South Lismore vs Lismore.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $380,000 and $508,000.
South Lismore (median $380,000) is roughly 25% cheaper to buy into than Lismore ($508,000). Over the past year, South Lismore (+16.9%) ran 5.3 percentage points ahead of Lismore (+11.6%) on house-price growth.
Lismore scores higher on walkability (20/100 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 South Lismore (971). South Lismore skews owner-occupied (66%), Lismore runs more rental-dense (49% owner).
For buyers
South Lismore is the lower entry point at $380,000 median, 25% 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 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 971).
Common questions
Is South Lismore or Lismore cheaper to buy in?
South Lismore has the lower median house price at $380,000, roughly 25% below Lismore ($508,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, South Lismore or Lismore?
Over the past 12 months, South Lismore grew +16.9% vs +11.6% in Lismore, a gap of 5.3 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 South Lismore or Lismore have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), 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, South Lismore or Lismore?
Lismore scores 100/100 on walkability vs 20/100. 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, South Lismore or Lismore?
Gross rental yield on houses is 8.48% in South 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).
Compare South Lismore against another suburb