Balcatta vs Stirling

Balcatta is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Stirling. In both, most households own their home. In Balcatta, about half of households are people living alone. In Stirling, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Stirling: a median of $1.41 million, against $952,000 in Balcatta, and rent is higher there too. Stirling is closer to the city centre: 10.2 km, against 14.9 km. On these figures, Balcatta tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Stirling suits couples.

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

Stirling

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 81/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 53%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 47%)
  • But Balcatta has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Balcatta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($952,000 vs $1,405,000)

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

Renters

Balcatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Stirling

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (10.2 km vs 14.9 km)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Balcatta has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 13%)
  • Stirling carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 81/100)

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

Investors

Stirling

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Balcatta and Stirling 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 Stirling
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 Stirling
Walkability 72 / 82
Balcatta — Walkability: 72/100 Stirling — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 19 / 63
Balcatta — Safety: 19/100 Stirling — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 77 / 75
Balcatta — Low fire risk: 77/100 Stirling — Low fire risk: 75/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Balcatta — Low flood risk: 100/100 Stirling — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Stirling has higher household incomes ($115,492 vs $79,924); Stirling rents higher ($410/wk vs $340/wk).

Balcatta Stirling
Population 10,813
+6% vs other
 10,165
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% +5.1%
Median age 39 42
Median household income $79,924/yr $115,492/yr
+45% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk $410/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balcatta Stirling
0-4 5.9% / 5.1%
Balcatta — 0-4: 5.9% Stirling — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 9.6% / 12.1%
Balcatta — 5-14: 9.6% Stirling — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 4.3% / 5.6%
Balcatta — 15-19: 4.3% Stirling — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 5.2% / 5.8%
Balcatta — 20-24: 5.2% Stirling — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 16.7% / 11.3%
Balcatta — 25-34: 16.7% Stirling — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 15.8% / 13.9%
Balcatta — 35-44: 15.8% Stirling — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 11.9% / 14.0%
Balcatta — 45-54: 11.9% Stirling — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 10.1% / 12.9%
Balcatta — 55-64: 10.1% Stirling — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 9.0% / 11.0%
Balcatta — 65-74: 9.0% Stirling — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 7.5% / 6.3%
Balcatta — 75-84: 7.5% Stirling — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 4.0% / 2.0%
Balcatta — 85+: 4.0% Stirling — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balcatta 32.7% couple families
Balcatta — Couple Families: 32.7% Balcatta — Lone Person: 46.4% Balcatta — One Parent Families: 14.3% Balcatta — Group Household: 4.7% Balcatta — Other Families: 1.9%
Stirling 58.6% couple families
Stirling — Couple Families: 58.6% Stirling — Lone Person: 25.5% Stirling — One Parent Families: 12.2% Stirling — Group Household: 2.4% Stirling — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Stirling 15.5% renting
Stirling — Owned Outright: 44.6% Stirling — Mortgage: 39.9% Stirling — Renting: 15.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balcatta Stirling
Bachelor Degree 14.5% / 18.3%
Balcatta — Bachelor Degree: 14.5% Stirling — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 10.6%
Balcatta — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Stirling — Certificate III & IV: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.9%
Balcatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Stirling — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 6.2%
Balcatta — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Stirling — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 2.2%
Balcatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Stirling — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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 Stirling
Italy 5.2% / 4.8%
Balcatta — Italy: 5.2% Stirling — Italy: 4.8%
England 3.2% / 3.9%
Balcatta — England: 3.2% Stirling — England: 3.9%
India 3.8% / 3.0%
Balcatta — India: 3.8% Stirling — India: 3.0%
China — / 3.2%
Balcatta — China: not among its largest Stirling — China: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.2%
Balcatta — New Zealand: 1.5% Stirling — New Zealand: 1.2%
Malaysia — / 2.1%
Balcatta — Malaysia: not among its largest Stirling — Malaysia: 2.1%
Greece 1.3% / —
Balcatta — Greece: 1.3% Stirling — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

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%
Stirling 86.9% houses
Stirling — Houses: 86.9% Stirling — Townhouses: 12.1% Stirling — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balcatta Stirling
Median house price $952,000 $1,405,000
Median unit price $665,000 $699,000
Median land price $768,000 $793,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 96 sales
 22 days
from 114 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 Stirling
3 bed $908K / $1.05M
Balcatta — 3 bed: $908K (101 sales) Stirling — 3 bed: $1.05M (62 sales)

101 vs 62 sales

4 bed $1.32M / $1.52M
Balcatta — 4 bed: $1.32M (36 sales) Stirling — 4 bed: $1.52M (90 sales)

36 vs 90 sales

5 bed $1.43M / $1.85M
Balcatta — 5 bed: $1.43M (7 sales) Stirling — 5 bed: $1.85M (17 sales)

7 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Balcatta Stirling
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 Stirling
Houses 4.5%
$778/wk on $899K
 5.0%
$1,050/wk on $1.09M
Units 5.9%
$712/wk on $624K
 —

Ranking within WA

Balcatta Stirling
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of WA Higher than 81% of WA
Schools Higher than 88% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 91% of WA Higher than 96% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 91% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of WA Higher than 87% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 58% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 77% of WA —

Liveability

Stirling scores higher overall (88 vs 67); Stirling is more walkable (82 vs 72).

Balcatta Stirling
Grade B A+
Score 67/100 88/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Balcatta carries more crime risk (81 vs 37).

Balcatta Stirling
Bushfire Low
23/100
 Low
25/100
Crime High
81/100
 Low
37/100
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 Stirling
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
ECU City Campus, 9.9 km
 2
ECU City Campus, 8.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.9%

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 Stirling

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

Amenities in the suburb

Balcatta Stirling
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Parks & reserves 17 11
Childcare 5 4
GPs 6 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 2 0

Mobility

Balcatta sits further from the CBD (14.9 km vs 10.2 km).

Balcatta Stirling
Walkability score 72/100 82/100
Distance to Perth 14.9 km
+32% vs other
 10.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 13 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 308.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 393.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 6021
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 6021
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.

Balcatta Stirling
Car (driver) 78.7% / 72.9%
Balcatta — Car (driver): 78.7% Stirling — Car (driver): 72.9%
Worked from Home 7.3% / 11.4%
Balcatta — Worked from Home: 7.3% Stirling — Worked from Home: 11.4%
Train 4.3% / 6.7%
Balcatta — Train: 4.3% Stirling — Train: 6.7%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 5.9%
Balcatta — Car (passenger): 4.8% Stirling — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Bus 3.3% / 1.5%
Balcatta — Bus: 3.3% Stirling — Bus: 1.5%

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

Setting

Balcatta Stirling
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 5.4 km

NBN connectivity

Balcatta Stirling
Connectivity score 70/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
6,840 premises
 55%
4,302 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Balcatta Stirling
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

Stirling

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balcatta

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

Other comparisons with Stirling

Stirling vs Innaloo Stirling vs Gwelup Stirling vs Osborne Park
Full data on Balcatta Full data on Stirling
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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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