New South Wales · Postcode 2479
Fernleigh postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 607 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Fernleigh at a glance vs NSW
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NSW
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Where Fernleigh ranks: SEIFA decile 9 puts it in the top 20% of Australia for socio-economic advantage.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
Fernleigh vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Fernleigh | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $2,024 ≈NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $450 ≈NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,600 +NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 50 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 9/10 +NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 5.8% +NSW | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NSW average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Fernleigh is a locality 607 km from Sydney in New South Wales, classified as inner regional by the ABS. The postcode is 2479. It falls within the Richmond - Tweed region. The local government area is Ballina.
According to the 2021 Census, Fernleigh has a population of 298 with a median age of 50. The median weekly household income is $2,024, close to the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 5.8%, higher than the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 16 (5.4% of residents).
Housing in Fernleigh includes a median weekly rent of $450, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,600, with 100 total dwellings. These housing costs sit above the NSW average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 78.7% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Fernleigh scores in decile 9 out of 10, which is well above the national average.
Fernleigh is served by Fernleigh Public School.
Fernleigh is part of the Richmond Valley - Coastal statistical area in New South Wales.
Fernleigh details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2479 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 298 |
| Median Age | 50 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $2,024/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $805/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $450 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,600 |
| Average Household Size | 2.8 persons |
| Area | 11.5 km² |
| Population Density | 26/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 100 |
| Australian Citizens | 90.3% |
| Indigenous Population | 16 (5.4%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 9/10 (well above average) |
| Latitude | -28.7690428 |
| Longitude | 153.4921029 |
| Distance from Sydney | 607 km |
| Region (SA4) | Richmond - Tweed |
| Area (SA3) | Richmond Valley - Coastal |
| Local Government | Ballina |
| Federal Electorate | Richmond |
| State Electorate | Lismore |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 52 (17.4%) |
| 15–24 years | 36 (12.1%) |
| 25–44 years | 46 (15.4%) |
| 45–64 years | 116 (38.9%) |
| 65+ years | 54 (18.1%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 21 (7.0%) |
| Asthma | 18 (6.0%) |
| Diabetes | 8 (2.7%) |
| Heart Disease | 6 (2.0%) |
| Cancer | 6 (2.0%) |
| Lung Condition | 3 (1.0%) |
| Dementia | 3 (1.0%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 0 (0.0%) |
| 1 vehicle | 13 (14.0%) |
| 2 vehicles | 42 (45.2%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 38 (40.9%) |
Schools in Fernleigh
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Fernleigh. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Fernleigh
Same Postcode (2479)
More Fernleigh Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.