Balaclava vs St Kilda East

Comparing Balaclava and St Kilda East, VIC: St Kilda East has more residents (12,571 vs 5,392); Balaclava carries more crime risk (93 vs 60); and Balaclava carries more flood risk (67 vs 48).

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

St Kilda East

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 93/100)

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

First-home buyers

Balaclava

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,277,500 vs $1,600,000)

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

St Kilda East

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

St Kilda East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Balaclava and St Kilda East 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 St Kilda East
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 St Kilda East
Walkability 99 / 99
Balaclava — Walkability: 99/100 St Kilda East — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 7 / 40
Balaclava — Safety: 7/100 St Kilda East — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balaclava — Low fire risk: 100/100 St Kilda East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 33 / 52
Balaclava — Low flood risk: 33/100 St Kilda East — Low flood risk: 52/100

Demographics

St Kilda East has more residents (12,571 vs 5,392).

Balaclava St Kilda East
Population 5,392 12,571
+133% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% -4.0%
Median age 35 34
Median household income $105,352/yr $105,040/yr
Median weekly rent $386/wk $396/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balaclava St Kilda East
0-4 4.8% / 5.8%
Balaclava — 0-4: 4.8% St Kilda East — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 8.0% / 10.6%
Balaclava — 5-14: 8.0% St Kilda East — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 3.1% / 4.3%
Balaclava — 15-19: 3.1% St Kilda East — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 7.3% / 6.5%
Balaclava — 20-24: 7.3% St Kilda East — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 26.1% / 24.6%
Balaclava — 25-34: 26.1% St Kilda East — 25-34: 24.6%
35-44 18.4% / 17.2%
Balaclava — 35-44: 18.4% St Kilda East — 35-44: 17.2%
45-54 12.2% / 11.8%
Balaclava — 45-54: 12.2% St Kilda East — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 8.9% / 8.6%
Balaclava — 55-64: 8.9% St Kilda East — 55-64: 8.6%
65-74 6.8% / 6.3%
Balaclava — 65-74: 6.8% St Kilda East — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 3.2% / 2.9%
Balaclava — 75-84: 3.2% St Kilda East — 75-84: 2.9%
85+ 1.0% / 1.3%
Balaclava — 85+: 1.0% St Kilda East — 85+: 1.3%

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%
St Kilda East 53.4% lone person
St Kilda East — Lone Person: 53.4% St Kilda East — Couple Families: 26.1% St Kilda East — Group Household: 11.7% St Kilda East — One Parent Families: 7.4% St Kilda East — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
St Kilda East 49.9% renting
St Kilda East — Owned Outright: 21.0% St Kilda East — Mortgage: 29.1% St Kilda East — Renting: 49.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balaclava St Kilda East
Bachelor Degree 27.2% / 26.2%
Balaclava — Bachelor Degree: 27.2% St Kilda East — Bachelor Degree: 26.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.5% / 11.0%
Balaclava — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5% St Kilda East — Postgraduate Degree: 11.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.1%
Balaclava — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% St Kilda East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 7.1% / 7.0%
Balaclava — Certificate III & IV: 7.1% St Kilda East — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.5%
Balaclava — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% St Kilda East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.2%).

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.

Balaclava St Kilda East
England 4.7% / 3.9%
Balaclava — England: 4.7% St Kilda East — England: 3.9%
India 2.9% / 2.3%
Balaclava — India: 2.9% St Kilda East — India: 2.3%
New Zealand 2.6% / 2.2%
Balaclava — New Zealand: 2.6% St Kilda East — New Zealand: 2.2%
Ireland 1.6% / 1.1%
Balaclava — Ireland: 1.6% St Kilda East — Ireland: 1.1%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.5%
Balaclava — South Africa: 1.0% St Kilda East — South Africa: 1.5%
Nepal 1.1% / —
Balaclava — Nepal: 1.1% St Kilda East — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balaclava 61.6% flats / apartments
Balaclava — Flats / Apartments: 61.6% Balaclava — Houses: 17.2% Balaclava — Townhouses: 21.2%
St Kilda East 66.6% flats / apartments
St Kilda East — Flats / Apartments: 66.6% St Kilda East — Houses: 19.0% St Kilda East — Townhouses: 14.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Balaclava St Kilda East
Median house price $1,277,500 $1,600,000
Median unit price $538,000 $565,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 12 sales
 25 days
from 41 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 St Kilda East
2 bed $1.09M / $1.11M
Balaclava — 2 bed: $1.09M (10 sales) St Kilda East — 2 bed: $1.11M (27 sales)

