Lennox Head is a coastal town in New South Wales, in Ballina Council. The Byron Bay is part of the surrounding geography.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Childcare access is an exceptional strength, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and population growth is an exceptional strength. Trade-offs centre on higher crime and higher housing costs, with median house prices 16% above the peer median.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising childcare and socio-economic advantage over peace and quiet.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in New South Wales (162)
Strengths
Childcare access is a relative strength
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
Population growth is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Reported crime in the wider postcode 2478 is elevated relative to comparable places
Housing costs a little more than in comparable places
What stands out
Lennox Head Beach
Boulder Beach
Byron Bay
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★★☆
Professionals★★★★☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Lennox Head compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.3M
+16% change
Median rent
$755/wk
Houses $850 · Units $595
Population (ERP)
8,551
+2.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.7%
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
#18
among Coastal & beach · Established
Crime rate
65th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
94th
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
24%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
73rd
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
57.4/100 — Good
State standing
Top 14% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
791st in Australia
State rank
298th in NSW
Peer rank
#18 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#45 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
97%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$595
Houses (January to March 2026)
$850
All types (January to March 2026)
$755
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
236
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$1,300,000
Median price change
+16.1%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
+2.9% annual · +14.0% over 5 years · 94th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.9%
5-year growth
+14.0%
Change in 1 year
+238
Change in 5 years
+1,051
Growth rank in NSW
94th 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 (~9,500), extrapolated at +2.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
7,687
Median age
42
Median household income / week
$2,081
Dwelling vacancy
9.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
294 of 3,034
Median monthly mortgage
$2,192
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$580
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
39.8% / 36.3% / 24%
Employment rate
64.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
20.8% / 0.5% / 60.8%
Walked or cycled to work
3.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,014 / 586 / 119 (+ 13 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
33.5% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 17.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified33.5% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified11.9% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational17.1% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below37.6% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce19.2%
Health15.9%
Education14.5%
Society and culture13.2%
Engineering and related technologies10.1%
Architecture and building8.7%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$52,815
39th percentile in NSW · -10% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$57,086
32nd percentile in NSW · -12% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
17.0%
68th percentile in NSW · +23% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$81,393
65th percentile in NSW · +29% vs Australia
Residents with business income
14.0%
85th percentile in NSW · +35% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2478 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
20,170
Taxpayers reporting net rent
3,385
Median net rent
$2,935
Taxpayers reporting business income
2,924
Taxable income vs state median
-6%
Salary / wages vs state median
-9%
Rental investment vs state median
+21%
Super vs state median
+16%
Business income vs state median
+40%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
5.9% speak a language other than English at home; 16.2% born overseas
Language at home
6,861 English only · 432 other
Non-English at home
5.9%
Born overseas
1,182 (16.2%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
164 (2.1%)
Australian citizens
6,821
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
15
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
German23 · 14.6%
Portuguese22 · 14%
French21 · 13.4%
Italian16 · 10.2%
Spanish16 · 10.2%
Japanese13 · 8.3%
Polish8 · 5.1%
Thai8 · 5.1%
Religion
50.4%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 50.4%, while Christianity accounts for 39.2%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
50.4%
32.8%
Christianity
39.2%
47.6%
Other / not stated
10.4%
19.6%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
20.4%
22.4%
Anglican
11.1%
11.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.2%
1.9%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2478, which is shared with other suburbs.
