Carine vs Balcatta

Balcatta is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Carine. In both, most households own their home. In Carine, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Balcatta, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Carine: a median of $1.55 million, against $952,000 in Balcatta, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Carine tends to suit families with children and couples, while Balcatta suits people living alone and 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

Carine

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 81/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 53%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 47%)
  • But Balcatta has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Balcatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($952,000 vs $1,550,000)
  • has cheaper units ($665,000 vs $972,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balcatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Balcatta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 63/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balcatta

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 63/100)
  • But Carine carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 81/100)

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

  • Carine is growing faster (13.1% vs 4.2%)
  • Balcatta returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.5% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Carine Balcatta
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.

Carine Balcatta
Walkability 63 / 72
Carine — Walkability: 63/100 Balcatta — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 71 / 19
Carine — Safety: 71/100 Balcatta — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 77
Carine — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balcatta — Low fire risk: 77/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Carine — Low flood risk: 100/100 Balcatta — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Carine has higher household incomes ($126,984 vs $79,924); Balcatta has more residents (10,813 vs 7,330).

Carine Balcatta
Population 7,330 10,813
+48% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.1% +4.2%
Median age 43 39
Median household income $126,984/yr
+37% vs other
 $79,924/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+24% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carine Balcatta
0-4 5.5% / 5.9%
Carine — 0-4: 5.5% Balcatta — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 16.1% / 9.6%
Carine — 5-14: 16.1% Balcatta — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.8% / 4.3%
Carine — 15-19: 5.8% Balcatta — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 4.3% / 5.2%
Carine — 20-24: 4.3% Balcatta — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 6.5% / 16.7%
Carine — 25-34: 6.5% Balcatta — 25-34: 16.7%
35-44 13.7% / 15.8%
Carine — 35-44: 13.7% Balcatta — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 13.6% / 11.9%
Carine — 45-54: 13.6% Balcatta — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 11.2% / 10.1%
Carine — 55-64: 11.2% Balcatta — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 14.2% / 9.0%
Carine — 65-74: 14.2% Balcatta — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 6.7% / 7.5%
Carine — 75-84: 6.7% Balcatta — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 2.5% / 4.0%
Carine — 85+: 2.5% Balcatta — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Carine 64.7% couple families
Carine — Couple Families: 64.7% Carine — Lone Person: 22.3% Carine — One Parent Families: 11.0% Carine — Group Household: 1.4% Carine — Other Families: 0.6%
Balcatta 32.7% couple families
Balcatta — Couple Families: 32.7% Balcatta — Lone Person: 46.4% Balcatta — One Parent Families: 14.3% Balcatta — Group Household: 4.7% Balcatta — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Carine 9.8% renting
Carine — Owned Outright: 46.1% Carine — Mortgage: 44.1% Carine — Renting: 9.8%
Balcatta 32.4% renting
Balcatta — Owned Outright: 32.9% Balcatta — Mortgage: 34.7% Balcatta — Renting: 32.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carine Balcatta
Bachelor Degree 21.4% / 14.5%
Carine — Bachelor Degree: 21.4% Balcatta — Bachelor Degree: 14.5%
Certificate III & IV 9.8% / 13.5%
Carine — Certificate III & IV: 9.8% Balcatta — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.1%
Carine — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Balcatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 3.8%
Carine — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Balcatta — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 1.7%
Carine — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Balcatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

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.

Carine Balcatta
England 9.2% / 3.2%
Carine — England: 9.2% Balcatta — England: 3.2%
Italy — / 5.2%
Carine — Italy: not among its largest Balcatta — Italy: 5.2%
India 0.8% / 3.8%
Carine — India: 0.8% Balcatta — India: 3.8%
New Zealand 2.1% / 1.5%
Carine — New Zealand: 2.1% Balcatta — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 3.0% / —
Carine — South Africa: 3.0% Balcatta — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 1.3% / —
Carine — Scotland: 1.3% Balcatta — Scotland: not among its largest
Greece — / 1.3%
Carine — Greece: not among its largest Balcatta — Greece: 1.3%
China 1.1% / —
Carine — China: 1.1% Balcatta — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Carine 86.0% houses
Carine — Houses: 86.0% Carine — Townhouses: 10.2% Carine — Flats / Apartments: 3.8%
Balcatta 53.0% houses
Balcatta — Houses: 53.0% Balcatta — Townhouses: 46.5% Balcatta — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Carine Balcatta
Median house price $1,550,000 $952,000
Median unit price $972,500 $665,000
Median land price — $768,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 75 sales
 26 days
from 96 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.

