Ballarat Central vs Wendouree

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 $515,000 in Wendouree, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wendouree 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

Wendouree

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Wendouree

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($515,000 vs $675,000)
  • has cheaper units ($327,500 vs $407,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wendouree

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Ballarat Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (115.2 km vs 120.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Ballarat Central has more GPs (12 vs 5)
  • Wendouree 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 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Ballarat Central and Wendouree 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 Wendouree
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 Wendouree
Walkability 81 / 82
Ballarat Central — Walkability: 81/100 Wendouree — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 2 / 7
Ballarat Central — Safety: 2/100 Wendouree — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 86
Ballarat Central — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wendouree — Low fire risk: 86/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat Central — Low flood risk: 100/100 Wendouree — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wendouree has more residents (10,376 vs 5,378); Ballarat Central has higher household incomes ($75,608 vs $51,480).

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Population 5,378 10,376
+93% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% -0.7%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $75,608/yr
+32% vs other
 $51,480/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+17% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat Central Wendouree
0-4 4.7% / 5.4%
Ballarat Central — 0-4: 4.7% Wendouree — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 9.6% / 10.7%
Ballarat Central — 5-14: 9.6% Wendouree — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 4.8% / 6.1%
Ballarat Central — 15-19: 4.8% Wendouree — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 7.4% / 6.4%
Ballarat Central — 20-24: 7.4% Wendouree — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 15.0% / 14.1%
Ballarat Central — 25-34: 15.0% Wendouree — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 13.0% / 9.7%
Ballarat Central — 35-44: 13.0% Wendouree — 35-44: 9.7%
45-54 13.2% / 11.2%
Ballarat Central — 45-54: 13.2% Wendouree — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 13.4% / 11.8%
Ballarat Central — 55-64: 13.4% Wendouree — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 11.2% / 11.8%
Ballarat Central — 65-74: 11.2% Wendouree — 65-74: 11.8%
75-84 5.3% / 8.5%
Ballarat Central — 75-84: 5.3% Wendouree — 75-84: 8.5%
85+ 2.2% / 4.5%
Ballarat Central — 85+: 2.2% Wendouree — 85+: 4.5%

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%
Wendouree 51.5% lone person
Wendouree — Lone Person: 51.5% Wendouree — Couple Families: 20.1% Wendouree — One Parent Families: 21.7% Wendouree — Group Household: 4.5% Wendouree — Other Families: 2.2%
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%
Wendouree 44.4% renting
Wendouree — Owned Outright: 34.6% Wendouree — Mortgage: 21.1% Wendouree — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 16.2%
Ballarat Central — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Wendouree — Certificate III & IV: 16.2%
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 6.5%
Ballarat Central — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Wendouree — Bachelor Degree: 6.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 5.6%
Ballarat Central — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Wendouree — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 8.3% / 1.5%
Ballarat Central — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3% Wendouree — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 1.2%
Ballarat Central — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Wendouree — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

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 Wendouree
England 2.4% / 1.5%
Ballarat Central — England: 2.4% Wendouree — England: 1.5%
India 1.8% / 0.7%
Ballarat Central — India: 1.8% Wendouree — India: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.7%
Ballarat Central — New Zealand: 1.1% Wendouree — New Zealand: 0.7%
Philippines — / 1.3%
Ballarat Central — Philippines: not among its largest Wendouree — Philippines: 1.3%
Netherlands 0.3% / 0.6%
Ballarat Central — Netherlands: 0.3% Wendouree — Netherlands: 0.6%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.3%
Ballarat Central — Scotland: 0.4% Wendouree — Scotland: 0.3%
China 0.5% / —
Ballarat Central — China: 0.5% Wendouree — China: not among its largest

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

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%
Wendouree 80.0% houses
Wendouree — Houses: 80.0% Wendouree — Townhouses: 15.6% Wendouree — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Median house price $675,000 $515,000
Median unit price $407,000 $327,500
Median land price — $355,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 39 sales
 24 days
from 116 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 Wendouree
2 bed $489K / $418K
Ballarat Central — 2 bed: $489K (13 sales) Wendouree — 2 bed: $418K (36 sales)

13 vs 36 sales

3 bed $646K / $520K
Ballarat Central — 3 bed: $646K (52 sales) Wendouree — 3 bed: $520K (256 sales)

52 vs 256 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $578K
Ballarat Central — 4 bed: $1.06M (17 sales) Wendouree — 4 bed: $578K (39 sales)

17 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Wendouree has more industrially zoned land (27% vs 1%); Ballarat Central has more commercially zoned land (22% vs 4%).

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Residential 57% 46%
Industrial 1% 27%
Commercial 22% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 12%
Parks and recreation 3% 9%
Other and special use 2% 3%
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 Wendouree
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 Wendouree
Houses 3.7%
$460/wk on $645K
 4.0%
$430/wk on $565K
Units 4.7%
$350/wk on $384K
 5.0%
$330/wk on $345K

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat Central Wendouree
House price Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
Schools Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 60% of VIC

Liveability

Ballarat Central scores higher overall (64 vs 43).

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Grade B C
Score 64/100 43/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Wendouree carries more bushfire risk (14 vs 0).

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
14/100
Crime High
98/100
 High
93/100
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
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Inside the suburb 4 9
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 4
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 0.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 1.1%

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 Wendouree

  • Wendouree Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ballarat Grammar Independent · Combined at peers
  • Forest Street Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Mount Rowan Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Our Lady Help of Christians School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Yuille Park Community College Government · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Supermarkets 5 4
Cafes & restaurants 62 5
Parks & reserves 1 21
Childcare 9 12
GPs 12 5
Pharmacies 9 4
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 11 3
Fuel stations 3 4
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 13 0

Mobility

Wendouree sits further from the CBD (120.6 km vs 115.2 km).

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Walkability score 81/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 115.2 km 120.6 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min
same for both
Public transport score 76/100 82/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 191.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 199.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3350
 0.5%
postcode 3355
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3350
 27
postcode 3355

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 Wendouree
Car (driver) 53.4% / 78.2%
Ballarat Central — Car (driver): 53.4% Wendouree — Car (driver): 78.2%
Worked from Home 24.0% / 9.9%
Ballarat Central — Worked from Home: 24.0% Wendouree — Worked from Home: 9.9%
Walked Only 14.1% / 3.2%
Ballarat Central — Walked Only: 14.1% Wendouree — Walked Only: 3.2%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 6.3%
Ballarat Central — Car (passenger): 4.7% Wendouree — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Bicycle 1.8% / 0.9%
Ballarat Central — Bicycle: 1.8% Wendouree — Bicycle: 0.9%
Bus 1.2% / 1.1%
Ballarat Central — Bus: 1.2% Wendouree — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.2%).

Setting

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Elevation 453 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 463 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ballarat Central Wendouree
Connectivity score 98/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 94%
4,537 premises
 46%
6,294 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Ballarat Central Wendouree
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

Wendouree

Affordable Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ballarat Central

Ballarat Central vs Ballarat East Ballarat Central vs Redan Ballarat Central vs Lake Wendouree Ballarat Central vs Soldiers Hill Ballarat Central vs Mount Pleasant Ballarat Central vs Golden Point

Other comparisons with Wendouree

Wendouree vs Alfredton Wendouree vs Ballarat North Wendouree vs Miners Rest Wendouree vs Lake Wendouree Wendouree vs Soldiers Hill Wendouree vs Lake Gardens
Full data on Ballarat Central Full data on Wendouree
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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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