Balga vs Mirrabooka

Balga is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 36 in Mirrabooka. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Balga, about half of households rent. In Mirrabooka, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Mirrabooka is closer to the city centre: 12.2 km, against 13.6 km. On these figures, Balga tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Mirrabooka 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

Balga

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 4)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 10)
  • But Mirrabooka is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 50%)

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

First-home buyers

Mirrabooka

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($500,000 vs $585,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 32%)

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 58/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balga

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 58/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 87/100)

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

Investors

Balga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.3% vs -1.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Balga and Mirrabooka 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 Mirrabooka
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 Mirrabooka
Walkability 80 / 58
Balga — Walkability: 80/100 Mirrabooka — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 23 / 13
Balga — Safety: 23/100 Mirrabooka — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 62 / 54
Balga — Low fire risk: 62/100 Mirrabooka — Low fire risk: 54/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Balga — Low flood risk: 100/100 Mirrabooka — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balga has more residents (13,864 vs 8,000); Mirrabooka skews older (36 vs 32).

Balga Mirrabooka
Population 13,864
+42% vs other
 8,000
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% -1.4%
Median age 32 36
Median household income $67,548/yr
+2% vs other
 $65,884/yr
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+6% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balga Mirrabooka
0-4 8.6% / 5.7%
Balga — 0-4: 8.6% Mirrabooka — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.4% / 15.4%
Balga — 5-14: 12.4% Mirrabooka — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 4.2% / 7.7%
Balga — 15-19: 4.2% Mirrabooka — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 7.4% / 7.0%
Balga — 20-24: 7.4% Mirrabooka — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 21.6% / 12.7%
Balga — 25-34: 21.6% Mirrabooka — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 15.9% / 12.6%
Balga — 35-44: 15.9% Mirrabooka — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 10.4% / 11.9%
Balga — 45-54: 10.4% Mirrabooka — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 8.1% / 12.9%
Balga — 55-64: 8.1% Mirrabooka — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 6.5% / 9.0%
Balga — 65-74: 6.5% Mirrabooka — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 3.8% / 3.8%
Balga — 75-84: 3.8% Mirrabooka — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 0.9% / 1.5%
Balga — 85+: 0.9% Mirrabooka — 85+: 1.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balga 30.1% couple families
Balga — Couple Families: 30.1% Balga — Lone Person: 39.8% Balga — One Parent Families: 20.0% Balga — Group Household: 7.5% Balga — Other Families: 2.6%
Mirrabooka 47.2% couple families
Mirrabooka — Couple Families: 47.2% Mirrabooka — Lone Person: 26.5% Mirrabooka — One Parent Families: 20.2% Mirrabooka — Group Household: 3.3% Mirrabooka — Other Families: 2.8%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Mirrabooka 31.5% renting
Mirrabooka — Owned Outright: 29.8% Mirrabooka — Mortgage: 38.7% Mirrabooka — Renting: 31.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balga Mirrabooka
Certificate III & IV 12.6% / 10.5%
Balga — Certificate III & IV: 12.6% Mirrabooka — Certificate III & IV: 10.5%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 7.4%
Balga — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Mirrabooka — Bachelor Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 4.9%
Balga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Mirrabooka — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 1.3%
Balga — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Mirrabooka — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.6%
Balga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Mirrabooka — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.6%).

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 Mirrabooka
Vietnam 3.4% / 9.0%
Balga — Vietnam: 3.4% Mirrabooka — Vietnam: 9.0%
Myanmar 2.5% / 6.0%
Balga — Myanmar: 2.5% Mirrabooka — Myanmar: 6.0%
India 6.1% / 1.9%
Balga — India: 6.1% Mirrabooka — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.6%
Balga — New Zealand: 2.3% Mirrabooka — New Zealand: 1.6%
Malaysia 1.3% / 1.8%
Balga — Malaysia: 1.3% Mirrabooka — Malaysia: 1.8%
Iraq — / 3.0%
Balga — Iraq: not among its largest Mirrabooka — Iraq: 3.0%
England 2.8% / —
Balga — England: 2.8% Mirrabooka — England: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.0%).

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%
Mirrabooka 85.5% houses
Mirrabooka — Houses: 85.5% Mirrabooka — Townhouses: 13.5% Mirrabooka — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balga Mirrabooka
Median house price $727,000 $762,500
Median unit price $585,000 $500,000
Median land price $635,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 215 sales
 29 days
from 23 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 Mirrabooka
3 bed $725K / $712K
Balga — 3 bed: $725K (283 sales) Mirrabooka — 3 bed: $712K (42 sales)

283 vs 42 sales

4 bed $795K / $850K
Balga — 4 bed: $795K (39 sales) Mirrabooka — 4 bed: $850K (19 sales)

39 vs 19 sales

Development activity

Balga Mirrabooka
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.

Balga Mirrabooka
Houses 5.1%
$735/wk on $749K
 4.9%
$750/wk on $799K
Units 4.9%
$608/wk on $650K
 —

Ranking within WA

Balga Mirrabooka
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 25% of WA Higher than 23% of WA
Schools Higher than 81% of WA
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 85% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 72% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of WA Higher than 85% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of WA Higher than 77% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 26% of WA —

Liveability

Balga is more walkable (80 vs 58); Balga scores higher overall (56 vs 46).

Balga Mirrabooka
Grade B C
Score 56/100 46/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Mirrabooka carries more crime risk (87 vs 77).

Balga Mirrabooka
Bushfire Low
38/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime High
77/100
 High
87/100
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
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Balga Mirrabooka
Inside the suburb 7 5
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 0 1
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 Mirrabooka

  • Boyare Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Dryandra Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Indie School Western Australia - Mirrabooka Campus Independent · Secondary
  • Y School WA Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Balga Mirrabooka
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 15 10
Childcare 10 4
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 2 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 1
same for both

Mobility

Balga Mirrabooka
Walkability score 80/100 58/100
Distance to Perth 13.6 km
+10% vs other
 12.2 km
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
 356.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 6061
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 6061
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.

Balga Mirrabooka
Car (driver) 81.1% / 80.6%
Balga — Car (driver): 81.1% Mirrabooka — Car (driver): 80.6%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 8.2%
Balga — Car (passenger): 5.9% Mirrabooka — Car (passenger): 8.2%
Bus 4.6% / 4.4%
Balga — Bus: 4.6% Mirrabooka — Bus: 4.4%
Worked from Home 4.4% / 3.8%
Balga — Worked from Home: 4.4% Mirrabooka — Worked from Home: 3.8%
Train 3.4% / 1.7%
Balga — Train: 3.4% Mirrabooka — Train: 1.7%

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

Setting

Balga Mirrabooka
Elevation 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 63 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.3 km 10.7 km

NBN connectivity

Balga Mirrabooka
Connectivity score 70/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
6,850 premises
 7%
3,122 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Balga Mirrabooka
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

Mirrabooka

Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balga

Balga vs Balcatta Balga vs Girrawheen Balga vs Westminster Balga vs Hamersley Balga vs Koondoola

Other comparisons with Mirrabooka

Mirrabooka vs Dianella Mirrabooka vs Nollamara Mirrabooka vs Girrawheen Mirrabooka vs Noranda Mirrabooka vs Westminster Mirrabooka vs Koondoola
Full data on Balga Full data on Mirrabooka
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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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