Balcatta
With 39.6% of residents born overseas, Balcatta sits 18.0 percentage points above the national level and reads as one of Perth's established multicultural middle-ring suburbs. Compared with nearby Stirling and Nollamara, its point of difference is the even housing mix: 53.0% separate houses and 46.5% semi-detached dwellings, with apartments only 0.5%. The 10,813 residents have a median age of 39, while average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below the national figure. That smaller household pattern matters because it supports demand for 3-bedroom homes and low-maintenance grouped housing.
Population
10,813
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,537/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
78
Median House
$437K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Balcatta is practical for buyers seeking house-like space without a high-rise setting: 53.0% of homes are separate houses, 46.5% are semi-detached, and apartments account for just 0.5%. The suburb is strongly 3-bedroom oriented, with 57.8% of dwellings in that category and 24.3% having 4 or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage costs sit at $1,756, and mortgage payments take 26.4% of income, below a flagged stress setting. That helps explain the broad owner base, because 32.9% own outright and 34.7% are paying a mortgage.
For Buyers
Balcatta is practical for buyers seeking house-like space without a high-rise setting: 53.0% of homes are separate houses, 46.5% are semi-detached, and apartments account for just 0.5%. The suburb is strongly 3-bedroom oriented, with 57.8% of dwellings in that category and 24.3% having 4 or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage costs sit at $1,756, and mortgage payments take 26.4% of income, below a flagged stress setting. That helps explain the broad owner base, because 32.9% own outright and 34.7% are paying a mortgage.
For Investors
Balcatta has a genuine rental market, with 32.4% of households renting and median weekly rent at $340. The caution is vacancy: 7.4% is a higher leasing-risk signal than the rent level alone suggests, so tenant quality and presentation matter. Development activity is moderate, with 16 approvals in the past 12 months, including grouped dwellings and single houses. Demand has a migration base because overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging +298 people a year, compared with internal migration of -37.
Development Activity
Total DAs
78
Last 12 Months
78
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Balcatta iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
West Balcatta Primary School
K-6 · 495 students
Balcatta Primary School
K-6 · 292 students
St Lawrence Primary School
PP-6 · 200 students
Takari Primary School
K-6 · 193 students
Balcatta Senior High School
7-12 · 1088 students
Demographics
Balcatta's population is slightly younger than the national profile, with a median age of 39 and an age gap of -1.0 years versus Australia. Education is stronger than average, with 35.1% university-qualified, 5.0 percentage points above the national rate. The migrant imprint is clear because 39.6% were born overseas, 18.0 points above national, with English ancestry at 2,561 people, Italian at 2,209 and Macedonian at 621. Italian is also the leading non-English language at 381 speakers, followed by Macedon at 228.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
53.0%
Houses
46.5%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing structure is more mixed than a classic detached-house suburb, because separate houses are 53.0% of stock while semi-detached homes are close behind at 46.5%. Apartments are almost absent at 0.5%, so density comes through villas, townhouses and grouped dwellings rather than towers. Tenure is evenly spread: 32.9% own outright, 34.7% have a mortgage and 32.4% rent. Affordability pressure is contained, with rent-to-income at 22.1% and mortgage-to-income at 26.4%, both below flagged stress settings.
Mortgage / mo
$1,756
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$804
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
368
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.6%
Couples, no children
7,869
Total families
Economy & Employment
Balcatta's workforce is anchored by service and trade-linked sectors. Healthcare is the largest industry at 15.6% and 585 workers, followed by Construction at 11.3% and 425. Professional/Tech and Education each account for 10.7% and 402 workers, while Retail adds 7.5% and 282. Professionals are the top occupation group at 1,206, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 790. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 6 across IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD, which fits its 48.4 household income percentile because education and occupation scores are solid without translating into high household incomes.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
10,279
Unemployed
321
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
31.1%
Participation
59.7%
Employed
5,191
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.1%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
39.6%
Dwellings
4,593
Transport to Work
Balcatta is car-oriented, with 87.9% driving to work compared with 5.0% using public transport and 1.9% walking or cycling. That makes road access and parking important because daily life is less transit-led than in inner Perth locations. School choice is a strength: 5 local schools span Government and Catholic sectors, with ICSEA scores from 1045 to 1070. West Balcatta Primary is at the higher end with 495 enrolments, while Balcatta Senior High gives the suburb a local secondary option with 1,088 students. IRSAD decile 6 points to above-mid socioeconomic conditions.
Drive
87.9%
Public Transport
5.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.84%/yr
(+152 people/yr)
EstablishedBalcatta is forecast to grow steadily rather than surge, with the trend rate at 0.84% a year, equal to about 152 extra people annually. The medium projection rises from 17,693 in 2026 to 18,453 in 2031. Migration is the key reason: overseas migration averages +298 people a year, higher than the internal migration balance of -37, and is listed as the primary driver. The gentrification score is 30 with an Early signs stage, while the shift profile is Mixed, reflecting 9.4% rent growth and 10.4% real income growth alongside a 2.4 point lift in senior share.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+298
Net Internal / yr
-37
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +298/yr, Accelerating: 1% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Balcatta compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Balcatta a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Balcatta suits buyers and renters who want established housing, local schools and a middle-ring Perth setting. It has 10,813 residents, 5 local schools and a practical housing mix led by 53.0% separate houses and 46.5% semi-detached homes.
What is the median house price in Balcatta?
A current median house price is not recorded for Balcatta. Affordability context is still clear: monthly mortgage payments are $1,756, mortgage-to-income is 26.4%, and rent-to-income is 22.1%, both below flagged stress settings.
What schools are in Balcatta?
Balcatta has 5 local schools: West Balcatta Primary, Balcatta Primary, St Lawrence Primary, Takari Primary and Balcatta Senior High School. ICSEA scores range from 1045 to 1070, and Balcatta Senior High has 1,088 enrolments.
Is Balcatta safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not recorded for Balcatta, so safety should be checked street by street. Livability indicators are steadier: IRSAD is decile 6, there are 5 local schools, and 87.9% of workers drive, which supports a car-based daily routine.
Is Balcatta good for property investment?
Balcatta has investor appeal because 32.4% of households rent and weekly rent is $340. The main watch point is vacancy at 7.4%, which is higher risk, although overseas migration averaging +298 people a year supports underlying demand.
How is Balcatta's population changing?
Balcatta is on a steady growth path, with forecast annual growth of 0.84%, or about 152 people a year. The medium projection reaches 18,453 by 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration of +298 people a year compared with internal migration of -37.
What languages are spoken in Balcatta?
English is common, but Balcatta has a strong multilingual profile because 39.6% of residents were born overseas. Leading non-English languages include Italian with 381 speakers, Macedon with 228, Guj with 111, Mandarin with 73 and Croatian with 58.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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