Balga vs Girrawheen

Balga is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 36 in Girrawheen. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Balga, about half of households rent. In Girrawheen, most households own their home. Balga is closer to the city centre: 13.6 km, against 19.1 km. On these figures, Balga tends to suit renters.

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 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Balga has cheaper units ($585,000 vs $666,500)
  • Girrawheen has cheaper land ($395,000 vs $635,000)

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

Renters

Balga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 35%)

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

Commuting to the city

Balga

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (13.6 km vs 19.1 km)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 71/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 71/100)

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

Investors

Balga

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (9.3% vs 1.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.1% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Balga Girrawheen
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.

Balga Girrawheen
Walkability 80 / 71
Balga — Walkability: 80/100 Girrawheen — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 23 / 28
Balga — Safety: 23/100 Girrawheen — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 62 / 100
Balga — Low fire risk: 62/100 Girrawheen — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Balga — Low flood risk: 100/100 Girrawheen — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balga has more residents (13,864 vs 8,897); Girrawheen skews older (36 vs 32).

Balga Girrawheen
Population 13,864
+36% vs other
 8,897
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +1.6%
Median age 32 36
Median household income $67,548/yr
+5% vs other
 $64,428/yr
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+5% vs other
 $293/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balga Girrawheen
0-4 8.6% / 6.6%
Balga — 0-4: 8.6% Girrawheen — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 12.4% / 13.1%
Balga — 5-14: 12.4% Girrawheen — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 4.2% / 6.0%
Balga — 15-19: 4.2% Girrawheen — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 7.4% / 7.3%
Balga — 20-24: 7.4% Girrawheen — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 21.6% / 15.3%
Balga — 25-34: 21.6% Girrawheen — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 15.9% / 14.4%
Balga — 35-44: 15.9% Girrawheen — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 10.4% / 12.5%
Balga — 45-54: 10.4% Girrawheen — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 8.1% / 10.3%
Balga — 55-64: 8.1% Girrawheen — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 6.5% / 9.0%
Balga — 65-74: 6.5% Girrawheen — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 3.8% / 4.5%
Balga — 75-84: 3.8% Girrawheen — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 0.9% / 1.1%
Balga — 85+: 0.9% Girrawheen — 85+: 1.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Girrawheen 36.4% lone person
Girrawheen — Lone Person: 36.4% Girrawheen — Couple Families: 33.1% Girrawheen — One Parent Families: 22.2% Girrawheen — Group Household: 6.1% Girrawheen — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balga 49.7% renting
Balga — Owned Outright: 15.7% Balga — Mortgage: 34.6% Balga — Renting: 49.7%
Girrawheen 35.3% renting
Girrawheen — Owned Outright: 25.4% Girrawheen — Mortgage: 39.3% Girrawheen — Renting: 35.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balga Girrawheen
Certificate III & IV 12.6% / 14.0%
Balga — Certificate III & IV: 12.6% Girrawheen — Certificate III & IV: 14.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 7.2%
Balga — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Girrawheen — Bachelor Degree: 7.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 5.9%
Balga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Girrawheen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 1.8%
Balga — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Girrawheen — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.8%
Balga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Girrawheen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

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.

Balga Girrawheen
Vietnam 3.4% / 6.3%
Balga — Vietnam: 3.4% Girrawheen — Vietnam: 6.3%
India 6.1% / 2.0%
Balga — India: 6.1% Girrawheen — India: 2.0%
Myanmar 2.5% / 4.6%
Balga — Myanmar: 2.5% Girrawheen — Myanmar: 4.6%
England 2.8% / 3.9%
Balga — England: 2.8% Girrawheen — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.2%
Balga — New Zealand: 2.3% Girrawheen — New Zealand: 2.2%
Philippines 1.9% / 2.6%
Balga — Philippines: 1.9% Girrawheen — Philippines: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balga 67.4% houses
Balga — Houses: 67.4% Balga — Townhouses: 29.1% Balga — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Girrawheen 76.8% houses
Girrawheen — Houses: 76.8% Girrawheen — Townhouses: 22.4% Girrawheen — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balga Girrawheen
Median house price $727,000 $758,500
Median unit price $585,000 $666,500
Median land price $635,000 $395,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 215 sales
 24 days
from 112 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.

Balga Girrawheen
2 bed $620K / $642K
Balga — 2 bed: $620K (18 sales) Girrawheen — 2 bed: $642K (11 sales)

18 vs 11 sales

3 bed $725K / $760K
Balga — 3 bed: $725K (283 sales) Girrawheen — 3 bed: $760K (137 sales)

283 vs 137 sales

4 bed $795K / $815K
Balga — 4 bed: $795K (39 sales) Girrawheen — 4 bed: $815K (29 sales)

39 vs 29 sales

Development activity

Balga Girrawheen
New dwellings approved 1,557
across Stirling
 4,125
across Wanneroo
Approvals change year on year +23% +17%

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.

Balga Girrawheen
Houses 5.1%
$735/wk on $749K
 4.6%
$700/wk on $799K
Units 4.9%
$608/wk on $650K
 —

Ranking within WA

Balga Girrawheen
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 25% of WA Higher than 22% of WA
Schools Higher than 81% of WA Higher than 58% of WA
Walkability Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 90% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 72% of WA Higher than 59% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of WA Higher than 85% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of WA Higher than 63% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 26% of WA —

Liveability

Balga is more walkable (80 vs 71).

Balga Girrawheen
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 55/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Balga carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 0).

Balga Girrawheen
Bushfire Low
38/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
77/100
 High
72/100
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
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Balga Girrawheen
Inside the suburb 7
same for both
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 2 0

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

Schools in Girrawheen

  • Emmanuel Christian Community School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Roseworth Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Girrawheen Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Hudson Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of Mercy Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Emmanuel Christian Community School - Casserley Avenue Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Balga Girrawheen
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 15
same for both
Childcare 10 2
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 2 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both

Mobility

Girrawheen sits further from the CBD (19.1 km vs 13.6 km).

Balga Girrawheen
Walkability score 80/100 71/100
Distance to Perth 13.6 km 19.1 km
+40% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 21 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 288.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 207.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 6061
 0.5%
postcode 6064
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 6061
 54
postcode 6064

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.

Balga Girrawheen
Car (driver) 81.1% / 80.9%
Balga — Car (driver): 81.1% Girrawheen — Car (driver): 80.9%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 7.4%
Balga — Car (passenger): 5.9% Girrawheen — Car (passenger): 7.4%
Worked from Home 4.4% / 4.0%
Balga — Worked from Home: 4.4% Girrawheen — Worked from Home: 4.0%
Train 3.4% / 4.6%
Balga — Train: 3.4% Girrawheen — Train: 4.6%
Bus 4.6% / 2.3%
Balga — Bus: 4.6% Girrawheen — Bus: 2.3%

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

Setting

Balga Girrawheen
Elevation 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 69 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.3 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Balga Girrawheen
Connectivity score 70/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
6,850 premises
 51%
4,232 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Balga Girrawheen
Average residential rate $1,615/yr $2,060/yr
Council Stirling Wanneroo

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Balga

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

Girrawheen

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balga

Balga vs Balcatta Balga vs Mirrabooka Balga vs Westminster Balga vs Hamersley Balga vs Koondoola

Other comparisons with Girrawheen

Girrawheen vs Marangaroo Girrawheen vs Greenwood Girrawheen vs Mirrabooka Girrawheen vs Alexander Heights Girrawheen vs Hamersley Girrawheen vs Koondoola
Full data on Balga Full data on Girrawheen
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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