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Ballina vs Byron Bay

Name: Ballina vs Byron Bay — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 16 km apart · Ballina profile · Byron Bay profile

Ballina Byron Bay

Ballina and Byron Bay are nearby coastal areas with very different social profiles. Ballina is much older, with a typical resident aged 53 and 34.7% of the population aged 65 and over. This is reflected in health/wellness trends, as people with long-term health conditions are far more common here than in Byron Bay. In contrast, Byron Bay has a younger typical resident (39) and a more highly qualified workforce, with 33.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher compared to 17.9% in Ballina. Byron Bay also has a larger share of people born overseas (27.8%) and those with no religion (59.7%).

Since 2011, the gaps between these two areas have generally widened. This is seen in the age difference, which grew from 8 to 14 years, and in the rise of overseas arrivals and high-income earners in Byron Bay. Despite these diverging trends, they share some basics, such as similar proportions of children under 15 and nearly identical rates of First Nations unemployment. Both areas also experience almost the same annual rainfall and temperature ranges.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 24.1 pts higher in Byron Bay Median age: 14 yrs older in Ballina People / bedroom: 0.20 higher in Byron Bay No religion: 20.1 pts higher in Byron Bay Recent arrivals: 19.9 pts higher in Byron Bay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballina in Byron Bay +7,715 larger in Ballina gap steady

18,629 87th pct 10,914 58th pct

Median age in Ballina in Byron Bay +14 yrs older in Ballina gap widening

53 yrs 94th pct 39 yrs 48th pct

Age structure

18.9% Young adults (25–44) +16.2 pts ▸ 35.1%

34.7% Seniors (65+) ◂ +17.5 pts 17.2%

24.8% Older adults (45–64) +0.5 pts ▸ 25.3%

13.2% Children (0–14) +0.4 pts ▸ 13.7%

8.3% Youth (15–24) +0.5 pts ▸ 8.8%

Marital status

31.6% Never married +20.0 pts ▸ 51.6%

41.5% Married ◂ +11.0 pts 30.5%

12.9% Divorced ◂ +1.1 pts 11.9%

10.2% Widowed ◂ +6.6 pts 3.6%

3.8% Separated ◂ +1.4 pts 2.4%

Age & sex structure

Ballina Byron Bay

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

80.5% Australia ◂ +16.9 pts 63.6%

3.2% England +2.4 pts ▸ 5.6%

1.7% New Zealand +0.8 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.2% Italy +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.4% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.6% India ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.5% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.1% China even 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

43.6% English ◂ +4.4 pts 39.2%

38.6% Australian ◂ +11.2 pts 27.3%

13.7% Irish +1.0 pts ▸ 14.7%

11.9% Scottish ◂ +0.6 pts 11.3%

4.4% German +1.6 pts ▸ 6.0%

2.8% Italian +2.7 pts ▸ 5.5%

1.2% Dutch +0.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.4% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.7% Chinese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.7% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

0.7% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

88.4% English only ◂ +10.8 pts 77.6%

0.3% Italian +1.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.4% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.0% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Mandarin even 0.2%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Tagalog even 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

39.6% No religion +20.1 pts ▸ 59.7%

49.7% Christianity ◂ +24.8 pts 24.9%

8.3% Not stated +3.0 pts ▸ 11.3%

1.0% Buddhism +1.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.1% Judaism +0.9 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.5% Hinduism even 0.5%

0.1% Islam even 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Ballina in Byron Bay +4 more in Ballina

8 87th pct 4 57th pct

Schools/1k kids in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.56 more in Ballina

3.24 72nd pct 2.68 63rd pct

Schools ≤3 km in Ballina in Byron Bay +6 more in Ballina

11 29th pct 5 10th pct

Students in Ballina in Byron Bay +1,378 more in Ballina

3,079 79th pct 1,701 56th pct

Avg size in Ballina in Byron Bay +40 larger in Byron Bay

385 44th pct 425 50th pct

ICSEA in Ballina in Byron Bay +40 higher in Byron Bay

1,026 55th pct 1,066 71st pct

Highest year of school

42.6% Year 12 +24.1 pts ▸ 66.8%

29.0% Year 10 ◂ +14.6 pts 14.3%

13.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +9.4 pts 3.7%

6.9% Year 11 ◂ +1.6 pts 5.3%

Highest qualification level

21.3% Bachelor degree +12.2 pts ▸ 33.5%

30.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +12.4 pts 18.2%

15.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.5 pts 15.2%

5.0% Postgraduate degree +4.2 pts ▸ 9.2%

3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.4 pts 2.9%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.7 pts 1.4%

Field of qualification

16.1% Management & commerce +0.5 pts ▸ 16.5%

11.3% Society & culture +2.5 pts ▸ 13.8%

11.9% Health ◂ +1.6 pts 10.2%

11.4% Engineering & related ◂ +4.7 pts 6.7%

10.7% Education ◂ +3.9 pts 6.8%

3.2% Creative arts +7.5 pts ▸ 10.7%

6.3% Architecture & building +0.2 pts ▸ 6.6%

6.0% Food, hospitality & personal services even 6.1%

1.9% Natural & physical sciences +1.0 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

