Seaforth vs Balgowlah

In both, most households own their home. In Seaforth, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Balgowlah, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Seaforth tends to suit couples, while Balgowlah suits people living alone.

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

Seaforth

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 35%)
  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 46/100)
  • But Balgowlah has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Balgowlah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,360,000 vs $2,340,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balgowlah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($640/wk vs $875/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Balgowlah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 67/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balgowlah

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 67/100)
  • But Seaforth carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 46/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Seaforth Balgowlah
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.

Seaforth Balgowlah
Walkability 67 / 92
Seaforth — Walkability: 67/100 Balgowlah — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 73 / 54
Seaforth — Safety: 73/100 Balgowlah — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 22 / 100
Seaforth — Low fire risk: 22/100 Balgowlah — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Seaforth has higher household incomes ($217,568 vs $139,412); Seaforth rents higher ($875/wk vs $640/wk).

Seaforth Balgowlah
Population 7,384 8,068
+9% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +1.3%
Median age 42 41
Median household income $217,568/yr
+36% vs other
 $139,412/yr
Median weekly rent $875/wk
+27% vs other
 $640/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Seaforth Balgowlah
0-4 5.9% / 6.7%
Seaforth — 0-4: 5.9% Balgowlah — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 17.3% / 13.4%
Seaforth — 5-14: 17.3% Balgowlah — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 8.0% / 5.8%
Seaforth — 15-19: 8.0% Balgowlah — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.9% / 4.5%
Seaforth — 20-24: 4.9% Balgowlah — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 5.9% / 10.5%
Seaforth — 25-34: 5.9% Balgowlah — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 12.2% / 14.9%
Seaforth — 35-44: 12.2% Balgowlah — 35-44: 14.9%
45-54 17.9% / 15.9%
Seaforth — 45-54: 17.9% Balgowlah — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 12.7% / 11.7%
Seaforth — 55-64: 12.7% Balgowlah — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 8.0% / 8.3%
Seaforth — 65-74: 8.0% Balgowlah — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 5.3% / 6.3%
Seaforth — 75-84: 5.3% Balgowlah — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 2.0% / 2.0%
Seaforth — 85+: 2.0% Balgowlah — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Seaforth 70.6% couple families
Seaforth — Couple Families: 70.6% Seaforth — Lone Person: 14.9% Seaforth — One Parent Families: 11.7% Seaforth — Group Household: 2.1% Seaforth — Other Families: 0.7%
Balgowlah 47.0% couple families
Balgowlah — Couple Families: 47.0% Balgowlah — Lone Person: 33.2% Balgowlah — One Parent Families: 13.3% Balgowlah — Group Household: 5.3% Balgowlah — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Seaforth 16.5% renting
Seaforth — Owned Outright: 39.3% Seaforth — Mortgage: 44.3% Seaforth — Renting: 16.5%
Balgowlah 31.8% renting
Balgowlah — Owned Outright: 34.8% Balgowlah — Mortgage: 33.4% Balgowlah — Renting: 31.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Seaforth Balgowlah
Bachelor Degree 24.6% / 25.4%
Seaforth — Bachelor Degree: 24.6% Balgowlah — Bachelor Degree: 25.4%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 9.7%
Seaforth — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Balgowlah — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.9%
Seaforth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Balgowlah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Certificate III & IV 5.5% / 6.4%
Seaforth — Certificate III & IV: 5.5% Balgowlah — Certificate III & IV: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.8%
Seaforth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Balgowlah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.4%).

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.

Seaforth Balgowlah
England 9.5% / 9.6%
Seaforth — England: 9.5% Balgowlah — England: 9.6%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.7%
Seaforth — New Zealand: 2.2% Balgowlah — New Zealand: 2.7%
South Africa 1.7% / 1.9%
Seaforth — South Africa: 1.7% Balgowlah — South Africa: 1.9%
China 2.5% / 1.0%
Seaforth — China: 2.5% Balgowlah — China: 1.0%
Ireland 1.1% / 0.8%
Seaforth — Ireland: 1.1% Balgowlah — Ireland: 0.8%
Scotland 0.7% / 1.0%
Seaforth — Scotland: 0.7% Balgowlah — Scotland: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Seaforth 86.6% houses
Seaforth — Houses: 86.6% Seaforth — Flats / Apartments: 5.3% Seaforth — Townhouses: 8.0%
Balgowlah 34.6% houses
Balgowlah — Houses: 34.6% Balgowlah — Flats / Apartments: 42.3% Balgowlah — Townhouses: 23.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Seaforth Balgowlah
Median house price $3,725,000 $3,500,000
Median unit price $2,340,000 $1,360,000
Median land price $2,355,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 56 sales
 21 days
from 30 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Seaforth Balgowlah
2 bed $1.6M / $1.3M
Seaforth — 2 bed: $1.6M (5 sales) Balgowlah — 2 bed: $1.3M (74 sales)

