Ballarat North vs Nerrina

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Ballarat North, 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 $595,000 in Ballarat North, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ballarat North 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

  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 46%)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 71/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 82%)
  • But Ballarat North has more childcare (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Ballarat North has cheaper houses ($595,000 vs $735,000)
  • Nerrina leaves households under less mortgage stress (16% vs 25%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ballarat North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($285/wk vs $380/wk)
  • But Nerrina leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Ballarat North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 25/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ballarat North

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 1%)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 25/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 13%)
  • But Nerrina carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 71/100)

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 North 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 North 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 North Nerrina
Walkability 72 / 25
Ballarat North — Walkability: 72/100 Nerrina — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 29 / 50
Ballarat North — Safety: 29/100 Nerrina — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 100 / 66
Ballarat North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nerrina — Low fire risk: 66/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat North — Low flood risk: 100/100 Nerrina — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat North has more residents (4,041 vs 970); Nerrina has higher household incomes ($125,060 vs $67,080).

Ballarat North Nerrina
Population 4,041
+76% vs other
 970
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +0.8%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $67,080/yr $125,060/yr
+86% vs other
Median weekly rent $285/wk $380/wk
+33% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat North Nerrina
0-4 5.4% / 4.1%
Ballarat North — 0-4: 5.4% Nerrina — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 12.2% / 14.3%
Ballarat North — 5-14: 12.2% Nerrina — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 4.6% / 7.6%
Ballarat North — 15-19: 4.6% Nerrina — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 5.3% / 5.6%
Ballarat North — 20-24: 5.3% Nerrina — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 12.4% / 9.1%
Ballarat North — 25-34: 12.4% Nerrina — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 12.2% / 11.9%
Ballarat North — 35-44: 12.2% Nerrina — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 12.1% / 17.5%
Ballarat North — 45-54: 12.1% Nerrina — 45-54: 17.5%
55-64 12.4% / 16.0%
Ballarat North — 55-64: 12.4% Nerrina — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 10.4% / 9.0%
Ballarat North — 65-74: 10.4% Nerrina — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 8.2% / 3.2%
Ballarat North — 75-84: 8.2% Nerrina — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 4.8% / 0.9%
Ballarat North — 85+: 4.8% Nerrina — 85+: 0.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ballarat North 31.5% couple families
Ballarat North — Couple Families: 31.5% Ballarat North — Lone Person: 47.1% Ballarat North — One Parent Families: 14.9% Ballarat North — Group Household: 5.3% Ballarat North — 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 North 32.3% renting
Ballarat North — Owned Outright: 36.9% Ballarat North — Mortgage: 30.8% Ballarat North — Renting: 32.3%
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 North Nerrina
Bachelor Degree 12.8% / 16.1%
Ballarat North — Bachelor Degree: 12.8% Nerrina — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Certificate III & IV 13.6% / 14.3%
Ballarat North — Certificate III & IV: 13.6% Nerrina — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 10.0%
Ballarat North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Nerrina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 4.0%
Ballarat North — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Nerrina — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.4%
Ballarat North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% 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 North Nerrina
England 2.2% / 2.3%
Ballarat North — England: 2.2% Nerrina — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.0%
Ballarat North — New Zealand: 0.6% Nerrina — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 0.6% / 0.4%
Ballarat North — India: 0.6% Nerrina — India: 0.4%
Philippines — / 1.0%
Ballarat North — Philippines: not among its largest Nerrina — Philippines: 1.0%
Sri Lanka 0.5% / —
Ballarat North — Sri Lanka: 0.5% Nerrina — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.5%
Ballarat North — Germany: not among its largest Nerrina — Germany: 0.5%
Iraq — / 0.5%
Ballarat North — Iraq: not among its largest Nerrina — Iraq: 0.5%
China 0.4% / —
Ballarat North — China: 0.4% Nerrina — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ballarat North 81.8% houses
Ballarat North — Houses: 81.8% Ballarat North — Townhouses: 17.1% Ballarat North — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Nerrina 99.1% houses
Nerrina — Houses: 99.1% Nerrina — Townhouses: 0.0% Nerrina — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ballarat North Nerrina
Median house price $595,000 $735,000
Median unit price $420,000 —
Median land price $407,500 $427,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 23 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 North Nerrina
2 bed $442K / $560K
Ballarat North — 2 bed: $442K (12 sales) Nerrina — 2 bed: $560K (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

3 bed $590K / $595K
Ballarat North — 3 bed: $590K (55 sales) Nerrina — 3 bed: $595K (11 sales)

55 vs 11 sales

4 bed $704K / $845K
Ballarat North — 4 bed: $704K (35 sales) Nerrina — 4 bed: $845K (15 sales)

35 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Nerrina has more rural and farming land (21% vs 0%); Ballarat North has more industrially zoned land (13% vs 0%).

Ballarat North Nerrina
Residential 76% 21%
Parks and recreation 1% 51%
Rural and farming 0% 21%
Industrial 13% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 7%
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 North 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 North Nerrina
Houses 4.1%
$460/wk on $580K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat North Nerrina
House price Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 60% 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 75% of VIC —

Liveability

Ballarat North is more walkable (72 vs 25); Nerrina scores higher overall (69 vs 61).

Ballarat North Nerrina
Grade B A
Score 61/100 69/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Nerrina carries more bushfire risk (34 vs 0); Ballarat North carries more crime risk (71 vs 50).

Ballarat North Nerrina
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
34/100
Crime High
71/100
 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 13
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Ballarat North Nerrina
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 2.9 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 3.0%

Schools in Ballarat North

  • Ballarat North Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Nerrina

  • Little Bendigo Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ballarat North Nerrina
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 5 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 19 59

Mobility

Ballarat North Nerrina
Walkability score 72/100 25/100
Distance to Melbourne 115.1 km 114.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 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 North Nerrina
Car (driver) 71.9% / 67.9%
Ballarat North — Car (driver): 71.9% Nerrina — Car (driver): 67.9%
Worked from Home 19.7% / 25.4%
Ballarat North — Worked from Home: 19.7% Nerrina — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 4.5%
Ballarat North — Car (passenger): 5.9% Nerrina — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bicycle 0.8% / 0.6%
Ballarat North — Bicycle: 0.8% Nerrina — Bicycle: 0.6%
Train 0.6% / 0.8%
Ballarat North — Train: 0.6% Nerrina — Train: 0.8%
Bus 0.2% / 0.8%
Ballarat North — Bus: 0.2% Nerrina — Bus: 0.8%
Walked Only 0.9% / —
Ballarat North — Walked Only: 0.9% Nerrina — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.9%).

Setting

Ballarat North Nerrina
Elevation 468 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 488 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ballarat North Nerrina
Connectivity score 99/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 97%
2,163 premises
 94%
431 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ballarat North

Parks Quiet River

Nerrina

Acreage River

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Full data on Ballarat North 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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