Brown Hill vs Nerrina

Brown Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 42 in Nerrina. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Brown Hill, about half of households are couple families. In Nerrina, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nerrina: a median of $735,000, against $650,000 in Brown Hill, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Brown Hill tends to suit people living alone, 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Brown Hill has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • Nerrina is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 58%)

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

First-home buyers

Brown Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($300,000 vs $427,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($650,000 vs $735,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brown Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $380/wk)

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 87 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (110.5 km vs 114.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brown Hill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (13% vs 1%)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 50/100)

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

Investors

Brown Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (25.3% vs 0.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Brown 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.

Brown 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.

Brown Hill Nerrina
Walkability 30 / 25
Brown Hill — Walkability: 30/100 Nerrina — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 60 / 50
Brown Hill — Safety: 60/100 Nerrina — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 31 / 66
Brown Hill — Low fire risk: 31/100 Nerrina — Low fire risk: 66/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Brown Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 Nerrina — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Brown Hill has more residents (4,489 vs 970); Nerrina has higher household incomes ($125,060 vs $91,364).

Brown Hill Nerrina
Population 4,489
+78% vs other
 970
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +25.3% +0.8%
Median age 36 42
Median household income $91,364/yr $125,060/yr
+37% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $380/wk
+31% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brown Hill Nerrina
0-4 8.5% / 4.1%
Brown Hill — 0-4: 8.5% Nerrina — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 12.9% / 14.3%
Brown Hill — 5-14: 12.9% Nerrina — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 4.3% / 7.6%
Brown Hill — 15-19: 4.3% Nerrina — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 5.0% / 5.6%
Brown Hill — 20-24: 5.0% Nerrina — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 15.8% / 9.1%
Brown Hill — 25-34: 15.8% Nerrina — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 15.0% / 11.9%
Brown Hill — 35-44: 15.0% Nerrina — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 11.3% / 17.5%
Brown Hill — 45-54: 11.3% Nerrina — 45-54: 17.5%
55-64 12.0% / 16.0%
Brown Hill — 55-64: 12.0% Nerrina — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 9.7% / 9.0%
Brown Hill — 65-74: 9.7% Nerrina — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 4.2% / 3.2%
Brown Hill — 75-84: 4.2% Nerrina — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 1.3% / 0.9%
Brown Hill — 85+: 1.3% Nerrina — 85+: 0.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brown Hill 45.4% couple families
Brown Hill — Couple Families: 45.4% Brown Hill — Lone Person: 35.2% Brown Hill — One Parent Families: 13.1% Brown Hill — Group Household: 4.8% Brown Hill — Other Families: 1.6%
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.

Brown Hill 25.0% renting
Brown Hill — Owned Outright: 30.0% Brown Hill — Mortgage: 45.0% Brown Hill — Renting: 25.0%
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.

Brown Hill Nerrina
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 14.3%
Brown Hill — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Nerrina — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 16.1%
Brown Hill — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Nerrina — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 10.0%
Brown Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Nerrina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 4.0%
Brown Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Nerrina — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.4%
Brown Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Nerrina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

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.

Brown Hill Nerrina
England 2.4% / 2.3%
Brown Hill — England: 2.4% Nerrina — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.0%
Brown Hill — New Zealand: 0.6% Nerrina — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 0.3% / 1.0%
Brown Hill — Philippines: 0.3% Nerrina — Philippines: 1.0%
India 0.7% / 0.4%
Brown Hill — India: 0.7% Nerrina — India: 0.4%
Germany 0.3% / 0.5%
Brown Hill — Germany: 0.3% Nerrina — Germany: 0.5%
Iraq — / 0.5%
Brown Hill — Iraq: not among its largest Nerrina — Iraq: 0.5%
Scotland 0.4% / —
Brown Hill — Scotland: 0.4% Nerrina — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brown Hill 87.5% houses
Brown Hill — Houses: 87.5% Brown Hill — Townhouses: 11.6% Brown Hill — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Nerrina 99.1% houses
Nerrina — Houses: 99.1% Nerrina — Townhouses: 0.0% Nerrina — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Brown Hill Nerrina
Median house price $650,000 $735,000
Median unit price $352,500 —
Median land price $300,000 $427,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 63 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.

Brown Hill Nerrina
2 bed $435K / $560K
Brown Hill — 2 bed: $435K (14 sales) Nerrina — 2 bed: $560K (5 sales)

14 vs 5 sales

3 bed $591K / $595K
Brown Hill — 3 bed: $591K (46 sales) Nerrina — 3 bed: $595K (11 sales)

46 vs 11 sales

4 bed $738K / $845K
Brown Hill — 4 bed: $738K (62 sales) Nerrina — 4 bed: $845K (15 sales)

62 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Nerrina has more rural and farming land (21% vs 11%).

Brown Hill Nerrina
Residential 64% 21%
Parks and recreation 11% 51%
Rural and farming 11% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 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

Brown 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.

Brown Hill Nerrina
Houses 3.1%
$450/wk on $752K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Brown Hill Nerrina
House price Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of VIC —

Liveability

Nerrina scores higher overall (69 vs 55).

Brown Hill Nerrina
Grade B A
Score 55/100 69/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Brown Hill carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 34); Nerrina carries more crime risk (50 vs 40).

Brown Hill Nerrina
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 Low
34/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Brown Hill Nerrina
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 5.7 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.0% 3.0%

Schools in Brown Hill

  • Caledonian Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Nerrina

  • Little Bendigo Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Brown Hill Nerrina
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 4 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 8 59

Mobility

Nerrina sits further from the CBD (114.7 km vs 110.5 km).

Brown Hill Nerrina
Walkability score 30/100 25/100
Distance to Melbourne 110.5 km 114.7 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 78 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.

Brown Hill Nerrina
Car (driver) 74.5% / 67.9%
Brown Hill — Car (driver): 74.5% Nerrina — Car (driver): 67.9%
Worked from Home 17.7% / 25.4%
Brown Hill — Worked from Home: 17.7% Nerrina — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.5%
Brown Hill — Car (passenger): 5.1% Nerrina — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bus 0.9% / 0.8%
Brown Hill — Bus: 0.9% Nerrina — Bus: 0.8%
Train 0.3% / 0.8%
Brown Hill — Train: 0.3% Nerrina — Train: 0.8%
Walked Only 0.9% / —
Brown Hill — Walked Only: 0.9% Nerrina — Walked Only: not among its largest

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

Setting

Brown Hill Nerrina
Elevation 495 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 488 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

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

Climate

Brown 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Brown Hill

Large Blocks River Young Families

Nerrina

Acreage River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brown Hill

Brown Hill vs Ballarat East Brown Hill vs Black Hill Brown Hill vs Warrenheip Brown Hill vs Glen Park

Other comparisons with Nerrina

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