Curlewis vs North Lismore

Houses cost about the same in both suburbs: the median house price is $390K in Curlewis and $390K in North Lismore.

For units, Curlewis sits at a median of $610K against $455K in North Lismore, which makes North Lismore the more affordable unit market and Curlewis the pricier one.

Over the past year house prices moved +6.0% in Curlewis and +15.6% in North Lismore, so recent momentum favours North Lismore, although both suburbs recorded growth.

Looking back three years, Curlewis houses are +36.4% and North Lismore houses +53.8%, so North Lismore has compounded faster than Curlewis over the longer window.

Rental vacancy is 0.8% in North Lismore and 4.3% in Curlewis, so landlords in North Lismore face less competition for tenants. Anything under 2% is generally read as a tight market where tenants compete for homes.

Curlewis is the bigger suburb, with a population of 779 against 754, larger than North Lismore; a larger suburb usually means a deeper pool of buyers and tenants.

In short: North Lismore for recent price momentum, North Lismore for the tighter rental market. Which matters more depends on whether the investor is buying for cash flow, capital growth or affordability.