Ballarat North vs Soldiers Hill

Soldiers Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Ballarat North. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone.

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

Ballarat North

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 90/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Soldiers Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ballarat North

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 17%)
  • carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Soldiers Hill is more walkable (87/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Ballarat North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Ballarat North 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 North 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 North Soldiers Hill
Walkability 72 / 87
Ballarat North — Walkability: 72/100 Soldiers Hill — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 29 / 10
Ballarat North — Safety: 29/100 Soldiers Hill — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ballarat North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Soldiers Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ballarat North — Low flood risk: 100/100 Soldiers Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ballarat North has more residents (4,041 vs 2,813); Soldiers Hill has higher household incomes ($75,972 vs $67,080).

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Population 4,041
+30% vs other
 2,813
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +0.4%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $67,080/yr $75,972/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $285/wk $300/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
0-4 5.4% / 5.7%
Ballarat North — 0-4: 5.4% Soldiers Hill — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.2% / 11.2%
Ballarat North — 5-14: 12.2% Soldiers Hill — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 4.6% / 5.3%
Ballarat North — 15-19: 4.6% Soldiers Hill — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 5.3% / 5.8%
Ballarat North — 20-24: 5.3% Soldiers Hill — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 12.4% / 15.3%
Ballarat North — 25-34: 12.4% Soldiers Hill — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 12.2% / 14.2%
Ballarat North — 35-44: 12.2% Soldiers Hill — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 12.1% / 12.6%
Ballarat North — 45-54: 12.1% Soldiers Hill — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 12.4% / 12.9%
Ballarat North — 55-64: 12.4% Soldiers Hill — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 10.4% / 10.1%
Ballarat North — 65-74: 10.4% Soldiers Hill — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 8.2% / 5.5%
Ballarat North — 75-84: 8.2% Soldiers Hill — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 4.8% / 1.4%
Ballarat North — 85+: 4.8% Soldiers Hill — 85+: 1.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ballarat North 47.1% lone person
Ballarat North — Lone Person: 47.1% Ballarat North — Couple Families: 31.5% Ballarat North — One Parent Families: 14.9% Ballarat North — Group Household: 5.3% Ballarat North — 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 North 32.3% renting
Ballarat North — Owned Outright: 36.9% Ballarat North — Mortgage: 30.8% Ballarat North — Renting: 32.3%
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 North Soldiers Hill
Bachelor Degree 12.8% / 18.7%
Ballarat North — Bachelor Degree: 12.8% Soldiers Hill — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 13.6% / 11.9%
Ballarat North — Certificate III & IV: 13.6% Soldiers Hill — Certificate III & IV: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.0%
Ballarat North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Soldiers Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 7.7%
Ballarat North — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Soldiers Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 4.7%
Ballarat North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% 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 North Soldiers Hill
England 2.2% / 2.8%
Ballarat North — England: 2.2% Soldiers Hill — England: 2.8%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.0%
Ballarat North — New Zealand: 0.6% Soldiers Hill — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 0.6% / 0.9%
Ballarat North — India: 0.6% Soldiers Hill — India: 0.9%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.6%
Ballarat North — Scotland: 0.3% Soldiers Hill — Scotland: 0.6%
China 0.4% / 0.3%
Ballarat North — China: 0.4% Soldiers Hill — China: 0.3%
Philippines — / 0.7%
Ballarat North — Philippines: not among its largest Soldiers Hill — Philippines: 0.7%
Sri Lanka 0.5% / —
Ballarat North — Sri Lanka: 0.5% Soldiers Hill — Sri Lanka: 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 North 81.8% houses
Ballarat North — Houses: 81.8% Ballarat North — Townhouses: 17.1% Ballarat North — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
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 North Soldiers Hill
Median house price $595,000 $600,000
Median unit price $420,000 $401,000
Median land price $407,500 $420,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 23 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 North Soldiers Hill
2 bed $442K / $476K
Ballarat North — 2 bed: $442K (12 sales) Soldiers Hill — 2 bed: $476K (12 sales)

12 vs 12 sales

3 bed $590K / $595K
Ballarat North — 3 bed: $590K (55 sales) Soldiers Hill — 3 bed: $595K (57 sales)

55 vs 57 sales

4 bed $704K / $830K
Ballarat North — 4 bed: $704K (35 sales) Soldiers Hill — 4 bed: $830K (12 sales)

35 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Ballarat North has more industrially zoned land (13% vs 0%).

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Residential 76% 86%
Industrial 13% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 8%
Other and special use 0% 5%
Parks and recreation 1%
same for both
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 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 North Soldiers Hill
Houses 4.1%
$460/wk on $580K
 3.5%
$445/wk on $668K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
House price Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Income Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 60% 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 75% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC

Liveability

Soldiers Hill is more walkable (87 vs 72); Soldiers Hill scores higher overall (68 vs 61).

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Grade B
same for both
Score 61/100 68/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Soldiers Hill carries more crime risk (90 vs 71).

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 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 13
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 2.9 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 2.0%

Schools in Ballarat North

  • Ballarat North Primary School Government · Primary above peers

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 North Soldiers Hill
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 4
Parks & reserves 5 3
Childcare 5 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 19 5

Mobility

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Walkability score 72/100 87/100
Distance to Melbourne 115.1 km 115 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 86 min
Public transport score 75/100 85/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 38.0
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 North Soldiers Hill
Car (driver) 71.9% / 60.2%
Ballarat North — Car (driver): 71.9% Soldiers Hill — Car (driver): 60.2%
Worked from Home 19.7% / 26.6%
Ballarat North — Worked from Home: 19.7% Soldiers Hill — Worked from Home: 26.6%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 5.1%
Ballarat North — Car (passenger): 5.9% Soldiers Hill — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 0.9% / 5.1%
Ballarat North — Walked Only: 0.9% Soldiers Hill — Walked Only: 5.1%
Bicycle 0.8% / 1.8%
Ballarat North — Bicycle: 0.8% Soldiers Hill — Bicycle: 1.8%

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

Setting

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Elevation 468 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 452 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ballarat North Soldiers Hill
Connectivity score 99/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 97%
2,163 premises
 100%
1,589 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Ballarat North 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 North Soldiers Hill
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

Soldiers Hill

Parks Professionals Transport Hub

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Full data on Ballarat North 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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