Balcatta vs Balga

Balga is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 39 in Balcatta. In Balcatta, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In Balga, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Balcatta: a median of $952,000, against $727,000 in Balga, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Balcatta tends to suit older residents, while Balga suits renters, families with children, 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

Balga

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 5)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 5)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (67% vs 53%)

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

First-home buyers

Balga

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($727,000 vs $952,000)
  • has cheaper land ($635,000 vs $768,000)
  • has cheaper units ($585,000 vs $665,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balga

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Balga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balcatta

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 11%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 32%)
  • But Balga is more walkable (80/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Balga

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (9.3% vs 4.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.1% vs 4.5%)
  • But Balcatta returns a higher gross yield on units (5.9% vs 4.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Balcatta Balga
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.

Balcatta Balga
Walkability 72 / 80
Balcatta — Walkability: 72/100 Balga — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 19 / 23
Balcatta — Safety: 19/100 Balga — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 77 / 62
Balcatta — Low fire risk: 77/100 Balga — Low fire risk: 62/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Balcatta — Low flood risk: 100/100 Balga — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balga has more residents (13,864 vs 10,813); Balcatta skews older (39 vs 32).

Balcatta Balga
Population 10,813 13,864
+28% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% +9.3%
Median age 39 32
Median household income $79,924/yr
+15% vs other
 $67,548/yr
Median weekly rent $340/wk
+9% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balcatta Balga
0-4 5.9% / 8.6%
Balcatta — 0-4: 5.9% Balga — 0-4: 8.6%
5-14 9.6% / 12.4%
Balcatta — 5-14: 9.6% Balga — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 4.3% / 4.2%
Balcatta — 15-19: 4.3% Balga — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 5.2% / 7.4%
Balcatta — 20-24: 5.2% Balga — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 16.7% / 21.6%
Balcatta — 25-34: 16.7% Balga — 25-34: 21.6%
35-44 15.8% / 15.9%
Balcatta — 35-44: 15.8% Balga — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 11.9% / 10.4%
Balcatta — 45-54: 11.9% Balga — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 10.1% / 8.1%
Balcatta — 55-64: 10.1% Balga — 55-64: 8.1%
65-74 9.0% / 6.5%
Balcatta — 65-74: 9.0% Balga — 65-74: 6.5%
75-84 7.5% / 3.8%
Balcatta — 75-84: 7.5% Balga — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 4.0% / 0.9%
Balcatta — 85+: 4.0% Balga — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balcatta 46.4% lone person
Balcatta — Lone Person: 46.4% Balcatta — Couple Families: 32.7% Balcatta — One Parent Families: 14.3% Balcatta — Group Household: 4.7% Balcatta — Other Families: 1.9%
Balga 39.8% lone person
Balga — Lone Person: 39.8% Balga — Couple Families: 30.1% Balga — One Parent Families: 20.0% Balga — Group Household: 7.5% Balga — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balcatta 32.4% renting
Balcatta — Owned Outright: 32.9% Balcatta — Mortgage: 34.7% Balcatta — Renting: 32.4%
Balga 49.7% renting
Balga — Owned Outright: 15.7% Balga — Mortgage: 34.6% Balga — Renting: 49.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balcatta Balga
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 12.6%
Balcatta — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Balga — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Bachelor Degree 14.5% / 10.1%
Balcatta — Bachelor Degree: 14.5% Balga — Bachelor Degree: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.7%
Balcatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Balga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 3.5%
Balcatta — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Balga — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 0.9%
Balcatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Balga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

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.

Balcatta Balga
India 3.8% / 6.1%
Balcatta — India: 3.8% Balga — India: 6.1%
England 3.2% / 2.8%
Balcatta — England: 3.2% Balga — England: 2.8%
Italy 5.2% / —
Balcatta — Italy: 5.2% Balga — Italy: not among its largest
Vietnam 1.1% / 3.4%
Balcatta — Vietnam: 1.1% Balga — Vietnam: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.5% / 2.3%
Balcatta — New Zealand: 1.5% Balga — New Zealand: 2.3%
Myanmar — / 2.5%
Balcatta — Myanmar: not among its largest Balga — Myanmar: 2.5%
Greece 1.3% / —
Balcatta — Greece: 1.3% Balga — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balcatta 53.0% houses
Balcatta — Houses: 53.0% Balcatta — Townhouses: 46.5% Balcatta — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Balga 67.4% houses
Balga — Houses: 67.4% Balga — Townhouses: 29.1% Balga — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balcatta Balga
Median house price $952,000 $727,000
Median unit price $665,000 $585,000
Median land price $768,000 $635,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 96 sales
 39 days
from 215 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.

