St Kilda vs Balaclava

In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In St Kilda, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In Balaclava, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. St Kilda is closer to the city centre: 7.2 km, against 8.6 km. On these figures, St Kilda tends to suit renters and 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

St Kilda

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 4)
  • But Balaclava has more separate houses rather than flats (17% vs 6%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

St Kilda

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (62% vs 50%)

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

St Kilda

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (94% vs 83%)

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

Investors

St Kilda

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

St Kilda Balaclava
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.

St Kilda Balaclava
Walkability 96 / 99
St Kilda — Walkability: 96/100 Balaclava — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 6 / 7
St Kilda — Safety: 6/100 Balaclava — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
St Kilda — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balaclava — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 57 / 33
St Kilda — Low flood risk: 57/100 Balaclava — Low flood risk: 33/100

Demographics

St Kilda has more residents (19,490 vs 5,392); Balaclava has higher household incomes ($105,352 vs $92,508).

St Kilda Balaclava
Population 19,490
+72% vs other
 5,392
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.7% -0.1%
Median age 36 35
Median household income $92,508/yr $105,352/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $386/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

St Kilda Balaclava
0-4 2.8% / 4.8%
St Kilda — 0-4: 2.8% Balaclava — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 3.9% / 8.0%
St Kilda — 5-14: 3.9% Balaclava — 5-14: 8.0%
15-19 2.1% / 3.1%
St Kilda — 15-19: 2.1% Balaclava — 15-19: 3.1%
20-24 6.1% / 7.3%
St Kilda — 20-24: 6.1% Balaclava — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 30.4% / 26.1%
St Kilda — 25-34: 30.4% Balaclava — 25-34: 26.1%
35-44 19.3% / 18.4%
St Kilda — 35-44: 19.3% Balaclava — 35-44: 18.4%
45-54 13.4% / 12.2%
St Kilda — 45-54: 13.4% Balaclava — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 11.4% / 8.9%
St Kilda — 55-64: 11.4% Balaclava — 55-64: 8.9%
65-74 6.9% / 6.8%
St Kilda — 65-74: 6.9% Balaclava — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 2.9% / 3.2%
St Kilda — 75-84: 2.9% Balaclava — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 0.8% / 1.0%
St Kilda — 85+: 0.8% Balaclava — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

St Kilda 70.4% lone person
St Kilda — Lone Person: 70.4% St Kilda — Couple Families: 11.6% St Kilda — Group Household: 10.9% St Kilda — One Parent Families: 5.7% St Kilda — Other Families: 1.4%
Balaclava 52.6% lone person
Balaclava — Lone Person: 52.6% Balaclava — Couple Families: 23.0% Balaclava — Group Household: 14.5% Balaclava — One Parent Families: 7.7% Balaclava — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

St Kilda 62.0% renting
St Kilda — Owned Outright: 14.6% St Kilda — Mortgage: 23.4% St Kilda — Renting: 62.0%
Balaclava 49.7% renting
Balaclava — Owned Outright: 19.8% Balaclava — Mortgage: 30.6% Balaclava — Renting: 49.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

St Kilda Balaclava
Bachelor Degree 27.5% / 27.2%
St Kilda — Bachelor Degree: 27.5% Balaclava — Bachelor Degree: 27.2%
Postgraduate Degree 12.4% / 11.5%
St Kilda — Postgraduate Degree: 12.4% Balaclava — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 8.8%
St Kilda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Balaclava — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.0% / 7.1%
St Kilda — Certificate III & IV: 9.0% Balaclava — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 4.0%
St Kilda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Balaclava — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.5%).

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.

St Kilda Balaclava
England 5.5% / 4.7%
St Kilda — England: 5.5% Balaclava — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 3.2% / 2.6%
St Kilda — New Zealand: 3.2% Balaclava — New Zealand: 2.6%
India 2.4% / 2.9%
St Kilda — India: 2.4% Balaclava — India: 2.9%
Ireland 2.5% / 1.6%
St Kilda — Ireland: 2.5% Balaclava — Ireland: 1.6%
China 1.1% / 1.0%
St Kilda — China: 1.1% Balaclava — China: 1.0%
Nepal — / 1.1%
St Kilda — Nepal: not among its largest Balaclava — Nepal: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

St Kilda 83.6% flats / apartments
St Kilda — Flats / Apartments: 83.6% St Kilda — Townhouses: 10.9% St Kilda — Houses: 5.5%
Balaclava 61.6% flats / apartments
Balaclava — Flats / Apartments: 61.6% Balaclava — Townhouses: 21.2% Balaclava — Houses: 17.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

St Kilda Balaclava
Median house price $1,360,000 $1,277,500
Median unit price $500,000 $538,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 19 sales
 18 days
from 12 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.