10 vs 27 sales

3 bed $1.53M / $1.66M
Balaclava — 3 bed: $1.53M (10 sales) St Kilda East — 3 bed: $1.66M (37 sales)

10 vs 37 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 St Kilda East
1 bed $388K / $356K
Balaclava — 1 bed: $388K (32 sales) St Kilda East — 1 bed: $356K (102 sales)

32 vs 102 sales

2 bed $556K / $600K
Balaclava — 2 bed: $556K (70 sales) St Kilda East — 2 bed: $600K (222 sales)

70 vs 222 sales

3 bed $708K / $1.02M
Balaclava — 3 bed: $708K (10 sales) St Kilda East — 3 bed: $1.02M (30 sales)

10 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

Balaclava St Kilda East
Residential 81% 85%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 10%
Commercial 7% 0%
Parks and recreation 1% 5%
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 St Kilda East
New dwellings approved 891
across Port Phillip
 617
across Glen Eira
Approvals change year on year +4175% -69%

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 St Kilda East
Houses 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.37M
 3.5%
$925/wk on $1.38M
Units 4.8%
$585/wk on $636K
 5.4%
$620/wk on $600K

Ranking within VIC

Balaclava St Kilda East
House price Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Income Higher than 77% of VIC
same for both
Schools — Higher than 36% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC

Liveability

Balaclava St Kilda East
Grade A
same for both
Score 72/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balaclava carries more crime risk (93 vs 60); Balaclava carries more flood risk (67 vs 48).

Balaclava St Kilda East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
48/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Balaclava St Kilda East
Inside the suburb 0 9
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 4.3 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7%
same for both

Schools in Balaclava

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

Schools in St Kilda East

  • Caulfield Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Beth Rivkah Ladies College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Yeshivah College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Ripponlea Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Adass Israel School - Glen Eira Road Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Balaclava St Kilda East
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 11 1
Parks & reserves 2 4
Childcare 4 10
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 3 0
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Balaclava St Kilda East
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 8.6 km 9 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 17 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 81/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 80.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 181.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3183
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3183
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 St Kilda East
Worked from Home 51.1% / 47.1%
Balaclava — Worked from Home: 51.1% St Kilda East — Worked from Home: 47.1%
Car (driver) 28.4% / 36.8%
Balaclava — Car (driver): 28.4% St Kilda East — Car (driver): 36.8%
Train 8.3% / 3.6%
Balaclava — Train: 8.3% St Kilda East — Train: 3.6%
Walked Only 4.6% / 4.1%
Balaclava — Walked Only: 4.6% St Kilda East — Walked Only: 4.1%
Tram / Light Rail 3.0% / 3.4%
Balaclava — Tram / Light Rail: 3.0% St Kilda East — Tram / Light Rail: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.1%).

Setting

Balaclava St Kilda East
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
1.9 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Balaclava St Kilda East
Connectivity score 76/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
3,469 premises
 3%
7,114 premises

Climate

Balaclava St Kilda East
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 St Kilda East
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Balaclava St Kilda East
Average residential rate $1,765/yr $1,577/yr
Council Port Phillip Glen Eira

Federal electorate

Balaclava St Kilda East
Division Macnamara
same for both
Member Josh Burns
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balaclava St Kilda East
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

St Kilda East

Apartments Coastal Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balaclava

Balaclava vs St Kilda Balaclava vs Elwood Balaclava vs Ripponlea

Other comparisons with St Kilda East

St Kilda East vs St Kilda St Kilda East vs Caulfield North St Kilda East vs Prahran St Kilda East vs Elsternwick St Kilda East vs Armadale St Kilda East vs Windsor
Full data on Balaclava Full data on St Kilda East
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or