Carine Balcatta
3 bed $1.24M / $908K
Carine — 3 bed: $1.24M (32 sales) Balcatta — 3 bed: $908K (101 sales)

32 vs 101 sales

4 bed $1.66M / $1.32M
Carine — 4 bed: $1.66M (50 sales) Balcatta — 4 bed: $1.32M (36 sales)

50 vs 36 sales

5 bed $1.8M / $1.43M
Carine — 5 bed: $1.8M (15 sales) Balcatta — 5 bed: $1.43M (7 sales)

15 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Carine Balcatta
New dwellings approved 1,557
across Stirling
same for both
Approvals change year on year +23%
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.

Carine Balcatta
Houses 3.8%
$975/wk on $1.35M
 4.5%
$778/wk on $899K
Units — 5.9%
$712/wk on $624K

Ranking within WA

Carine Balcatta
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 42% of WA
Schools — Higher than 88% of WA
Walkability Higher than 87% of WA Higher than 91% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 91% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of WA Higher than 58% of WA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 77% of WA

Liveability

Carine scores higher overall (87 vs 67); Balcatta is more walkable (72 vs 63).

Carine Balcatta
Grade A+ B
Score 87/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Balcatta carries more bushfire risk (23 vs 0); Balcatta carries more crime risk (81 vs 29).

Carine Balcatta
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
23/100
Crime Low
29/100
 High
81/100
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 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Carine Balcatta
Inside the suburb 2 5
Rated above peers 1 3
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 2
ECU City Campus, 9.9 km

Schools in Carine

  • Carine Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Carine Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Balcatta

  • Balcatta Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Lawrence Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • West Balcatta Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Balcatta Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Takari Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carine Balcatta
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 7 17
Childcare 4 5
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Carine Balcatta
Walkability score 63/100 72/100
Distance to Perth 16 km
+7% vs other
 14.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 17 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 111.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 308.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 6020
 1.6%
postcode 6021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 6020
 44
postcode 6021

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.

Carine Balcatta
Car (driver) 71.2% / 78.7%
Carine — Car (driver): 71.2% Balcatta — Car (driver): 78.7%
Worked from Home 14.4% / 7.3%
Carine — Worked from Home: 14.4% Balcatta — Worked from Home: 7.3%
Train 7.7% / 4.3%
Carine — Train: 7.7% Balcatta — Train: 4.3%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 4.8%
Carine — Car (passenger): 4.3% Balcatta — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus 0.7% / 3.3%
Carine — Bus: 0.7% Balcatta — Bus: 3.3%
Bicycle 0.9% / 0.6%
Carine — Bicycle: 0.9% Balcatta — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.7%).

Setting

Carine Balcatta
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.9 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 6.3 km

NBN connectivity

Carine Balcatta
Connectivity score 77/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 36%
2,764 premises
 37%
6,840 premises

Climate

Carine Balcatta
Annual rainfall 650 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Carine Balcatta
Average residential rate $1,615/yr
same for both
Council Stirling
same for both

Federal electorate

Carine Balcatta
Division Moore Cowan
Member Tom French Anne Aly
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Carine Balcatta
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Carine

Coastal Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

Balcatta

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carine

Carine vs Duncraig Carine vs Karrinyup Carine vs Gwelup Carine vs Hamersley Carine vs Warwick Carine vs North Beach

Other comparisons with Balcatta

Balcatta vs Balga Balcatta vs Nollamara Balcatta vs Yokine Balcatta vs Stirling Balcatta vs Tuart Hill Balcatta vs Westminster
Full data on Carine Full data on Balcatta
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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