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
768
Against the person
146
Against property
411
Rate per 1,000 residents
89.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 53 residents
State crime-rate percentile
64.7th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+12.9%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
30
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
3.51
Most common offence types
Breach Bail Conditions87
Fraud86
Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
Malicious Damage To Property61
Steal From Retail Store78
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
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
1,064
Median ICSEA percentile
73th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
2
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
Lennox Head Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1064 · 73th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 424 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Ballina Coast HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Lennox Head PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Southern Cross CSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
NSW government school intake zones — NSW Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Great for outdoor family life — 24 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 96 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 152 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
100/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.39
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.08
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.12
Food & drink(16)
Lennox Head BakeryBakery
Slicker than averageBar
Lennox Gelato & Coffee Co.Cafe
LimeCafe
The Point CaféCafe
Fishy FishyFast food
The Lennox HotelPub
Beef & BeachRestaurant
Chido CantinaRestaurant
62 Ballina Street, Lennox Head
CoastRestaurant
Ballina Street
Lennox PizzaRestaurant
Lex Thai GardenRestaurant
Mi ThaiRestaurant
Quattro ClassicRestaurant
ShelterRestaurant
Williams St. Kitchen & BarRestaurant
Shopping(6)
CellarbrationsBottle shop
Super CellarsBottle shop
Lennox Head Butchery & DeliButcher
SeagrassConvenience store
IGASupermarket
Everyday services(3)
Wash House LaundromatLaundry
ShellPetrol station
Australia PostPost office
Community(4)
Lennox Head Cultural & Community CentreCommunity centre
Mackney Lane, Lennox Head
Kindergarten
Lennox Head Public LibraryLibrary
Lennox Head Public SchoolSchool
25 Byron Street, Lennox Head
Health & services(5)
Lennox Head Medical CentreClinic
Dental at LennoxDentist
Lennox Head Medical CentreMedical clinic
Lennox Head PhamacyPharmacy
Lennox Head Veterinary ClinicVeterinary
Sport & outdoors(171)
Beach (2)
Boulder BeachBeach
Boulder South BeachBeach
Seven Mile BeachBeach
Boat ramp
Drinking water
Surfit 24/7 GymGym
Unit 9 90-92 Ballina Street, Lennox Head
Lennox Head Aboriginal AreaNature reserve
Lakefield Avenue ReservePark
Lennox ParkPark
Park (5)
Ross ParkPark
Williams ReservePark
Playground (3)
Family BathroomPublic toilets
Public toilets
Lennox Head Bowls ClubSports centre
Lennox Head Bowls ClubSports field
Sports field
Williams Reserve Skate ParkSports field
Swimming pool (144)
Camping & holiday parks(1)
Reflections Lennox Head - Holiday ParkCampground
Places to stay(1)
Santa Fe Motel and Holiday UnitsMotel
8 Byron Street, Lennox Head
Transport(12)
12 bus stops
Other(25)
Apartment (2)
Lennox Head Beachfront ApartmentsApartment
Lennox Point Holiday ApartmentsApartment
Lenlux BeautyBeauty salon
Bench (4)
Bicycle Parking (10)
Lennox BookmarkBooks
Le Chelle BoutiqueClothes
Town CollectiveClothes
Garden
The Station GrocerGeneral
44-48 Byron Street, Lennox Head
Barefoot & BreezyGift
Lennox HairHairdresser
MulletHairdresser
Nixon Bulk FoodsHealth Food
Parking (24)
Picnic Table (3)
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesPlace of worship
10 Cooper Close, Lennox Head
Recycling (7)
Lennox Beach ResortResort
7 Park Lane, Lennox Head
Shelter (4)
Shower
Lennox Head Surf ShopSports
Telephone
Waste Basket (9)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
10 Cooper Close, Lennox Head
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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.
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 (12%)
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation
9 SANDBREAK CRESCENT LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
September 2026
Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers; Swimming pool
33 FIG TREE HILL DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Demolition; Dwelling house
29 PACIFIC PARADE LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
47 BLUE SEAS PARADE LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
11 MOSMAN CHASE LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
19 GIBBON STREET LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Shed; Erection of a new structure
1 SEABREEZE PLACE LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development
34 FIG TREE HILL DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Subdivision
164 NORTH CREEK ROAD LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
75 HABITAT WAY LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
46 AMBER DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation
43 SNAPPER DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool
50 SEASWELL CRESCENT LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
2/19 BERYL PLACE LENNOX HEAD NSW 2478Under Assessment
August 2026
Signage; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Storage premises
26 SALT AIR CIRCUIT LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool
21 HABITAT WAY LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
32 FOX VALLEY WAY LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
31 AMBER DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool
12 SEASWELL CRESCENT LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
July 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
57A PACIFIC PARADE LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
24 OUTRIGGER ROAD LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Shed; Erection of a new structure
221 HUTLEY DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
44 DRESS CIRCLE DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure
21 HABITAT WAY LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
67 MONTWOOD DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
2 ANCHORAGE AVENUE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
66A FIG TREE HILL DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Additional Information Requested
Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
47 BERYL PLACE LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
11 STEWART STREET LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
9 KELLIE-ANN CRESCENT LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
12-16 FIG TREE HILL DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
June 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
5 LAKEFIELD AVENUE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Commercial development; Erection of a new structure
5 SNAPPER DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
21A SUNRAY CRESCENT LENNOX HEAD 2478Under Assessment
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool
31 DAINTREE DRIVE LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool; Supporting Development
1/75 Daintree Drive Lennox Head NSW 2478Determined
Subdivision
8 BYRON BAY ROAD LENNOX HEAD 2478Determined
Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood 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 8.5 km away).
Coalition 33.1%Labor 66.9%
6.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Lennox HeadLabor 67.7% · Coalition 32.4% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
Skennars HeadLabor 68.7% · Coalition 31.3% TPP (2025)4.6 km away
Ballina EastLabor 62.3% · Coalition 37.7% TPP (2025)6.6 km away
Ballina NorthLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)7.1 km away
TintenbarLabor 55.0% · Coalition 45.0% TPP (2025)7.8 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.
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 (12%)