Balmoral Ridge vs Maleny

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Maleny, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Balmoral Ridge: a median of $1.61 million, against $1.2 million in Maleny. On these figures, Maleny tends to suit people living alone and 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

Maleny

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Balmoral Ridge is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 46%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Balmoral Ridge leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 33%)
  • Maleny has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $1,607,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balmoral Ridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 34%)

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

Commuting to the city

Maleny

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 16/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Maleny

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 16/100)

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

Balmoral Ridge and Maleny drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
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.

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Walkability 16 / 76
Balmoral Ridge — Walkability: 16/100 Maleny — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 64 / 69
Balmoral Ridge — Safety: 64/100 Maleny — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balmoral Ridge — Low fire risk: 100/100 Maleny — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Maleny has more residents (3,959 vs 302); Balmoral Ridge has higher household incomes ($98,748 vs $59,488).

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Population 302 3,959
+1211% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.6% +6.0%
Median age 57 59
Median household income $98,748/yr
+40% vs other
 $59,488/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk $390/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
0-4 2.0% / 2.7%
Balmoral Ridge — 0-4: 2.0% Maleny — 0-4: 2.7%
5-14 4.6% / 9.0%
Balmoral Ridge — 5-14: 4.6% Maleny — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 3.0% / 4.5%
Balmoral Ridge — 15-19: 3.0% Maleny — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 2.0% / 2.3%
Balmoral Ridge — 20-24: 2.0% Maleny — 20-24: 2.3%
25-34 9.9% / 5.5%
Balmoral Ridge — 25-34: 9.9% Maleny — 25-34: 5.5%
35-44 9.3% / 8.3%
Balmoral Ridge — 35-44: 9.3% Maleny — 35-44: 8.3%
45-54 13.9% / 11.8%
Balmoral Ridge — 45-54: 13.9% Maleny — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 17.9% / 16.1%
Balmoral Ridge — 55-64: 17.9% Maleny — 55-64: 16.1%
65-74 21.9% / 21.1%
Balmoral Ridge — 65-74: 21.9% Maleny — 65-74: 21.1%
75-84 14.2% / 13.4%
Balmoral Ridge — 75-84: 14.2% Maleny — 75-84: 13.4%
85+ 1.3% / 5.1%
Balmoral Ridge — 85+: 1.3% Maleny — 85+: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balmoral Ridge 38.2% lone person
Balmoral Ridge — Lone Person: 38.2% Balmoral Ridge — Couple Families: 43.6% Balmoral Ridge — One Parent Families: 18.2% Balmoral Ridge — Group Household: 0.0% Balmoral Ridge — Other Families: 0.0%
Maleny 49.4% lone person
Maleny — Lone Person: 49.4% Maleny — Couple Families: 26.8% Maleny — One Parent Families: 18.7% Maleny — Group Household: 4.3% Maleny — Other Families: 0.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balmoral Ridge 15.6% renting
Balmoral Ridge — Owned Outright: 54.1% Balmoral Ridge — Mortgage: 30.3% Balmoral Ridge — Renting: 15.6%
Maleny 19.0% renting
Maleny — Owned Outright: 57.6% Maleny — Mortgage: 23.4% Maleny — Renting: 19.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Bachelor Degree 21.9% / 15.0%
Balmoral Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 21.9% Maleny — Bachelor Degree: 15.0%
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 13.6%
Balmoral Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% Maleny — Certificate III & IV: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 11.4%
Balmoral Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Maleny — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 6.2%
Balmoral Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Maleny — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 3.7%
Balmoral Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Maleny — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

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.

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
England 6.0% / 7.5%
Balmoral Ridge — England: 6.0% Maleny — England: 7.5%
New Zealand 2.3% / 3.1%
Balmoral Ridge — New Zealand: 2.3% Maleny — New Zealand: 3.1%
Germany 1.7% / 1.1%
Balmoral Ridge — Germany: 1.7% Maleny — Germany: 1.1%
South Africa 1.7% / 0.5%
Balmoral Ridge — South Africa: 1.7% Maleny — South Africa: 0.5%
Scotland 1.3% / 0.7%
Balmoral Ridge — Scotland: 1.3% Maleny — Scotland: 0.7%
Philippines 1.7% / —
Balmoral Ridge — Philippines: 1.7% Maleny — Philippines: not among its largest
India — / 0.7%
Balmoral Ridge — India: not among its largest Maleny — India: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balmoral Ridge 98.1% houses
Balmoral Ridge — Houses: 98.1% Balmoral Ridge — Townhouses: 0.0% Balmoral Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Maleny 91.4% houses
Maleny — Houses: 91.4% Maleny — Townhouses: 6.5% Maleny — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Median house price $1,607,500 $1,200,000
Median unit price — $633,750
Median land price — $837,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 45 days
from 49 sales

Development activity

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
New dwellings approved 2,962
across Sunshine Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -41%
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.

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Houses — 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.4M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 24% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 69% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 51% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 14% of QLD

Liveability

Maleny is more walkable (76 vs 16).

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Grade — A
Score — 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
36/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Balmoral Ridge

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Maleny

  • Maleny State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Maleny State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • The River School Independent · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 12
Parks & reserves 2 19
Childcare 0 4
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 4 8

Mobility

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Walkability score 16/100 76/100
Distance to Brisbane 91.4 km 92.6 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 87 min
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 4552
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 89
postcode 4552
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.

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Car (driver) 50.5% / 61.0%
Balmoral Ridge — Car (driver): 50.5% Maleny — Car (driver): 61.0%
Worked from Home 39.6% / 26.7%
Balmoral Ridge — Worked from Home: 39.6% Maleny — Worked from Home: 26.7%
Walked Only 2.7% / 6.3%
Balmoral Ridge — Walked Only: 2.7% Maleny — Walked Only: 6.3%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 5.2%
Balmoral Ridge — Car (passenger): 2.7% Maleny — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Train 4.5% / 0.6%
Balmoral Ridge — Train: 4.5% Maleny — Train: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.0%).

Setting

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Elevation 302 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 409 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.3 km 25.8 km

NBN connectivity

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Connectivity score 30/100 69/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
148 premises
 39%
2,314 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Average residential rate $1,690/yr
same for both
Council Sunshine Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Division Fisher
same for both
Member Andrew Wallace
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balmoral Ridge Maleny
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balmoral Ridge

Acreage Retirees River

Maleny

Acreage Parks Retirees Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balmoral Ridge

Balmoral Ridge vs Eudlo Balmoral Ridge vs Montville Balmoral Ridge vs North Maleny Balmoral Ridge vs Diamond Valley Balmoral Ridge vs Bald Knob

Other comparisons with Maleny

Maleny vs Witta Maleny vs North Maleny Maleny vs Reesville Maleny vs Bald Knob Maleny vs Wootha Maleny vs Crohamhurst
Full data on Balmoral Ridge Full data on Maleny
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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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