1.1% Information technology +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Income

Personal income in Ballina in Byron Bay +$174 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$663 22nd pct $837 57th pct

Household income in Ballina in Byron Bay +$598 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$1,150 11th pct $1,748 50th pct

Family income in Ballina in Byron Bay +$528 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$1,563 17th pct $2,091 50th pct

Household income distribution

33.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +10.6 pts 23.3%

24.8% $1,500–$2,999 +2.9 pts ▸ 27.8%

23.7% Under $650 ◂ +6.6 pts 17.1%

4.7% $4,000 or more +8.8 pts ▸ 13.5%

6.0% $3,000–$3,999 +3.1 pts ▸ 9.1%

Personal income distribution

44.6% Under $650 ◂ +11.1 pts 33.5%

32.9% $650–$1,499 +2.5 pts ▸ 35.3%

11.1% $1,500–$2,999 +3.3 pts ▸ 14.4%

2.1% $3,000 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 5.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

13.7% Arthritis ◂ +7.5 pts 6.2%

11.6% Mental health ◂ +4.6 pts 7.1%

9.7% Other condition ◂ +3.0 pts 6.7%

8.1% Asthma ◂ +2.3 pts 5.8%

7.4% Heart disease ◂ +4.6 pts 2.8%

5.7% Diabetes ◂ +3.9 pts 1.8%

4.8% Cancer ◂ +2.1 pts 2.7%

3.7% Lung condition ◂ +2.2 pts 1.5%

2.0% Stroke ◂ +1.2 pts 0.8%

1.8% Dementia ◂ +1.2 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

53.5% None +13.6 pts ▸ 67.1%

23.2% One condition ◂ +7.3 pts 15.9%

9.0% Two conditions ◂ +4.9 pts 4.1%

5.6% Three or more ◂ +3.9 pts 1.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Ballina in Byron Bay +686 larger in Ballina

887 86th pct 201 54th pct

Median age in Ballina in Byron Bay +8 yrs older in Byron Bay

25 yrs 57th pct 33 yrs 91st pct

Median income in Ballina in Byron Bay +$91 higher in Byron Bay

$512 22nd pct $603 44th pct

Household income in Ballina in Byron Bay +$307 higher in Byron Bay

$1,286 22nd pct $1,593 44th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.3 larger in Byron Bay gap widening

2.1 11th pct 2.4 36th pct

Family composition

40.9% Couples with children +9.2 pts ▸ 50.0%

39.0% Couples without children ◂ +4.4 pts 34.5%

19.0% One-parent families ◂ +4.5 pts 14.5%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

Household size

38.9% 2 people ◂ +5.3 pts 33.6%

35.8% 1 person ◂ +6.7 pts 29.1%

11.8% 3 people +4.6 pts ▸ 16.3%

9.2% 4 people +4.7 pts ▸ 13.9%

3.1% 5 people +2.0 pts ▸ 5.1%

1.2% 6 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 1.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballina in Byron Bay +$230 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$390 57th pct $620 100th pct

Mortgage in Ballina in Byron Bay +$607 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$1,733 43rd pct $2,340 82nd pct

People / bedroom in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.20 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

40.3% Owned outright ◂ +5.6 pts 34.7%

32.9% Rented +3.9 pts ▸ 36.8%

20.1% Owned with a mortgage +4.2 pts ▸ 24.3%

4.5% Other tenure ◂ +2.3 pts 2.2%

2.3% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 2.1%

Types of homes

57.4% Separate house +4.2 pts ▸ 61.6%

30.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +4.8 pts 25.2%

8.0% Flat or apartment even 8.0%

4.0% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 4.0%

Bedrooms per home

42.8% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.2 pts 40.5%

28.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +10.9 pts 18.0%

17.6% 4 bedrooms +4.3 pts ▸ 21.9%

5.1% 1 bedroom +4.3 pts ▸ 9.4%

3.3% 5 or more +2.8 pts ▸ 6.0%

0.3% Studio / none +1.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

Weekly rent distribution

41.2% $350–$549 ◂ +25.1 pts 16.2%

1.1% $750 or more +29.6 pts ▸ 30.6%

16.3% $550–$749 +12.3 pts ▸ 28.6%

20.6% $200–$349 ◂ +8.8 pts 11.8%

16.9% Under $200 ◂ +9.3 pts 7.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

33.6% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +6.0 pts 27.6%

11.6% $3,000 or more +20.8 pts ▸ 32.4%

29.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +11.2 pts 18.3%

18.4% Under $1,000 ◂ +3.8 pts 14.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Ballina in Byron Bay +32 more in Ballina

