Ballarat Central vs Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 41 in Ballarat Central. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Ballarat Central, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Ballarat Central: a median of $675,000, against $540,000 in Mount Pleasant, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ballarat Central tends to suit people living alone, while Mount Pleasant suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Ballarat Central has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • Mount Pleasant carries lower crime risk (85/100 vs 98/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Pleasant

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

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

Ballarat Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 58/100)

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 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 58/100)
  • But Mount Pleasant carries lower crime risk (85/100 vs 98/100)

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 Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant
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 Mount Pleasant
Walkability 81 / 58
Ballarat Central — Walkability: 81/100 Mount Pleasant — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 2 / 15
Ballarat Central — Safety: 2/100 Mount Pleasant — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ballarat Central — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Pleasant — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat Central — Low flood risk: 100/100 Mount Pleasant — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat Central has more residents (5,378 vs 2,225); Ballarat Central skews older (41 vs 35).

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Population 5,378
+59% vs other
 2,225
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +1.0%
Median age 41 35
Median household income $75,608/yr
+7% vs other
 $70,200/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+7% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
0-4 4.7% / 4.9%
Ballarat Central — 0-4: 4.7% Mount Pleasant — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 9.6% / 11.3%
Ballarat Central — 5-14: 9.6% Mount Pleasant — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 4.8% / 5.8%
Ballarat Central — 15-19: 4.8% Mount Pleasant — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 7.4% / 9.5%
Ballarat Central — 20-24: 7.4% Mount Pleasant — 20-24: 9.5%
25-34 15.0% / 18.0%
Ballarat Central — 25-34: 15.0% Mount Pleasant — 25-34: 18.0%
35-44 13.0% / 11.9%
Ballarat Central — 35-44: 13.0% Mount Pleasant — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 13.2% / 12.6%
Ballarat Central — 45-54: 13.2% Mount Pleasant — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 13.4% / 10.6%
Ballarat Central — 55-64: 13.4% Mount Pleasant — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 11.2% / 8.7%
Ballarat Central — 65-74: 11.2% Mount Pleasant — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 5.3% / 4.8%
Ballarat Central — 75-84: 5.3% Mount Pleasant — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.2% / 1.5%
Ballarat Central — 85+: 2.2% Mount Pleasant — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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%
Mount Pleasant 42.4% lone person
Mount Pleasant — Lone Person: 42.4% Mount Pleasant — Couple Families: 24.8% Mount Pleasant — One Parent Families: 19.9% Mount Pleasant — Group Household: 10.5% Mount Pleasant — Other Families: 2.5%
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%
Mount Pleasant 42.4% renting
Mount Pleasant — Owned Outright: 29.0% Mount Pleasant — Mortgage: 28.6% Mount Pleasant — Renting: 42.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 13.6%
Ballarat Central — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Mount Pleasant — Bachelor Degree: 13.6%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 15.5%
Ballarat Central — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Mount Pleasant — Certificate III & IV: 15.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 7.5%
Ballarat Central — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Mount Pleasant — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.3% / 4.4%
Ballarat Central — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3% Mount Pleasant — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 2.8%
Ballarat Central — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Mount Pleasant — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

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 Mount Pleasant
England 2.4% / 2.7%
Ballarat Central — England: 2.4% Mount Pleasant — England: 2.7%
India 1.8% / 1.8%
Ballarat Central — India: 1.8% Mount Pleasant — India: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.0%
Ballarat Central — New Zealand: 1.1% Mount Pleasant — New Zealand: 1.0%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.6%
Ballarat Central — Scotland: 0.4% Mount Pleasant — Scotland: 0.6%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Ballarat Central — Philippines: not among its largest Mount Pleasant — Philippines: 0.8%
China 0.5% / —
Ballarat Central — China: 0.5% Mount Pleasant — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

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%
Mount Pleasant 84.3% houses
Mount Pleasant — Houses: 84.3% Mount Pleasant — Townhouses: 13.3% Mount Pleasant — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Median house price $675,000 $540,000
Median unit price $407,000 $445,000
Median land price — $210,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 39 sales
 39 days
from 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.

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
2 bed $489K / $485K
Ballarat Central — 2 bed: $489K (13 sales) Mount Pleasant — 2 bed: $485K (9 sales)

13 vs 9 sales

3 bed $646K / $538K
Ballarat Central — 3 bed: $646K (52 sales) Mount Pleasant — 3 bed: $538K (32 sales)

52 vs 32 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $575K
Ballarat Central — 4 bed: $1.06M (17 sales) Mount Pleasant — 4 bed: $575K (17 sales)

17 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Ballarat Central has more commercially zoned land (22% vs 0%).

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Residential 57% 78%
Commercial 22% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 1%
Parks and recreation 3% 9%
Rural and farming 0% 7%
Industrial 1% 5%
Other and special use 2% 0%
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 Mount Pleasant
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 Mount Pleasant
Houses 3.7%
$460/wk on $645K
 3.9%
$450/wk on $605K
Units 4.7%
$350/wk on $384K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
House price Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Schools Higher than 55% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 46% of VIC —

Liveability

Ballarat Central is more walkable (81 vs 58); Ballarat Central scores higher overall (64 vs 51).

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 51/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Ballarat Central carries more crime risk (98 vs 85).

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
85/100
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
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 0.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 2.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 2.5%

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 Mount Pleasant

  • Mount Pleasant Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Walkability score 81/100 58/100
Distance to Melbourne 115.2 km 116.4 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 87 min
Public transport score 76/100 55/100
Peak arrivals per hour 191.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 13.0
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 Mount Pleasant
Car (driver) 53.4% / 68.7%
Ballarat Central — Car (driver): 53.4% Mount Pleasant — Car (driver): 68.7%
Worked from Home 24.0% / 19.7%
Ballarat Central — Worked from Home: 24.0% Mount Pleasant — Worked from Home: 19.7%
Walked Only 14.1% / 2.4%
Ballarat Central — Walked Only: 14.1% Mount Pleasant — Walked Only: 2.4%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 6.8%
Ballarat Central — Car (passenger): 4.7% Mount Pleasant — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Bicycle 1.8% / 1.2%
Ballarat Central — Bicycle: 1.8% Mount Pleasant — Bicycle: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.7%).

Setting

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Elevation 453 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 431 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
Connectivity score 98/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 94%
4,537 premises
 100%
1,186 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Ballarat Central Mount Pleasant
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

Mount Pleasant

Affordable Parks River

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Mount Pleasant

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Full data on Ballarat Central Full data on Mount Pleasant
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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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