East Ballina
NSW 2478 · Ballina
5,882 (2021) → 5,953 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Ballina local government area (est. 48,591 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
East Ballina is a stable suburb in Ballina, NSW 2478, about 602km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.36M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 2 schools, a transport score of 35/100, and is right by the coast. East Ballina has an overall score of 52/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 71/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2478 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (3.13%), New Zealand (1.56%), USA (0.56%), South Africa (0.49%), Germany (0.48%)
Top languages: Portuguese (0.46%), German (0.43%), French (0.39%), Japan (0.37%), Thai (0.29%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Limited school choices
Below average for school access — fewer schools nearby, and families may need to travel for preferred options.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1011 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Southern Cross Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1053
- Southern Cross School of Distance EducationCombined · GovernmentICSEA 896
Nearby (within 10km)
- Ballina Coast High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 952
- Biala Special SchoolCombined · Independent · 2.6kmICSEA 898
- St Francis Xavier Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.7kmICSEA 1045
- Ballina Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.8kmICSEA 869
- Xavier Catholic College BallinaSecondary · Catholic · 2.9kmICSEA 1081
- Holy Family Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.3kmICSEA 1102
- Richmond Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · 4.3kmICSEA 1069
- Emmanuel Anglican CollegeCombined · Independent · 5.6kmICSEA 1113
- Lennox Head Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.8kmICSEA 1064
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Decent access
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of fitness facilities, with more variety a short drive away.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Some green space
Around the national average — a reasonable amount of parks and outdoor space nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Rich cultural scene
Well above average — a strong mix of cultural venues nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Childcare desert
Very limited childcare services in and around this suburb — families may face significant travel for childcare.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Ballina
Compare East Ballina with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about East Ballina
Is East Ballina safe?
East Ballina has a residential safety score of 71/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 2,805 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in East Ballina?
In East Ballina, the median house price is $1.36M and the median unit price is $850K. Median weekly house rent is $850.
How far is East Ballina from Sydney CBD?
East Ballina is about 602.0 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in East Ballina?
East Ballina has 2 schools, with an average ICSEA of 975 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in East Ballina?
East Ballina has a transport score of 35/100.