Ballajura
At 18,459 residents, Ballajura combines a 94.4% separate-house share with an overseas-born population of 38.4%, or 16.8 percentage points above the national comparison. Its median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, while household income sits at the 60.6th percentile. The large family-home base helps explain the 2.9-person average household size and 63.7% share of homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby Malaga, Ballajura is more residential, with daily life shaped by established housing rather than employment land. The trade-off is a car-led suburb: 82.8% drive to work and only 3.9% use public transport.
Population
18,459
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,726/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
145
Ballajura suits buyers seeking established detached housing, but a current median house price cannot be quoted confidently, so recent settled sales matter more than a headline estimate. Separate houses account for 94.4%, far higher than the 0.2% apartment share, and 63.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. The tenure split is mortgage-heavy: 50.5% are mortgaged, compared with 30.4% owned outright and 18.2% rented. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,703 and mortgage repayments at 22.8% of household income provide useful budgeting markers, while $350 weekly rent equals 20.3% of income. Buyers should compare land size, renovation needs and school catchments because similar detached homes can differ materially.
For Buyers
Ballajura suits buyers seeking established detached housing, but a current median house price cannot be quoted confidently, so recent settled sales matter more than a headline estimate. Separate houses account for 94.4%, far higher than the 0.2% apartment share, and 63.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. The tenure split is mortgage-heavy: 50.5% are mortgaged, compared with 30.4% owned outright and 18.2% rented. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,703 and mortgage repayments at 22.8% of household income provide useful budgeting markers, while $350 weekly rent equals 20.3% of income. Buyers should compare land size, renovation needs and school catchments because similar detached homes can differ materially.
For Investors
Ballajura presents a holding-focused investment case rather than a rapid-growth story. Rents average $350 per week, vacancy is 4.5%, and 18.2% of households rent, much lower than the combined owner-occupier share. That smaller tenant pool can limit depth compared with suburbs with higher renting rates, although low vacancy may support leasing when a suitable home is available. Development activity reached 100 applications in 12 months, including subdivisions and sheds, so the pipeline is broader than new dwellings alone. The forecast trend is -0.14% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver and rent growth at 2.9%. Ballajura's gentrification score is 10 and stage is Not gentrifying, so investors should prioritise tenant fit, maintenance and land value over speculative uplift.
Development Activity
Total DAs
145
Last 12 Months
145
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 Ballajura
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SOUTH BALLAJURA EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE
MARY MACKILLOP CATHOLIC COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL
BALLAJURA PRIMARY SCHOOL
ILLAWARRA PRIMARY SCHOOL
SOUTH BALLAJURA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Ballajura's demographic profile is younger than the national comparison but increasingly settled and older in trajectory. The median age is 37, which is 3 years below national, while the 2.9-person average household is 0.4 above the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 38.4%, 16.8 percentage points above national, with English, Vietnamese, Irish and Italian among the leading ancestries. Christianity accounts for 7,982 people, no religion for 6,317 and Islam for 1,647. Couples with children represent 48.4% of families and one-parent families 18.8%, helping explain demand for larger detached homes. University attainment is 25.6%, 4.5 points below national. With 86.9% staying at the same address, Ballajura is more settled than a high-turnover market. Compared with nearby Malaga, its household pattern is more family-residential than employment-centred.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.4%
Houses
5.4%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Ballajura's housing stock is unusually detached: 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 5.4% semi-detached and 0.2% apartments. Larger formats dominate, with 63.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 32.5% containing 3 bedrooms, while only 3.9% have 0 to 2 bedrooms. Tenure is split between 30.4% owned outright and 50.5% with a mortgage, leaving 18.2% rented. This mortgage-belt structure reflects established family housing, and the 22.8% mortgage-to-income ratio is higher than the 20.3% rent-to-income ratio. Compared with nearby Malaga, Ballajura presents a more uniformly detached residential form, so land size, dwelling age and renovation quality are important differentiators. Without a current median price, property-level comparisons are essential.
