Ballina vs Skennars Head
The verdict
Ballina is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.00M versus $1.92M in Skennars Head. Ballina rates higher for liveability (73 vs 35). Skennars Head rates higher for education (60 vs 46). Skennars Head is closer to the coast (1.5 km vs 4.2 km). On the separate residential safety score, Skennars Head rates higher (58 vs 9/100 in Ballina).
Scores
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 62 | 43 |
| Transport | 64 | 35 |
| Education | 46 | 60 |
| Liveability | 73 | 35 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,735 | 1,303 |
| Median age | 56 | 47 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,013 | $1,674 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 25.8% | 41.4% |
| Born in Australia | 78.5% | 84.7% |
| Avg household size | 2 | 2.5 |
Growth: Ballina Stable · Skennars Head Moderate Growth
Property
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.00M | $1.92M |
| Median unit price | $778K | $1.27M |
| House price YoY | 14.8% | 18.3% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $850 | $850 |
| Rental yield (house) | 4.5% | 2.5% |
| Days on market (house) | 36 | 46 |
Median price history
Safety
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 9 | 58 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 791 | 307 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 370 | 307 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 668 | 77 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 15,727 | 2,456 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 5 | 2 |
| Government | 2 | 0 |
| Independent | 2 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 967 | 1,092 |
See the full school list on each profile: Ballina · Skennars Head
Transport
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 64 | 35 |
| Train stations | 1 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 0 | 0 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest train station (km) | 3.3 km | 4.0 km |
Liveability
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 30.0°C | 30.0°C |
| Winter max temp | 20.5°C | 20.5°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,300 | 1,300 |
| Supermarkets | 7 | 0 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 21 | 0 |
| Parks | 15 | 3 |
| Playgrounds | 5 | 1 |
| Swimming pools | 90 | Data not available |
| Medical GPs | 3 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 4.2 km | 1.5 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 602.5 km | 604.3 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 3.5 km | 1.5 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 2.7 km | 4.2 km |
Population & growth
| Ballina | Skennars Head | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 9,735 | 1,303 |
| Estimated 2025 | 9,852 | 1,455 |
| Projected 2041 | 10,372 | 1,568 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.30% | 2.80% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Ballina or Skennars Head?
Skennars Head has the higher residential safety score (Ballina 9/100 vs Skennars Head 58/100).
Which is more affordable, Ballina or Skennars Head?
Ballina is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.00M versus $1.92M.
Which has better schools, Ballina or Skennars Head?
Skennars Head has a higher average school ICSEA (Ballina 967 vs Skennars Head 1092; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Ballina or Skennars Head?
Ballina has the higher transport score (Ballina 64/100 vs Skennars Head 35/100).
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