Ballarat East vs Nerrina

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Ballarat East, about half of households are people living alone. In Nerrina, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nerrina: a median of $735,000, against $540,000 in Ballarat East, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ballarat East tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Nerrina 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

Nerrina

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 87/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 39%)
  • But Ballarat East has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Ballarat East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($274,250 vs $427,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($540,000 vs $735,000)
  • But Nerrina leaves households under less mortgage stress (16% vs 27%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ballarat East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $380/wk)
  • But Nerrina leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Ballarat East

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 25/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (81 min vs 87 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (112.2 km vs 114.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ballarat East

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 25/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 13%)
  • But Nerrina carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 87/100)

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

Ballarat East and Nerrina 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 East Nerrina
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 East Nerrina
Walkability 71 / 25
Ballarat East — Walkability: 71/100 Nerrina — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 13 / 50
Ballarat East — Safety: 13/100 Nerrina — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 29 / 66
Ballarat East — Low fire risk: 29/100 Nerrina — Low fire risk: 66/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat East — Low flood risk: 100/100 Nerrina — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat East has more residents (5,937 vs 970); Nerrina has higher household incomes ($125,060 vs $58,396).

Ballarat East Nerrina
Population 5,937
+84% vs other
 970
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +0.8%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $58,396/yr $125,060/yr
+114% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $380/wk
+31% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat East Nerrina
0-4 4.4% / 4.1%
Ballarat East — 0-4: 4.4% Nerrina — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 10.5% / 14.3%
Ballarat East — 5-14: 10.5% Nerrina — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 4.2% / 7.6%
Ballarat East — 15-19: 4.2% Nerrina — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 6.3% / 5.6%
Ballarat East — 20-24: 6.3% Nerrina — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 15.0% / 9.1%
Ballarat East — 25-34: 15.0% Nerrina — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 11.7% / 11.9%
Ballarat East — 35-44: 11.7% Nerrina — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 10.6% / 17.5%
Ballarat East — 45-54: 10.6% Nerrina — 45-54: 17.5%
55-64 11.8% / 16.0%
Ballarat East — 55-64: 11.8% Nerrina — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 12.0% / 9.0%
Ballarat East — 65-74: 12.0% Nerrina — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 7.9% / 3.2%
Ballarat East — 75-84: 7.9% Nerrina — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 5.5% / 0.9%
Ballarat East — 85+: 5.5% Nerrina — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ballarat East 22.2% couple families
Ballarat East — Couple Families: 22.2% Ballarat East — Lone Person: 52.2% Ballarat East — One Parent Families: 16.9% Ballarat East — Group Household: 7.5% Ballarat East — Other Families: 1.2%
Nerrina 56.2% couple families
Nerrina — Couple Families: 56.2% Nerrina — Lone Person: 25.9% Nerrina — One Parent Families: 11.6% Nerrina — Group Household: 3.6% Nerrina — Other Families: 2.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ballarat East 41.3% renting
Ballarat East — Owned Outright: 32.9% Ballarat East — Mortgage: 25.9% Ballarat East — Renting: 41.3%
Nerrina 7.8% renting
Nerrina — Owned Outright: 42.3% Nerrina — Mortgage: 49.9% Nerrina — Renting: 7.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ballarat East Nerrina
Certificate III & IV 14.8% / 14.3%
Ballarat East — Certificate III & IV: 14.8% Nerrina — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Bachelor Degree 12.8% / 16.1%
Ballarat East — Bachelor Degree: 12.8% Nerrina — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 10.0%
Ballarat East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Nerrina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 4.0%
Ballarat East — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% Nerrina — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.4%
Ballarat East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Nerrina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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 East Nerrina
England 2.6% / 2.3%
Ballarat East — England: 2.6% Nerrina — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.0%
Ballarat East — New Zealand: 0.9% Nerrina — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 1.3% / 0.4%
Ballarat East — India: 1.3% Nerrina — India: 0.4%
Philippines 0.4% / 1.0%
Ballarat East — Philippines: 0.4% Nerrina — Philippines: 1.0%
Germany — / 0.5%
Ballarat East — Germany: not among its largest Nerrina — Germany: 0.5%
Iraq — / 0.5%
Ballarat East — Iraq: not among its largest Nerrina — Iraq: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.4% / —
Ballarat East — Netherlands: 0.4% Nerrina — Netherlands: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ballarat East 89.3% houses
Ballarat East — Houses: 89.3% Ballarat East — Townhouses: 9.4% Ballarat East — Flats / Apartments: 1.3%
Nerrina 99.1% houses
Nerrina — Houses: 99.1% Nerrina — Townhouses: 0.0% Nerrina — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballarat East Nerrina
Median house price $540,000 $735,000
Median unit price $391,000 —
Median land price $274,250 $427,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 98 sales
 31 days
from 6 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 East Nerrina
2 bed $430K / $560K
Ballarat East — 2 bed: $430K (37 sales) Nerrina — 2 bed: $560K (5 sales)

