Black Hill vs Nerrina

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 Nerrina, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nerrina: a median of $735,000, against $600,000 in Black Hill, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Black Hill tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Nerrina suits 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

Nerrina

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 46%)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Black Hill has more parks and reserves (6 vs 2)

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

  • Black Hill has cheaper houses ($600,000 vs $735,000)
  • Nerrina leaves households under less mortgage stress (16% vs 22%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Black Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $380/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Black Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 25/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Black Hill

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 1%)
  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 25/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 13%)
  • But Nerrina carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 62/100)

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

Black Hill and Nerrina 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 Nerrina
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 Nerrina
Walkability 68 / 25
Black Hill — Walkability: 68/100 Nerrina — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 38 / 50
Black Hill — Safety: 38/100 Nerrina — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 100 / 66
Black Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nerrina — Low fire risk: 66/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Black Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 Nerrina — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Black Hill has more residents (2,124 vs 970); Nerrina has higher household incomes ($125,060 vs $76,492).

Black Hill Nerrina
Population 2,124
+54% vs other
 970
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% +0.8%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $76,492/yr $125,060/yr
+63% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $380/wk
+31% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Black Hill Nerrina
0-4 5.7% / 4.1%
Black Hill — 0-4: 5.7% Nerrina — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 11.4% / 14.3%
Black Hill — 5-14: 11.4% Nerrina — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 5.1% / 7.6%
Black Hill — 15-19: 5.1% Nerrina — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 5.0% / 5.6%
Black Hill — 20-24: 5.0% Nerrina — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 13.5% / 9.1%
Black Hill — 25-34: 13.5% Nerrina — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 15.1% / 11.9%
Black Hill — 35-44: 15.1% Nerrina — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 12.7% / 17.5%
Black Hill — 45-54: 12.7% Nerrina — 45-54: 17.5%
55-64 12.9% / 16.0%
Black Hill — 55-64: 12.9% Nerrina — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 11.6% / 9.0%
Black Hill — 65-74: 11.6% Nerrina — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 4.4% / 3.2%
Black Hill — 75-84: 4.4% Nerrina — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 2.7% / 0.9%
Black Hill — 85+: 2.7% Nerrina — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Black Hill 31.2% couple families
Black Hill — Couple Families: 31.2% Black Hill — Lone Person: 46.2% Black Hill — One Parent Families: 14.7% Black Hill — Group Household: 5.7% Black Hill — Other Families: 2.2%
Nerrina 56.2% couple families
Nerrina — Couple Families: 56.2% Nerrina — Lone Person: 25.9% Nerrina — One Parent Families: 11.6% Nerrina — Group Household: 3.6% Nerrina — Other Families: 2.8%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Nerrina 7.8% renting
Nerrina — Owned Outright: 42.3% Nerrina — Mortgage: 49.9% Nerrina — Renting: 7.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Black Hill Nerrina
Bachelor Degree 14.1% / 16.1%
Black Hill — Bachelor Degree: 14.1% Nerrina — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Certificate III & IV 13.6% / 14.3%
Black Hill — Certificate III & IV: 13.6% Nerrina — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 10.0%
Black Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Nerrina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 4.0%
Black Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Nerrina — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 3.4%
Black Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Nerrina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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.

Black Hill Nerrina
England 2.7% / 2.3%
Black Hill — England: 2.7% Nerrina — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.0%
Black Hill — New Zealand: 1.1% Nerrina — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 1.3% / 0.4%
Black Hill — India: 1.3% Nerrina — India: 0.4%
China 1.1% / —
Black Hill — China: 1.1% Nerrina — China: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.0%
Black Hill — Philippines: not among its largest Nerrina — Philippines: 1.0%
Netherlands 0.6% / —
Black Hill — Netherlands: 0.6% Nerrina — Netherlands: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.5%
Black Hill — Germany: not among its largest Nerrina — Germany: 0.5%
Iraq — / 0.5%
Black Hill — Iraq: not among its largest Nerrina — Iraq: 0.5%

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%
Nerrina 99.1% houses
Nerrina — Houses: 99.1% Nerrina — Townhouses: 0.0% Nerrina — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Black Hill Nerrina
Median house price $600,000 $735,000
Median unit price $435,000 —
Median land price — $427,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 49 days
from 27 sales
 31 days
from 6 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 Nerrina
2 bed $442K / $560K
Black Hill — 2 bed: $442K (6 sales) Nerrina — 2 bed: $560K (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

3 bed $568K / $595K
Black Hill — 3 bed: $568K (50 sales) Nerrina — 3 bed: $595K (11 sales)

50 vs 11 sales

4 bed $770K / $845K
Black Hill — 4 bed: $770K (18 sales) Nerrina — 4 bed: $845K (15 sales)

18 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Nerrina has more rural and farming land (21% vs 0%).

Black Hill Nerrina
Residential 74% 21%
Parks and recreation 25% 51%
Rural and farming 0% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 7%
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 Nerrina
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 Nerrina
Houses 3.8%
$440/wk on $610K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Black Hill Nerrina
House price Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of VIC —

Liveability

Black Hill is more walkable (68 vs 25); Nerrina scores higher overall (69 vs 62).

Black Hill Nerrina
Grade B A
Score 62/100 69/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Nerrina carries more bushfire risk (34 vs 0); Black Hill carries more crime risk (62 vs 50).

Black Hill Nerrina
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
34/100
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
50/100
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
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Black Hill Nerrina
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, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 3.0%

Schools in Black Hill

  • Black Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Nerrina

  • Little Bendigo Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Black Hill Nerrina
Parks & reserves 6 2
Childcare 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 1 59

Mobility

Black Hill Nerrina
Walkability score 68/100 25/100
Distance to Melbourne 113.7 km 114.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 83 min 87 min
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 Nerrina
Car (driver) 66.7% / 67.9%
Black Hill — Car (driver): 66.7% Nerrina — Car (driver): 67.9%
Worked from Home 23.9% / 25.4%
Black Hill — Worked from Home: 23.9% Nerrina — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 4.5%
Black Hill — Car (passenger): 4.3% Nerrina — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 2.8% / —
Black Hill — Walked Only: 2.8% Nerrina — Walked Only: not among its largest
Train 1.1% / 0.8%
Black Hill — Train: 1.1% Nerrina — Train: 0.8%
Bus 0.6% / 0.8%
Black Hill — Bus: 0.6% Nerrina — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.9%).

Setting

Black Hill Nerrina
Elevation 486 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 488 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Black Hill Nerrina
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%
431 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Black Hill Nerrina
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

Nerrina

Acreage River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Black Hill

Black Hill vs Ballarat East Black Hill vs Brown Hill Black Hill vs Ballarat North Black Hill vs Soldiers Hill

Other comparisons with Nerrina

Nerrina vs Ballarat East Nerrina vs Brown Hill Nerrina vs Ballarat North Nerrina vs Invermay Nerrina vs Glen Park
Full data on Black Hill Full data on Nerrina
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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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