5 vs 74 sales

3 bed $2.8M / $1.95M
Seaforth — 3 bed: $2.8M (7 sales) Balgowlah — 3 bed: $1.95M (19 sales)

7 vs 19 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.

Seaforth Balgowlah
3 bed $3.2M / $3.09M
Seaforth — 3 bed: $3.2M (21 sales) Balgowlah — 3 bed: $3.09M (35 sales)

21 vs 35 sales

4 bed $3.55M / $3.92M
Seaforth — 4 bed: $3.55M (35 sales) Balgowlah — 4 bed: $3.92M (25 sales)

35 vs 25 sales

5 bed $4.65M / $5.25M
Seaforth — 5 bed: $4.65M (27 sales) Balgowlah — 5 bed: $5.25M (7 sales)

27 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Seaforth has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 4%).

Seaforth Balgowlah
Residential 63% 68%
Environmental 19% 4%
Parks and recreation 9% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 6%
same for both
Industrial 0% 6%
Commercial 1% 3%
Planning zones cover 98% of Seaforth and 99% of Balgowlah. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Seaforth Balgowlah
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
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.

Seaforth Balgowlah
Houses 2.9%
$2,048/wk on $3.65M
 2.9%
$1,498/wk on $2.7M
Units — 3.5%
$850/wk on $1.25M

Ranking within NSW

Seaforth Balgowlah
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 21% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 11% of NSW

Liveability

Balgowlah is more walkable (92 vs 67).

Seaforth Balgowlah
Grade B A
Score 69/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Seaforth carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 0); Balgowlah carries more crime risk (46 vs 27).

Seaforth Balgowlah
Bushfire High
78/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
12/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Seaforth Balgowlah
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 5.8 km
 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 6.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 2.7%

Schools in Seaforth

  • Seaforth Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Balgowlah

  • Manly West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Seaforth Balgowlah
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 8 15
Parks & reserves 7 3
Childcare 9 7
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 2 8

Mobility

Seaforth Balgowlah
Walkability score 67/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 13 km
+4% vs other
 12.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 207.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 343.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.2%
postcode 2092
 2.9%
postcode 2093
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2092
 25
postcode 2093

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.

Seaforth Balgowlah
Worked from Home 64.2% / 62.1%
Seaforth — Worked from Home: 64.2% Balgowlah — Worked from Home: 62.1%
Car (driver) 29.2% / 27.5%
Seaforth — Car (driver): 29.2% Balgowlah — Car (driver): 27.5%
Bus 2.3% / 4.1%
Seaforth — Bus: 2.3% Balgowlah — Bus: 4.1%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 2.0%
Seaforth — Car (passenger): 2.6% Balgowlah — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.0% / 3.3%
Seaforth — Walked Only: 1.0% Balgowlah — Walked Only: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.2%).

Setting

Seaforth Balgowlah
Elevation 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 575 m
700 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Seaforth Balgowlah
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
2,649 premises
 2%
3,960 premises

Climate

Seaforth Balgowlah
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Seaforth Balgowlah
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Seaforth Balgowlah
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Seaforth Balgowlah
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Seaforth Balgowlah
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Seaforth

Coastal Easy Commute Family Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

Balgowlah

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Seaforth

Seaforth vs Allambie Heights Seaforth vs Killarney Heights Seaforth vs North Balgowlah Seaforth vs Clontarf

Other comparisons with Balgowlah

Balgowlah vs Manly Vale Balgowlah vs Fairlight Balgowlah vs North Balgowlah Balgowlah vs Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah vs Clontarf
Full data on Seaforth Full data on Balgowlah
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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