Ballarat Central vs Ballarat East

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Ballarat Central: a median of $675,000, against $540,000 in Ballarat East. On these figures, Ballarat East tends to suit 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

Ballarat East

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 74%)
  • carries lower crime risk (87/100 vs 98/100)
  • But Ballarat Central has more childcare (9 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Ballarat East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($540,000 vs $675,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ballarat Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Ballarat East

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (81 min vs 86 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (112.2 km vs 115.2 km)
  • But Ballarat Central is more walkable (81/100 vs 71/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ballarat Central

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (12 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 71/100)
  • But Ballarat East has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 19%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
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.

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Walkability 81 / 71
Ballarat Central — Walkability: 81/100 Ballarat East — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 2 / 13
Ballarat Central — Safety: 2/100 Ballarat East — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 29
Ballarat Central — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ballarat East — Low fire risk: 29/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat Central — Low flood risk: 100/100 Ballarat East — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat Central has higher household incomes ($75,608 vs $58,396); Ballarat East skews older (43 vs 41).

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Population 5,378 5,937
+10% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +5.6%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $75,608/yr
+23% vs other
 $58,396/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+3% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
0-4 4.7% / 4.4%
Ballarat Central — 0-4: 4.7% Ballarat East — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 9.6% / 10.5%
Ballarat Central — 5-14: 9.6% Ballarat East — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 4.8% / 4.2%
Ballarat Central — 15-19: 4.8% Ballarat East — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 7.4% / 6.3%
Ballarat Central — 20-24: 7.4% Ballarat East — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 15.0% / 15.0%
Ballarat Central — 25-34: 15.0% Ballarat East — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 13.0% / 11.7%
Ballarat Central — 35-44: 13.0% Ballarat East — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 13.2% / 10.6%
Ballarat Central — 45-54: 13.2% Ballarat East — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 13.4% / 11.8%
Ballarat Central — 55-64: 13.4% Ballarat East — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 11.2% / 12.0%
Ballarat Central — 65-74: 11.2% Ballarat East — 65-74: 12.0%
75-84 5.3% / 7.9%
Ballarat Central — 75-84: 5.3% Ballarat East — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 2.2% / 5.5%
Ballarat Central — 85+: 2.2% Ballarat East — 85+: 5.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ballarat Central 52.0% lone person
Ballarat Central — Lone Person: 52.0% Ballarat Central — Couple Families: 25.7% Ballarat Central — One Parent Families: 12.2% Ballarat Central — Group Household: 8.6% Ballarat Central — Other Families: 1.6%
Ballarat East 52.2% lone person
Ballarat East — Lone Person: 52.2% Ballarat East — Couple Families: 22.2% Ballarat East — One Parent Families: 16.9% Ballarat East — Group Household: 7.5% Ballarat East — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ballarat Central 41.0% renting
Ballarat Central — Owned Outright: 33.1% Ballarat Central — Mortgage: 25.9% Ballarat Central — Renting: 41.0%
Ballarat East 41.3% renting
Ballarat East — Owned Outright: 32.9% Ballarat East — Mortgage: 25.9% Ballarat East — Renting: 41.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 12.8%
Ballarat Central — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Ballarat East — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 14.8%
Ballarat Central — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Ballarat East — Certificate III & IV: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 7.5%
Ballarat Central — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Ballarat East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.3% / 4.4%
Ballarat Central — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3% Ballarat East — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 3.1%
Ballarat Central — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Ballarat East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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.

