Balgowlah Heights vs Balgowlah

In both, most households own their home. In Balgowlah Heights, the large majority of homes are detached houses and the large majority of households are couple families. In Balgowlah, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Balgowlah Heights: a median of $4.23 million, against $3.5 million in Balgowlah, and rent is higher there too. Balgowlah is closer to the city centre: 12.5 km, against 14.2 km. On these figures, Balgowlah Heights tends to suit couples, while Balgowlah suits people living alone 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

Balgowlah Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 35%)
  • carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 46/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (85% vs 60%)
  • But Balgowlah has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Balgowlah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($3,500,000 vs $4,230,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balgowlah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($640/wk vs $1,320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Balgowlah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 71/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balgowlah

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 71/100)
  • But Balgowlah Heights carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 46/100)

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

Investors

Balgowlah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.9% vs 2.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
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.

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Walkability 71 / 92
Balgowlah Heights — Walkability: 71/100 Balgowlah — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 77 / 54
Balgowlah Heights — Safety: 77/100 Balgowlah — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 36 / 100
Balgowlah Heights — Low fire risk: 36/100 Balgowlah — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balgowlah has more residents (8,068 vs 3,546); Balgowlah Heights rents higher ($1,320/wk vs $640/wk).

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Population 3,546 8,068
+128% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +1.3%
Median age 43 41
Median household income $243,724/yr
+43% vs other
 $139,412/yr
Median weekly rent $1,320/wk
+52% vs other
 $640/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
0-4 3.4% / 6.7%
Balgowlah Heights — 0-4: 3.4% Balgowlah — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 20.6% / 13.4%
Balgowlah Heights — 5-14: 20.6% Balgowlah — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 8.5% / 5.8%
Balgowlah Heights — 15-19: 8.5% Balgowlah — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.9% / 4.5%
Balgowlah Heights — 20-24: 4.9% Balgowlah — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 3.9% / 10.5%
Balgowlah Heights — 25-34: 3.9% Balgowlah — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 10.8% / 14.9%
Balgowlah Heights — 35-44: 10.8% Balgowlah — 35-44: 14.9%
45-54 19.0% / 15.9%
Balgowlah Heights — 45-54: 19.0% Balgowlah — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 13.6% / 11.7%
Balgowlah Heights — 55-64: 13.6% Balgowlah — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 8.9% / 8.3%
Balgowlah Heights — 65-74: 8.9% Balgowlah — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 3.8% / 6.3%
Balgowlah Heights — 75-84: 3.8% Balgowlah — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 2.5% / 2.0%
Balgowlah Heights — 85+: 2.5% Balgowlah — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah Heights 77.1% couple families
Balgowlah Heights — Couple Families: 77.1% Balgowlah Heights — Lone Person: 13.6% Balgowlah Heights — One Parent Families: 8.0% Balgowlah Heights — Group Household: 0.4% Balgowlah Heights — Other Families: 1.0%
Balgowlah 47.0% couple families
Balgowlah — Couple Families: 47.0% Balgowlah — Lone Person: 33.2% Balgowlah — One Parent Families: 13.3% Balgowlah — Group Household: 5.3% Balgowlah — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah Heights 8.5% renting
Balgowlah Heights — Owned Outright: 48.2% Balgowlah Heights — Mortgage: 43.4% Balgowlah Heights — Renting: 8.5%
Balgowlah 31.8% renting
Balgowlah — Owned Outright: 34.8% Balgowlah — Mortgage: 33.4% Balgowlah — Renting: 31.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
England 10.6% / 9.6%
Balgowlah Heights — England: 10.6% Balgowlah — England: 9.6%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.7%
Balgowlah Heights — New Zealand: 2.2% Balgowlah — New Zealand: 2.7%
South Africa 2.7% / 1.9%
Balgowlah Heights — South Africa: 2.7% Balgowlah — South Africa: 1.9%
China 1.0% / 1.0%
Balgowlah Heights — China: 1.0% Balgowlah — China: 1.0%
Scotland 0.8% / 1.0%
Balgowlah Heights — Scotland: 0.8% Balgowlah — Scotland: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.6%).

