Magpie vs Sebastopol

Sebastopol is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 48 in Magpie. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Magpie, most households are couple families. In Sebastopol, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Magpie: a median of $800,000, against $488,000 in Sebastopol. On these figures, Magpie tends to suit couples, while Sebastopol 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

  • Magpie is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 44%)
  • Sebastopol has more childcare (12 vs 1)

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

  • Magpie leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 26%)
  • Sebastopol has cheaper houses ($488,000 vs $800,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Magpie leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 27%)
  • Sebastopol has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 6%)

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

Commuting to the city

Sebastopol

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (119.8 km vs 123.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sebastopol

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • But Magpie carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 87/100)

Weighs 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

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

Magpie Sebastopol
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.

Magpie Sebastopol
Walkability 0 / 82
Magpie — Walkability: 0/100 Sebastopol — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 29 / 13
Magpie — Safety: 29/100 Sebastopol — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 84 / 100
Magpie — Low fire risk: 84/100 Sebastopol — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 90 / 100
Magpie — Low flood risk: 90/100 Sebastopol — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sebastopol has more residents (10,194 vs 368); Magpie has higher household incomes ($109,044 vs $52,676).

Magpie Sebastopol
Population 368 10,194
+2670% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% +1.6%
Median age 48 39
Median household income $109,044/yr
+52% vs other
 $52,676/yr
Median weekly rent $270/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Magpie Sebastopol
0-4 3.3% / 5.6%
Magpie — 0-4: 3.3% Sebastopol — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 10.9% / 11.3%
Magpie — 5-14: 10.9% Sebastopol — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 10.1% / 5.2%
Magpie — 15-19: 10.1% Sebastopol — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.1% / 7.1%
Magpie — 20-24: 4.1% Sebastopol — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 7.3% / 15.1%
Magpie — 25-34: 7.3% Sebastopol — 25-34: 15.1%
35-44 7.1% / 11.4%
Magpie — 35-44: 7.1% Sebastopol — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 14.4% / 10.8%
Magpie — 45-54: 14.4% Sebastopol — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 19.0% / 11.7%
Magpie — 55-64: 19.0% Sebastopol — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 16.0% / 11.4%
Magpie — 65-74: 16.0% Sebastopol — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 6.2% / 7.3%
Magpie — 75-84: 6.2% Sebastopol — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ — / 3.0%
Magpie — 85+: not among its largest Sebastopol — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Magpie 69.5% couple families
Magpie — Couple Families: 69.5% Magpie — Lone Person: 22.0% Magpie — One Parent Families: 8.5% Magpie — Group Household: 0.0% Magpie — Other Families: 0.0%
Sebastopol 22.6% couple families
Sebastopol — Couple Families: 22.6% Sebastopol — Lone Person: 49.0% Sebastopol — One Parent Families: 21.9% Sebastopol — Group Household: 5.1% Sebastopol — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Magpie 5.8% renting
Magpie — Owned Outright: 57.5% Magpie — Mortgage: 36.7% Magpie — Renting: 5.8%
Sebastopol 42.0% renting
Sebastopol — Owned Outright: 29.7% Sebastopol — Mortgage: 28.4% Sebastopol — Renting: 42.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Magpie Sebastopol
Certificate III & IV 19.3% / 17.0%
Magpie — Certificate III & IV: 19.3% Sebastopol — Certificate III & IV: 17.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 6.2%
Magpie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Sebastopol — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Bachelor Degree 6.2% / 6.6%
Magpie — Bachelor Degree: 6.2% Sebastopol — Bachelor Degree: 6.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 1.5%
Magpie — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Sebastopol — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 1.2%
Magpie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Sebastopol — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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.

