Balmoral Ridge vs North Maleny

Balmoral Ridge is the younger of the two, with a median age of 57 against 61 in North Maleny. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses.

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

North Maleny

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 36/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house 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

Balmoral Ridge

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 6/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (85 min vs 94 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (91.4 km vs 97.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Balmoral Ridge is more walkable (16/100 vs 6/100)
  • North Maleny carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 36/100)

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

Investors

North Maleny

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.3% vs 8.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Balmoral Ridge and North 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 North 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 North Maleny
Walkability 16 / 6
Balmoral Ridge — Walkability: 16/100 North Maleny — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 64 / 84
Balmoral Ridge — Safety: 64/100 North Maleny — Safety: 84/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balmoral Ridge — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Maleny — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Maleny has more residents (710 vs 302); Balmoral Ridge has higher household incomes ($98,748 vs $83,616).

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Population 302 710
+135% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.6% +14.3%
Median age 57 61
Median household income $98,748/yr
+15% vs other
 $83,616/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk
+7% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
0-4 2.0% / 2.3%
Balmoral Ridge — 0-4: 2.0% North Maleny — 0-4: 2.3%
5-14 4.6% / 7.5%
Balmoral Ridge — 5-14: 4.6% North Maleny — 5-14: 7.5%
15-19 3.0% / 5.1%
Balmoral Ridge — 15-19: 3.0% North Maleny — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 2.0% / 2.0%
Balmoral Ridge — 20-24: 2.0% North Maleny — 20-24: 2.0%
25-34 9.9% / 4.2%
Balmoral Ridge — 25-34: 9.9% North Maleny — 25-34: 4.2%
35-44 9.3% / 6.9%
Balmoral Ridge — 35-44: 9.3% North Maleny — 35-44: 6.9%
45-54 13.9% / 13.1%
Balmoral Ridge — 45-54: 13.9% North Maleny — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 17.9% / 19.3%
Balmoral Ridge — 55-64: 17.9% North Maleny — 55-64: 19.3%
65-74 21.9% / 24.5%
Balmoral Ridge — 65-74: 21.9% North Maleny — 65-74: 24.5%
75-84 14.2% / 14.1%
Balmoral Ridge — 75-84: 14.2% North Maleny — 75-84: 14.1%
85+ 1.3% / 3.2%
Balmoral Ridge — 85+: 1.3% North Maleny — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balmoral Ridge 43.6% couple families
Balmoral Ridge — Couple Families: 43.6% Balmoral Ridge — Lone Person: 38.2% Balmoral Ridge — One Parent Families: 18.2% Balmoral Ridge — Group Household: 0.0%
North Maleny 44.3% couple families
North Maleny — Couple Families: 44.3% North Maleny — Lone Person: 37.9% North Maleny — One Parent Families: 12.1% North Maleny — Group Household: 5.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

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%
North Maleny 9.9% renting
North Maleny — Owned Outright: 62.5% North Maleny — Mortgage: 27.6% North Maleny — Renting: 9.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Bachelor Degree 21.9% / 24.1%
Balmoral Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 21.9% North Maleny — Bachelor Degree: 24.1%
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 12.0%
Balmoral Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% North Maleny — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 12.3%
Balmoral Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% North Maleny — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 5.9%
Balmoral Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% North Maleny — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.4%
Balmoral Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% North Maleny — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

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.

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
England 6.0% / 8.9%
Balmoral Ridge — England: 6.0% North Maleny — England: 8.9%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.7%
Balmoral Ridge — New Zealand: 2.3% North Maleny — New Zealand: 2.7%
South Africa 1.7% / 1.5%
Balmoral Ridge — South Africa: 1.7% North Maleny — South Africa: 1.5%
Scotland 1.3% / 1.3%
Balmoral Ridge — Scotland: 1.3% North Maleny — Scotland: 1.3%
Germany 1.7% / 0.6%
Balmoral Ridge — Germany: 1.7% North Maleny — Germany: 0.6%
Philippines 1.7% / —
Balmoral Ridge — Philippines: 1.7% North Maleny — Philippines: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.6%
Balmoral Ridge — Malaysia: not among its largest North Maleny — Malaysia: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balmoral Ridge 98.1% houses
Balmoral Ridge — Houses: 98.1% Balmoral Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
North Maleny 99.3% houses
North Maleny — Houses: 99.3% North Maleny — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Median house price $1,607,500 $1,675,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $2,150,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 71 days
from 9 sales

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 55% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 69% 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 50% of QLD

Liveability

Balmoral Ridge is more walkable (16 vs 6).

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Grade — A
Score — 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Balmoral Ridge carries more crime risk (36 vs 16).

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
36/100
 Low
16/100
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 North Maleny
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 2 4
Waterways 4 5

Mobility

North Maleny sits further from the CBD (97.3 km vs 91.4 km).

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Walkability score 16/100 6/100
Distance to Brisbane 91.4 km 97.3 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 94 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 North Maleny
Car (driver) 50.5% / 56.1%
Balmoral Ridge — Car (driver): 50.5% North Maleny — Car (driver): 56.1%
Worked from Home 39.6% / 34.8%
Balmoral Ridge — Worked from Home: 39.6% North Maleny — Worked from Home: 34.8%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 5.2%
Balmoral Ridge — Car (passenger): 2.7% North Maleny — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 2.7% / 3.9%
Balmoral Ridge — Walked Only: 2.7% North Maleny — Walked Only: 3.9%
Train 4.5% / —
Balmoral Ridge — Train: 4.5% North Maleny — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.1%).

Setting

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Elevation 302 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 375 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.3 km 22.3 km

NBN connectivity

Balmoral Ridge North Maleny
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
148 premises
 1%
345 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

Balmoral Ridge North 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 North 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

North Maleny

Acreage Premium Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balmoral Ridge

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

Other comparisons with North Maleny

North Maleny vs Maleny North Maleny vs Witta North Maleny vs Montville
Full data on Balmoral Ridge Full data on North 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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