Balaclava vs Elwood

Balaclava is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 38 in Elwood. In both, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Balaclava, about half of households are people living alone. In Elwood, most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Elwood: a median of $622,000, against $538,000 in Balaclava, and rent is higher there too. Balaclava is closer to the city centre: 8.6 km, against 10 km.

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

Elwood

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Balaclava

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,277,500 vs $2,090,000)
  • has cheaper units ($538,000 vs $621,750)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Balaclava

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 5%)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Elwood

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Balaclava and Elwood 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 Elwood
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 Elwood
Walkability 99 / 96
Balaclava — Walkability: 99/100 Elwood — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 7 / 30
Balaclava — Safety: 7/100 Elwood — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balaclava — Low fire risk: 100/100 Elwood — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 33 / 36
Balaclava — Low flood risk: 33/100 Elwood — Low flood risk: 36/100

Demographics

Elwood has more residents (15,153 vs 5,392); Elwood skews older (38 vs 35).

Balaclava Elwood
Population 5,392 15,153
+181% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% -2.5%
Median age 35 38
Median household income $105,352/yr $108,992/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $386/wk $415/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balaclava Elwood
0-4 4.8% / 4.6%
Balaclava — 0-4: 4.8% Elwood — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 8.0% / 8.4%
Balaclava — 5-14: 8.0% Elwood — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 3.1% / 3.4%
Balaclava — 15-19: 3.1% Elwood — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 7.3% / 4.8%
Balaclava — 20-24: 7.3% Elwood — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 26.1% / 21.8%
Balaclava — 25-34: 26.1% Elwood — 25-34: 21.8%
35-44 18.4% / 18.7%
Balaclava — 35-44: 18.4% Elwood — 35-44: 18.7%
45-54 12.2% / 15.8%
Balaclava — 45-54: 12.2% Elwood — 45-54: 15.8%
55-64 8.9% / 11.7%
Balaclava — 55-64: 8.9% Elwood — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 6.8% / 6.9%
Balaclava — 65-74: 6.8% Elwood — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 3.2% / 2.8%
Balaclava — 75-84: 3.2% Elwood — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 1.0% / 1.0%
Balaclava — 85+: 1.0% Elwood — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balaclava 52.6% lone person
Balaclava — Lone Person: 52.6% Balaclava — Couple Families: 23.0% Balaclava — Group Household: 14.5% Balaclava — One Parent Families: 7.7% Balaclava — Other Families: 2.2%
Elwood 57.8% lone person
Elwood — Lone Person: 57.8% Elwood — Couple Families: 23.4% Elwood — Group Household: 8.7% Elwood — One Parent Families: 8.7% Elwood — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balaclava 49.7% renting
Balaclava — Owned Outright: 19.8% Balaclava — Mortgage: 30.6% Balaclava — Renting: 49.7%
Elwood 52.2% renting
Elwood — Owned Outright: 21.2% Elwood — Mortgage: 26.6% Elwood — Renting: 52.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balaclava Elwood
Bachelor Degree 27.2% / 29.0%
Balaclava — Bachelor Degree: 27.2% Elwood — Bachelor Degree: 29.0%
Postgraduate Degree 11.5% / 11.9%
Balaclava — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5% Elwood — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.8%
Balaclava — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Elwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 7.1% / 6.9%
Balaclava — Certificate III & IV: 7.1% Elwood — Certificate III & IV: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 4.0%
Balaclava — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Elwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.0%).

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 Elwood
England 4.7% / 5.1%
Balaclava — England: 4.7% Elwood — England: 5.1%
New Zealand 2.6% / 2.3%
Balaclava — New Zealand: 2.6% Elwood — New Zealand: 2.3%
India 2.9% / 1.0%
Balaclava — India: 2.9% Elwood — India: 1.0%
Ireland 1.6% / 1.2%
Balaclava — Ireland: 1.6% Elwood — Ireland: 1.2%
Nepal 1.1% / —
Balaclava — Nepal: 1.1% Elwood — Nepal: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.9%
Balaclava — Italy: not among its largest Elwood — Italy: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balaclava 61.6% flats / apartments
Balaclava — Flats / Apartments: 61.6% Balaclava — Townhouses: 21.2% Balaclava — Houses: 17.2%
Elwood 72.2% flats / apartments
Elwood — Flats / Apartments: 72.2% Elwood — Townhouses: 13.6% Elwood — Houses: 14.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Balaclava Elwood
Median house price $1,277,500 $2,090,000
Median unit price $538,000 $621,750
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 12 sales
 23 days
from 58 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 Elwood
2 bed $1.09M / $1.44M
Balaclava — 2 bed: $1.09M (10 sales) Elwood — 2 bed: $1.44M (20 sales)

