West Ballina
NSW 2478 · Ballina
3,230 (2021) → 3,269 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Ballina local government area (est. 48,591 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
West Ballina is a stable suburb in Ballina, NSW 2478, about 599km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.00M is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 64/100, and is a short drive from the coast. West Ballina has an overall score of 46/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 26/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2478 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (2.29%), New Zealand (1.95%), Netherlands (0.62%), Philippines (0.53%), Germany (0.5%)
Top languages: Italian (0.46%), German (0.4%), Thai (0.34%), Vietnamese (0.31%), French (0.19%)
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
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1007 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Emmanuel Anglican CollegeCombined · IndependentICSEA 1113
Nearby (within 10km)
- Richmond Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · 2.4kmICSEA 1069
- Biala Special SchoolCombined · Independent · 3.9kmICSEA 898
- Ballina Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 4.2kmICSEA 869
- St Francis Xavier Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 4.2kmICSEA 1045
- Ballina Coast High SchoolSecondary · Government · 4.3kmICSEA 952
- Southern Cross School of Distance EducationCombined · Government · 6.2kmICSEA 896
- Southern Cross Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.3kmICSEA 1053
- North Coast PathwaySecondary · Independent · 6.3kmICSEA 998
- Empire Vale Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.6kmICSEA 941
- Teven-Tintenbar Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 7.3kmICSEA 1057
- Xavier Catholic College BallinaSecondary · Catholic · 8kmICSEA 1081
- Holy Family Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 8.2kmICSEA 1102
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
Few fitness options
Very few fitness facilities in and around 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
Few cultural venues
Very few cultural venues in and around 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
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
Limited options
Below average for childcare access — fewer services nearby, and families may need to travel further for preferred options.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Ballina
Compare West Ballina with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about West Ballina
Is West Ballina safe?
West Ballina has a residential safety score of 26/100, 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 12,972 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in West Ballina?
In West Ballina, the median house price is $1.00M and the median unit price is $721K. Median weekly house rent is $850.
How far is West Ballina from Sydney CBD?
West Ballina is about 599.4 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in West Ballina?
West Ballina has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1113 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in West Ballina?
West Ballina has a transport score of 64/100, including 1 train station.