Wardell
NSW 2477 · Ballina
830 (2021) → 879 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Ballina local government area (est. 48,591 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Wardell is a moderate growth suburb in Ballina, NSW 2477, about 587km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $804K is more affordable than the NSW average. The suburb has 2 schools, a transport score of 64/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Wardell has an overall score of 35/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 17/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (3.37%), New Zealand (1.45%), Brazil (0.48%), Italy (0.36%), Pakistan (0.36%)
Top languages: Thai (0.6%), Korean (0.48%), Australian Indigenous Languages (0.36%), Italian (0.36%), Portuguese (0.36%)
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
Few schools nearby
Very few schools in and around this suburb — families may face significant travel for school.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 892 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Wardell Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 969
- Cabbage Tree Island Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 718
Nearby (within 10km)
- Broadwater Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.6kmICSEA 999
- Empire Vale Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 7kmICSEA 881
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
No data
No fitness facilities matched to this suburb.
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
No data
No cultural venues matched to this suburb.
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
Entertainment paradise
A seriously impressive licensed venue scene — top 20% nationally for density of pubs, bars, clubs and dining.
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
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Ballina
Compare Wardell with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Wardell
Is Wardell safe?
Wardell has a residential safety score of 17/100, 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 14,096 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Wardell?
In Wardell, the median house price is $804K. Median weekly house rent is $765.
How far is Wardell from Sydney CBD?
Wardell is about 586.9 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Wardell?
Wardell has 2 schools, with an average ICSEA of 844 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Wardell?
Wardell has a transport score of 64/100, including 1 train station.