CensusAtlas

Compare

Ballina vs Grafton

Urban Area comparison ≈ 106 km apart · Ballina profile · Grafton profile

Ballina Grafton

Ballina and Grafton are two New South Wales towns with very different social and economic profiles. Ballina is a wealthier area with a more qualified workforce; 22.7% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, compared to 10.6% in Grafton. Ballina also has a higher typical weekly household income of $1,429, while Grafton's is $1,125. In contrast, Grafton has a much larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population at 10.4%, compared to 3.9% in Ballina, and more people living with long-term health conditions.

The gap in educational attainment has widened since 2011, with Ballina's lead in Year 12 completions now 14.5 points. Despite this, the two towns share some similarities in their housing and layout. Both are described as somewhat walkable, and they have almost identical shares of homes with three or more bedrooms. They are also alike in the number of people per home and the proportion of residents who have served in the Defence Force.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Unemployment: 3.5 pts higher in Grafton Bachelor+: 12.1 pts higher in Ballina One-parent: 8.6 pts higher in Grafton Year 12: 14.5 pts higher in Ballina No car: 2.9 pts higher in Grafton

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballinain Grafton +26,935 larger in Ballina gap widening
46,190 60th pct 19,255 31st pct
Median age in Ballinain Grafton +5 yrs older in Ballina gap steady
48 yrs 87th pct 43 yrs 64th pct
First Nations in Ballinain Grafton +6.5 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
3.9% 32nd pct 10.4% 87th pct
Aged 65+ in Ballinain Grafton +2.5 pts higher in Ballina gap steady
27.1% 87th pct 24.5% 77th pct
Under 15 in Ballinain Grafton +2.6 pts higher in Grafton gap steady
16.3% 17th pct 18.9% 65th pct
De facto in Ballinain Grafton +0.5 pts higher in Ballina gap steady
12.4% 42nd pct 12.0% 31st pct

Age structure

27.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.5 pts 24.5%
26.8% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.0 pts 23.8%
20.6% Young adults (25–44) +1.0 pts ▸ 21.6%
16.3% Children (0–14) +2.6 pts ▸ 18.9%
9.3% Youth (15–24) +1.9 pts ▸ 11.2%

Marital status

46.1% Married ◂ +7.0 pts 39.1%
32.0% Never married +4.4 pts ▸ 36.4%
11.2% Divorced +0.5 pts ▸ 11.7%
7.3% Widowed +1.2 pts ▸ 8.5%
3.3% Separated +1.0 pts ▸ 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Ballina Grafton

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Ballinain Grafton +6.8 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
12.7% 48th pct 5.9% 0th pct

Country of birth

81.5% Australia +5.7 pts ▸ 87.2%
3.7% England ◂ +2.3 pts 1.4%
1.7% New Zealand ◂ +1.0 pts 0.7%
0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%
0.4% India +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.4% Philippines even 0.4%
0.2% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.1% China even 0.1%
0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%
0.1% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

39.3% Australian +6.1 pts ▸ 45.4%
44.5% English ◂ +3.7 pts 40.8%
14.4% Irish ◂ +3.5 pts 10.9%
12.5% Scottish ◂ +2.7 pts 9.9%
4.6% German ◂ +0.3 pts 4.3%
3.3% Italian ◂ +1.8 pts 1.5%
1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%
0.8% Chinese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%
0.6% Filipino +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.6% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%
0.5% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%
0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Other language in Ballinain Grafton +1.7 pts higher in Ballina gap steady
4.7% 25th pct 3.1% 4th pct
Limited English in Ballinain Grafton even gap narrowing
0.4% 16th pct 0.4% 14th pct

Language used at home

89.8% English only +0.7 pts ▸ 90.5%
0.3% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%
0.2% Punjabi even 0.3%
0.1% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.1% Mandarin even 0.2%
0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%
0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%
0.1% Greek even 0.0%
0.1% Arabic even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Ballinain Grafton +4.8 pts higher in Ballina gap steady
42.9% 54th pct 38.2% 28th pct

