Balaclava vs Mittagong

Balaclava is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 49 in Mittagong. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Balaclava, about half of households are couple families. In Mittagong, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Balaclava tends to suit families with children and couples, while Mittagong suits people living alone and older residents.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Balaclava carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 68/100)
  • Mittagong has more parks and reserves (9 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Balaclava

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mittagong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Balaclava

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (111.5 km vs 113.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mittagong

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 17%)
  • But Balaclava carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Balaclava

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.7% vs 5.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Balaclava Mittagong
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.

Balaclava Mittagong
Walkability 17 / 14
Balaclava — Walkability: 17/100 Mittagong — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 83 / 32
Balaclava — Safety: 83/100 Mittagong — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 19 / 24
Balaclava — Low fire risk: 19/100 Mittagong — Low fire risk: 24/100

Demographics

Mittagong has more residents (6,090 vs 574); Balaclava has higher household incomes ($105,196 vs $74,100).

Balaclava Mittagong
Population 574 6,090
+961% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.7% +5.6%
Median age 40 49
Median household income $105,196/yr
+30% vs other
 $74,100/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+20% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balaclava Mittagong
0-4 8.7% / 4.8%
Balaclava — 0-4: 8.7% Mittagong — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 13.1% / 10.0%
Balaclava — 5-14: 13.1% Mittagong — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 3.5% / 5.8%
Balaclava — 15-19: 3.5% Mittagong — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.1% / 3.7%
Balaclava — 20-24: 5.1% Mittagong — 20-24: 3.7%
25-34 10.8% / 10.1%
Balaclava — 25-34: 10.8% Mittagong — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 14.8% / 10.4%
Balaclava — 35-44: 14.8% Mittagong — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 15.3% / 12.6%
Balaclava — 45-54: 15.3% Mittagong — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 11.3% / 13.1%
Balaclava — 55-64: 11.3% Mittagong — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 9.8% / 14.4%
Balaclava — 65-74: 9.8% Mittagong — 65-74: 14.4%
75-84 5.1% / 10.5%
Balaclava — 75-84: 5.1% Mittagong — 75-84: 10.5%
85+ 1.9% / 4.6%
Balaclava — 85+: 1.9% Mittagong — 85+: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balaclava 51.0% couple families
Balaclava — Couple Families: 51.0% Balaclava — Lone Person: 27.2% Balaclava — One Parent Families: 17.2% Balaclava — Group Household: 4.6% Balaclava — Other Families: 0.0%
Mittagong 33.1% couple families
Mittagong — Couple Families: 33.1% Mittagong — Lone Person: 46.9% Mittagong — One Parent Families: 14.5% Mittagong — Group Household: 4.3% Mittagong — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balaclava 22.9% renting
Balaclava — Owned Outright: 41.1% Balaclava — Mortgage: 35.9% Balaclava — Renting: 22.9%
Mittagong 28.8% renting
Mittagong — Owned Outright: 44.0% Mittagong — Mortgage: 27.2% Mittagong — Renting: 28.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balaclava Mittagong
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 13.0%
Balaclava — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Mittagong — Certificate III & IV: 13.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.3% / 16.2%
Balaclava — Bachelor Degree: 10.3% Mittagong — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.5%
Balaclava — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Mittagong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.0% / 6.2%
Balaclava — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0% Mittagong — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.2%
Balaclava — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Mittagong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Balaclava Mittagong
England 4.2% / 5.4%
Balaclava — England: 4.2% Mittagong — England: 5.4%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.6%
Balaclava — New Zealand: 1.4% Mittagong — New Zealand: 1.6%
India 0.5% / 2.0%
Balaclava — India: 0.5% Mittagong — India: 2.0%
Nepal — / 2.2%
Balaclava — Nepal: not among its largest Mittagong — Nepal: 2.2%
Netherlands 1.2% / —
Balaclava — Netherlands: 1.2% Mittagong — Netherlands: not among its largest
Thailand 1.0% / —
Balaclava — Thailand: 1.0% Mittagong — Thailand: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.9%
Balaclava — Philippines: not among its largest Mittagong — Philippines: 0.9%
Vietnam 0.7% / —
Balaclava — Vietnam: 0.7% Mittagong — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balaclava 102.0% houses
Balaclava — Houses: 102.0% Balaclava — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Balaclava — Townhouses: 0.0%
Mittagong 83.6% houses
Mittagong — Houses: 83.6% Mittagong — Flats / Apartments: 8.8% Mittagong — Townhouses: 7.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Balaclava Mittagong
Median house price $1,077,500 $1,090,000
Median unit price — $710,000
Median land price — $1,050,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 3 sales
 35 days
from 47 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Balaclava Mittagong
3 bed $860K / $975K
Balaclava — 3 bed: $860K (7 sales) Mittagong — 3 bed: $975K (39 sales)

