Osborne Park vs Balcatta

Osborne Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 39 in Balcatta. In Osborne Park, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In Balcatta, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. Osborne Park is closer to the city centre: 8 km, against 14.9 km. On these figures, Osborne Park tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Balcatta 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

Balcatta

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (53% vs 18%)

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

First-home buyers

Osborne Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($493,100 vs $665,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Osborne Park

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Osborne Park

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (8 km vs 14.9 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (11 min vs 17 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Osborne Park has more units and townhouses to downsize into (82% vs 47%)
  • Balcatta has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Osborne Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (7.2% vs 5.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Osborne Park 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.

Osborne Park 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.

Osborne Park Balcatta
Walkability 71 / 72
Osborne Park — Walkability: 71/100 Balcatta — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 14 / 19
Osborne Park — Safety: 14/100 Balcatta — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 77
Osborne Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balcatta — Low fire risk: 77/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Osborne Park — Low flood risk: 100/100 Balcatta — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balcatta has more residents (10,813 vs 4,463); Balcatta rents higher ($340/wk vs $290/wk).

Osborne Park Balcatta
Population 4,463 10,813
+142% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.3% +4.2%
Median age 34 39
Median household income $76,856/yr $79,924/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $340/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Osborne Park Balcatta
0-4 5.4% / 5.9%
Osborne Park — 0-4: 5.4% Balcatta — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 5.8% / 9.6%
Osborne Park — 5-14: 5.8% Balcatta — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 2.2% / 4.3%
Osborne Park — 15-19: 2.2% Balcatta — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 7.2% / 5.2%
Osborne Park — 20-24: 7.2% Balcatta — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 30.2% / 16.7%
Osborne Park — 25-34: 30.2% Balcatta — 25-34: 16.7%
35-44 18.9% / 15.8%
Osborne Park — 35-44: 18.9% Balcatta — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 9.5% / 11.9%
Osborne Park — 45-54: 9.5% Balcatta — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 8.3% / 10.1%
Osborne Park — 55-64: 8.3% Balcatta — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 6.9% / 9.0%
Osborne Park — 65-74: 6.9% Balcatta — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 4.0% / 7.5%
Osborne Park — 75-84: 4.0% Balcatta — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 1.5% / 4.0%
Osborne Park — 85+: 1.5% Balcatta — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Osborne Park 59.2% lone person
Osborne Park — Lone Person: 59.2% Osborne Park — Couple Families: 22.2% Osborne Park — One Parent Families: 8.7% Osborne Park — Group Household: 6.9% Osborne Park — Other Families: 2.9%
Balcatta 46.4% lone person
Balcatta — Lone Person: 46.4% Balcatta — Couple Families: 32.7% Balcatta — One Parent Families: 14.3% Balcatta — Group Household: 4.7% Balcatta — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Osborne Park 55.7% renting
Osborne Park — Owned Outright: 18.1% Osborne Park — Mortgage: 26.2% Osborne Park — Renting: 55.7%
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.

Osborne Park Balcatta
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 14.5%
Osborne Park — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Balcatta — Bachelor Degree: 14.5%
Certificate III & IV 11.0% / 13.5%
Osborne Park — Certificate III & IV: 11.0% Balcatta — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.1%
Osborne Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Balcatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 3.8%
Osborne Park — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Balcatta — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 1.7%
Osborne Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Balcatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Osborne Park Balcatta
India 6.3% / 3.8%
Osborne Park — India: 6.3% Balcatta — India: 3.8%
Italy 2.4% / 5.2%
Osborne Park — Italy: 2.4% Balcatta — Italy: 5.2%
England 3.8% / 3.2%
Osborne Park — England: 3.8% Balcatta — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.5%
Osborne Park — New Zealand: 2.0% Balcatta — New Zealand: 1.5%
Ireland 1.6% / 1.2%
Osborne Park — Ireland: 1.6% Balcatta — Ireland: 1.2%
Greece — / 1.3%
Osborne Park — Greece: not among its largest Balcatta — Greece: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Osborne Park 57.9% townhouses
Osborne Park — Townhouses: 57.9% Osborne Park — Houses: 17.6% Osborne Park — Flats / Apartments: 24.5%
Balcatta 46.5% townhouses
Balcatta — Townhouses: 46.5% Balcatta — Houses: 53.0% Balcatta — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Townhouses Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Osborne Park Balcatta
Median house price $940,000 $952,000
Median unit price $493,100 $665,000
Median land price — $768,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 23 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.

Osborne Park Balcatta
2 bed $610K / $646K
Osborne Park — 2 bed: $610K (11 sales) Balcatta — 2 bed: $646K (12 sales)

11 vs 12 sales

3 bed $980K / $908K
Osborne Park — 3 bed: $980K (25 sales) Balcatta — 3 bed: $908K (101 sales)

25 vs 101 sales

4 bed $1.19M / $1.32M
Osborne Park — 4 bed: $1.19M (5 sales) Balcatta — 4 bed: $1.32M (36 sales)

5 vs 36 sales

Development activity

Osborne Park 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.

Osborne Park Balcatta
Houses 4.7%
$725/wk on $800K
 4.5%
$778/wk on $899K
Units 7.2%
$625/wk on $449K
 5.9%
$712/wk on $624K

Ranking within WA

Osborne Park Balcatta
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 39% of WA Higher than 42% of WA
Schools — Higher than 88% of WA
Walkability Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 91% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of WA Higher than 91% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 72% of WA Higher than 58% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 94% of WA Higher than 77% of WA

Liveability

Osborne Park Balcatta
Grade B
same for both
Score 66/100 67/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Balcatta carries more bushfire risk (23 vs 0).

Osborne Park Balcatta
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
23/100
Crime High
86/100
 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 6
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Osborne Park Balcatta
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
ECU City Campus, 6.7 km
 2
ECU City Campus, 9.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.8%

Schools in Osborne Park

  • Osborne Primary School Government · Primary below 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

Osborne Park Balcatta
Supermarkets 3 4
Cafes & restaurants 9 1
Parks & reserves 1 17
Childcare 7 5
GPs 6
same for both
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 4 2
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 7 2

Mobility

Balcatta sits further from the CBD (14.9 km vs 8 km).

Osborne Park Balcatta
Walkability score 71/100 72/100
Distance to Perth 8 km 14.9 km
+86% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 17 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 378.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 308.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 6017
 1.6%
postcode 6021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 6017
 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.

Osborne Park Balcatta
Car (driver) 74.6% / 78.7%
Osborne Park — Car (driver): 74.6% Balcatta — Car (driver): 78.7%
Worked from Home 5.1% / 7.3%
Osborne Park — Worked from Home: 5.1% Balcatta — Worked from Home: 7.3%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 4.8%
Osborne Park — Car (passenger): 6.6% Balcatta — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Train 6.5% / 4.3%
Osborne Park — Train: 6.5% Balcatta — Train: 4.3%
Bus 4.8% / 3.3%
Osborne Park — Bus: 4.8% Balcatta — Bus: 3.3%

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

Setting

Osborne Park Balcatta
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.8 km 6.3 km

NBN connectivity

Osborne Park Balcatta
Connectivity score 66/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
5,581 premises
 37%
6,840 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Osborne Park Balcatta
Division Curtin Cowan
Member Kate Chaney Anne Aly
Party Independent Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Osborne Park

Affordable Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Townhouses Transport Hub

Balcatta

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Osborne Park

Osborne Park vs Stirling Osborne Park vs Innaloo Osborne Park vs Mount Hawthorn Osborne Park vs Tuart Hill Osborne Park vs Joondanna Osborne Park vs Woodlands

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 Osborne Park 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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