Magpie Sebastopol
England 1.4% / 1.8%
Magpie — England: 1.4% Sebastopol — England: 1.8%
India 0.8% / 1.3%
Magpie — India: 0.8% Sebastopol — India: 1.3%
Singapore 1.1% / —
Magpie — Singapore: 1.1% Sebastopol — Singapore: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.9%
Magpie — New Zealand: not among its largest Sebastopol — New Zealand: 0.9%
Netherlands — / 0.8%
Magpie — Netherlands: not among its largest Sebastopol — Netherlands: 0.8%
Philippines — / 0.7%
Magpie — Philippines: not among its largest Sebastopol — Philippines: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Magpie 100.0% houses
Magpie — Houses: 100.0% Magpie — Townhouses: 0.0% Magpie — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Sebastopol 72.8% houses
Sebastopol — Houses: 72.8% Sebastopol — Townhouses: 27.0% Sebastopol — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Magpie Sebastopol
Median house price $800,000 $488,000
Median unit price — $390,000
Median land price — $294,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 27 days
from 106 sales

Zoning mix

Magpie has more rural and farming land (88% vs 3%).

Magpie Sebastopol
Rural and farming 88% 3%
Residential 0% 73%
Parks and recreation 4% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 8%
Industrial 4% 3%
Commercial 0% 2%
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

Magpie Sebastopol
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.

Magpie Sebastopol
Houses — 4.2%
$440/wk on $550K
Units — 5.1%
$390/wk on $400K

Ranking within VIC

Magpie Sebastopol
House price — Higher than 12% of VIC
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 25% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 52% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 77% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 66% of VIC

Liveability

Sebastopol is more walkable (82 vs 0).

Magpie Sebastopol
Grade — C
Score — 41/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Magpie carries more bushfire risk (16 vs 0); Magpie carries more flood risk (10 vs 0).

Magpie Sebastopol
Bushfire Low
16/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
71/100
 High
87/100
Flood Low
10/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Magpie Sebastopol
Inside the suburb 1 6
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 7.7 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1%
same for both

Schools in Magpie

  • Magpie Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Sebastopol

  • Ballarat Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • St James' School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Phoenix P-12 Community College Government · Combined below peers
  • Sebastopol Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Phoenix P-12 Community College-Redan Campus Government · Combined
  • Berry Street School - Ballarat Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Magpie Sebastopol
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 9
Childcare 1 12
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 5

Mobility

Magpie sits further from the CBD (123.1 km vs 119.8 km).

Magpie Sebastopol
Walkability score 0/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 123.1 km
+3% vs other
 119.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 97 min 93 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 3352
 0.4%
postcode 3356
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 3352
 31
postcode 3356

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.

Magpie Sebastopol
Car (driver) 74.2% / 79.7%
Magpie — Car (driver): 74.2% Sebastopol — Car (driver): 79.7%
Worked from Home 16.6% / 10.2%
Magpie — Worked from Home: 16.6% Sebastopol — Worked from Home: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 9.2% / 6.6%
Magpie — Car (passenger): 9.2% Sebastopol — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Walked Only — / 1.7%
Magpie — Walked Only: not among its largest Sebastopol — Walked Only: 1.7%
Bus — / 1.1%
Magpie — Bus: not among its largest Sebastopol — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

Magpie Sebastopol
Elevation 410 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 421 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Magpie Sebastopol
Connectivity score 30/100 69/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
123 premises
 45%
5,983 premises

Climate

Magpie Sebastopol
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

Magpie Sebastopol
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Magpie Sebastopol
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Magpie Sebastopol
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Magpie

Acreage

Sebastopol

Affordable Parks Regional Centre Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Magpie

Magpie vs Buninyong Magpie vs Mount Clear Magpie vs Mount Helen Magpie vs Cambrian Hill Magpie vs Scotchmans Lead

Other comparisons with Sebastopol

Sebastopol vs Delacombe Sebastopol vs Mount Clear Sebastopol vs Redan Sebastopol vs Mount Pleasant Sebastopol vs Bonshaw Sebastopol vs Cambrian Hill
Full data on Magpie Full data on Sebastopol
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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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