Newington vs Lake Gardens

Newington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 51 in Lake Gardens. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Lake Gardens: a median of $700,000, against $625,000 in Newington, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Newington tends to suit families with children, while Lake Gardens suits older residents.

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

Newington

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 85/100)
  • But Lake Gardens has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Newington

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($321,500 vs $600,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper houses ($625,000 vs $700,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Newington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($315/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Newington sits closer to the CBD (117.6 km vs 122.4 km)
  • Lake Gardens is more walkable (75/100 vs 52/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Lake Gardens

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 19%)
  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 52/100)
  • But Newington carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

Lake Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.3% vs -2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Newington Lake Gardens
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.

Newington Lake Gardens
Walkability 52 / 75
Newington — Walkability: 52/100 Lake Gardens — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 33 / 15
Newington — Safety: 33/100 Lake Gardens — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Newington — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lake Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Newington — Low flood risk: 100/100 Lake Gardens — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lake Gardens skews older (51 vs 39); Lake Gardens rents higher ($360/wk vs $315/wk).

Newington Lake Gardens
Population 1,844
+2% vs other
 1,801
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.9% +6.3%
Median age 39 51
Median household income $88,140/yr
+9% vs other
 $79,768/yr
Median weekly rent $315/wk $360/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Newington Lake Gardens
0-4 4.2% / 3.8%
Newington — 0-4: 4.2% Lake Gardens — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 14.7% / 9.6%
Newington — 5-14: 14.7% Lake Gardens — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 12.9% / 8.6%
Newington — 15-19: 12.9% Lake Gardens — 15-19: 8.6%
20-24 5.4% / 4.1%
Newington — 20-24: 5.4% Lake Gardens — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 8.8% / 7.7%
Newington — 25-34: 8.8% Lake Gardens — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 11.3% / 8.2%
Newington — 35-44: 11.3% Lake Gardens — 35-44: 8.2%
45-54 13.6% / 14.7%
Newington — 45-54: 13.6% Lake Gardens — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 10.9% / 14.8%
Newington — 55-64: 10.9% Lake Gardens — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 10.3% / 13.9%
Newington — 65-74: 10.3% Lake Gardens — 65-74: 13.9%
75-84 5.9% / 12.1%
Newington — 75-84: 5.9% Lake Gardens — 75-84: 12.1%
85+ 2.3% / 3.1%
Newington — 85+: 2.3% Lake Gardens — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Newington 41.9% lone person
Newington — Lone Person: 41.9% Newington — Couple Families: 37.0% Newington — One Parent Families: 15.4% Newington — Group Household: 5.1% Newington — Other Families: 0.6%
Lake Gardens 42.8% lone person
Lake Gardens — Lone Person: 42.8% Lake Gardens — Couple Families: 39.0% Lake Gardens — One Parent Families: 14.5% Lake Gardens — Group Household: 2.6% Lake Gardens — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Newington 28.9% renting
Newington — Owned Outright: 39.3% Newington — Mortgage: 31.8% Newington — Renting: 28.9%
Lake Gardens 29.0% renting
Lake Gardens — Owned Outright: 49.8% Lake Gardens — Mortgage: 21.2% Lake Gardens — Renting: 29.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Newington Lake Gardens
Bachelor Degree 18.3% / 16.2%
Newington — Bachelor Degree: 18.3% Lake Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 9.9%
Newington — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Lake Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 9.7%
Newington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Lake Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 7.2%
Newington — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Lake Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 4.1%
Newington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Lake Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Newington Lake Gardens
England 1.7% / 3.2%
Newington — England: 1.7% Lake Gardens — England: 3.2%
China 0.7% / 4.0%
Newington — China: 0.7% Lake Gardens — China: 4.0%
India 1.3% / 1.7%
Newington — India: 1.3% Lake Gardens — India: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.6%
Newington — New Zealand: 1.1% Lake Gardens — New Zealand: 0.6%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.7%
Newington — South Africa: 0.3% Lake Gardens — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.5%
Newington — Scotland: 0.4% Lake Gardens — Scotland: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Newington 84.1% houses
Newington — Houses: 84.1% Newington — Townhouses: 14.2% Newington — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Lake Gardens 92.0% houses
Lake Gardens — Houses: 92.0% Lake Gardens — Townhouses: 7.2% Lake Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Newington Lake Gardens
Median house price $625,000 $700,000
Median unit price $321,500 $600,000
Median land price — $618,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 10 sales
 25 days
from 20 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.

Newington Lake Gardens
3 bed $625K / $615K
Newington — 3 bed: $625K (36 sales) Lake Gardens — 3 bed: $615K (36 sales)

36 vs 36 sales

4 bed $1.01M / $780K
Newington — 4 bed: $1.01M (6 sales) Lake Gardens — 4 bed: $780K (39 sales)

6 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Newington Lake Gardens
Residential 32% 59%
Parks and recreation 55% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 20%
Other and special use 7% 0%
Industrial 0% 4%
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

Newington Lake Gardens
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.

Newington Lake Gardens
Houses 2.9%
$425/wk on $764K
 3.0%
$460/wk on $800K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Newington Lake Gardens
House price Higher than 23% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Schools Higher than 66% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC

Liveability

Lake Gardens is more walkable (75 vs 52).

Newington Lake Gardens
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Lake Gardens carries more crime risk (85 vs 67).

Newington Lake Gardens
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
67/100
 High
85/100
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 18
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Newington Lake Gardens
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 2.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8%
same for both

Schools in Newington

  • Ballarat Clarendon College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Newington Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Patrick's College Catholic · Secondary below peers

Schools in Lake Gardens

  • Ballarat High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Ballarat Specialist School Government · Combined · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Newington Lake Gardens
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 1 3
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Lake Gardens sits further from the CBD (122.4 km vs 117.6 km).

Newington Lake Gardens
Walkability score 52/100 75/100
Distance to Melbourne 117.6 km 122.4 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 89 min
Public transport score 66/100 36/100
Peak arrivals per hour 20.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3350
 0.5%
postcode 3355
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3350
 27
postcode 3355

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.

Newington Lake Gardens
Car (driver) 64.6% / 65.2%
Newington — Car (driver): 64.6% Lake Gardens — Car (driver): 65.2%
Worked from Home 21.7% / 24.4%
Newington — Worked from Home: 21.7% Lake Gardens — Worked from Home: 24.4%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 6.5%
Newington — Car (passenger): 4.8% Lake Gardens — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Walked Only 7.0% / 2.0%
Newington — Walked Only: 7.0% Lake Gardens — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bicycle 1.1% / 1.0%
Newington — Bicycle: 1.1% Lake Gardens — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.2%).

Setting

Newington Lake Gardens
Elevation 448 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 464 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Newington Lake Gardens
Connectivity score 100/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
840 premises
 58%
909 premises

Climate

Newington Lake Gardens
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

Newington Lake Gardens
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Newington Lake Gardens
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Newington Lake Gardens
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Newington

Professionals Quiet River

Lake Gardens

Large Blocks Parks Professionals Quiet Retirees River

More comparisons

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Newington vs Alfredton Newington vs Delacombe Newington vs Ballarat Central Newington vs Redan Newington vs Lake Wendouree

Other comparisons with Lake Gardens

Lake Gardens vs Alfredton Lake Gardens vs Wendouree Lake Gardens vs Lake Wendouree
Full data on Newington Full data on Lake Gardens
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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