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
England 2.4% / 2.6%
Ballarat Central — England: 2.4% Ballarat East — England: 2.6%
India 1.8% / 1.3%
Ballarat Central — India: 1.8% Ballarat East — India: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.9%
Ballarat Central — New Zealand: 1.1% Ballarat East — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.4%
Ballarat Central — Scotland: 0.4% Ballarat East — Scotland: 0.4%
Netherlands 0.3% / 0.4%
Ballarat Central — Netherlands: 0.3% Ballarat East — Netherlands: 0.4%
China 0.5% / —
Ballarat Central — China: 0.5% Ballarat East — China: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.4%
Ballarat Central — Philippines: not among its largest Ballarat East — Philippines: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ballarat Central 74.0% houses
Ballarat Central — Houses: 74.0% Ballarat Central — Townhouses: 12.9% Ballarat Central — Flats / Apartments: 13.1%
Ballarat East 89.3% houses
Ballarat East — Houses: 89.3% Ballarat East — Townhouses: 9.4% Ballarat East — Flats / Apartments: 1.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Median house price $675,000 $540,000
Median unit price $407,000 $391,000
Median land price — $274,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 39 sales
 28 days
from 98 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.

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
2 bed $489K / $430K
Ballarat Central — 2 bed: $489K (13 sales) Ballarat East — 2 bed: $430K (37 sales)

13 vs 37 sales

3 bed $646K / $540K
Ballarat Central — 3 bed: $646K (52 sales) Ballarat East — 3 bed: $540K (140 sales)

52 vs 140 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $648K
Ballarat Central — 4 bed: $1.06M (17 sales) Ballarat East — 4 bed: $648K (42 sales)

17 vs 42 sales

Zoning mix

Ballarat Central has more commercially zoned land (22% vs 1%).

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Residential 57% 56%
Commercial 22% 1%
Other and special use 2% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 10%
Parks and recreation 3% 8%
Industrial 1% 4%
Rural and farming 0% 4%
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

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
New dwellings approved 1,451
across Ballarat
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
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.

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Houses 3.7%
$460/wk on $645K
 3.8%
$450/wk on $615K
Units 4.7%
$350/wk on $384K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
House price Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
Schools Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 46% of VIC —

Liveability

Ballarat Central scores higher overall (64 vs 30); Ballarat Central is more walkable (81 vs 71).

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Grade B D
Score 64/100 30/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Ballarat East carries more bushfire risk (71 vs 0); Ballarat Central carries more crime risk (98 vs 87).

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
71/100
Crime High
98/100
 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 18
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 0.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 1.7%

Schools in Ballarat Central

  • Ballarat Primary School (Dana Street) Government · Primary above peers
  • St Patrick's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Ballarat Clarendon College - Second Campus Independent · Combined
  • Mount Rowan Secondary College-LinkUp - Ballarat Learning Exchange Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Ballarat East

  • St Francis Xavier School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Woodmans Hill Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Alipius' Parish School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Multi Ballarat Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Supermarkets 5 2
Cafes & restaurants 62 3
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 9 1
GPs 12 1
Pharmacies 9 2
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 11 0
Fuel stations 3 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 13 50

Mobility

Ballarat Central sits further from the CBD (115.2 km vs 112.2 km).

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Walkability score 81/100 71/100
Distance to Melbourne 115.2 km
+3% vs other
 112.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 81 min
Public transport score 76/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 191.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 78.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3350
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3350
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.

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Car (driver) 53.4% / 65.7%
Ballarat Central — Car (driver): 53.4% Ballarat East — Car (driver): 65.7%
Worked from Home 24.0% / 21.8%
Ballarat Central — Worked from Home: 24.0% Ballarat East — Worked from Home: 21.8%
Walked Only 14.1% / 4.1%
Ballarat Central — Walked Only: 14.1% Ballarat East — Walked Only: 4.1%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 6.0%
Ballarat Central — Car (passenger): 4.7% Ballarat East — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Bicycle 1.8% / 0.7%
Ballarat Central — Bicycle: 1.8% Ballarat East — Bicycle: 0.7%
Bus 1.2% / 1.2%
Ballarat Central — Bus: 1.2% Ballarat East — Bus: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.7%).

Setting

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Elevation 453 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 452 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Connectivity score 98/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 94%
4,537 premises
 97%
3,621 premises

Climate

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Annual rainfall 605 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ballarat Central Ballarat East
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ballarat Central

Cafe Culture Gentrifying Nightlife Professionals

Ballarat East

Affordable Large Blocks Retirees River

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Ballarat East

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Full data on Ballarat Central Full data on Ballarat East
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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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