NSW · Lismore Council
Lismore Heights, 2480
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Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Lismore Heights sits up in the Lismore hills, a smaller community where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Fresh country air and elevated outlooks are part of the appeal up here among the hills.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and transport and access. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,117
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,294
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 65 of 991
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,404
- Employment rate
- 57.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 69 / 193 / 40
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 · 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)
- $425
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 252
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 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)
- 213
- Against the person
- 57
- Against property
- 81
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 100.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 70.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -7.5%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions513
- Fraud284
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment361
- Malicious Damage To Property360
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
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 · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 973
- Lismore Heights Public SchoolPrimary
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 · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
108 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cooling St At Donnans Rd
- Donnans Rd Before Selena Av
- High St At Barr Scott Dr
- Kareela Av At Donnans Rd
- O'Flynn St At High St
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
42 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
February 2026
- Subdivision41 WOODLAND AVENUE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 MACKAY STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 SAPPHIRE COURT LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Subdivision10 WARRICK PLACE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision128 DONNANS ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation219 VALLEY VIEW DRIVE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Minor building alterations (external)13 GALLAGHER DRIVE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool16 KYLIE AVENUE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club181A HIGH STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Stairway98 HIGH STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 OPAL CRESCENT LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure24 RENWICK STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport16 SAPPHIRE COURT LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool18 DELORAINE ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport51 O'FLYNN STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
January 2025
- Subdivision5 JANSAN CLOSE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure8 BANKSIA COURT LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
2024· 3 proposals
October 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12a barr scott dr lismore heightsDetermined
August 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 FREDERICK STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
June 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences16 SUZETTE STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
2023· 8 proposals
November 2023
- Advertising and signage; Neighbourhood shop426 BALLINA ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
August 2023
- Secondary dwelling25 OAKESHOTT STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing114 HIGH STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
July 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs27 BELLEVUE AVENUE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to commercial development426 BALLINA ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces85 DONNANS ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
March 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees16 FREDERICK STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
January 2023
- Subdivision of land128 DONNANS ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Withdrawn
2022· 6 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Shed219 VALLEY VIEW DRIVE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Withdrawn
September 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing3 WILLIAM PLACE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees3 WILLIAM PLACE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
July 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development3 BELLEVUE AVENUE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development280 HIGH STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
February 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing20 DELORAINE ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
2021· 6 proposals
December 2021
- Retaining walls, protection of trees3 WILLIAM PLACE LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
October 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs13 O'FLYNN STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees3 SIMES STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
September 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development123 DONNANS ROAD LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
August 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing5 MILTON STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs14 NOEL STREET LISMORE HEIGHTS 2480Determined
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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
15 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Liquor LegendsAlcohol
426 Ballina Road
- Barr Scott Dr before Deloraine RdBus stop
- Barr Scott Dr before Leone CtBus stop
- Bellevue Av at High StBus stop
- Bruxner Hwy at Gallagher DrBus stop
- Gallagher Dr at Millar StBus stop
- Gallagher Dr before Barr Scott DrBus stop
- High St at Barr Scott DrBus stop
- High St at Cooling StBus stop
- O'Flynn St at High StBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 37.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3944th in Australia
- State rank
- 1243rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #183 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #438 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 68%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Barr Scott Dr before Deloraine Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Barr Scott Dr before Leone Ctamenitiesbus_stop
- Bellevue Av at High Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bruxner Hwy at Gallagher Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Gallagher Dr at Millar Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Gallagher Dr before Barr Scott Dramenitiesbus_stop
- High St at Barr Scott Dramenitiesbus_stop
- High St at Cooling Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Liquor Legendsamenities426 Ballina Roadalcohol
- Lismore Heights Bottleshop and General Storeamenities426 Ballina Roadgeneral
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lismore Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.