Mortgage / mo
$1,703
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$716
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
290
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.4%
Couples with children
31.3%
Couples, no children
18.8%
Single parent
5,109
Total families
Economy & Employment
Ballajura's employment base leans toward essential and locally resilient services. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.4% with 898 workers, followed by education at 10.4% and 537, construction at 10.2% and 527, retail at 7.7% and 397, and professional and technical work at 7.3% and 378. Trades lead occupations with 1,613 people, ahead of professionals at 1,251 and clerical and administrative workers at 1,223. Labour-force participation is 65.5%, unemployment is 6.3% and full-time employment is 58.6%. Household income of $1,726 weekly is above the 50th percentile, reaching the 60.6th percentile. SEIFA is uneven: education and occupation sit in decile 3, income and economic resources in decile 7, disadvantage in decile 3 and advantage and disadvantage in decile 4. That gap is consistent with solid household earnings alongside university attainment of 25.6%, below national, and a broad trades and service workforce.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
9,774
Unemployed
611
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.6%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
9,163
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.6%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
38.4%
Dwellings
6,176
Transport to Work
Ballajura is practical for households with cars and larger homes. A high 82.8% drive-to-work share contrasts with 3.9% using public transport, 1.0% walking or cycling and 6.4% working from home, so daily convenience depends more on road access than transit. There are 6 local schools: 4 primary schools, 1 senior high school and 1 education support centre, with 5 government and 1 non-government provider. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across the suburb. Density is 2,084.3 people per square kilometre across 8.86 square kilometres, while IRSAD sits in decile 4 and 5.0% report needing assistance. These indicators place Ballajura below higher-advantage suburbs on socioeconomic access, but the established school and detached-home base supports routine family living. For safety, compare recent incidents by street and visit at different times rather than relying on a suburb-wide impression.
Drive
82.8%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
6.4%
Population Forecast
-0.14%/yr
(-27 people/yr)
EstablishedBallajura is in an established, slow-growth phase. The forecast annual trend is -0.14%, below zero, and population change across the wider area is -3.0% over 10 years. Its shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 5.6 percentage points and the young share down 2.8 points, which is consistent with a mature detached housing base. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but it is not currently translating into broad expansion. The gentrification score is 10 and the stage is Not gentrifying, while rent growth is 2.9%. Affordability is marked Improving, moving from 55.5 in 2011 to 49.0 in 2021, although real income growth was -5.2%. Compared with faster-growing corridors, Ballajura's case rests more on established amenity, renewal and household stability than rapid population gains.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+227
Net Internal / yr
-180
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -180/yr, Strong overseas inflow +227/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ballajura compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballajura a good suburb to live in?
Ballajura can suit households wanting established detached housing, larger homes and family-oriented school access. About 94.4% of homes are separate houses, 63.7% have 4 or more bedrooms and 82.8% of workers drive, so it is better suited to car-based living than a transit-led lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Ballajura?
A current median house price cannot be quoted confidently. Compare at least 3 recent settled sales with similar bedrooms, land size and condition, then test repayments against the $1,703 monthly mortgage figure and the local $350 weekly rent.
What schools are in Ballajura?
Ballajura has 6 schools: 4 primary schools, 1 senior high school and 1 education support centre. Five are government schools and 1 is non-government. Check the exact address against enrolment zones, as school access and available places can vary within the same suburb.
Is Ballajura safe?
Check recent WA Police incident information, council updates and the exact street at different times before deciding. Ballajura covers 8.86 square kilometres, so local conditions can vary; do not treat a single suburb-wide impression as a complete safety assessment.
Is Ballajura good for property investment?
Ballajura may suit a measured, income-focused strategy: rent is $350 per week, vacancy is 4.5% and renting accounts for 18.2% of households. However, annual growth is forecast at -0.14% and the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying, so investors should not assume rapid capital growth. There were 100 development applications in 12 months.
How is Ballajura's population changing?
Ballajura has 18,459 residents today. The wider-area forecast points to an Aging trajectory, -0.14% annual growth and -3.0% population change over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the senior share is up 5.6 points and the young share is down 2.8 points.
What languages are spoken in Ballajura?
Overseas-born residents account for 38.4%, 16.8 percentage points above the national comparison. Reported languages include Arabic with 246 speakers, Mandarin with 134, Canton with 109, Macedon with 81 and Italian with 76, indicating a broader language mix than English alone.
What development is occurring in Ballajura?
Development activity reached 100 applications in 12 months, but it is not all new housing. Recent examples include 2-lot survey-strata subdivisions and a shed approval, so buyers and owners should distinguish subdivision, additions and replacement work from projects that add dwellings.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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