37 vs 5 sales

3 bed $540K / $595K
Ballarat East — 3 bed: $540K (140 sales) Nerrina — 3 bed: $595K (11 sales)

140 vs 11 sales

4 bed $648K / $845K
Ballarat East — 4 bed: $648K (42 sales) Nerrina — 4 bed: $845K (15 sales)

42 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Nerrina has more rural and farming land (21% vs 4%).

Ballarat East Nerrina
Residential 56% 21%
Parks and recreation 8% 51%
Rural and farming 4% 21%
Other and special use 16% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 7%
Industrial 4% 0%
Commercial 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 East Nerrina
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 East Nerrina
Houses 3.8%
$450/wk on $615K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat East Nerrina
House price Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools Higher than 10% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of VIC —

Liveability

Ballarat East is more walkable (71 vs 25); Nerrina scores higher overall (69 vs 30).

Ballarat East Nerrina
Grade D A
Score 30/100 69/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Ballarat East carries more bushfire risk (71 vs 34); Ballarat East carries more crime risk (87 vs 50).

Ballarat East Nerrina
Bushfire High
71/100
 Low
34/100
Crime High
87/100
 Moderate
50/100
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 7
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Ballarat East Nerrina
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 3.3 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 3.0%

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

Schools in Nerrina

  • Little Bendigo Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ballarat East Nerrina
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 50 59

Mobility

Nerrina sits further from the CBD (114.7 km vs 112.2 km).

Ballarat East Nerrina
Walkability score 71/100 25/100
Distance to Melbourne 112.2 km 114.7 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 87 min
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 East Nerrina
Car (driver) 65.7% / 67.9%
Ballarat East — Car (driver): 65.7% Nerrina — Car (driver): 67.9%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 25.4%
Ballarat East — Worked from Home: 21.8% Nerrina — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 4.5%
Ballarat East — Car (passenger): 6.0% Nerrina — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 4.1% / —
Ballarat East — Walked Only: 4.1% Nerrina — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 1.2% / 0.8%
Ballarat East — Bus: 1.2% Nerrina — Bus: 0.8%
Train 0.4% / 0.8%
Ballarat East — Train: 0.4% Nerrina — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.9%).

Setting

Ballarat East Nerrina
Elevation 452 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 488 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ballarat East Nerrina
Connectivity score 99/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 97%
3,621 premises
 94%
431 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ballarat East

Affordable Large Blocks Retirees River

Nerrina

Acreage River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ballarat East

Ballarat East vs Ballarat Central Ballarat East vs Brown Hill Ballarat East vs Canadian Ballarat East vs Soldiers Hill Ballarat East vs Golden Point Ballarat East vs Black Hill

Other comparisons with Nerrina

Nerrina vs Brown Hill Nerrina vs Ballarat North Nerrina vs Black Hill Nerrina vs Invermay Nerrina vs Glen Park
Full data on Ballarat East Full data on Nerrina
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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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