105 87th pct 73 76th pct

Stops/1k in Ballina in Byron Bay +1.05 more in Byron Bay

5.64 69th pct 6.69 80th pct

Departures/1k in Ballina in Byron Bay +72.7 more in Byron Bay

304.4 31st pct 377.0 33rd pct

PT routes in Ballina in Byron Bay +2 more in Byron Bay

15 78th pct 17 82nd pct

Stop walk in Ballina in Byron Bay +7 longer in Byron Bay

4 43rd pct 11 72nd pct

How people get to work

60.3% Car (driver) ◂ +16.1 pts 44.2%

12.5% Worked at home +13.3 pts ▸ 25.8%

3.6% Walked +1.6 pts ▸ 5.2%

2.1% Bicycle +1.9 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.9% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.5 pts 2.5%

0.4% Bus ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

45.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +7.2 pts 38.5%

33.8% 2 vehicles +2.9 pts ▸ 36.7%

8.7% 3 vehicles +3.8 pts ▸ 12.5%

8.1% No vehicle ◂ +2.8 pts 5.3%

3.7% 4 or more +3.3 pts ▸ 7.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

20.9% Health care & social assistance ◂ +8.8 pts 12.1%

9.8% Accommodation & food +10.3 pts ▸ 20.1%

11.1% Retail trade ◂ +2.5 pts 8.6%

10.5% Construction ◂ +2.4 pts 8.0%

5.0% Professional & technical +4.6 pts ▸ 9.6%

9.4% Education & training ◂ +2.1 pts 7.3%

5.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +3.3 pts 2.2%

3.7% Administrative & support +0.9 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.0% Other services ◂ +0.7 pts 3.3%

3.8% Manufacturing ◂ +0.5 pts 3.3%

2.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.0 pts 1.9%

1.4% Arts & recreation +1.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Occupations people work in

20.3% Professionals +4.9 pts ▸ 25.2%

10.9% Managers +6.8 pts ▸ 17.7%

15.8% Community & personal service ◂ +2.0 pts 13.8%

14.4% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.7 pts 13.7%

11.7% Labourers ◂ +2.6 pts 9.1%

10.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.5 pts 7.3%

10.2% Sales workers ◂ +1.9 pts 8.3%

4.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.2 pts 2.3%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Ballina in Byron Bay +3 higher in Byron Bay

4 36th pct 7 64th pct

IRSD decile in Ballina in Byron Bay +2 higher in Byron Bay

4 36th pct 6 57th pct

IER decile in Ballina in Byron Bay +2 higher in Byron Bay

3 29th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Ballina in Byron Bay +4 higher in Byron Bay

4 36th pct 8 71st pct

IRSAD score in Ballina in Byron Bay +94 higher in Byron Bay

953 31st pct 1,047 70th pct

ERP in Ballina in Byron Bay +7,331 higher in Ballina

18,813 84th pct 11,482 55th pct

Growth in Ballina in Byron Bay +3.6 pts higher in Byron Bay

1.2% 20th pct 4.8% 53rd pct

Businesses in Ballina in Byron Bay +569 higher in Byron Bay

1,760 83rd pct 2,329 86th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Ballina in Byron Bay +115 higher in Ballina

1,850 100th pct 1,735 96th pct

Max temp in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.4 higher in Ballina

25.1 65th pct 24.7 61st pct

Min temp in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.3 higher in Byron Bay

15.0 80th pct 15.3 82nd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.4 higher in Byron Bay

6.2 62nd pct 6.6 69th pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.6 more in Byron Bay

5.7 56th pct 6.3 65th pct

15-min city in Ballina in Byron Bay +3.2 pts higher in Byron Bay

69.5% 53rd pct 72.7% 56th pct

Walk to shops in Ballina in Byron Bay +2.8 pts higher in Byron Bay

75.9% 62nd pct 78.7% 64th pct

Walk to transit in Ballina in Byron Bay +5.5 pts higher in Ballina

98.1% 67th pct 92.5% 52nd pct

Walk to school in Ballina in Byron Bay +0.6 pts higher in Ballina

61.6% 39th pct 61.0% 39th pct

Walk to a park in Ballina in Byron Bay +4.5 pts higher in Ballina

99.3% 57th pct 94.8% 43rd pct

Walk to health in Ballina in Byron Bay +23.3 pts higher in Byron Bay

47.0% 51st pct 70.3% 69th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballina in Byron Bay +6.4 more in Ballina

33.1 86th pct 26.8 84th pct

Intersections/km² in Ballina in Byron Bay +54 higher in Ballina

87 48th pct 33 34th pct

Mean slope in Ballina in Byron Bay +1.4 pts higher in Byron Bay

3.3% 15th pct 4.7% 38th pct

Compare Ballina with nearby areas

Lennox Head - Skennars Head Ballina Surrounds Byron Bay Bangalow Goonellabah Lismore Brunswick Heads - Ocean Shores Mullumbimby

Compare Byron Bay with nearby areas

Lennox Head - Skennars Head Bangalow Ballina Brunswick Heads - Ocean Shores Ballina Surrounds Mullumbimby Goonellabah Pottsville

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballina vs Byron Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/112011236/ballina/vs/112011240/byron-bay