Religious affiliation

47.6% Christianity +4.1 pts ▸ 51.7%
42.9% No religion ◂ +4.8 pts 38.2%
7.2% Not stated +1.3 pts ▸ 8.5%
1.1% Buddhism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%
0.6% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.3% Hinduism even 0.3%
0.1% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Ballinain Grafton +14.5 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
49.3% 72nd pct 34.9% 10th pct
Bachelor+ in Ballinain Grafton +12.1 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
22.7% 82nd pct 10.6% 12th pct

Highest year of school

49.3% Year 12 ◂ +14.5 pts 34.9%
27.0% Year 10 +6.3 pts ▸ 33.3%
10.2% Year 9 or below +5.4 pts ▸ 15.6%
6.6% Year 11 +0.3 pts ▸ 6.9%

Highest qualification level

29.2% Certificate III / IV +9.9 pts ▸ 39.1%
24.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +10.9 pts 13.9%
15.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.0 pts 12.9%
6.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.5 pts 2.9%
3.8% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.4 pts 2.4%
1.9% Certificate I / II +1.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

Field of qualification

16.3% Management & commerce ◂ +0.2 pts 16.1%
11.4% Society & culture +1.7 pts ▸ 13.1%
12.9% Health ◂ +1.7 pts 11.2%
11.3% Engineering & related +0.9 pts ▸ 12.2%
11.4% Education ◂ +2.9 pts 8.4%
6.7% Architecture & building ◂ +1.3 pts 5.4%
5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.5 pts ▸ 6.0%
3.9% Creative arts ◂ +2.0 pts 1.9%
3.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.1 pts 2.3%
2.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.4 pts 0.9%
1.1% Information technology +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Ballinain Grafton +$130 higher in Ballina gap widening
$737 52nd pct $607 13th pct
Household income in Ballinain Grafton +$304 higher in Ballina gap widening
$1,429 50th pct $1,125 10th pct
Family income in Ballinain Grafton +$435 higher in Ballina gap widening
$1,848 52nd pct $1,413 10th pct
High earners in Ballinain Grafton +3.9 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
9.0% 55th pct 5.1% 11th pct
High-income homes in Ballinain Grafton +7.8 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
16.4% 58th pct 8.6% 7th pct

Household income distribution

30.6% $650–$1,499 +4.8 pts ▸ 35.4%
27.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 24.9%
18.1% Under $650 +5.8 pts ▸ 23.9%
8.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +4.8 pts 3.5%
8.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 5.1%

Personal income distribution

41.3% Under $650 +7.1 pts ▸ 48.4%
33.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.6 pts 31.0%
14.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.2 pts 10.2%
3.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 1.4%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Ballinain Grafton +5.7 pts higher in Grafton
32.5% 49th pct 38.2% 89th pct
Mental health in Ballinain Grafton +3.1 pts higher in Grafton
10.0% 40th pct 13.1% 94th pct
Needs assistance in Ballinain Grafton +3.0 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
6.7% 52nd pct 9.7% 92nd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

10.9% Arthritis +2.6 pts ▸ 13.5%
10.0% Mental health +3.1 pts ▸ 13.1%
8.1% Asthma +2.9 pts ▸ 11.0%
8.5% Other condition +1.5 pts ▸ 10.0%
4.3% Diabetes +2.4 pts ▸ 6.7%
5.6% Heart disease +0.7 pts ▸ 6.3%
4.0% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%
2.5% Lung condition +1.0 pts ▸ 3.5%
1.5% Stroke even 1.5%
1.1% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.4% None ◂ +7.1 pts 52.3%
21.5% One condition +1.6 pts ▸ 23.1%
7.2% Two conditions +1.9 pts ▸ 9.1%
3.9% Three or more +2.2 pts ▸ 6.1%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Ballinain Grafton +2.8 pts higher in Ballina gap steady
17.3% 75th pct 14.5% 37th pct
Unpaid carers in Ballinain Grafton +0.7 pts higher in Grafton gap steady
13.6% 72nd pct 14.4% 90th pct
Unpaid child care in Ballinain Grafton +0.9 pts higher in Grafton gap steady
25.0% 40th pct 25.9% 54th pct
Defence service in Ballinain Grafton +0.2 pts higher in Grafton
3.6% 66th pct 3.8% 73rd pct
Housework 15h+ in Ballinain Grafton +1.4 pts higher in Ballina gap steady
23.4% 77th pct 22.0% 56th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Ballinain Grafton +0.1 larger in Ballina gap steady
2.4 43rd pct 2.3 14th pct
One-parent in Ballinain Grafton +8.6 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
15.2% 33rd pct 23.9% 100th pct
Living alone in Ballinain Grafton +4.7 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
28.2% 47th pct 32.9% 86th pct

