Median house price
$730k
+11% change
NSW · Lismore Council
Eltham, 2480
Est. population · Jun 2025
325
Growth (1 yr)
+0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.2%
Median age
48
Median income
$1,978/wk
Employment rate
62.6%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$730,000
Languages at home
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Eltham is a quieter smaller community in Lismore Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Eltham snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$550/wk
Houses $620 · Units $425
Population (ERP)
325
+0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
11.2%
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
#141
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
74th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
44th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
77th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 40.8/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3611th in Australia
- State rank
- 1101st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #141 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #324 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 79%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $425
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 252
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $730,000
- Median price change
- +11.4%
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
325(June 2025)
+0.3% annual · +3.2% over 5 years · 44th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.3%
- 5-year growth
- +3.2%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- +10
- Growth rank in NSW
- 44th 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 +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 332
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,978
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 14 of 125
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,058
- Employment rate
- 62.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 108 / 0 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 33
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 13
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 101.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 74th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions513
- Fraud284
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment361
- Malicious Damage To Property360
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,075
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 77th
School list
- Eltham Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1075 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 59 students · Top SEA quarter 31% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- 622 Eltham Rd
- Cowlong Rd After McKenzie Rd
- Cowlong Rd Opp McKenzie Rd
- Johnston Rd At Rainforest Dr
- Pearson Rd At Laureldale Rd
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
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 41 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Community(1)
- Eltham Public SchoolSchool
Eltham
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Lismore Base Hospital (12.8 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)
- 10
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.8
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· 7 proposals
August 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation64 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure629 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool64 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
- Entertainment facility; Temporary building, structure or use441 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
- Pub; Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure441 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Under Assessment
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool846 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool629 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2025· 2 proposals
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool59 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool1 MCKENZIE ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2024· 3 proposals
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport55 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
June 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)756 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
May 2024
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport732 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2023· 3 proposals
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure44 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing8 MAYFIELD STREET ELTHAM 2480Determined
April 2023
- Dual occupancy629 COWLONG ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2022· 6 proposals
December 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development32 ALEXANDER LANE ELTHAM 2480Determined
July 2022
- Shed65 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
- Other441 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
April 2022
- Dual occupancy; Change of use712 BOATHARBOUR ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
March 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development64 FEDERATION DRIVE ELTHAM 2480Determined
January 2022
- Shed645 ELTHAM ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
2021· 3 proposals
November 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs10 MAYFIELD STREET ELTHAM 2480Determined
October 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing796 BOATHARBOUR ROAD ELTHAM 2480Determined
August 2021
- Shed31 ALEXANDER LANE ELTHAM 2480Determined
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
- Overlay applies
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 10.6 km away).
Coalition 46.5%Labor 53.5%
12.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -0.7 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- ElthamLabor 53.5% · Coalition 46.5% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- ClunesLabor 66.1% · Coalition 33.9% TPP (2025)3.8 km away
- Mcleans RidgesLabor 47.2% · Coalition 52.8% TPP (2025)4.8 km away
- BexhillLabor 46.1% · Coalition 53.9% TPP (2025)6.1 km away
- WollongbarLabor 42.1% · Coalition 57.9% TPP (2025)7.3 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
More in Lismore Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.