Black Hill vs Brown Hill

Brown Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 40 in Black Hill. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Black Hill, about half of households are people living alone. In Brown Hill, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Black Hill tends to suit people living alone, while Brown Hill suits families with children and 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

Brown Hill

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 62/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 46%)
  • But Black Hill has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Brown Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($352,500 vs $435,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Black Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 25%)

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

Commuting to the city

Brown Hill

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (78 min vs 83 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (110.5 km vs 113.7 km)
  • But Black Hill is more walkable (68/100 vs 30/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Black Hill is more walkable (68/100 vs 30/100)
  • Brown Hill carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Black Hill returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 3.1%)
  • Brown Hill is growing faster (25.3% vs -0.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Black Hill and Brown 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.

Black Hill Brown 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.

Black Hill Brown Hill
Walkability 68 / 30
Black Hill — Walkability: 68/100 Brown Hill — Walkability: 30/100
Safety 38 / 60
Black Hill — Safety: 38/100 Brown Hill — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 31
Black Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brown Hill — Low fire risk: 31/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Black Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 Brown Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Brown Hill has more residents (4,489 vs 2,124); Brown Hill has higher household incomes ($91,364 vs $76,492).

Black Hill Brown Hill
Population 2,124 4,489
+111% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% +25.3%
Median age 40 36
Median household income $76,492/yr $91,364/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Black Hill Brown Hill
0-4 5.7% / 8.5%
Black Hill — 0-4: 5.7% Brown Hill — 0-4: 8.5%
5-14 11.4% / 12.9%
Black Hill — 5-14: 11.4% Brown Hill — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 5.1% / 4.3%
Black Hill — 15-19: 5.1% Brown Hill — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 5.0% / 5.0%
Black Hill — 20-24: 5.0% Brown Hill — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 13.5% / 15.8%
Black Hill — 25-34: 13.5% Brown Hill — 25-34: 15.8%
35-44 15.1% / 15.0%
Black Hill — 35-44: 15.1% Brown Hill — 35-44: 15.0%
45-54 12.7% / 11.3%
Black Hill — 45-54: 12.7% Brown Hill — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 12.9% / 12.0%
Black Hill — 55-64: 12.9% Brown Hill — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 11.6% / 9.7%
Black Hill — 65-74: 11.6% Brown Hill — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 4.4% / 4.2%
Black Hill — 75-84: 4.4% Brown Hill — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 2.7% / 1.3%
Black Hill — 85+: 2.7% Brown Hill — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Black Hill 46.2% lone person
Black Hill — Lone Person: 46.2% Black Hill — Couple Families: 31.2% Black Hill — One Parent Families: 14.7% Black Hill — Group Household: 5.7% Black Hill — Other Families: 2.2%
Brown Hill 35.2% lone person
Brown Hill — Lone Person: 35.2% Brown Hill — Couple Families: 45.4% Brown Hill — One Parent Families: 13.1% Brown Hill — Group Household: 4.8% Brown Hill — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Black Hill 35.8% renting
Black Hill — Owned Outright: 33.2% Black Hill — Mortgage: 31.1% Black Hill — Renting: 35.8%
Brown Hill 25.0% renting
Brown Hill — Owned Outright: 30.0% Brown Hill — Mortgage: 45.0% Brown Hill — Renting: 25.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Black Hill Brown Hill
Certificate III & IV 13.6% / 16.6%
Black Hill — Certificate III & IV: 13.6% Brown Hill — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 14.1% / 13.2%
Black Hill — Bachelor Degree: 14.1% Brown Hill — Bachelor Degree: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.3%
Black Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Brown Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 3.5%
Black Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Brown Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 2.4%
Black Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Brown Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Black Hill Brown Hill
England 2.7% / 2.4%
Black Hill — England: 2.7% Brown Hill — England: 2.4%
India 1.3% / 0.7%
Black Hill — India: 1.3% Brown Hill — India: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.6%
Black Hill — New Zealand: 1.1% Brown Hill — New Zealand: 0.6%
China 1.1% / —
Black Hill — China: 1.1% Brown Hill — China: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.6% / 0.3%
Black Hill — Netherlands: 0.6% Brown Hill — Netherlands: 0.3%
Scotland — / 0.4%
Black Hill — Scotland: not among its largest Brown Hill — Scotland: 0.4%
Philippines — / 0.3%
Black Hill — Philippines: not among its largest Brown Hill — Philippines: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Black Hill 83.9% houses
Black Hill — Houses: 83.9% Black Hill — Townhouses: 15.7% Black Hill — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Brown Hill 87.5% houses
Brown Hill — Houses: 87.5% Brown Hill — Townhouses: 11.6% Brown Hill — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Black Hill Brown Hill
Median house price $600,000 $650,000
Median unit price $435,000 $352,500
Median land price — $300,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 49 days
from 27 sales
 34 days
from 63 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.

