Bakery Hill vs Ballarat Central

Bakery Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 41 in Ballarat Central. In both, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. In Bakery Hill, most households rent. In Ballarat Central, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Ballarat Central: a median of $675,000, against $564,000 in Bakery Hill. On these figures, Bakery Hill tends to suit renters, young adults, and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Ballarat Central

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Bakery Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($564,000 vs $675,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bakery Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (55% vs 41%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Bakery Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 81/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bakery Hill is more walkable (93/100 vs 81/100)
  • Ballarat Central has more GPs (12 vs 1)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bakery Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.8% vs 0.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bakery Hill and Ballarat Central drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Walkability 93 / 81
Bakery Hill — Walkability: 93/100 Ballarat Central — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 1 / 2
Bakery Hill — Safety: 1/100 Ballarat Central — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bakery Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ballarat Central — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Bakery Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 Ballarat Central — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat Central has more residents (5,378 vs 180); Ballarat Central skews older (41 vs 34).

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Population 180 5,378
+2888% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.8% +0.9%
Median age 34 41
Median household income $65,676/yr $75,608/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $313/wk
+4% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
0-4 5.6% / 4.7%
Bakery Hill — 0-4: 5.6% Ballarat Central — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 7.8% / 9.6%
Bakery Hill — 5-14: 7.8% Ballarat Central — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 2.8% / 4.8%
Bakery Hill — 15-19: 2.8% Ballarat Central — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 13.3% / 7.4%
Bakery Hill — 20-24: 13.3% Ballarat Central — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 24.4% / 15.0%
Bakery Hill — 25-34: 24.4% Ballarat Central — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 11.1% / 13.0%
Bakery Hill — 35-44: 11.1% Ballarat Central — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 14.4% / 13.2%
Bakery Hill — 45-54: 14.4% Ballarat Central — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 10.6% / 13.4%
Bakery Hill — 55-64: 10.6% Ballarat Central — 55-64: 13.4%
65-74 8.9% / 11.2%
Bakery Hill — 65-74: 8.9% Ballarat Central — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 5.0% / 5.3%
Bakery Hill — 75-84: 5.0% Ballarat Central — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ — / 2.2%
Bakery Hill — 85+: not among its largest Ballarat Central — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bakery Hill 48.6% lone person
Bakery Hill — Lone Person: 48.6% Bakery Hill — Couple Families: 20.3% Bakery Hill — One Parent Families: 17.6% Bakery Hill — Group Household: 13.5% Bakery Hill — Other Families: 0.0%
Ballarat Central 52.0% lone person
Ballarat Central — Lone Person: 52.0% Ballarat Central — Couple Families: 25.7% Ballarat Central — One Parent Families: 12.2% Ballarat Central — Group Household: 8.6% Ballarat Central — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bakery Hill 55.3% renting
Bakery Hill — Owned Outright: 25.0% Bakery Hill — Mortgage: 19.7% Bakery Hill — Renting: 55.3%
Ballarat Central 41.0% renting
Ballarat Central — Owned Outright: 33.1% Ballarat Central — Mortgage: 25.9% Ballarat Central — Renting: 41.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 18.2%
Bakery Hill — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Ballarat Central — Bachelor Degree: 18.2%
Certificate III & IV 11.7% / 10.9%
Bakery Hill — Certificate III & IV: 11.7% Ballarat Central — Certificate III & IV: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 8.5%
Bakery Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Ballarat Central — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 8.3%
Bakery Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Ballarat Central — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.0% / 4.4%
Bakery Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0% Ballarat Central — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
New Zealand 4.4% / 1.1%
Bakery Hill — New Zealand: 4.4% Ballarat Central — New Zealand: 1.1%
China 4.4% / 0.5%
Bakery Hill — China: 4.4% Ballarat Central — China: 0.5%
England 1.7% / 2.4%
Bakery Hill — England: 1.7% Ballarat Central — England: 2.4%
India 1.7% / 1.8%
Bakery Hill — India: 1.7% Ballarat Central — India: 1.8%
Nepal 1.7% / 0.4%
Bakery Hill — Nepal: 1.7% Ballarat Central — Nepal: 0.4%
Scotland — / 0.4%
Bakery Hill — Scotland: not among its largest Ballarat Central — Scotland: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bakery Hill 69.2% houses
Bakery Hill — Houses: 69.2% Bakery Hill — Townhouses: 26.9% Bakery Hill — Flats / Apartments: 3.8%
Ballarat Central 74.0% houses
Ballarat Central — Houses: 74.0% Ballarat Central — Townhouses: 12.9% Ballarat Central — Flats / Apartments: 13.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Median house price $564,000 $675,000
Median unit price — $407,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 40 days
from 39 sales

Zoning mix

Bakery Hill has more commercially zoned land (61% vs 22%).

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Commercial 61% 22%
Residential 27% 57%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 15%
Parks and recreation 2% 3%
Other and special use 3% 2%
Industrial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Bakery Hill and 100% of Ballarat Central. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
New dwellings approved 1,451
across Ballarat
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Houses — 3.7%
$460/wk on $645K
Units — 4.7%
$350/wk on $384K

Ranking within VIC

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
House price — Higher than 34% of VIC
Income Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 55% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 59% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 47% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 46% of VIC

Liveability

Bakery Hill is more walkable (93 vs 81).

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Grade — B
Score — 64/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
99/100
 High
98/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 14
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 1.4 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 0.0 km

Schools in Bakery Hill

  • Saints College - Ballarat Campus Catholic · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Ballarat Central

  • Ballarat Primary School (Dana Street) Government · Primary above peers
  • St Patrick's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Ballarat Clarendon College - Second Campus Independent · Combined
  • Mount Rowan Secondary College-LinkUp - Ballarat Learning Exchange Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 3 62
Parks & reserves 0 1
Childcare 1 9
GPs 1 12
Pharmacies 0 9
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 11
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 6 13

Mobility

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Walkability score 93/100 81/100
Distance to Melbourne 113.5 km 115.2 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 82 min 86 min
Public transport score 38/100 76/100
Peak arrivals per hour 5.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 191.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 9.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3350
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3350
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Car (driver) 43.2% / 53.4%
Bakery Hill — Car (driver): 43.2% Ballarat Central — Car (driver): 53.4%
Worked from Home 35.8% / 24.0%
Bakery Hill — Worked from Home: 35.8% Ballarat Central — Worked from Home: 24.0%
Walked Only 17.3% / 14.1%
Bakery Hill — Walked Only: 17.3% Ballarat Central — Walked Only: 14.1%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.7%
Bakery Hill — Car (passenger): 3.7% Ballarat Central — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bicycle — / 1.8%
Bakery Hill — Bicycle: not among its largest Ballarat Central — Bicycle: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.4%).

Setting

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Elevation 429 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 453 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Connectivity score 100/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
285 premises
 94%
4,537 premises

Climate

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Annual rainfall 605 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bakery Hill Ballarat Central
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bakery Hill

Cafe Culture Nightlife Parks River Townhouses

Ballarat Central

Cafe Culture Gentrifying Nightlife Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bakery Hill

Bakery Hill vs Ballarat East Bakery Hill vs Golden Point

Other comparisons with Ballarat Central

Ballarat Central vs Wendouree Ballarat Central vs Ballarat East Ballarat Central vs Redan Ballarat Central vs Lake Wendouree Ballarat Central vs Soldiers Hill Ballarat Central vs Mount Pleasant
Full data on Bakery Hill Full data on Ballarat Central
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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