Fernleigh
NSWFernleigh is a growing suburb in NSW with 298 residents.
- SAL code
- 11511
- SA2
- 112011237
- Population
- 298
Fernleigh, NSW had 298 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 7.0% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 55-64 years, and the median age sits at 50. Households are most often couples with children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $2,600 a month. Around 74.0% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being owned outright at 42.0%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 100.0% of the suburb's housing stock. There is 1 school located inside the suburb. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Population
?298
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+7.0%
3yr: +3.8% · 10yr: +14.6%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$2,024/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
50
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?6/10
SA2 · middle-range
Unemployment
?2.5%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
1
1 primary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
No data for this suburb
Parks & green space
No data for this suburb
Transport stops
No data for this suburb
Dwelling approvals
No data for this suburb
Median Weekly Rent
Based on NSW rental bond lodgements, aggregated at postcode level. All SALs sharing this postcode show the same median.
Median House Sale Price
No data for this suburb
VGV suppresses suburbs with too few sales per quarter
Safety & Crime
2025 Q3Reported incidents from NSW police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Ballina Surrounds (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Fernleigh suburb alone is ~298 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 14,963 to 19,370 over 24 years, averaging 1.1% per year.
Schools
1 in suburbSector
1 public
Type
1 primary
Total enrolment
33
Avg per school
33
Government school catchment
Intake zonePrimary
Fernleigh PS77.4%
- Teven-Tintenbar PS 22.6%
Secondary
Byron Bay HS77.4%
- Ballina Coast HS 22.6%
Source: NSW Department of Education — School Intake Zones. Boundaries can be amended without notice; confirm with the school before relying on enrolment.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Almost entirely detached houses (100%), owner-occupied (74.0%), built for families (41% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
NSW 33%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: NSW RFS BFPL via SEED
As of May 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
This suburb falls outside every flood polygon mapped by the relevant authority. Always confirm at the property address — local conditions and unmapped overlays can still apply.
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions. Source when available: NSW Rural Fire Service (BFPL) and NSW DPHI EPI Flood.
Planning zones
3 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| RU1 | ZoneRural | 91.2% | 10.45 km² |
| DM | ZoneDeferred | 8.1% | 0.92 km² |
| RE1 | ZoneRecreation | 0.8% | 0.09 km² |
Source: NSW DPHI EPI Land Zoning (ZONE_NSW/2026-04-29/1eccf1a530fa1be5) · As of Apr 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.