Family composition

49.9% Couples with children ◂ +5.2 pts 44.7%
33.9% Couples without children ◂ +3.9 pts 30.0%
15.2% One-parent families +8.6 pts ▸ 23.9%
1.0% Other families +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

Household size

38.2% 2 people ◂ +3.3 pts 34.9%
28.2% 1 person +4.7 pts ▸ 32.9%
13.9% 3 people ◂ +0.3 pts 13.5%
12.4% 4 people ◂ +1.7 pts 10.8%
5.1% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 5.2%
2.2% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 2.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballinain Grafton +$120 higher in Ballina gap steady
$420 94th pct $300 48th pct
Mortgage in Ballinain Grafton +$650 higher in Ballina gap widening
$1,950 86th pct $1,300 29th pct
People / bedroom in Ballinain Grafton +0.10 higher in Ballina gap widening
0.80 57th pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in Ballinain Grafton +6.3 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
26.7% 28th pct 32.9% 67th pct
Owned outright in Ballinain Grafton +4.7 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
41.3% 85th pct 36.6% 68th pct
Separate houses in Ballinain Grafton +10.5 pts higher in Grafton gap narrowing
71.7% 14th pct 82.3% 39th pct
3+ bedrooms in Ballinain Grafton +0.4 pts higher in Grafton gap narrowing
74.0% 24th pct 74.4% 26th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.3% Owned outright ◂ +4.7 pts 36.6%
26.7% Rented +6.3 pts ▸ 32.9%
27.0% Owned with a mortgage +0.3 pts ▸ 27.3%
3.1% Other tenure ◂ +1.8 pts 1.4%
1.8% Not stated even 1.8%

Types of homes

71.7% Separate house +10.5 pts ▸ 82.3%
20.7% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +13.2 pts 7.5%
5.0% Flat or apartment +3.2 pts ▸ 8.3%
2.2% Other dwelling ◂ +0.4 pts 1.8%

Bedrooms per home

40.9% 3 bedrooms +5.4 pts ▸ 46.3%
26.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.0 pts 22.5%
20.3% 2 bedrooms ◂ +1.6 pts 18.6%
6.5% 5 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 5.6%
3.7% 1 bedroom +0.9 pts ▸ 4.6%
0.4% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

19.6% $200–$349 +31.7 pts ▸ 51.3%
40.4% $350–$549 ◂ +12.5 pts 27.8%
20.9% $550–$749 ◂ +20.0 pts 0.9%
11.5% Under $200 +4.7 pts ▸ 16.2%
4.0% $750 or more ◂ +3.9 pts 0.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

26.3% $1,000–$1,799 +24.6 pts ▸ 50.9%
33.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +17.3 pts 16.6%
15.8% Under $1,000 +8.1 pts ▸ 23.9%
17.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +13.1 pts 4.1%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Ballinain Grafton +2.9 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
4.9% 26th pct 7.8% 86th pct
Work from home in Ballinain Grafton +9.5 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
16.7% 84th pct 7.1% 41st pct
PT commute in Ballinain Grafton even gap steady
0.3% 27th pct 0.3% 25th pct