St Kilda Balaclava
2 bed $1.15M / $1.09M
St Kilda — 2 bed: $1.15M (15 sales) Balaclava — 2 bed: $1.09M (10 sales)

15 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.3M / $1.53M
St Kilda — 3 bed: $1.3M (12 sales) Balaclava — 3 bed: $1.53M (10 sales)

12 vs 10 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.

St Kilda Balaclava
1 bed $400K / $388K
St Kilda — 1 bed: $400K (227 sales) Balaclava — 1 bed: $388K (32 sales)

227 vs 32 sales

2 bed $590K / $556K
St Kilda — 2 bed: $590K (254 sales) Balaclava — 2 bed: $556K (70 sales)

254 vs 70 sales

3 bed $790K / $708K
St Kilda — 3 bed: $790K (18 sales) Balaclava — 3 bed: $708K (10 sales)

18 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

St Kilda Balaclava
Residential 56% 81%
Parks and recreation 19% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 8%
Commercial 8% 7%
Other and special use 5% 0%
Industrial 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

St Kilda Balaclava
New dwellings approved 891
across Port Phillip
same for both
Approvals change year on year +4175%
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.

St Kilda Balaclava
Houses 3.2%
$830/wk on $1.36M
 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.37M
Units 5.5%
$600/wk on $570K
 4.8%
$585/wk on $636K

Ranking within VIC

St Kilda Balaclava
House price Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 20% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC

Liveability

Balaclava scores higher overall (72 vs 60).

St Kilda Balaclava
Grade B A
Score 60/100 72/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balaclava carries more flood risk (67 vs 43).

St Kilda Balaclava
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
94/100
 High
93/100
Flood Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
67/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
54/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

St Kilda Balaclava
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 4.4 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 4.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 2.7%

Schools in St Kilda

  • St Kilda Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Cheder Levi Yitzchok Inc Independent · Combined below peers
  • St Kilda Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Michael's Grammar School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Balaclava

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

St Kilda Balaclava
Supermarkets 4 2
Cafes & restaurants 78 11
Parks & reserves 14 2
Childcare 11 4
GPs 9 0
Pharmacies 6 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

St Kilda Balaclava
Walkability score 96/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 7.2 km 8.6 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 18 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 700.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 80.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 3182
 1.8%
postcode 3183
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 3182
 7
postcode 3183

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.

St Kilda Balaclava
Worked from Home 47.1% / 51.1%
St Kilda — Worked from Home: 47.1% Balaclava — Worked from Home: 51.1%
Car (driver) 30.7% / 28.4%
St Kilda — Car (driver): 30.7% Balaclava — Car (driver): 28.4%
Train 3.3% / 8.3%
St Kilda — Train: 3.3% Balaclava — Train: 8.3%
Walked Only 5.9% / 4.6%
St Kilda — Walked Only: 5.9% Balaclava — Walked Only: 4.6%
Tram / Light Rail 7.4% / 3.0%
St Kilda — Tram / Light Rail: 7.4% Balaclava — Tram / Light Rail: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.1%).

Setting

St Kilda Balaclava
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 845 m
852 m to a named beach
 1.7 km
1.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

St Kilda Balaclava
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 10%
16,356 premises
 5%
3,469 premises

Climate

St Kilda Balaclava
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

St Kilda Balaclava
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

St Kilda Balaclava
Average residential rate $1,765/yr
same for both
Council Port Phillip
same for both

Federal electorate

St Kilda Balaclava
Division Macnamara
same for both
Member Josh Burns
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

St Kilda Balaclava
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

St Kilda

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Balaclava

Apartments Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with St Kilda

St Kilda vs Melbourne St Kilda vs Elwood St Kilda vs St Kilda East St Kilda vs Windsor St Kilda vs Albert Park St Kilda vs Middle Park

Other comparisons with Balaclava

Balaclava vs Elwood Balaclava vs St Kilda East Balaclava vs Ripponlea
Full data on St Kilda Full data on Balaclava
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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