Ballarat Central vs Newington

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Ballarat Central, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Ballarat Central tends to suit people living alone, while Newington suits families with children.

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

Newington

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 98/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 38%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 74%)
  • But Ballarat Central has more childcare (9 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Newington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($321,500 vs $407,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ballarat Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Ballarat Central

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 52/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (115.2 km vs 117.6 km)

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 52/100)
  • But Newington carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

Ballarat Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Ballarat Central and Newington 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 Newington
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 Newington
Walkability 81 / 52
Ballarat Central — Walkability: 81/100 Newington — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 2 / 33
Ballarat Central — Safety: 2/100 Newington — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ballarat Central — Low fire risk: 100/100 Newington — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat Central — Low flood risk: 100/100 Newington — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat Central has more residents (5,378 vs 1,844); Newington has higher household incomes ($88,140 vs $75,608).

Ballarat Central Newington
Population 5,378
+66% vs other
 1,844
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% -2.9%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $75,608/yr $88,140/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $315/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat Central Newington
0-4 4.7% / 4.2%
Ballarat Central — 0-4: 4.7% Newington — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 9.6% / 14.7%
Ballarat Central — 5-14: 9.6% Newington — 5-14: 14.7%
15-19 4.8% / 12.9%
Ballarat Central — 15-19: 4.8% Newington — 15-19: 12.9%
20-24 7.4% / 5.4%
Ballarat Central — 20-24: 7.4% Newington — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 15.0% / 8.8%
Ballarat Central — 25-34: 15.0% Newington — 25-34: 8.8%
35-44 13.0% / 11.3%
Ballarat Central — 35-44: 13.0% Newington — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 13.2% / 13.6%
Ballarat Central — 45-54: 13.2% Newington — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 13.4% / 10.9%
Ballarat Central — 55-64: 13.4% Newington — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 11.2% / 10.3%
Ballarat Central — 65-74: 11.2% Newington — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 5.3% / 5.9%
Ballarat Central — 75-84: 5.3% Newington — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 2.2% / 2.3%
Ballarat Central — 85+: 2.2% Newington — 85+: 2.3%

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%
Newington 41.9% lone person
Newington — Lone Person: 41.9% Newington — Couple Families: 37.0% Newington — One Parent Families: 15.4% Newington — Group Household: 5.1% Newington — Other Families: 0.6%
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%
Newington 28.9% renting
Newington — Owned Outright: 39.3% Newington — Mortgage: 31.8% Newington — Renting: 28.9%
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.

Ballarat Central Newington
England 2.4% / 1.7%
Ballarat Central — England: 2.4% Newington — England: 1.7%
India 1.8% / 1.3%
Ballarat Central — India: 1.8% Newington — India: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Ballarat Central — New Zealand: 1.1% Newington — New Zealand: 1.1%
China 0.5% / 0.7%
Ballarat Central — China: 0.5% Newington — China: 0.7%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.4%
Ballarat Central — Scotland: 0.4% Newington — Scotland: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

Qualifications

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

Ballarat Central Newington
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 18.3%
Ballarat Central — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Newington — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 9.4%
Ballarat Central — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Newington — Certificate III & IV: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.3% / 6.9%
Ballarat Central — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3% Newington — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 6.2%
Ballarat Central — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Newington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.7%
Ballarat Central — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Newington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7%

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

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%
Newington 84.1% houses
Newington — Houses: 84.1% Newington — Townhouses: 14.2% Newington — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballarat Central Newington
Median house price $675,000 $625,000
Median unit price $407,000 $321,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 39 sales
 22 days
from 10 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 Newington
3 bed $646K / $625K
Ballarat Central — 3 bed: $646K (52 sales) Newington — 3 bed: $625K (36 sales)

52 vs 36 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $1.01M
Ballarat Central — 4 bed: $1.06M (17 sales) Newington — 4 bed: $1.01M (6 sales)

17 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

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

Ballarat Central Newington
Residential 57% 32%
Parks and recreation 3% 55%
Commercial 22% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 6%
Other and special use 2% 7%
Industrial 1% 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 Newington
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 Newington
Houses 3.7%
$460/wk on $645K
 2.9%
$425/wk on $764K
Units 4.7%
$350/wk on $384K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat Central Newington
House price Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Schools Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 88% 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 9% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 46% of VIC —

Liveability

Ballarat Central is more walkable (81 vs 52); Newington scores higher overall (70 vs 64).

Ballarat Central Newington
Grade B A
Score 64/100 70/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Ballarat Central carries more crime risk (98 vs 67).

Ballarat Central Newington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 Moderate
67/100
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
same for both

Schools

Ballarat Central Newington
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 0.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 2.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 2.8%

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 Newington

  • Ballarat Clarendon College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Newington Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Patrick's College Catholic · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ballarat Central Newington
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 62 0
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 9 1
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

Newington sits further from the CBD (117.6 km vs 115.2 km).

Ballarat Central Newington
Walkability score 81/100 52/100
Distance to Melbourne 115.2 km 117.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 90 min
Public transport score 76/100 66/100
Peak arrivals per hour 191.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.2
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 Newington
Car (driver) 53.4% / 64.6%
Ballarat Central — Car (driver): 53.4% Newington — Car (driver): 64.6%
Worked from Home 24.0% / 21.7%
Ballarat Central — Worked from Home: 24.0% Newington — Worked from Home: 21.7%
Walked Only 14.1% / 7.0%
Ballarat Central — Walked Only: 14.1% Newington — Walked Only: 7.0%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.8%
Ballarat Central — Car (passenger): 4.7% Newington — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bicycle 1.8% / 1.1%
Ballarat Central — Bicycle: 1.8% Newington — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.6%).

Setting

Ballarat Central Newington
Elevation 453 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 448 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ballarat Central Newington
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%
840 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Ballarat Central Newington
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

Newington

Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Newington

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Full data on Ballarat Central Full data on Newington
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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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