Ballarat East vs Soldiers Hill

Soldiers Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Ballarat East. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Soldiers Hill: a median of $600,000, against $540,000 in Ballarat East. On these figures, Ballarat East tends to suit older residents.

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 East has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)
  • Soldiers Hill has more childcare (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 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($274,250 vs $420,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($540,000 vs $600,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Soldiers Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% 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 km)
  • But Soldiers Hill is more walkable (87/100 vs 71/100)

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 East has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 17%)
  • Soldiers Hill is more walkable (87/100 vs 71/100)

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

Investors

Ballarat East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.6% vs 0.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Ballarat East and Soldiers Hill 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 Soldiers Hill
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 Soldiers Hill
Walkability 71 / 87
Ballarat East — Walkability: 71/100 Soldiers Hill — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 13 / 10
Ballarat East — Safety: 13/100 Soldiers Hill — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 29 / 100
Ballarat East — Low fire risk: 29/100 Soldiers Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat East — Low flood risk: 100/100 Soldiers Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat East has more residents (5,937 vs 2,813); Soldiers Hill has higher household incomes ($75,972 vs $58,396).

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Population 5,937
+53% vs other
 2,813
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +0.4%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $58,396/yr $75,972/yr
+30% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $300/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
0-4 4.4% / 5.7%
Ballarat East — 0-4: 4.4% Soldiers Hill — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 10.5% / 11.2%
Ballarat East — 5-14: 10.5% Soldiers Hill — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 4.2% / 5.3%
Ballarat East — 15-19: 4.2% Soldiers Hill — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.3% / 5.8%
Ballarat East — 20-24: 6.3% Soldiers Hill — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 15.0% / 15.3%
Ballarat East — 25-34: 15.0% Soldiers Hill — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 11.7% / 14.2%
Ballarat East — 35-44: 11.7% Soldiers Hill — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 10.6% / 12.6%
Ballarat East — 45-54: 10.6% Soldiers Hill — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 11.8% / 12.9%
Ballarat East — 55-64: 11.8% Soldiers Hill — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 12.0% / 10.1%
Ballarat East — 65-74: 12.0% Soldiers Hill — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 7.9% / 5.5%
Ballarat East — 75-84: 7.9% Soldiers Hill — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 5.5% / 1.4%
Ballarat East — 85+: 5.5% Soldiers Hill — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Soldiers Hill 49.3% lone person
Soldiers Hill — Lone Person: 49.3% Soldiers Hill — Couple Families: 30.7% Soldiers Hill — One Parent Families: 12.4% Soldiers Hill — Group Household: 6.8% Soldiers Hill — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Soldiers Hill 39.9% renting
Soldiers Hill — Owned Outright: 30.4% Soldiers Hill — Mortgage: 29.8% Soldiers Hill — Renting: 39.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Bachelor Degree 12.8% / 18.7%
Ballarat East — Bachelor Degree: 12.8% Soldiers Hill — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 14.8% / 11.9%
Ballarat East — Certificate III & IV: 14.8% Soldiers Hill — Certificate III & IV: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 8.0%
Ballarat East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Soldiers Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 7.7%
Ballarat East — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% Soldiers Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 4.7%
Ballarat East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Soldiers Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

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 Soldiers Hill
England 2.6% / 2.8%
Ballarat East — England: 2.6% Soldiers Hill — England: 2.8%
India 1.3% / 0.9%
Ballarat East — India: 1.3% Soldiers Hill — India: 0.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.0%
Ballarat East — New Zealand: 0.9% Soldiers Hill — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.7%
Ballarat East — Philippines: 0.4% Soldiers Hill — Philippines: 0.7%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.6%
Ballarat East — Scotland: 0.4% Soldiers Hill — Scotland: 0.6%
Netherlands 0.4% / —
Ballarat East — Netherlands: 0.4% Soldiers Hill — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

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%
Soldiers Hill 84.1% houses
Soldiers Hill — Houses: 84.1% Soldiers Hill — Townhouses: 9.7% Soldiers Hill — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Median house price $540,000 $600,000
Median unit price $391,000 $401,000
Median land price $274,250 $420,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 98 sales
 28 days
from 30 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 Soldiers Hill
2 bed $430K / $476K
Ballarat East — 2 bed: $430K (37 sales) Soldiers Hill — 2 bed: $476K (12 sales)

37 vs 12 sales

3 bed $540K / $595K
Ballarat East — 3 bed: $540K (140 sales) Soldiers Hill — 3 bed: $595K (57 sales)

140 vs 57 sales

4 bed $648K / $830K
Ballarat East — 4 bed: $648K (42 sales) Soldiers Hill — 4 bed: $830K (12 sales)

42 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Residential 56% 86%
Other and special use 16% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 8%
Parks and recreation 8% 1%
Industrial 4% 0%
Rural and farming 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 Soldiers Hill
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 Soldiers Hill
Houses 3.8%
$450/wk on $615K
 3.5%
$445/wk on $668K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
House price Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Income Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Schools Higher than 10% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC

Liveability

Soldiers Hill scores higher overall (68 vs 30); Soldiers Hill is more walkable (87 vs 71).

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Grade D B
Score 30/100 68/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Ballarat East carries more bushfire risk (71 vs 0).

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Bushfire High
71/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
87/100
 High
90/100
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
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 3.3 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.0%

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 Soldiers Hill

  • Macarthur Street Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Columba's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 4
Parks & reserves 5 3
Childcare 1 4
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 50 5

Mobility

Soldiers Hill sits further from the CBD (115 km vs 112.2 km).

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Walkability score 71/100 87/100
Distance to Melbourne 112.2 km 115 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 86 min
Public transport score 76/100 85/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 78.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 58.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Soldiers Hill
Car (driver) 65.7% / 60.2%
Ballarat East — Car (driver): 65.7% Soldiers Hill — Car (driver): 60.2%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 26.6%
Ballarat East — Worked from Home: 21.8% Soldiers Hill — Worked from Home: 26.6%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 5.1%
Ballarat East — Car (passenger): 6.0% Soldiers Hill — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 4.1% / 5.1%
Ballarat East — Walked Only: 4.1% Soldiers Hill — Walked Only: 5.1%
Bicycle 0.7% / 1.8%
Ballarat East — Bicycle: 0.7% Soldiers Hill — Bicycle: 1.8%
Bus 1.2% / 0.3%
Ballarat East — Bus: 1.2% Soldiers Hill — Bus: 0.3%

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

Setting

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Elevation 452 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both

NBN connectivity

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
Connectivity score 99/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 97%
3,621 premises
 100%
1,589 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Ballarat East Soldiers Hill
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

Soldiers Hill

Parks Professionals Transport Hub

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Other comparisons with Soldiers Hill

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Full data on Ballarat East Full data on Soldiers Hill
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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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