How people get to work

59.0% Car (driver) +8.7 pts ▸ 67.8%
16.7% Worked at home ◂ +9.5 pts 7.1%
3.6% Car (passenger) +2.1 pts ▸ 5.7%
2.8% Walked +0.9 pts ▸ 3.7%
1.1% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.3% Bus even 0.3%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.1% 1 vehicle +6.0 pts ▸ 43.0%
39.1% 2 vehicles ◂ +5.4 pts 33.7%
12.3% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.5 pts 10.8%
4.9% No vehicle +2.9 pts ▸ 7.8%
6.6% 4 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 4.8%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Ballinain Grafton +3.9 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
40.6% 53rd pct 36.8% 26th pct
Recent arrivals in Ballinain Grafton +2.4 pts higher in Grafton gap steady
9.1% 25th pct 11.5% 42nd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Ballinain Grafton +3.5 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
3.4% 14th pct 7.0% 90th pct
Participation in Ballinain Grafton +6.0 pts higher in Ballina gap widening
55.5% 38th pct 49.5% 13th pct
Full-time in Ballinain Grafton +5.1 pts higher in Grafton gap widening
51.0% 10th pct 56.1% 37th pct

Industries people work in

18.6% Health care & social assistance +0.2 pts ▸ 18.8%
10.5% Retail trade +0.9 pts ▸ 11.4%
5.2% Public administration & safety +6.1 pts ▸ 11.3%
10.7% Education & training ◂ +2.0 pts 8.7%
10.2% Construction ◂ +2.5 pts 7.7%
8.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.4 pts 8.3%
5.8% Professional & technical ◂ +2.9 pts 2.9%
4.1% Manufacturing +0.9 pts ▸ 5.0%
2.6% Transport & warehousing +1.4 pts ▸ 4.0%
3.8% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 4.0%
4.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +1.4 pts 2.6%
3.3% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

Occupations people work in

22.6% Professionals ◂ +7.1 pts 15.5%
13.5% Community & personal service +4.7 pts ▸ 18.1%
13.9% Managers ◂ +4.7 pts 9.2%
13.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.5 pts 12.3%
10.0% Labourers +3.3 pts ▸ 13.3%
11.0% Clerical & administrative +1.2 pts ▸ 12.2%
9.6% Sales workers +0.9 pts ▸ 10.6%
4.1% Machinery operators & drivers +2.9 pts ▸ 7.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Ballinain Grafton +0.4 higher in Grafton
5.0 51st pct 5.4 65th pct
Types ≤15 min in Ballinain Grafton +0.6 more in Grafton
4.7 48th pct 5.3 71st pct
15-min city in Ballinain Grafton +7.5 pts higher in Grafton
52.8% 48th pct 60.3% 64th pct
Walk to shops in Ballinain Grafton +2.0 pts higher in Ballina
57.4% 60th pct 55.4% 54th pct
Walk to transit in Ballinain Grafton +4.6 pts higher in Grafton
78.5% 39th pct 83.0% 50th pct
Walk to school in Ballinain Grafton +9.7 pts higher in Grafton
55.3% 29th pct 65.1% 53rd pct
Walk to a park in Ballinain Grafton +3.0 pts higher in Grafton
87.6% 43rd pct 90.6% 55th pct
Walk to health in Ballinain Grafton +13.2 pts higher in Grafton
39.5% 46th pct 52.7% 83rd pct
Amenities/1k in Ballinain Grafton +10.8 more in Ballina
24.3 86th pct 13.6 38th pct
Intersections/km² in Ballinain Grafton +2 higher in Grafton
11 28th pct 13 33rd pct
Mean slope in Ballinain Grafton +1.5 pts higher in Ballina
5.5% 58th pct 4.0% 27th pct

Compare Ballina with nearby areas

Lismore Byron Bay Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Grafton Brisbane Coffs Harbour Warwick Toowoomba Kempsey Armidale Sunshine Coast Port Macquarie

Compare Grafton with nearby areas

Coffs Harbour Lismore Ballina Byron Bay Kempsey Armidale Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Warwick Port Macquarie Camden Haven Brisbane Taree

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballina vs Grafton [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1003/ballina/vs/1015/grafton