10 vs 20 sales

3 bed $1.53M / $2.09M
Balaclava — 3 bed: $1.53M (10 sales) Elwood — 3 bed: $2.09M (53 sales)

10 vs 53 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Balaclava Elwood
1 bed $388K / $428K
Balaclava — 1 bed: $388K (32 sales) Elwood — 1 bed: $428K (135 sales)

32 vs 135 sales

2 bed $556K / $680K
Balaclava — 2 bed: $556K (70 sales) Elwood — 2 bed: $680K (287 sales)

70 vs 287 sales

3 bed $708K / $942K
Balaclava — 3 bed: $708K (10 sales) Elwood — 3 bed: $942K (26 sales)

10 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Balaclava Elwood
Residential 81% 74%
Parks and recreation 1% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 10%
Commercial 7% 2%
Industrial 2% 0%
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 Elwood
New dwellings approved 891
across Port Phillip
same for both
Approvals change year on year +4175%
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 Elwood
Houses 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.37M
 3.1%
$1,325/wk on $2.19M
Units 4.8%
$585/wk on $636K
 5.1%
$635/wk on $649K

Ranking within VIC

Balaclava Elwood
House price Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Income Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 19% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC

Liveability

Balaclava scores higher overall (72 vs 63).

Balaclava Elwood
Grade A B
Score 72/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balaclava carries more crime risk (93 vs 70).

Balaclava Elwood
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
70/100
Flood Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
64/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
33/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Balaclava Elwood
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 4.3 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 2.2%

Schools in Balaclava

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

Schools in Elwood

  • Yesodei HaTorah College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Elwood College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Elwood Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Columba's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Balaclava Elwood
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 11 23
Parks & reserves 2 11
Childcare 4 8
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 3
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 3
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Balaclava Elwood
Walkability score 99/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 8.6 km 10 km
+16% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 22 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 80.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 232.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3183
 2.0%
postcode 3184
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3183
 8
postcode 3184

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 Elwood
Worked from Home 51.1% / 51.5%
Balaclava — Worked from Home: 51.1% Elwood — Worked from Home: 51.5%
Car (driver) 28.4% / 35.4%
Balaclava — Car (driver): 28.4% Elwood — Car (driver): 35.4%
Train 8.3% / 3.2%
Balaclava — Train: 8.3% Elwood — Train: 3.2%
Walked Only 4.6% / 2.9%
Balaclava — Walked Only: 4.6% Elwood — Walked Only: 2.9%
Tram / Light Rail 3.0% / 1.9%
Balaclava — Tram / Light Rail: 3.0% Elwood — Tram / Light Rail: 1.9%
Bicycle 2.0% / 2.6%
Balaclava — Bicycle: 2.0% Elwood — Bicycle: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.5%).

Setting

Balaclava Elwood
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
1.9 km to a named beach
 721 m
1.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Balaclava Elwood
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
3,469 premises
 3%
9,418 premises

Climate

Balaclava Elwood
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Balaclava Elwood
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Balaclava Elwood
Average residential rate $1,765/yr
same for both
Council Port Phillip
same for both

Federal electorate

Balaclava Elwood
Division Macnamara
same for both
Member Josh Burns
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balaclava Elwood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balaclava

Apartments Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Elwood

Apartments Coastal Inner Parks Professionals River Trams Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balaclava

Balaclava vs St Kilda Balaclava vs St Kilda East Balaclava vs Ripponlea

Other comparisons with Elwood

Elwood vs Brighton Elwood vs St Kilda Elwood vs Elsternwick Elwood vs Ripponlea
Full data on Balaclava Full data on Elwood
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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