Moving to West Ballina NSW 2478
What the official numbers say about living in West Ballina — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $370 a week, against a median household income of $1,015 a week.
Who you'll be living with
West Ballina grew 9% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,972 → 3,230 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Netherlands; most spoken languages besides English: Italian, German, Thai.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), West Ballina scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (81% of workers), while 13% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Byron Byron Gateway Airport Tour Operators, 3.7 km north-east.
Nearest ferry wharf: Burns Point Ferry, 1.1 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, 4.3 km north-east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 599 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 6 schools · 18 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 14 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the West Ballina profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Emmanuel Anglican College 450 m · Richmond Christian College 2.2 km · Biala Special School 2.8 km · St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Ballina 3 km · Ballina Coast High School 3 km · Ballina Public School 3.1 km
Groceries: Spar 50 m · Asian Supermarkt 2 km · ALDI 2.6 km · Woolworths 2.6 km · Asian Corner 2.6 km · Coles 2.7 km · IGA 2.9 km
Parks and reserves: Quays Reserve 100 m · weerama park 350 m · westlands reserve 400 m · Riverside Park 550 m · Faulks Reserve 600 m · Kimi Park 650 m · Paringa Park 700 m · Porter Park 700 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around West Ballina, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Rainbow Lorikeet · Pacific Black Duck · Welcome Swallow · Torresian Crow · Noisy Miner.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to West Ballina, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ballina here | 3,230 | — | 2/10 | 18% |
| Ballina | 9,735 | — | 3/10 | 43% |
| Cumbalum | 2,211 | — | 9/10 | 40% |
| East Ballina | 5,882 | — | 7/10 | 34% |
| Skennars Head | 1,303 | — | 8/10 | 34% |
| Lennox Head | 7,687 | — | 10/10 | 28% |
| Alstonville | 5,912 | — | 5/10 | 32% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Ballina — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Richmond — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2478 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full West Ballina profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $370 a week.
The population grew 9% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,972 people to 3,230. It sits about 599 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Ballina council, and the federal seat is Richmond.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: West Ballina vs Cumbalum · West Ballina vs East Ballina.
Nearby guides: Ballina · Cumbalum · East Ballina · Skennars Head · Lennox Head · Alstonville.
Keep an eye on West Ballina
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