Balgownie
Detached houses make up 71.7% of dwellings in Balgownie and apartments just 1.6%, an unusually house-dominant mix for a suburb only 3.72 km2 in size with 5,722 residents. The median house price sits at $1,215,000, supported by household income in the 71.4th percentile nationally. SEIFA places the suburb at decile 7 for education and occupation but decile 5 for economic resources, a gap that reflects an older, asset-rich population rather than high cash earnings. The median age of 42 runs 2.0 years above national, and university qualifications at 38.3% sit 8.2 points higher than the national figure.
Population
5,722
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,912/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
55
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Buyers here pay a median of $1,215,000, with recorded prices moving from $1,200,000 in 2024 to $1,225,000 in 2025, a modest 2.1% one-year gain. The stock favours families because separate houses are 71.7% of dwellings and apartments only 1.6%, so an owner-occupier buying a house faces little competition from investor-grade units. Three-bedroom homes lead at 45.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes follow at 41.2%, leaving small dwellings scarce. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. That cushion exists because household income reaches the 71.4th percentile, which makes the price more manageable for established dual-income families than the headline figure suggests.
For Buyers
Buyers here pay a median of $1,215,000, with recorded prices moving from $1,200,000 in 2024 to $1,225,000 in 2025, a modest 2.1% one-year gain. The stock favours families because separate houses are 71.7% of dwellings and apartments only 1.6%, so an owner-occupier buying a house faces little competition from investor-grade units. Three-bedroom homes lead at 45.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes follow at 41.2%, leaving small dwellings scarce. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. That cushion exists because household income reaches the 71.4th percentile, which makes the price more manageable for established dual-income families than the headline figure suggests.
For Investors
Renters are a smaller share than in inner-city markets at 22.3%, and weekly rent of $450 against the $1,215,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, low by national standards. The vacancy rate of 4.7% is on the higher side, which limits pricing power for landlords. Demand is held up by overseas migration adding about 297 residents a year, though net internal migration removes roughly 156, leaving thin natural turnover. Development activity is moderate at 47 applications in 12 months, dominated by dwelling houses, pools and minor structures rather than new unit supply. With the suburb classed as established and population growth near 0.36% annually, the investment case rests on long-run capital growth in a house-dominant market rather than yield or rapid tenant demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
270
Last 12 Months
55
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+17.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Balgownie iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Balgownie Public School
K-6 · 329 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory skews older, with the senior share rising 1.7 points while the working-age share fell 0.7 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 20.4%, which is 1.2 points below national, so the population leans local. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,976), with a notable Italian community (786) ahead of Irish (587) and Scottish (575). That Italian heritage shows in language too, where Italian (94 speakers) is the most common non-English tongue, followed by Mandarin (43) and Macedonian (40). University qualifications at 38.3% run 8.2 points above national, and average household size is 2.6, consistent with the family-oriented, three-and-four-bedroom housing stock.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.7%
Houses
26.1%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward owners: 46.8% own their home outright and 30.9% carry a mortgage, while only 22.3% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to a settled, debt-free population rather than a churn of recent buyers, which helps explain why prices held steady through 2024-2025. The stock is 71.7% separate houses and 26.1% semi-detached, with apartments at just 1.6%, so detached supply dominates the market. Three-bedroom dwellings are 45.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes 41.2%, confirming a family profile. The median house price of $1,215,000 against household income in the 71.4th percentile gives a high price-to-income load, yet mortgage-to-income stays at 28.8%, below the stress line, because so many owners hold their homes outright.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$812
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.7%
Unoccupied
104
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples, no children
4,775
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in service sectors: Healthcare leads at 20.7% (401 workers), Education follows at 15.6% (302), then Professional/Tech at 9.8%, Public Admin at 8.8% and Construction at 8.3%. By occupation, Professionals (728) and Managers (376) form the largest groups, which fits the decile 7 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 62.9%. One anomaly stands out: the IER score for economic resources sits at decile 5, below the decile 7 IEO ranking, because steady professional incomes do not always translate into high liquid household resources once an older, lower-earning retiree segment is counted. Overall the IRSAD index reads decile 6, a mid-to-upper advantage position.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
11,785
Unemployed
578
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
33.1%
Participation
51.4%
Employed
2,304
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.3%
Postgraduate
9.9%
Born Overseas
20.4%
Dwellings
2,135
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high, with 90.8% driving to work and only 1.5% using public transport, well above the national lean on cars and a practical reality for a suburb of 3.72 km2 set away from heavy rail. Just 2.1% walk or cycle. The suburb scores decile 6 on IRSAD, an upper-middle advantage tier, and decile 5 on the IRSD measure of relative disadvantage, indicating few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 15.1%, and 6.4% of residents (353 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 42. No schools are recorded inside the Balgownie boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Wollongong suburbs, a common trade-off for a compact residential area.
Drive
90.8%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.36%/yr
(+81 people/yr)
EstablishedBalgownie is an established, slow-growth suburb, with annual population growth near 0.36% and a 10-year rise of 7.6%. The forecast holds the trajectory steady rather than expanding, adding only about 81 residents a year at trend. The single positive driver is overseas migration at roughly 297 a year, which more than offsets a net internal outflow of about 156, so the suburb relies on new arrivals from abroad to grow at all. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying, scoring 10, which fits a settled area already at decile 6 advantage with limited room to shift. Real incomes still grew 27.6% over the decade and affordability improved from 55.0% in 2011 to 52.2% in 2021, a sign of gradual economic strengthening without rapid change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+297
Net Internal / yr
-156
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -156/yr, Strong overseas inflow +297/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Balgownie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Balgownie a good suburb to live in?
Balgownie scores decile 7 for education and occupation and decile 6 on IRSAD advantage, with household income in the 71.4th percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 38.3%, 8.2 points above national. It suits families, since 71.7% of dwellings are separate houses, though the $1,215,000 median price is a barrier for some buyers.
What is the median house price in Balgownie?
The median house price is $1,215,000. Recorded prices rose 2.1% from $1,200,000 in 2024 to $1,225,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,383, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Balgownie?
No schools are recorded inside the Balgownie boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Wollongong suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 38.3%, which is 8.2 points above the national figure.
Is Balgownie safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Balgownie in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 6 on IRSAD, with only 6.4% of its 5,722 residents needing daily assistance, all consistent with a settled, low-disadvantage area.
Is Balgownie good for property investment?
Rent of $450 a week against a $1,215,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.9%, low by national standards, and the vacancy rate is 4.7%. Net overseas migration of about 297 a year supports demand, but with growth near 0.36% annually, returns depend on long-run capital growth rather than yield.
How is Balgownie's population changing?
Population growth is about 0.36% annually, with a 7.6% rise over 10 years from the current 5,722 residents. Growth depends on overseas migration of roughly 297 a year, which offsets a net internal outflow near 156. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 1.7 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Balgownie?
There were 47 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are new dwelling houses, swimming pools and minor structures rather than new unit supply, which fits an established suburb where 71.7% of dwellings are separate houses and population growth runs near 0.36% a year.
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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