Lightning Ridge
NSW 2834 · Walgett
1,946 (2021) → 1,887 est. (2025) · Declining
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Lightning Ridge is a declining suburb in Walgett, NSW 2834, about 590km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $206K is more affordable than the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 64/100, and is about 498km inland. Lightning Ridge has an overall score of 32/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 5/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (1.54%), Philippines (1.39%), New Zealand (1.28%), Germany (0.92%), Croatia (0.82%)
Top languages: Serbian (1.7%), German (1.08%), Tagalog (0.77%), Filipino (0.72%), Croatian (0.67%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q4 2025
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
Nightlife hub. This suburb has a high concentration of licensed venues. Crime figures include incidents involving visitors to the nightlife area, not just residents.
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
This suburb has a high concentration of licensed venues. These totals include incidents involving visitors to the nightlife area, not just residents.
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 2025
Schools
No data
No ACARA-registered schools matched to this suburb.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 796 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Lightning Ridge Central SchoolCombined · GovernmentICSEA 796
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
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.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Limited facilities
Below average — fewer fitness options nearby, so you may need to travel to a gym or pool.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Limited outdoor options
Below average — fewer parks and green spaces close by.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Limited cultural access
Below average — fewer 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
Solid scene
Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.
Nightlife hub. High licensed-venue density drives a significant evening economy here — incidents near the venues are recorded by location, so crime figures include visitors, not just residents.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW
Childcare
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
DecliningSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Walgett
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Frequently asked questions about Lightning Ridge
Is Lightning Ridge safe?
Lightning Ridge has a residential safety score of 5/100, 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 35,355 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Lightning Ridge?
In Lightning Ridge, the median house price is $206K. Median weekly house rent is $260.
How far is Lightning Ridge from Sydney CBD?
Lightning Ridge is about 590.3 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Lightning Ridge?
Lightning Ridge has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 796 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Lightning Ridge?
Lightning Ridge has a transport score of 64/100, including 1 train station.