Balga
Balga's standout fact is its migrant majority: 51.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 29.4 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb is also young, with a median age of 32, 8.0 years below the national median. Compared with nearby Mirrabooka and Westminster, Balga reads as a lower income, renter heavy part of Perth's northern corridor, with household income in the 30.8th percentile and 49.7% of homes rented. Density of 2638.3 people per sq km reflects a compact 5.25 sq km area because separate houses sit alongside a sizeable semi detached stock.
Population
13,864
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,299/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
103
Balga suits buyers who want a house oriented suburb without relying on large 4 bedroom stock. Separate houses make up 67.6% of dwellings, semi detached homes add 29.2%, and apartments are only 3.3%, so choice is still mainly ground level. The bedroom profile is concentrated, with 72.6% of homes having 3 bedrooms and only 10.5% having 4 or more. A current median house price is not available for Balga, but monthly mortgages of $1482 and mortgage to income at 26.3% sit below local stress flags, which matters because household income is only in the 30.8th percentile.
For Buyers
Balga suits buyers who want a house oriented suburb without relying on large 4 bedroom stock. Separate houses make up 67.6% of dwellings, semi detached homes add 29.2%, and apartments are only 3.3%, so choice is still mainly ground level. The bedroom profile is concentrated, with 72.6% of homes having 3 bedrooms and only 10.5% having 4 or more. A current median house price is not available for Balga, but monthly mortgages of $1482 and mortgage to income at 26.3% sit below local stress flags, which matters because household income is only in the 30.8th percentile.
For Investors
Balga has a large tenant pool, with 49.7% of dwellings rented and weekly rent at $310. That demand is supported by overseas migration, which is the primary growth driver at +595 people a year, even as internal migration averages -373 a year. The caution is vacancy: 9.7% is a higher vacancy setting, so leasing risk matters more than in tighter markets. There were 25 development applications in 12 months, including grouped dwellings and single houses, because the suburb's semi detached base and affordable positioning create ongoing small scale renewal.
Development Activity
Total DAs
103
Last 12 Months
103
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 Balga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Warriapendi Primary School
K-6 · 266 students
Majella Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 233 students
Balga Primary School
K-6 · 213 students
North Balga Primary School
K-6 · 276 students
Balga Senior High School
7-12 · 596 students
Demographics
Balga is younger and more internationally connected than the national profile. The median age is 32, which is 8.0 years below the national median, while 51.0% born overseas is 29.4 percentage points above the national figure. University attainment is 28.7%, slightly below national by 1.4 points, which fits the occupation mix more weighted to community work, labouring and driving than professional roles. Punjabi has 295 speakers, Arabic 169 and Urdu 150, while Christianity records 5547 people and Islam 1424, because migration is shaping both households and local services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
67.6%
Houses
29.2%
Townhouse
3.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Balga's housing structure is renter heavy and family sized, but not dominated by large homes. Renting accounts for 49.7%, compared with 34.6% paying a mortgage and 15.7% owned outright. Detached houses are still the majority at 67.6%, yet semi detached dwellings are a substantial 29.2%, giving the suburb a more varied housing form than purely detached outer areas. The 3 bedroom share is 72.6%, far higher than the 4 plus bedroom share of 10.5%, because renewal has produced practical mid sized stock. Rent to income is 23.9% and mortgage to income is 26.3%, both below local stress flags.
Mortgage / mo
$1,482
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$310
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$713
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.7%
Unoccupied
573
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.1%
Couples, no children
9,704
Total families
Economy & Employment
Balga's workforce is service and essential worker oriented. Healthcare is the largest industry at 22.7% and 874 workers, well above the next groups of retail at 8.4%, transport at 7.9%, construction at 7.3% and hospitality at 7.3%. Occupations reinforce that pattern: community and personal service roles count 1129, labourers 989 and machinery or driver roles 769. Full time work is 61.4%, but unemployment is 7.6% and participation 57.4%, which helps explain why IRSAD and IRSD both sit in decile 1 while education and occupation is slightly higher at decile 2.
Unemployment
11.6%
Labour Force
12,457
Unemployed
1,449
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.4%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
57.4%
Employed
5,799
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.7%
Postgraduate
7.4%
Born Overseas
51.0%
Dwellings
5,304
Transport to Work
Balga is practical rather than transit led. Car driving accounts for 87.5% of commuting, compared with only 5.4% using public transport and 0.7% walking or cycling, so day to day convenience depends heavily on car access. School coverage is a strength for families, with 5 local schools across Government and Catholic sectors and an ICSEA range of 909 to 965. Warriapendi Primary leads at 965 with 266 enrolments, followed by Majella Catholic Primary at 958 with 233. IRSAD decile 1 points to lower socio economic resources, so services matter because many households have tighter budgets.
Drive
87.5%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.31%/yr
(+312 people/yr)
EstablishedBalga is forecast to keep growing, but the source of growth is changing. The trend projection is 1.31% a year, or about 312 people annually, with the medium scenario rising from 23778 in 2026 to 25339 in 2031. Overseas migration is the clear driver at +595 people a year, compared with net internal movement of -373 a year, so population gain is being imported rather than drawn from local moves. The shift label is Declining young, with young share down 2.3 points and seniors up 2.2 points. Gentrification is scored 33 and staged as Early signs, not a rapid uplift story.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+595
Net Internal / yr
-373
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal outflow -373/yr, Strong overseas inflow +595/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 14%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Balga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Balga a good suburb to live in?
Balga can suit households seeking a younger, multicultural north Perth base, with a median age of 32 and 51.0% of residents born overseas. It is car reliant, with 87.5% driving to work, so it works best for residents comfortable with driving.
What is the median house price in Balga?
A current median house price is not available for Balga. The local housing mix is still useful context: 67.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 29.2% are semi detached and 72.6% have 3 bedrooms.
What schools are in Balga?
Balga has 5 local schools. Warriapendi Primary has an ICSEA of 965 and 266 enrolments, Majella Catholic Primary has 958 and 233, and Balga Senior High School has 596 enrolments.
Is Balga safe?
A current crime rate is not available for Balga, so safety should be checked street by street. The suburb has 13,864 residents and 5 local schools, making recent WA Police maps and on the ground inspections important.
Is Balga good for property investment?
Balga has investor appeal through its 49.7% rental share and $310 weekly rent, but the 9.7% vacancy rate is a caution. The 25 development applications in 12 months also point to active renewal and competition.
How is Balga's population changing?
Balga is projected to grow by 1.31% a year, or about 312 people annually. The medium forecast reaches 25,339 residents by 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration of +595 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Balga?
Balga has a strong multilingual profile because 51.0% of residents were born overseas. Key non-English language groups include Punjabi with 295 speakers, Arabic with 169, Urdu with 150 and Mandarin with 107.
Is there much development in Balga?
Yes. Balga recorded 25 development applications in 12 months, including grouped dwellings and single houses. That level of activity sits above the optional development threshold of 20 and reflects ongoing small scale renewal.
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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