Balgowlah vs Clontarf

Balgowlah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 47 in Clontarf. In both, most households own their home. In Balgowlah, about half of households are couple families. In Clontarf, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Clontarf: a median of $5.46 million, against $3.5 million in Balgowlah, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Balgowlah tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Clontarf 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

Clontarf

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 35%)
  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 46/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 60%)
  • But Balgowlah has more childcare (7 vs 0)

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 $5,465,000)

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 $1,250/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 74/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, 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 6%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 74/100)
  • But Clontarf carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 46/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Balgowlah and Clontarf 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 Clontarf
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 Clontarf
Walkability 92 / 74
Balgowlah — Walkability: 92/100 Clontarf — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 54 / 71
Balgowlah — Safety: 54/100 Clontarf — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 100 / 29
Balgowlah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Clontarf — Low fire risk: 29/100

Demographics

Balgowlah has more residents (8,068 vs 1,746); Clontarf rents higher ($1,250/wk vs $640/wk).

Balgowlah Clontarf
Population 8,068
+78% vs other
 1,746
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +0.5%
Median age 41 47
Median household income $139,412/yr $239,668/yr
+72% vs other
Median weekly rent $640/wk $1,250/wk
+95% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah Clontarf
0-4 6.7% / 2.6%
Balgowlah — 0-4: 6.7% Clontarf — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 13.4% / 14.7%
Balgowlah — 5-14: 13.4% Clontarf — 5-14: 14.7%
15-19 5.8% / 8.9%
Balgowlah — 15-19: 5.8% Clontarf — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 4.5% / 6.6%
Balgowlah — 20-24: 4.5% Clontarf — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 10.5% / 5.4%
Balgowlah — 25-34: 10.5% Clontarf — 25-34: 5.4%
35-44 14.9% / 8.1%
Balgowlah — 35-44: 14.9% Clontarf — 35-44: 8.1%
45-54 15.9% / 17.4%
Balgowlah — 45-54: 15.9% Clontarf — 45-54: 17.4%
55-64 11.7% / 18.3%
Balgowlah — 55-64: 11.7% Clontarf — 55-64: 18.3%
65-74 8.3% / 9.0%
Balgowlah — 65-74: 8.3% Clontarf — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 6.3% / 6.1%
Balgowlah — 75-84: 6.3% Clontarf — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.0% / 2.5%
Balgowlah — 85+: 2.0% Clontarf — 85+: 2.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Clontarf 67.8% couple families
Clontarf — Couple Families: 67.8% Clontarf — Lone Person: 18.9% Clontarf — One Parent Families: 9.8% Clontarf — Group Household: 3.4% Clontarf — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah 31.8% renting
Balgowlah — Owned Outright: 34.8% Balgowlah — Mortgage: 33.4% Balgowlah — Renting: 31.8%
Clontarf 7.8% renting
Clontarf — Owned Outright: 55.7% Clontarf — Mortgage: 36.6% Clontarf — Renting: 7.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balgowlah Clontarf
Bachelor Degree 25.4% / 29.0%
Balgowlah — Bachelor Degree: 25.4% Clontarf — Bachelor Degree: 29.0%
Postgraduate Degree 9.7% / 11.7%
Balgowlah — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7% Clontarf — Postgraduate Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 7.3%
Balgowlah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Clontarf — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 6.4% / 4.1%
Balgowlah — Certificate III & IV: 6.4% Clontarf — Certificate III & IV: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.3%
Balgowlah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Clontarf — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.0%).

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.

Balgowlah Clontarf
England 9.6% / 11.2%
Balgowlah — England: 9.6% Clontarf — England: 11.2%
New Zealand 2.7% / 1.9%
Balgowlah — New Zealand: 2.7% Clontarf — New Zealand: 1.9%
China 1.0% / 3.0%
Balgowlah — China: 1.0% Clontarf — China: 3.0%
South Africa 1.9% / 1.6%
Balgowlah — South Africa: 1.9% Clontarf — South Africa: 1.6%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.9%
Balgowlah — Scotland: 1.0% Clontarf — Scotland: 0.9%
Italy 0.8% / 1.0%
Balgowlah — Italy: 0.8% Clontarf — Italy: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah 34.6% houses
Balgowlah — Houses: 34.6% Balgowlah — Flats / Apartments: 42.3% Balgowlah — Townhouses: 23.1%
Clontarf 94.3% houses
Clontarf — Houses: 94.3% Clontarf — Flats / Apartments: 1.2% Clontarf — Townhouses: 4.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Balgowlah Clontarf
Median house price $3,500,000 $5,465,000
Median unit price $1,360,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 30 sales
 26 days
from 9 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 Clontarf
4 bed $3.92M / $4.94M
Balgowlah — 4 bed: $3.92M (25 sales) Clontarf — 4 bed: $4.94M (12 sales)

25 vs 12 sales

5 bed $5.25M / $5.19M
Balgowlah — 5 bed: $5.25M (7 sales) Clontarf — 5 bed: $5.19M (12 sales)

7 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Clontarf has more land zoned for conservation (28% vs 4%).

Balgowlah Clontarf
Residential 68% 59%
Environmental 4% 28%
Parks and recreation 12% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 1%
Industrial 6% 0%
Commercial 3% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Balgowlah and 96% of Clontarf. 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 Clontarf
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 Clontarf
Houses 2.9%
$1,498/wk on $2.7M
 —
Units 3.5%
$850/wk on $1.25M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Balgowlah Clontarf
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Schools Higher than 21% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 11% of NSW —

Liveability

Balgowlah is more walkable (92 vs 74).

Balgowlah Clontarf
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 72/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Clontarf carries more bushfire risk (71 vs 0); Balgowlah carries more crime risk (46 vs 29).

Balgowlah Clontarf
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
71/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
29/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
12/100
 Moderate
42/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Balgowlah Clontarf
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 6.8 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 5.2%

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

Schools in Clontarf

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Balgowlah Clontarf
Walkability score 92/100 74/100
Distance to Sydney 12.5 km 12.9 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 343.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Clontarf
Worked from Home 62.1% / 64.8%
Balgowlah — Worked from Home: 62.1% Clontarf — Worked from Home: 64.8%
Car (driver) 27.5% / 29.5%
Balgowlah — Car (driver): 27.5% Clontarf — Car (driver): 29.5%
Bus 4.1% / 1.6%
Balgowlah — Bus: 4.1% Clontarf — Bus: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 2.7%
Balgowlah — Car (passenger): 2.0% Clontarf — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Walked Only 3.3% / 1.4%
Balgowlah — Walked Only: 3.3% Clontarf — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Balgowlah Clontarf
Elevation 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 63 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 575 m
700 m to a named beach
 360 m
570 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Balgowlah Clontarf
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
3,960 premises
 0%
624 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Balgowlah

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

Clontarf

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balgowlah

Balgowlah vs Seaforth Balgowlah vs Manly Vale Balgowlah vs Fairlight Balgowlah vs North Balgowlah Balgowlah vs Balgowlah Heights

Other comparisons with Clontarf

Clontarf vs Seaforth Clontarf vs Balgowlah Heights
Full data on Balgowlah Full data on Clontarf
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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