Black Hill Brown Hill
2 bed $442K / $435K
Black Hill — 2 bed: $442K (6 sales) Brown Hill — 2 bed: $435K (14 sales)

6 vs 14 sales

3 bed $568K / $591K
Black Hill — 3 bed: $568K (50 sales) Brown Hill — 3 bed: $591K (46 sales)

50 vs 46 sales

4 bed $770K / $738K
Black Hill — 4 bed: $770K (18 sales) Brown Hill — 4 bed: $738K (62 sales)

18 vs 62 sales

5 bed $670K / $772K
Black Hill — 5 bed: $670K (5 sales) Brown Hill — 5 bed: $772K (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Brown Hill has more rural and farming land (11% vs 0%).

Black Hill Brown Hill
Residential 74% 64%
Parks and recreation 25% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 12%
Rural and farming 0% 11%
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

Black Hill Brown 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.

Black Hill Brown Hill
Houses 3.8%
$440/wk on $610K
 3.1%
$450/wk on $752K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Black Hill Brown Hill
House price Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
Income Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 60% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC

Liveability

Black Hill is more walkable (68 vs 30); Black Hill scores higher overall (62 vs 55).

Black Hill Brown Hill
Grade B
same for both
Score 62/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Brown Hill carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 0); Black Hill carries more crime risk (62 vs 40).

Black Hill Brown Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
69/100
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
40/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Black Hill Brown Hill
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 2.4 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 5.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 1.0%

Schools in Black Hill

  • Black Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Brown Hill

  • Caledonian Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Black Hill Brown Hill
Parks & reserves 6 3
Childcare 2 4
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 8

Mobility

Black Hill sits further from the CBD (113.7 km vs 110.5 km).

Black Hill Brown Hill
Walkability score 68/100 30/100
Distance to Melbourne 113.7 km
+3% vs other
 110.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 83 min 78 min
Public transport score 69/100 74/100
Peak arrivals per hour 24.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 29.0
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.

Black Hill Brown Hill
Car (driver) 66.7% / 74.5%
Black Hill — Car (driver): 66.7% Brown Hill — Car (driver): 74.5%
Worked from Home 23.9% / 17.7%
Black Hill — Worked from Home: 23.9% Brown Hill — Worked from Home: 17.7%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 5.1%
Black Hill — Car (passenger): 4.3% Brown Hill — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 2.8% / 0.9%
Black Hill — Walked Only: 2.8% Brown Hill — Walked Only: 0.9%
Bus 0.6% / 0.9%
Black Hill — Bus: 0.6% Brown Hill — Bus: 0.9%
Train 1.1% / 0.3%
Black Hill — Train: 1.1% Brown Hill — Train: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.5%).

Setting

Black Hill Brown Hill
Elevation 486 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 495 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Black Hill Brown Hill
Connectivity score 100/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,105 premises
 94%
2,372 premises

Climate

Black Hill Brown 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

Black Hill Brown Hill
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Black Hill Brown Hill
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Black Hill Brown Hill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Black Hill

Parks Quiet

Brown Hill

Large Blocks River Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Black Hill

Black Hill vs Ballarat East Black Hill vs Ballarat North Black Hill vs Soldiers Hill Black Hill vs Nerrina

Other comparisons with Brown Hill

Brown Hill vs Ballarat East Brown Hill vs Nerrina Brown Hill vs Warrenheip Brown Hill vs Glen Park
Full data on Black Hill Full data on Brown Hill
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or