Urban Area · Area profile
Lismore
89 km²
A high proportion of residents identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sets Lismore apart from most other areas. It is a maturing community where the typical resident is now 42, notably older than the national figure. While the population has grown slightly to 28,816 people, there is a significant trend toward non-religious beliefs and an increasing number of older adults. The area is marked by a high need for health and disability support, reflecting a population that is ageing and facing more complex health challenges.
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 7.1%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2% and has risen since 2011. Residents are noticeably older than average, with 20.8% aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 4.7 points over the last decade.
Lismore has a very strong connection to its roots, with 83.5% of people born in Australia and far fewer overseas-born residents (9.9%) compared to the rest of the state.
English is the dominant language for 87.7% of the community. This is consistent with the low proportion of people born overseas, and only 0.6% of residents speak little or no English.
A large shift has occurred in faith, with those reporting no religion rising 20 points since 2011 to reach 42.5%, which is well above the national figure.
More adults hold a bachelor degree or higher than in most similar areas, though this 19.2% is still well below the state average. Year 12 completion has also risen 6.8 points since 2011.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,242 a week. Only 10.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.
Health challenges are a significant feature here, as 36.4% of people have a long-term health condition and 14.3% have a mental health condition, both of which are well above national figures.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, though the rate fell 4.9 points since 2011. There is also a higher than average rate of people providing unpaid care at 14.0%.
Living arrangements are distinct, with 34.1% of people living alone and 23.5% of families being one-parent households, both of which are among the highest figures for this level.
Separate houses are very common at 77.2%, and typical weekly rents are well below the state average at $300. About 33.3% of homes are rented, which is a little above the national figure.
Most people rely on cars to get to work, while only 0.4% use public transport. Working from home has become more common, rising 7.3 points since 2011 to reach 10.8%.
The community is relatively stable, with 40.3% of people moving in the last five years, a figure that is about the same as the national average.
The unemployment rate is 5.7%, which is higher than most similar areas. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, and the proportion of full-time workers is well below the national figure.
Lismore is somewhat walkable, though it is far below the state average for homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Most homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.