Median house price
$1.3M
+16% change
NSW · Ballina Council
Tintenbar, 2478
Est. population · Jun 2025
652
Growth (1 yr)
+1.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.1%
Median age
46
Median income
$1,896/wk
Employment rate
60%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,300,000
Languages at home
7%non-English
Most common: Spanish, French
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Tintenbar is a quieter smaller community in Ballina Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting.
Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Tintenbar snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$755/wk
Houses $850 · Units $595
Population (ERP)
652
+1.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.2%
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
#379
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
65th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
77th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
71st
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
- 31.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5304th in Australia
- State rank
- 1716th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #379 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #724 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
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.
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
652(June 2025)
+1.4% annual · +7.1% over 5 years · 77th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.4%
- 5-year growth
- +7.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +9
- Change in 5 years
- +43
- Growth rank in NSW
- 77th 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 (~700), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 618
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,896
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 16 of 223
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 60%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 210 / 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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 59
- Against the person
- 11
- Against property
- 31
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 90.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 56 residents
- State safety percentile
- 65.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +13.8%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions342
- Fraud335
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment155
- Malicious Damage To Property240
- Steal From Retail Store305
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
- 1,057
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 71th
School list
- Teven-Tintenbar Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1057 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 133 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.1 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
33 public transport stops in this suburb
- Fredericks Lane After Tintenbar Rd
- Friday Hut Rd At Killen Falls Dr
- Friday Hut Road Opp Killen Falls Dr
- Tamarind Dr Before Hill St
- Tintenbar Gully, Tamarind Dr
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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 33 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
- 1.62
Community(2)
- Tintenbar HallCommunity centre
- Teven-Tintenbar Public SchoolSchool
28 Fredericks Lane, Tintenbar
Health & services(1)
- Tintenbar Medical CentreMedical clinic
Transport(4)
4 bus stops
Other(3)
- Tintenbar General StoreGeneral
- LibertyPetrol station
- Tintenbar LPOPost office
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
- Killen Falls Public ReservePark
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Ballina District Hospital (9.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Tintenbar Medical CentreDoctor
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)
- 25
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 38.3
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· 5 proposals
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool24 GEORGE STREET TINTENBAR 2478Determined
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure52 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport; Manufactured home1073 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation100 FREDERICKS LANE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks48 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2025· 8 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)225 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support186 HOUGHLAHANS CREEK ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation24 Hillcrest Drive, TintenbarDetermined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development30 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks48 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
April 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24B FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development30 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2024· 5 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Clothes hoists and clothes lines; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Hot water systems; Pathways and paving; Rainwater tanks1029 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool13 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Manufactured home; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation37 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation192 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation24 Hillcrest Drive, TintenbarDetermined
September 2023
- Demolition; Earthworks / change in levels; Farm buildings8 KILLEN FALLS DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Dual occupancy; Change of use25 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
August 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels; Farm buildings34 KILLEN FALLS DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
June 2023
- Shed70 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Alterations and additions to commercial development5 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Operational consent issued
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Shed8 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
October 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed; Other96 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Operational consent issued
August 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development76 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
July 2022
- Subdivision of land808 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
January 2022
- Dual occupancy; Earthworks / change in levels25 PHOENIX DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2021· 9 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees37 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
November 2021
- Subdivision of land962 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
- Subdivision of land188 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
October 2021
- DwellingPACIFIC HIGHWAY TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Home business38 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
September 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development97 FREDERICKS LANE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- OtherHS 2 19 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
August 2021
- Other192 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Subdivision of land808 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Exercise caution. <strong>New load limit.</strong> A gross load limit of 19 Tonne is now in place on Houghlahans Creek Road causeway. Heavy vehicles please use an alternative route.Houghlahans Creek Road08 Sep 2025 – 01 Sep 2027
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
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 10.1 km away).
Coalition 44.3%Labor 55.7%
4.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -0.3 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- TintenbarLabor 55.0% · Coalition 45.0% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- FernleighLabor 64.4% · Coalition 35.6% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Ballina NorthLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
- Lennox HeadLabor 67.7% · Coalition 32.4% TPP (2025)8.2 km away
- NewrybarLabor 60.2% · Coalition 39.8% TPP (2025)8.2 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)
- 9/10
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.