North Lismore vs Lismore.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $390,000 and $508,000.
North Lismore (median $390,000) is roughly 23% cheaper to buy into than Lismore ($508,000). Over the past year, North Lismore (+14.7%) ran 3.1 percentage points ahead of Lismore (+11.6%) on house-price growth.
Lismore scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Lismore (974) sits above North Lismore (970). North Lismore skews owner-occupied (72%), Lismore runs more rental-dense (49% owner).
For buyers
North Lismore is the lower entry point at $390,000 median, 23% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
North Lismore carries both higher gross yield (8.27% vs 6.35%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Lismore edges out on average school ICSEA (974 vs 970). North Lismore also has a higher family-household share (62% vs 52%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is North Lismore or Lismore cheaper to buy in?
North Lismore has the lower median house price at $390,000, roughly 23% below Lismore ($508,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, North Lismore or Lismore?
Over the past 12 months, North Lismore grew +14.7% vs +11.6% in Lismore, a gap of 3.1 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 North Lismore or Lismore have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Lismore scores 974 vs 970 in North 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, North Lismore or Lismore?
Lismore scores 100/100 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, North Lismore or Lismore?
Gross rental yield on houses is 8.27% in North Lismore vs 6.35% in 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
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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