000). Over the past year, East Ballina (-1%) ran 2.4 percentage points ahead of Lennox Head (-3.4%) on house-price growth.

On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Lennox Head (1018) sits above East Ballina (1013).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

East Ballina is the lower entry point at $1,317,000 median, 18% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

East Ballina carries both higher gross yield (3.55% 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 1013).

Common questionsLennox Head vs East Ballina

Common questions

Is Lennox Head or East Ballina cheaper to buy in?

East Ballina has the lower median house price at $1,317,000, roughly 18% 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, Lennox Head or East Ballina?

Over the past 12 months, East Ballina grew -1% vs -3.4% in Lennox Head, a gap of 2.4 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 Lennox Head or East Ballina have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Lennox Head scores 1018 vs 1013 in East 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Lennox Head or East Ballina?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.55% in East 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

Lennox Head
Metric
East Ballina

Price & Market

$1,550,000
Median house
$1,317,000
$316,800
Median unit
$316,800
-3.4%
Annual growth (house)
-1.0%
Days on market

Rental

$900/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$900/wk
$630/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$630/wk
75.0%
Owner occupied
70.0%
24.0%
Renter occupied
28.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

2
Walk score
2
0
Transit score
0
100
Bike score
100
7,687
Population
5,882
42
Median age
48

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

13
Schools nearby
11
1018
Avg ICSEA
1013

Climate

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

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