Median house price
$925k
-1.3% change
NSW · Ballina Council
East Wardell, 2477
Est. population · Jun 2025
329
Growth (1 yr)
+1.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.2%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,550/wk
Employment rate
62.4%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$925,000
Languages at home
4.7%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Ballina Council, East Wardell keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
East Wardell snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$700/wk
Houses $750 · Units $530
Population (ERP)
329
+1.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
10.9%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#191
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
18th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
73rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 31.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5366th in Australia
- State rank
- 1734th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #191 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #736 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $530
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 59
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $925,000
- Median price change
- -1.3%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
329(June 2025)
+1.2% annual · +7.2% over 5 years · 73th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.2%
- 5-year growth
- +7.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- +22
- Growth rank in NSW
- 73th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~350), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 312
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,550
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 14 of 128
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 62.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 104 / 6 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 13
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 39.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 104 residents
- State safety percentile
- 18th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +8.6%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault37
- Fraud33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property62
- Steal From Motor Vehicle47
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Public transport
33 public transport stops in this suburb
- Blackwall Dr After Owens Lane
- Byron St Opp Raglan St
- River Dr At Hunter St
- River Dr Opp Hunter St
- River Dr Opp James St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- P V Walsh ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Ballina District Hospital (13.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 12
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 36.5
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 28° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 569 mm · ~71 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 612 mm · ~76 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 289 mm · ~36 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 300 mm · ~38 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation12 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Under Assessment
April 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool234 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 RIVER STREET EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportBYRON STREET EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
2025· 6 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool8 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureSNEESBYS LANE EAST WARDELL 2477 , Lot 2 , DP841666Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of AustraliaBOUNDARY CREEK ROAD EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
July 2025
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Letterboxes; Pathways and paving; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation234 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of AustraliaBOUNDARY CREEK ROAD EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool50-52 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
2024· 4 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Other39 RIVER STREET EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool288 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming poolSNEESBYS LANE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
July 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah89 PATCHS BEACH ROAD EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
2023· 3 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation176 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure161 Meaneys Lane, East Wardell - 1 & 2 DP 858017Determined
May 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels; Shed12 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
2022· 8 proposals
October 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces43 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing8 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
- Dual occupancy; Earthworks / change in levels244 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Withdrawn
- Pools / decks / fencing4 HUNTER STREET EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling26 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
March 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Shed4 HUNTER STREET EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
- Dwelling4 HUNTER STREET EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
February 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees12 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
2021· 10 proposals
December 2021
- Other3 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
- Farm buildingsSNEESBYS LANE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
November 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Earthworks / change in levels; Farm buildings176 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
October 2021
- Dwelling213 Sneesbys Lane, East WardellDetermined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces54 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
September 2021
- DwellingBOUNDARY CREEK ROAD EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development44 RIVER DRIVE EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
August 2021
- Dwelling4 HUNTER STREET EAST WARDELL 2477Determined
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levelsSneesbys Lane East WardellWithdrawn
July 2021
- DwellingBoundary creek Road East WardellDetermined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Page
- Member of Parliament
- Kevin HOGAN (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,373
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.3%Labor 40.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 17.5 km away).
Coalition 56.2%Labor 43.8%
3.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WardellLabor 44.1% · Coalition 55.9% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- Meerschaum ValeLabor 44.3% · Coalition 55.7% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
- BroadwaterLabor 37.8% · Coalition 62.2% TPP (2025)7.3 km away
- RousLabor 38.2% · Coalition 61.8% TPP (2025)12.6 km away
- Ballina (Page)Labor 51.2% · Coalition 48.8% TPP (2025)13.5 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Ballina Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.