7 vs 39 sales

4 bed $1.23M / $1.22M
Balaclava — 4 bed: $1.23M (12 sales) Mittagong — 4 bed: $1.22M (27 sales)

12 vs 27 sales

Zoning mix

Mittagong has more land zoned for conservation (82% vs 41%); Balaclava has more rural and farming land (37% vs 3%).

Balaclava Mittagong
Environmental 41% 82%
Rural and farming 37% 3%
Residential 17% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 1%
Parks and recreation 0% 1%
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

Balaclava Mittagong
New dwellings approved 335
across Wingecarribee
same for both
Approvals change year on year +6%
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.

Balaclava Mittagong
Houses — 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.21M
Units — 3.6%
$550/wk on $785K

Ranking within NSW

Balaclava Mittagong
House price Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 57% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 72% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 31% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 14% of NSW

Liveability

Balaclava Mittagong
Grade C
same for both
Score 41/100 37/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Mittagong carries more crime risk (68 vs 17).

Balaclava Mittagong
Bushfire High
81/100
 High
76/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Balaclava Mittagong
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Balaclava

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Mittagong

  • St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Frensham Junior School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Frensham School Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Mittagong Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Balaclava Mittagong
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 19
Parks & reserves 0 9
Childcare 2 5
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 2 4
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 0 18

Mobility

Mittagong sits further from the CBD (113.6 km vs 111.5 km).

Balaclava Mittagong
Walkability score 17/100 14/100
Distance to Sydney 111.5 km 113.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 84 min 86 min
Public transport score 29/100
Bus
 77/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 61.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2575
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2575
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.

Balaclava Mittagong
Car (driver) 74.2% / 61.7%
Balaclava — Car (driver): 74.2% Mittagong — Car (driver): 61.7%
Worked from Home 17.5% / 27.5%
Balaclava — Worked from Home: 17.5% Mittagong — Worked from Home: 27.5%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 5.3%
Balaclava — Car (passenger): 4.8% Mittagong — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 2.4% / 4.3%
Balaclava — Walked Only: 2.4% Mittagong — Walked Only: 4.3%
Bus 1.2% / 0.2%
Balaclava — Bus: 1.2% Mittagong — Bus: 0.2%
Train — / 1.0%
Balaclava — Train: not among its largest Mittagong — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.2%).

Setting

Balaclava Mittagong
Elevation 606 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 620 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 36.8 km 35.8 km

NBN connectivity

Balaclava Mittagong
Connectivity score 65/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 36%
276 premises
 29%
3,572 premises

Climate

Balaclava Mittagong
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Balaclava Mittagong
Average residential rate $2,072/yr
same for both
Council Wingecarribee
same for both

Federal electorate

Balaclava Mittagong
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balaclava Mittagong
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balaclava

Acreage Young Families

Mittagong

Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balaclava

Balaclava vs Renwick Balaclava vs Braemar Balaclava vs Willow Vale Balaclava vs Aylmerton

Other comparisons with Mittagong

Mittagong vs Bowral Mittagong vs Colo Vale Mittagong vs Renwick Mittagong vs Willow Vale Mittagong vs Welby Mittagong vs Woodlands
Full data on Balaclava Full data on Mittagong
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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