Tarrawanna vs Balgownie

Balgownie is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 48 in Tarrawanna. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Balgownie, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Balgownie: a median of $1.43 million, against $1.29 million in Tarrawanna, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Tarrawanna tends to suit 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

Balgownie

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 53%)
  • But Tarrawanna carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 40/100)

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

  • Tarrawanna has cheaper houses ($1,287,500 vs $1,425,000)
  • Balgownie leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 34%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tarrawanna

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $450/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

  • Tarrawanna sits closer to the CBD (79.2 km vs 84.9 km)
  • Balgownie is more walkable (65/100 vs 34/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Tarrawanna

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 40/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 28%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 21%)
  • But Balgownie is more walkable (65/100 vs 34/100)

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

Investors

Balgownie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Tarrawanna Balgownie
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.

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Walkability 34 / 65
Tarrawanna — Walkability: 34/100 Balgownie — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 71 / 60
Tarrawanna — Safety: 71/100 Balgownie — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 14 / 100
Tarrawanna — Low fire risk: 14/100 Balgownie — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balgownie has more residents (5,722 vs 2,184); Balgownie rents higher ($450/wk vs $340/wk).

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Population 2,184 5,722
+162% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +3.6%
Median age 48 42
Median household income $75,348/yr $99,424/yr
+32% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk $450/wk
+32% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tarrawanna Balgownie
0-4 4.3% / 5.8%
Tarrawanna — 0-4: 4.3% Balgownie — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 11.2% / 12.6%
Tarrawanna — 5-14: 11.2% Balgownie — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 4.9% / 5.3%
Tarrawanna — 15-19: 4.9% Balgownie — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.9% / 5.8%
Tarrawanna — 20-24: 4.9% Balgownie — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 9.6% / 10.4%
Tarrawanna — 25-34: 9.6% Balgownie — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 10.6% / 12.7%
Tarrawanna — 35-44: 10.6% Balgownie — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 12.5% / 12.7%
Tarrawanna — 45-54: 12.5% Balgownie — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 12.8% / 13.1%
Tarrawanna — 55-64: 12.8% Balgownie — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 9.9% / 11.2%
Tarrawanna — 65-74: 9.9% Balgownie — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 11.8% / 8.1%
Tarrawanna — 75-84: 11.8% Balgownie — 75-84: 8.1%
85+ 7.4% / 2.2%
Tarrawanna — 85+: 7.4% Balgownie — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tarrawanna 39.4% couple families
Tarrawanna — Couple Families: 39.4% Tarrawanna — Lone Person: 41.6% Tarrawanna — One Parent Families: 13.4% Tarrawanna — Group Household: 3.8% Tarrawanna — Other Families: 1.9%
Balgownie 47.3% couple families
Balgownie — Couple Families: 47.3% Balgownie — Lone Person: 30.9% Balgownie — One Parent Families: 17.6% Balgownie — Group Household: 3.4% Balgownie — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Tarrawanna 31.1% renting
Tarrawanna — Owned Outright: 40.9% Tarrawanna — Mortgage: 28.0% Tarrawanna — Renting: 31.1%
Balgownie 22.3% renting
Balgownie — Owned Outright: 46.8% Balgownie — Mortgage: 30.9% Balgownie — Renting: 22.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Certificate III & IV 16.1% / 14.4%
Tarrawanna — Certificate III & IV: 16.1% Balgownie — Certificate III & IV: 14.4%
Bachelor Degree 11.8% / 15.2%
Tarrawanna — Bachelor Degree: 11.8% Balgownie — Bachelor Degree: 15.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.4%
Tarrawanna — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Balgownie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.5% / 5.3%
Tarrawanna — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5% Balgownie — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 2.6%
Tarrawanna — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Balgownie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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.

Tarrawanna Balgownie
England 3.6% / 2.8%
Tarrawanna — England: 3.6% Balgownie — England: 2.8%
Italy 2.5% / 3.0%
Tarrawanna — Italy: 2.5% Balgownie — Italy: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.9%
Tarrawanna — New Zealand: 1.4% Balgownie — New Zealand: 0.9%
India 0.9% / 0.8%
Tarrawanna — India: 0.9% Balgownie — India: 0.8%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.7%
Tarrawanna — Scotland: 1.0% Balgownie — Scotland: 0.7%
China — / 1.2%
Tarrawanna — China: not among its largest Balgownie — China: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tarrawanna 61.9% houses
Tarrawanna — Houses: 61.9% Tarrawanna — Townhouses: 29.6% Tarrawanna — Flats / Apartments: 8.5%
Balgownie 71.8% houses
Balgownie — Houses: 71.8% Balgownie — Townhouses: 26.1% Balgownie — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Median house price $1,287,500 $1,425,000
Median unit price $800,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 6 sales
 38 days
from 30 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.

Tarrawanna Balgownie
3 bed $1.11M / $1.22M
Tarrawanna — 3 bed: $1.11M (19 sales) Balgownie — 3 bed: $1.22M (25 sales)

19 vs 25 sales

4 bed $1.54M / $1.55M
Tarrawanna — 4 bed: $1.54M (8 sales) Balgownie — 4 bed: $1.55M (28 sales)

8 vs 28 sales

Zoning mix

Tarrawanna has more land zoned for conservation (68% vs 38%).

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Environmental 68% 38%
Residential 27% 52%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 5%
Parks and recreation 4%
same for both
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

Tarrawanna Balgownie
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Houses 2.9%
$750/wk on $1.35M
 4.3%
$950/wk on $1.15M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Tarrawanna Balgownie
House price Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Income Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW

Liveability

Balgownie is more walkable (65 vs 34); Balgownie scores higher overall (69 vs 38).

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Grade C B
Score 38/100 69/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Tarrawanna carries more bushfire risk (86 vs 0); Balgownie carries more crime risk (40 vs 29).

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Bushfire High
86/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
29/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 5.9 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.7%

Schools in Tarrawanna

  • Tarrawanna Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Balgownie

  • Balgownie Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 1 7
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Balgownie sits further from the CBD (84.9 km vs 79.2 km).

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Walkability score 34/100 65/100
Distance to Sydney 79.2 km 84.9 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 82 min 81 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 30.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 82.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 2518
 1.3%
postcode 2519
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2518
 30
postcode 2519

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.

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Car (driver) 58.0% / 60.0%
Tarrawanna — Car (driver): 58.0% Balgownie — Car (driver): 60.0%
Worked from Home 34.0% / 33.6%
Tarrawanna — Worked from Home: 34.0% Balgownie — Worked from Home: 33.6%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 3.7%
Tarrawanna — Car (passenger): 2.9% Balgownie — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.0%
Tarrawanna — Walked Only: 1.7% Balgownie — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.5% / 0.5%
Tarrawanna — Bus: 1.5% Balgownie — Bus: 0.5%
Train 0.8% / 0.8%
Tarrawanna — Train: 0.8% Balgownie — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.0%).

Setting

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Elevation 98 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 3.4 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Connectivity score 100/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
968 premises
 64%
2,429 premises

Climate

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Tarrawanna Balgownie
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.66 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Tarrawanna Balgownie
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Tarrawanna

Retirees River Townhouses

Balgownie

Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tarrawanna

Tarrawanna vs Corrimal Tarrawanna vs Mount Keira Tarrawanna vs Fernhill

Other comparisons with Balgownie

Balgownie vs Fairy Meadow Balgownie vs Mount Keira Balgownie vs Mount Pleasant Balgownie vs Fernhill
Full data on Tarrawanna Full data on Balgownie
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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