Balcatta Balga
2 bed $575K / $525K
Balcatta — 2 bed: $575K (14 sales) Balga — 2 bed: $525K (19 sales)

14 vs 19 sales

3 bed $792K / $639K
Balcatta — 3 bed: $792K (12 sales) Balga — 3 bed: $639K (14 sales)

12 vs 14 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.

Balcatta Balga
2 bed $646K / $620K
Balcatta — 2 bed: $646K (12 sales) Balga — 2 bed: $620K (18 sales)

12 vs 18 sales

3 bed $908K / $725K
Balcatta — 3 bed: $908K (101 sales) Balga — 3 bed: $725K (283 sales)

101 vs 283 sales

4 bed $1.32M / $795K
Balcatta — 4 bed: $1.32M (36 sales) Balga — 4 bed: $795K (39 sales)

36 vs 39 sales

Development activity

Balcatta Balga
New dwellings approved 1,557
across Stirling
same for both
Approvals change year on year +23%
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.

Balcatta Balga
Houses 4.5%
$778/wk on $899K
 5.1%
$735/wk on $749K
Units 5.9%
$712/wk on $624K
 4.9%
$608/wk on $650K

Ranking within WA

Balcatta Balga
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of WA Higher than 25% of WA
Schools Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 81% of WA
Walkability Higher than 91% of WA Higher than 95% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 91% of WA Higher than 72% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of WA Higher than 82% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 58% of WA Higher than 86% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 77% of WA Higher than 26% of WA

Liveability

Balcatta scores higher overall (67 vs 56); Balga is more walkable (80 vs 72).

Balcatta Balga
Grade B
same for both
Score 67/100 56/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Balga carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 23).

Balcatta Balga
Bushfire Low
23/100
 Low
38/100
Crime High
81/100
 High
77/100
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Balcatta Balga
Inside the suburb 5 7
Rated above peers 3
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 2
ECU City Campus, 9.9 km
 None

Schools in Balcatta

  • Balcatta Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Lawrence Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • West Balcatta Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Balcatta Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Takari Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Balga

  • Balga Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • North Balga Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Warriapendi Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Balga Senior High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Majella Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Gladys Newton School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Balcatta Balga
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 17 15
Childcare 5 10
GPs 6 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 2 0

Mobility

Balcatta Balga
Walkability score 72/100 80/100
Distance to Perth 14.9 km
+9% vs other
 13.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 20 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 308.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 288.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 6021
 0.8%
postcode 6061
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 6021
 29
postcode 6061

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.

Balcatta Balga
Car (driver) 78.7% / 81.1%
Balcatta — Car (driver): 78.7% Balga — Car (driver): 81.1%
Worked from Home 7.3% / 4.4%
Balcatta — Worked from Home: 7.3% Balga — Worked from Home: 4.4%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 5.9%
Balcatta — Car (passenger): 4.8% Balga — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Bus 3.3% / 4.6%
Balcatta — Bus: 3.3% Balga — Bus: 4.6%
Train 4.3% / 3.4%
Balcatta — Train: 4.3% Balga — Train: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.1%).

Setting

Balcatta Balga
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 8.3 km

NBN connectivity

Balcatta Balga
Connectivity score 70/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
6,840 premises
 45%
6,850 premises

Climate

Balcatta Balga
Annual rainfall 650 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Balcatta Balga
Average residential rate $1,615/yr
same for both
Council Stirling
same for both

Federal electorate

Balcatta Balga
Division Cowan
same for both
Member Anne Aly
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balcatta Balga
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balcatta

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

Balga

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Transport Hub Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balcatta

Balcatta vs Nollamara Balcatta vs Yokine Balcatta vs Stirling Balcatta vs Tuart Hill Balcatta vs Carine Balcatta vs Westminster

Other comparisons with Balga

Balga vs Girrawheen Balga vs Mirrabooka Balga vs Westminster Balga vs Hamersley Balga vs Koondoola
Full data on Balcatta Full data on Balga
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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