Gwelup vs Balcatta

Balcatta is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Gwelup. In both, most households own their home. In Gwelup, 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 Gwelup: a median of $1.63 million, against $952,000 in Balcatta, and rent is higher there too. Gwelup is closer to the city centre: 13.3 km, against 14.9 km. On these figures, Gwelup 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

They split

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

  • Gwelup carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 81/100)
  • Balcatta has more parks and reserves (17 vs 3)

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 $1,630,000)
  • has cheaper land ($768,000 vs $1,023,750)

Weighs house prices, land 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 $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balcatta

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 15%)
  • But Gwelup carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 81/100)

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

Investors

Gwelup

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (18.8% vs 4.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Gwelup 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.

Gwelup 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.

Gwelup Balcatta
Walkability 66 / 72
Gwelup — Walkability: 66/100 Balcatta — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 70 / 19
Gwelup — Safety: 70/100 Balcatta — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 77
Gwelup — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balcatta — Low fire risk: 77/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Gwelup — Low flood risk: 100/100 Balcatta — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balcatta has more residents (10,813 vs 5,391); Gwelup rents higher ($600/wk vs $340/wk).

Gwelup Balcatta
Population 5,391 10,813
+101% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +18.8% +4.2%
Median age 42 39
Median household income $138,216/yr
+42% vs other
 $79,924/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+43% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gwelup Balcatta
0-4 6.7% / 5.9%
Gwelup — 0-4: 6.7% Balcatta — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 14.5% / 9.6%
Gwelup — 5-14: 14.5% Balcatta — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.8% / 4.3%
Gwelup — 15-19: 5.8% Balcatta — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 4.1% / 5.2%
Gwelup — 20-24: 4.1% Balcatta — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 7.5% / 16.7%
Gwelup — 25-34: 7.5% Balcatta — 25-34: 16.7%
35-44 14.6% / 15.8%
Gwelup — 35-44: 14.6% Balcatta — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 14.6% / 11.9%
Gwelup — 45-54: 14.6% Balcatta — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 10.1% / 10.1%
Gwelup — 55-64: 10.1% Balcatta — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 9.2% / 9.0%
Gwelup — 65-74: 9.2% Balcatta — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 7.6% / 7.5%
Gwelup — 75-84: 7.6% Balcatta — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 5.4% / 4.0%
Gwelup — 85+: 5.4% Balcatta — 85+: 4.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gwelup 61.7% couple families
Gwelup — Couple Families: 61.7% Gwelup — Lone Person: 26.7% Gwelup — One Parent Families: 8.7% Gwelup — Group Household: 2.2% Gwelup — Other Families: 0.8%
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.

Gwelup 9.9% renting
Gwelup — Owned Outright: 43.1% Gwelup — Mortgage: 47.0% Gwelup — Renting: 9.9%
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.

Gwelup Balcatta
Bachelor Degree 19.1% / 14.5%
Gwelup — Bachelor Degree: 19.1% Balcatta — Bachelor Degree: 14.5%
Certificate III & IV 9.2% / 13.5%
Gwelup — Certificate III & IV: 9.2% Balcatta — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.1%
Gwelup — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Balcatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 3.8%
Gwelup — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Balcatta — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 1.7%
Gwelup — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Balcatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

Gwelup Balcatta
England 7.0% / 3.2%
Gwelup — England: 7.0% Balcatta — England: 3.2%
Italy 1.1% / 5.2%
Gwelup — Italy: 1.1% Balcatta — Italy: 5.2%
India 1.0% / 3.8%
Gwelup — India: 1.0% Balcatta — India: 3.8%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.5%
Gwelup — New Zealand: 1.9% Balcatta — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 1.9% / —
Gwelup — South Africa: 1.9% Balcatta — South Africa: not among its largest
China 1.4% / —
Gwelup — China: 1.4% Balcatta — China: not among its largest
Greece — / 1.3%
Gwelup — Greece: not among its largest Balcatta — Greece: 1.3%
Scotland 1.2% / —
Gwelup — Scotland: 1.2% Balcatta — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gwelup 85.3% houses
Gwelup — Houses: 85.3% Gwelup — Townhouses: 8.9% Gwelup — Flats / Apartments: 5.8%
Balcatta 53.0% houses
Balcatta — Houses: 53.0% Balcatta — Townhouses: 46.5% Balcatta — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Gwelup Balcatta
Median house price $1,630,000 $952,000
Median unit price — $665,000
Median land price $1,023,750 $768,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 14 days
from 42 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.

Gwelup Balcatta
3 bed $1.4M / $908K
Gwelup — 3 bed: $1.4M (17 sales) Balcatta — 3 bed: $908K (101 sales)

17 vs 101 sales

4 bed $1.64M / $1.32M
Gwelup — 4 bed: $1.64M (66 sales) Balcatta — 4 bed: $1.32M (36 sales)

66 vs 36 sales

5 bed $1.97M / $1.43M
Gwelup — 5 bed: $1.97M (10 sales) Balcatta — 5 bed: $1.43M (7 sales)

10 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Gwelup 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.

Gwelup Balcatta
Houses — 4.5%
$778/wk on $899K
Units — 5.9%
$712/wk on $624K

Ranking within WA

Gwelup Balcatta
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 93% of WA Higher than 42% of WA
Schools — Higher than 88% of WA
Walkability Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 91% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 96% of WA Higher than 91% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 58% of WA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 77% of WA

Liveability

Gwelup scores higher overall (89 vs 67).

Gwelup Balcatta
Grade A+ B
Score 89/100 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 30).

Gwelup Balcatta
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
23/100
Crime Low
30/100
 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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

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

Schools in Gwelup

  • Lake Gwelup Primary School Government · Primary above 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

Gwelup Balcatta
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 17
Childcare 2 5
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Gwelup Balcatta
Walkability score 66/100 72/100
Distance to Perth 13.3 km 14.9 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 17 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 58.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 308.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 6018
 1.6%
postcode 6021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 6018
 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.

Gwelup Balcatta
Car (driver) 72.5% / 78.7%
Gwelup — Car (driver): 72.5% Balcatta — Car (driver): 78.7%
Worked from Home 12.9% / 7.3%
Gwelup — Worked from Home: 12.9% Balcatta — Worked from Home: 7.3%
Train 7.3% / 4.3%
Gwelup — Train: 7.3% Balcatta — Train: 4.3%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 4.8%
Gwelup — Car (passenger): 4.3% Balcatta — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus 0.9% / 3.3%
Gwelup — Bus: 0.9% Balcatta — Bus: 3.3%
Bicycle 1.2% / 0.6%
Gwelup — Bicycle: 1.2% Balcatta — Bicycle: 0.6%

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

Setting

Gwelup Balcatta
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km
4.0 km to a named beach
 6.3 km

NBN connectivity

Gwelup Balcatta
Connectivity score 78/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
2,065 premises
 37%
6,840 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Gwelup

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals

Balcatta

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gwelup

Gwelup vs Stirling Gwelup vs Karrinyup Gwelup vs Innaloo Gwelup vs Carine

Other comparisons with Balcatta

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