Qualifications

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

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Bachelor Degree 26.3% / 25.4%
Balgowlah Heights — Bachelor Degree: 26.3% Balgowlah — Bachelor Degree: 25.4%
Postgraduate Degree 10.0% / 9.7%
Balgowlah Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 10.0% Balgowlah — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 8.9%
Balgowlah Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Balgowlah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Certificate III & IV 3.9% / 6.4%
Balgowlah Heights — Certificate III & IV: 3.9% Balgowlah — Certificate III & IV: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 2.8%
Balgowlah Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Balgowlah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah Heights 96.1% houses
Balgowlah Heights — Houses: 96.1% Balgowlah Heights — Flats / Apartments: 1.1% Balgowlah Heights — Townhouses: 2.8%
Balgowlah 34.6% houses
Balgowlah — Houses: 34.6% Balgowlah — Flats / Apartments: 42.3% Balgowlah — Townhouses: 23.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Median house price $4,230,000 $3,500,000
Median unit price — $1,360,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 21 sales
 21 days
from 30 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.

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
3 bed $3.71M / $3.09M
Balgowlah Heights — 3 bed: $3.71M (13 sales) Balgowlah — 3 bed: $3.09M (35 sales)

13 vs 35 sales

4 bed $4.2M / $3.92M
Balgowlah Heights — 4 bed: $4.2M (30 sales) Balgowlah — 4 bed: $3.92M (25 sales)

30 vs 25 sales

5 bed $5.12M / $5.25M
Balgowlah Heights — 5 bed: $5.12M (26 sales) Balgowlah — 5 bed: $5.25M (7 sales)

26 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Balgowlah Heights has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 4%).

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Residential 56% 68%
Environmental 33% 4%
Parks and recreation 8% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 6%
Industrial 0% 6%
Commercial 0% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Balgowlah Heights and 99% of Balgowlah. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
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.

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Houses 2.0%
$1,800/wk on $4.65M
 2.9%
$1,498/wk on $2.7M
Units — 3.5%
$850/wk on $1.25M

Ranking within NSW

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
House price Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 21% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 11% of NSW

Liveability

Balgowlah is more walkable (92 vs 71); Balgowlah Heights scores higher overall (75 vs 70).

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Grade A
same for both
Score 75/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balgowlah Heights carries more bushfire risk (64 vs 0); Balgowlah carries more crime risk (46 vs 23).

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Bushfire Moderate
64/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
23/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
12/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 6.2 km
 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 6.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.2% 2.7%

Schools in Balgowlah Heights

  • Balgowlah Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Balgowlah

  • Manly West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 15
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 3 7
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 2 1
Waterways 0 8

Mobility

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Walkability score 71/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 14.2 km
+12% vs other
 12.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 23 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 101.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 343.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.9%
postcode 2093
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2093
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.

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Worked from Home 69.0% / 62.1%
Balgowlah Heights — Worked from Home: 69.0% Balgowlah — Worked from Home: 62.1%
Car (driver) 25.8% / 27.5%
Balgowlah Heights — Car (driver): 25.8% Balgowlah — Car (driver): 27.5%
Bus 1.0% / 4.1%
Balgowlah Heights — Bus: 1.0% Balgowlah — Bus: 4.1%
Walked Only 1.3% / 3.3%
Balgowlah Heights — Walked Only: 1.3% Balgowlah — Walked Only: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 2.0%
Balgowlah Heights — Car (passenger): 2.1% Balgowlah — Car (passenger): 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.0%).

Setting

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Elevation 69 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 585 m
593 m to a named beach
 575 m
700 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,182 premises
 2%
3,960 premises

Climate

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balgowlah Heights

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Family Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Quiet Transport Hub

Balgowlah

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balgowlah Heights

Balgowlah Heights vs Clontarf

Other comparisons with Balgowlah

Balgowlah vs Seaforth Balgowlah vs Manly Vale Balgowlah vs Fairlight Balgowlah vs North Balgowlah Balgowlah vs Clontarf
Full data on Balgowlah Heights Full data on Balgowlah
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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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