Balga vs Westminster

Comparing Balga and Westminster, WA: Balga carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 0); Balga has more residents (13,864 vs 7,042); and Westminster skews older (34 vs 32).

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 schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Westminster

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (5 vs 2)

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

Investors

Westminster

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 4.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Balga and Westminster 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 Westminster
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 Westminster
Walkability 80 / 84
Balga — Walkability: 80/100 Westminster — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 23 / 30
Balga — Safety: 23/100 Westminster — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 62 / 100
Balga — Low fire risk: 62/100 Westminster — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Balga — Low flood risk: 100/100 Westminster — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balga has more residents (13,864 vs 7,042); Westminster skews older (34 vs 32).

Balga Westminster
Population 13,864
+49% vs other
 7,042
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +13.5%
Median age 32 34
Median household income $67,548/yr $73,008/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk $330/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balga Westminster
0-4 8.6% / 8.3%
Balga — 0-4: 8.6% Westminster — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 12.4% / 10.2%
Balga — 5-14: 12.4% Westminster — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 4.2% / 3.9%
Balga — 15-19: 4.2% Westminster — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 7.4% / 6.5%
Balga — 20-24: 7.4% Westminster — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 21.6% / 22.0%
Balga — 25-34: 21.6% Westminster — 25-34: 22.0%
35-44 15.9% / 17.6%
Balga — 35-44: 15.9% Westminster — 35-44: 17.6%
45-54 10.4% / 10.3%
Balga — 45-54: 10.4% Westminster — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 8.1% / 9.0%
Balga — 55-64: 8.1% Westminster — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 6.5% / 6.4%
Balga — 65-74: 6.5% Westminster — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 3.8% / 4.4%
Balga — 75-84: 3.8% Westminster — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 0.9% / 1.4%
Balga — 85+: 0.9% Westminster — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

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%
Westminster 40.2% lone person
Westminster — Lone Person: 40.2% Westminster — Couple Families: 32.4% Westminster — One Parent Families: 17.5% Westminster — Group Household: 7.3% Westminster — Other Families: 2.7%
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%
Westminster 45.3% renting
Westminster — Owned Outright: 19.1% Westminster — Mortgage: 35.6% Westminster — Renting: 45.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balga Westminster
Certificate III & IV 12.6% / 12.0%
Balga — Certificate III & IV: 12.6% Westminster — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 13.3%
Balga — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Westminster — Bachelor Degree: 13.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.8%
Balga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Westminster — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 4.5%
Balga — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Westminster — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.6%
Balga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Westminster — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.3%).

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.

Balga Westminster
India 6.1% / 9.0%
Balga — India: 6.1% Westminster — India: 9.0%
Vietnam 3.4% / 2.5%
Balga — Vietnam: 3.4% Westminster — Vietnam: 2.5%
England 2.8% / 2.5%
Balga — England: 2.8% Westminster — England: 2.5%
Philippines 1.9% / 2.7%
Balga — Philippines: 1.9% Westminster — Philippines: 2.7%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.0%
Balga — New Zealand: 2.3% Westminster — New Zealand: 2.0%
Myanmar 2.5% / —
Balga — Myanmar: 2.5% Westminster — Myanmar: 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%
Westminster 62.8% houses
Westminster — Houses: 62.8% Westminster — Townhouses: 35.7% Westminster — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balga Westminster
Median house price $727,000 $774,500
Median unit price $585,000 $595,000
Median land price $635,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 215 sales
 20 days
from 83 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.

Balga Westminster
2 bed $525K / $555K
Balga — 2 bed: $525K (19 sales) Westminster — 2 bed: $555K (21 sales)

19 vs 21 sales

3 bed $639K / $730K
Balga — 3 bed: $639K (14 sales) Westminster — 3 bed: $730K (13 sales)

14 vs 13 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 Westminster
2 bed $620K / $701K
Balga — 2 bed: $620K (18 sales) Westminster — 2 bed: $701K (17 sales)

18 vs 17 sales

3 bed $725K / $770K
Balga — 3 bed: $725K (283 sales) Westminster — 3 bed: $770K (121 sales)

283 vs 121 sales

4 bed $795K / $858K
Balga — 4 bed: $795K (39 sales) Westminster — 4 bed: $858K (18 sales)

39 vs 18 sales

Development activity

Balga Westminster
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 Westminster
Houses 5.1%
$735/wk on $749K
 5.1%
$780/wk on $799K
Units 4.9%
$608/wk on $650K
 5.6%
$788/wk on $738K

Ranking within WA

Balga Westminster
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 25% of WA Higher than 35% of WA
Schools Higher than 81% of WA Higher than 15% of WA
Walkability Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 97% 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 81% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of WA Higher than 85% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 26% of WA Higher than 56% of WA

Liveability

Balga Westminster
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 53/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balga carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 0).

Balga Westminster
Bushfire Low
38/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
77/100
 High
70/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Balga Westminster
Inside the suburb 7 3
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km None 2
ECU City Campus, 9.8 km

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 Westminster

  • Westminster Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Gerard's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Westminster Education Support Centre Government · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Balga Westminster
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 15 6
Childcare 10 5
GPs 2 5
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both

Mobility

Balga Westminster
Walkability score 80/100 84/100
Distance to Perth 13.6 km
+7% vs other
 12.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 18 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 288.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 230.5
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 Westminster
Car (driver) 81.1% / 78.0%
Balga — Car (driver): 81.1% Westminster — Car (driver): 78.0%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 5.6%
Balga — Car (passenger): 5.9% Westminster — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Bus 4.6% / 6.7%
Balga — Bus: 4.6% Westminster — Bus: 6.7%
Worked from Home 4.4% / 5.5%
Balga — Worked from Home: 4.4% Westminster — Worked from Home: 5.5%
Train 3.4% / 2.8%
Balga — Train: 3.4% Westminster — Train: 2.8%

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

Setting

Balga Westminster
Elevation 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.3 km 8.2 km

NBN connectivity

Balga Westminster
Connectivity score 70/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
6,850 premises
 42%
3,521 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Balga Westminster
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

Westminster

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balga

Balga vs Balcatta Balga vs Girrawheen Balga vs Mirrabooka Balga vs Hamersley Balga vs Koondoola

Other comparisons with Westminster

Westminster vs Dianella Westminster vs Nollamara Westminster vs Balcatta Westminster vs Mirrabooka Westminster vs Hamersley
Full data on Balga Full data on Westminster
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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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