NSW · Ballina Council
Rous Mill, NSW, 2477
Desirability index
#107 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Rous Mill is a small locality in the Ballina area, home to around 204 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 523 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+3%), roughly 2563.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $700 (flats $530, houses $750), strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, and some planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 204
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,562
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 3 of 78
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,492
- Employment rate
- 63.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 6 / 0 / 0
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
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 weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 523
- Against the person
- 136
- Against property
- 261
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 2,563.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 2 residents
- State safety percentile
- 49.1th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +3.2%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault37
- Fraud33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property62
- Steal From Motor Vehicle47
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Public transport
39 public transport stops in this suburb
- 594 Dalwood Rd
- 595 Dalwood Rd
- Dalwood Rd After Fosters Lane
- Dalwood Rd Before Fosters Lane
- Rous Mill Rd Before Mollys Grass Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
5 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; 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; Rainwater tanks; Rural worker's dwelling19 HEWETSONS LANE ROUS MILL 2477Determined
2023· 1 proposal
September 2023
- Subdivision of land; Other79 FOSTERS LANE ROUS MILL 2477Determined
2021· 3 proposals
December 2021
- Dual occupancy19 HEWETSONS LANE ROUS MILL 2477Determined
October 2021
- Earthworks / change in levels; Other348 ROUS ROAD ROUS MILL 2477Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed7 MOLLYS GRASS ROAD ROUS MILL 2477Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2023… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Rous Mill District Community HallCommunity centre
- Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 76.2/100
- Cohort rank
- #107 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 594 Dalwood Rdtransport
- 595 Dalwood Rdtransport
- Dalwood Rd After Fosters Lanetransport
- Dalwood Rd Before Fosters Lanetransport
- Rous Mill Rd Before Mollys Grass Rdtransport
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; 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; Rainwater tanks; Rural worker's dwellingplanning19 HEWETSONS LANE ROUS MILL 2477Lodged 09 Mar 2026 · Determined
- Dual occupancyplanning19 HEWETSONS LANE ROUS MILL 2477Lodged 23 Dec 2021 · Determined
- Earthworks / change in levels; Otherplanning348 ROUS ROAD ROUS MILL 2477Lodged 28 Oct 2021 · Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shedplanning7 MOLLYS GRASS ROAD ROUS MILL 2477Lodged 27 Oct 2021 · Determined
- Subdivision of land; Otherplanning79 FOSTERS LANE ROUS MILL 2477Lodged 13 Sep 2023 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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