Median house price
$925k
-1.3% change
NSW · Ballina Council
Rous, 2477
Est. population · Jun 2025
243
Growth (1 yr)
+1.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.0%
Median age
48
Median income
$1,687/wk
Employment rate
67.8%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$925,000
Languages at home
7.6%non-English
Most common: Afrikaans
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Rous offers a slower smaller community life in Ballina Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with a strong working population. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer growth momentum compared with similar regional towns, though community and employment, plus safety remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Rous snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$700/wk
Houses $750 · Units $530
Population (ERP)
243
+1.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.7%
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
#160
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
15th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
82nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
60th
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
- 39.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3829th in Australia
- State rank
- 1169th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #160 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #363 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
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
243(June 2025)
+1.7% annual · +7.0% over 5 years · 82th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.7%
- 5-year growth
- +7.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- +16
- Growth rank in NSW
- 82th 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 (~250), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 230
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,687
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 4 of 85
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,500
- Employment rate
- 67.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 79 / 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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 9
- Against the person
- 2
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 37
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 115 residents
- State safety percentile
- 15.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,031
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 60th
School list
- Rous Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1031 · 60th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 85 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.8 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
34 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ellis Rd After Whites Lane
- Ellis Rd Before Whites Lane
- Rous Cemetery Rd After Ellis Rd
- Rous Cemetery Rd Before Ellis Rd
- Rous Public School, Rous 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
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship
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 — 34 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
- 4.35
Community(1)
- Rous Public SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Park
- Alexandria CourtsSports field
Other(2)
- Davis Scrub Nature ReserveNature Reserve
- Rous Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
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
- Davis Scrub Nature ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- 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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Rous Anglican Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- St Vincent's Private Hospital Lismore (12.5 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)
- 9
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 37.0
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· 1 proposal
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation263 ROUS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
2025· 5 proposals
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure93 WEIS LANE ROUS 2477Determined
July 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure434 ELLIS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
- Subdivision427-435 ELLIS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
March 2025
- Demolition671 ELLIS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure397 ELLIS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
2024· 2 proposals
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure92 WEIS LANE ROUS 2477Determined
March 2024
- Subdivision107 ROUS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
2023· 1 proposal
February 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing281 ROUS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
2022· 3 proposals
September 2022
- Shed50 WEIS LANE ROUS 2477Determined
May 2022
- Demolition709 DALWOOD ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
January 2022
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels30 ROUS CEMETERY ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
2021· 3 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling67 WEIS LANE ROUS 2477Determined
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition; Stormwater management systems; Earthworks / change in levels92 WEIS LANE ROUS 2477Determined
November 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed671 ELLIS ROAD ROUS 2477Determined
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 9.8 km away).
Coalition 60.9%Labor 39.1%
1.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.6 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- RousLabor 38.2% · Coalition 61.8% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
- AlstonvilleLabor 51.5% · Coalition 48.5% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
- WollongbarLabor 42.1% · Coalition 57.9% TPP (2025)4.4 km away
- Meerschaum ValeLabor 44.3% · Coalition 55.7% TPP (2025)6.0 km away
- Mcleans RidgesLabor 47.2% · Coalition 52.8% TPP (2025)7.7 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
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.