Balcatta vs Nollamara

Nollamara is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 39 in Balcatta. In Balcatta, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In Nollamara, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Balcatta: a median of $952,000, against $790,000 in Nollamara. Nollamara is closer to the city centre: 9.2 km, against 14.9 km. On these figures, Balcatta tends to suit older residents, while Nollamara suits 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

Balcatta

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Nollamara

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($600,000 vs $768,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($790,000 vs $952,000)

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

Renters

Nollamara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Nollamara

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (9.2 km vs 14.9 km)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balcatta

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 11%)
  • But Nollamara is more walkable (81/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Nollamara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.4% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Balcatta and Nollamara 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 Nollamara
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 Nollamara
Walkability 72 / 81
Balcatta — Walkability: 72/100 Nollamara — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 19 / 25
Balcatta — Safety: 19/100 Nollamara — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 77 / 100
Balcatta — Low fire risk: 77/100 Nollamara — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Balcatta — Low flood risk: 100/100 Nollamara — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balcatta skews older (39 vs 34).

Balcatta Nollamara
Population 10,813 12,779
+18% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% +10.4%
Median age 39 34
Median household income $79,924/yr
+3% vs other
 $77,584/yr
Median weekly rent $340/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balcatta Nollamara
0-4 5.9% / 7.5%
Balcatta — 0-4: 5.9% Nollamara — 0-4: 7.5%
5-14 9.6% / 9.5%
Balcatta — 5-14: 9.6% Nollamara — 5-14: 9.5%
15-19 4.3% / 3.4%
Balcatta — 15-19: 4.3% Nollamara — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 5.2% / 7.1%
Balcatta — 20-24: 5.2% Nollamara — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 16.7% / 23.5%
Balcatta — 25-34: 16.7% Nollamara — 25-34: 23.5%
35-44 15.8% / 18.7%
Balcatta — 35-44: 15.8% Nollamara — 35-44: 18.7%
45-54 11.9% / 10.0%
Balcatta — 45-54: 11.9% Nollamara — 45-54: 10.0%
55-64 10.1% / 8.9%
Balcatta — 55-64: 10.1% Nollamara — 55-64: 8.9%
65-74 9.0% / 6.4%
Balcatta — 65-74: 9.0% Nollamara — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 7.5% / 3.3%
Balcatta — 75-84: 7.5% Nollamara — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 4.0% / 1.6%
Balcatta — 85+: 4.0% Nollamara — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

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%
Nollamara 44.1% lone person
Nollamara — Lone Person: 44.1% Nollamara — Couple Families: 29.9% Nollamara — One Parent Families: 15.9% Nollamara — Group Household: 7.7% Nollamara — Other Families: 2.4%
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%
Nollamara 47.4% renting
Nollamara — Owned Outright: 18.7% Nollamara — Mortgage: 33.8% Nollamara — Renting: 47.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balcatta Nollamara
Bachelor Degree 14.5% / 16.1%
Balcatta — Bachelor Degree: 14.5% Nollamara — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 11.7%
Balcatta — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Nollamara — Certificate III & IV: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 9.3%
Balcatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Nollamara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 5.6%
Balcatta — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Nollamara — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 2.1%
Balcatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Nollamara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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 Nollamara
India 3.8% / 6.6%
Balcatta — India: 3.8% Nollamara — India: 6.6%
England 3.2% / 3.1%
Balcatta — England: 3.2% Nollamara — England: 3.1%
Italy 5.2% / —
Balcatta — Italy: 5.2% Nollamara — Italy: not among its largest
Vietnam 1.1% / 2.9%
Balcatta — Vietnam: 1.1% Nollamara — Vietnam: 2.9%
New Zealand 1.5% / 2.2%
Balcatta — New Zealand: 1.5% Nollamara — New Zealand: 2.2%
Ireland 1.2% / 1.9%
Balcatta — Ireland: 1.2% Nollamara — Ireland: 1.9%
Greece 1.3% / —
Balcatta — Greece: 1.3% Nollamara — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

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%
Nollamara 46.9% houses
Nollamara — Houses: 46.9% Nollamara — Townhouses: 52.7% Nollamara — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balcatta Nollamara
Median house price $952,000 $790,000
Median unit price $665,000 $615,000
Median land price $768,000 $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 96 sales
 25 days
from 141 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 Nollamara
2 bed $575K / $552K
Balcatta — 2 bed: $575K (14 sales) Nollamara — 2 bed: $552K (20 sales)

14 vs 20 sales

3 bed $792K / $670K
Balcatta — 3 bed: $792K (12 sales) Nollamara — 3 bed: $670K (12 sales)

12 vs 12 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 Nollamara
2 bed $646K / $698K
Balcatta — 2 bed: $646K (12 sales) Nollamara — 2 bed: $698K (20 sales)

12 vs 20 sales

3 bed $908K / $790K
Balcatta — 3 bed: $908K (101 sales) Nollamara — 3 bed: $790K (213 sales)

101 vs 213 sales

4 bed $1.32M / $875K
Balcatta — 4 bed: $1.32M (36 sales) Nollamara — 4 bed: $875K (19 sales)

36 vs 19 sales

Development activity

Balcatta Nollamara
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 Nollamara
Houses 4.5%
$778/wk on $899K
 4.9%
$750/wk on $799K
Units 5.9%
$712/wk on $624K
 5.8%
$710/wk on $635K

Ranking within WA

Balcatta Nollamara
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of WA Higher than 40% of WA
Schools Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 12% 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 79% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 58% of WA Higher than 77% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 77% of WA Higher than 72% of WA

Liveability

Balcatta scores higher overall (67 vs 55); Nollamara is more walkable (81 vs 72).

Balcatta Nollamara
Grade B
same for both
Score 67/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Balcatta carries more bushfire risk (23 vs 0).

Balcatta Nollamara
Bushfire Low
23/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
81/100
 High
75/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Balcatta Nollamara
Inside the suburb 5 3
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 2
ECU City Campus, 9.9 km
 2
ECU City Campus, 8.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.0%

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 Nollamara

  • Nollamara Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Our Lady of Lourdes School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • West Coast Steiner School Independent · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Balcatta Nollamara
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 17 9
Childcare 5
same for both
GPs 6 2
Pharmacies 2 3
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 2 0

Mobility

Balcatta sits further from the CBD (14.9 km vs 9.2 km).

Balcatta Nollamara
Walkability score 72/100 81/100
Distance to Perth 14.9 km
+38% vs other
 9.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 16 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 308.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 332.5
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 Nollamara
Car (driver) 78.7% / 76.2%
Balcatta — Car (driver): 78.7% Nollamara — Car (driver): 76.2%
Worked from Home 7.3% / 5.8%
Balcatta — Worked from Home: 7.3% Nollamara — Worked from Home: 5.8%
Bus 3.3% / 8.9%
Balcatta — Bus: 3.3% Nollamara — Bus: 8.9%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 5.7%
Balcatta — Car (passenger): 4.8% Nollamara — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Train 4.3% / 2.3%
Balcatta — Train: 4.3% Nollamara — Train: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.7%).

Setting

Balcatta Nollamara
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 70 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 8.7 km

NBN connectivity

Balcatta Nollamara
Connectivity score 70/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
6,840 premises
 39%
6,464 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Balcatta Nollamara
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

Nollamara

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balcatta

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

Other comparisons with Nollamara

Nollamara vs Dianella Nollamara vs Yokine Nollamara vs Mirrabooka Nollamara vs Tuart Hill Nollamara vs Westminster
Full data on Balcatta Full data on Nollamara
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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