Regional Australia dwelling values outpaced their city counterparts in the three months to January, rising 3.2%, compared to a 2.1% for capital cities, according to Cotality, Australia’s Largest Independent Property And Analytics Data Platform.

Wagga Wagga was the fastest-growing regional centre with an 8.1% rise over the quarter, and regional W.A. was the strongest state with dwelling values up 6.1%. In NSW, growth was more modest at 2.5%.

Lismore exceeded the state increase with 4.2% growth, while Ballina matched the NSW rise of 2.5%.

Over the last 12-months, Lismore has risen 7.1%, and Ballina 9.8%. However, over a 5-year period, Lismore dwelling values have increased by 47.5%, while Ballina's have increased by 35.2%.

This has led to a median home value of $586,021 for Lismore and $1,085,931 for Ballina.

RENTS

Regional rental growth was above that of capital cities, but only just, increasing 1.6%, compared to 1.4%.

If you were renting a house in Devonport or Launceston in Tasmania, it would cost you 5% and 4.3% more, respectively, to live in your dwelling.

Locally, renters in Lismore had to fork out 1.3% more on rent in the last quarter, 6.2% in the last 12 months, and 36.8% over the last 5 years. The median price to rent a dwelling in Lismore is now $629 per week.

Ballina renters paid more than Lismore, with a 2.4% increase for the quarter, slightly less over 12 months with 3.6% annually, and less over 5 years with a 31.9% increase. The median weekly rent for a dwelling in Ballina is $803.

VACANCY RATE

Ballina has recorded the country's equal lowest vacancy rate of 0.6%, with Forster-Tuncurry. Lismore's vacancy rate is 0.9%, down from 1.5%.

In terms of rental yield, Lismore is third nationally at 5.3%, after Kalgoorlie-Boulder in WA at 8.5% and Queensland's Mackay at 5.4%.

In terms of properties sold over the last year to November 2025, Lismore sold 769, which was 8.2% lower, while Ballina sold 1,047 properties, which is 10.7% higher than one year ago.

For Lismore, the bulk of those 769 properties were in the $400,000 to $800,000 range. The lower $400,000 to $600,000 range would be homes situated in flood-affected areas of Lismore.