Median house price
$2.35M
+30% change
NSW · Ballina Council
Fernleigh, 2479
Est. population · Jun 2025
314
Growth (1 yr)
+1.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.8%
Median age
50
Median income
$2,024/wk
Employment rate
60.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$2,350,000
Languages at home
4.3%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Fernleigh is a quieter smaller community in Ballina Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Desirability lands below average here: softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus growth momentum weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Fernleigh snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$950/wk
Population (ERP)
314
+1.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.9%
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
#252
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
4th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
75th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
61st
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
- 35.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4507th in Australia
- State rank
- 1428th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #252 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #530 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,060
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 37
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $2,350,000
- Median price change
- +30.4%
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
314(June 2025)
+1.3% annual · +6.8% over 5 years · 75th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.3%
- 5-year growth
- +6.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- +20
- Growth rank in NSW
- 75th 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
- 298
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $2,024
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 5 of 103
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,600
- Employment rate
- 60.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 100 / 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)
- 7
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 3
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 22.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 149 residents
- State safety percentile
- 3.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -22%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling10
- Domestic Violence Related Assault15
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment13
- Malicious Damage To Property11
- Steal From Motor Vehicle14
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
- 1,032
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 61th
School list
- Fernleigh Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1032 · 61th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 33 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 0.7 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
25 public transport stops in this suburb
- 25 Nashua Rd
- 39 Nashua Rd
- Fernleigh Rd At Nashua Rd
- Nashua Rd Opp 25
- Tooheys Mill Rd At Nashua 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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb
- Well connected by public transport — 25 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
- 3.36
Community(1)
- Fernleigh Public SchoolSchool
445 Fernleigh Road
Sport & outdoors(1)
- Burnett ParkPark
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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Burnett 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 (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)
- 12
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 38.2
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· 3 proposals
August 2026
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool663 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Under Assessment
June 2026
- Subdivision178 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 417 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Demolition; Swimming pool415 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool663 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool609 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2024· 2 proposals
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure199 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Subdivision178 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2023· 3 proposals
November 2023
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support262 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
April 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing500/-/1260659Determined
March 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing199 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2022· 11 proposals
December 2022
- Shed264 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development40 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Other191 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
July 2022
- Dual occupancy399 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Withdrawn
June 2022
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Change of use199 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Withdrawn
May 2022
- Dual occupancy1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Shed1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development375 FERNLEIGH ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
April 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development72 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
January 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development146 KIRKLANDS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
2021· 2 proposals
November 2021
- Shed72 NASHUA ROAD FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
- Shed1 MAJORS LANE FERNLEIGH 2479Determined
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
- Richmond
- Member of Parliament
- Justine ELLIOT (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,814
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.0%Labor 60.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 11.8 km away).
Coalition 36.3%Labor 63.7%
3.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.6 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- FernleighLabor 64.4% · Coalition 35.6% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- TintenbarLabor 55.0% · Coalition 45.0% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
- NewrybarLabor 60.2% · Coalition 39.8% TPP (2025)6.6 km away
- BangalowLabor 77.8% · Coalition 22.2% TPP (2025)10.0 km away
- Ballina NorthLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)10.2 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)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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.