Bittern vs Balnarring

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Balnarring: a median of $2.04 million, against $938,000 in Bittern, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Bittern tends to suit 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

Bittern

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

Bittern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($938,000 vs $2,045,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bittern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($366/wk vs $480/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Bittern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (57/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bittern

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (57/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 59/100)

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

Investors

Bittern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.4% vs 4.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bittern Balnarring
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.

Bittern Balnarring
Walkability 57 / 0
Bittern — Walkability: 57/100 Balnarring — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 67 / 41
Bittern — Safety: 67/100 Balnarring — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 63 / 100
Bittern — Low fire risk: 63/100 Balnarring — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 54 / 86
Bittern — Low flood risk: 54/100 Balnarring — Low flood risk: 86/100

Demographics

Bittern has more residents (4,276 vs 2,371); Balnarring rents higher ($480/wk vs $366/wk).

Bittern Balnarring
Population 4,276
+45% vs other
 2,371
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.4% +4.4%
Median age 46
same for both
Median household income $83,980/yr $99,736/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $366/wk $480/wk
+31% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bittern Balnarring
0-4 5.5% / 5.6%
Bittern — 0-4: 5.5% Balnarring — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 11.6% / 14.1%
Bittern — 5-14: 11.6% Balnarring — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 5.8% / 5.2%
Bittern — 15-19: 5.8% Balnarring — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.7% / 3.2%
Bittern — 20-24: 4.7% Balnarring — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 9.9% / 6.6%
Bittern — 25-34: 9.9% Balnarring — 25-34: 6.6%
35-44 10.7% / 13.0%
Bittern — 35-44: 10.7% Balnarring — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 13.9% / 13.7%
Bittern — 45-54: 13.9% Balnarring — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 14.8% / 14.4%
Bittern — 55-64: 14.8% Balnarring — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 14.1% / 13.5%
Bittern — 65-74: 14.1% Balnarring — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 7.8% / 7.9%
Bittern — 75-84: 7.8% Balnarring — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 1.4% / 2.4%
Bittern — 85+: 1.4% Balnarring — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bittern 48.0% couple families
Bittern — Couple Families: 48.0% Bittern — Lone Person: 34.6% Bittern — One Parent Families: 14.8% Bittern — Group Household: 1.9% Bittern — Other Families: 0.8%
Balnarring 53.1% couple families
Balnarring — Couple Families: 53.1% Balnarring — Lone Person: 33.0% Balnarring — One Parent Families: 12.0% Balnarring — Group Household: 1.3% Balnarring — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bittern 12.7% renting
Bittern — Owned Outright: 43.5% Bittern — Mortgage: 43.8% Bittern — Renting: 12.7%
Balnarring 9.4% renting
Balnarring — Owned Outright: 50.0% Balnarring — Mortgage: 40.6% Balnarring — Renting: 9.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bittern Balnarring
Certificate III & IV 20.2% / 14.2%
Bittern — Certificate III & IV: 20.2% Balnarring — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Bachelor Degree 8.7% / 18.5%
Bittern — Bachelor Degree: 8.7% Balnarring — Bachelor Degree: 18.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 10.0%
Bittern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Balnarring — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 4.3%
Bittern — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Balnarring — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.1%
Bittern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Balnarring — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Bittern Balnarring
England 8.3% / 7.1%
Bittern — England: 8.3% Balnarring — England: 7.1%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
Bittern — New Zealand: 1.0% Balnarring — New Zealand: 1.2%
Netherlands 0.7% / 0.5%
Bittern — Netherlands: 0.7% Balnarring — Netherlands: 0.5%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.3%
Bittern — Scotland: 0.8% Balnarring — Scotland: 0.3%
Germany 0.7% / —
Bittern — Germany: 0.7% Balnarring — Germany: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.4%
Bittern — Ireland: not among its largest Balnarring — Ireland: 0.4%
Italy — / 0.3%
Bittern — Italy: not among its largest Balnarring — Italy: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bittern 93.6% houses
Bittern — Houses: 93.6% Bittern — Townhouses: 6.2% Bittern — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Balnarring 95.2% houses
Balnarring — Houses: 95.2% Balnarring — Townhouses: 3.9% Balnarring — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bittern Balnarring
Median house price $938,000 $2,045,000
Median unit price $710,000 —
Median land price $1,352,000 $1,412,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 26 sales
 30 days
from 7 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.

Bittern Balnarring
3 bed $775K / $2.04M
Bittern — 3 bed: $775K (26 sales) Balnarring — 3 bed: $2.04M (15 sales)

26 vs 15 sales

4 bed $1.05M / $2.13M
Bittern — 4 bed: $1.05M (30 sales) Balnarring — 4 bed: $2.13M (6 sales)

30 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Balnarring has more rural and farming land (89% vs 36%).

Bittern Balnarring
Rural and farming 36% 89%
Residential 42% 5%
Parks and recreation 10% 4%
Other and special use 5% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 3%
Planning zones cover 98% of Bittern and 100% of Balnarring. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Bittern Balnarring
New dwellings approved 791
across Mornington Peninsula
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

Bittern Balnarring
Houses — 2.4%
$858/wk on $1.88M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Bittern Balnarring
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Income Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 3% of VIC

Liveability

Bittern is more walkable (57 vs 0); Balnarring scores higher overall (65 vs 53).

Bittern Balnarring
Grade B
same for both
Score 53/100 65/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Bittern carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0); Bittern carries more flood risk (46 vs 14).

Bittern Balnarring
Bushfire Low
37/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
33/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood Moderate
46/100
 Low
14/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bittern Balnarring
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bittern

  • Bittern Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Balnarring

  • Balnarring Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bittern Balnarring
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 12 10
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 2 3

Mobility

Bittern Balnarring
Walkability score 57/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 77.9 km 79.7 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min
same for both
Public transport score 46/100
Rail · Bus
 27/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 18.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3918
 1.7%
postcode 3926
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3918
 48
postcode 3926

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.

Bittern Balnarring
Car (driver) 76.4% / 62.4%
Bittern — Car (driver): 76.4% Balnarring — Car (driver): 62.4%
Worked from Home 18.2% / 32.0%
Bittern — Worked from Home: 18.2% Balnarring — Worked from Home: 32.0%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 3.1%
Bittern — Car (passenger): 3.6% Balnarring — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Walked Only 1.2% / 2.1%
Bittern — Walked Only: 1.2% Balnarring — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.4%
Bittern — Bicycle: 0.4% Balnarring — Bicycle: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.4%).

Setting

Bittern Balnarring
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.6 km 4.3 km

NBN connectivity

Bittern Balnarring
Connectivity score 76/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
1,868 premises
 49%
1,189 premises

Climate

Bittern Balnarring
Annual rainfall 696 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Bittern Balnarring
Average residential rate $1,659/yr
same for both
Council Mornington Peninsula
same for both

Federal electorate

Bittern Balnarring
Division Flinders
same for both
Member Zoe Mckenzie
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bittern Balnarring
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bittern

Acreage Coastal

Balnarring

Acreage Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bittern

Bittern vs Hastings Bittern vs Crib Point Bittern vs Somers Bittern vs Hmas Cerberus Bittern vs Tuerong

Other comparisons with Balnarring

Balnarring vs Somers Balnarring vs Balnarring Beach Balnarring vs Merricks North Balnarring vs Tuerong Balnarring vs Merricks Balnarring vs Merricks Beach
Full data on Bittern Full data on Balnarring
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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