Ballarat East
Cheap to buy but not cheap to rent into safely, Ballarat East carries a $480,000 median house price alongside a crime rate of 110.3 offences per 1,000 residents, well above what its modest size suggests. Household income sits in just the 18.3rd percentile nationally, yet the suburb is firmly detached: 89.4% of dwellings are separate houses and only 0.9% are apartments. The median age of 43 runs 3.0 years above the national figure, and the population of 5,937 is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points over the decade. SEIFA scores are low across the board, including decile 2 on economic resources, which frames most of what follows.
Population
5,937
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,123/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
27
Median House
$480K
Apr-Jun 2024
At a $480,000 median, Ballarat East is far more reachable than most of metropolitan Victoria, and buyers have arrived at a relatively soft moment: the median has fallen 13.5% from its $555,000 peak in 2023, though it remains 81.1% above the 2013 level of $265,000. The stock suits owner-occupiers because 89.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 55.7% have three bedrooms, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 15.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 18.3rd percentile nationally. The affordability holds because prices stayed low while incomes, though modest, kept pace, so a typical buyer here faces less repayment pressure than the headline income would imply.
For Buyers
At a $480,000 median, Ballarat East is far more reachable than most of metropolitan Victoria, and buyers have arrived at a relatively soft moment: the median has fallen 13.5% from its $555,000 peak in 2023, though it remains 81.1% above the 2013 level of $265,000. The stock suits owner-occupiers because 89.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 55.7% have three bedrooms, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 15.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7%, below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 18.3rd percentile nationally. The affordability holds because prices stayed low while incomes, though modest, kept pace, so a typical buyer here faces less repayment pressure than the headline income would imply.
For Investors
Renters make up 41.3% of households, a deeper tenant pool than most regional markets, and weekly rent of $290 against the $480,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.1%, higher than what inner-city Melbourne returns. The risk sits in the 8.5% vacancy rate, elevated enough to signal periodic letting gaps rather than a tight market. Demand support is real: net internal migration runs at 486 residents a year, far outpacing the 104 from overseas, and rent has grown 37.0% over the period. Development is steady but not flooding supply, with 25 applications lodged in 12 months, mostly modifications, additions and small subdivisions. The case rests on yield and tenant volume more than rapid capital growth, given the recent 13.5% slide from peak.
Development Activity
Total DAs
39
Last 12 Months
27
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+350.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ballarat East iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Francis Xavier School
Prep-6 · 482 students
St Alipius' Parish School
Prep-6 · 248 students
Woodmans Hill Secondary College
7-12 · 602 students
Canadian Lead Primary School
Prep-6 · 235 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above national, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.1 points while the young share fell 1.3 points over the decade. Only 11.7% of residents were born overseas, 9.9 points below the national figure, so the suburb is markedly Anglo-leaning, led by English (2,587), Irish (1,003) and Scottish (760) ancestry. University qualifications reach 32.6%, which is 2.5 points above national, a surprise given household income in the 18.3rd percentile and likely tied to the local healthcare and education workforce. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with 34.3% of families being couples without children. Christianity dominates with 2,290 residents, far ahead of any other faith.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.4%
Houses
9.4%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split with 32.9% owning outright, 25.9% carrying a mortgage and 41.3% renting, so renters outnumber both ownership groups, unusual for a detached regional suburb. The stock is overwhelmingly houses: 89.4% separate dwellings, just 9.4% semi-detached and 0.9% apartments, with three-bedroom homes the norm at 55.7% and two-bedroom at 25.6%. The median house price rose from $265,000 in 2013 to $480,000 in 2024, an 81.1% gain at a 4.3% CAGR, but has since dropped 13.5% from the $555,000 peak. Mortgage-to-income sits at 26.7% and rent-to-income at 25.8%, both under the 30% stress line, a sign that low entry prices offset the suburb's modest 18.3rd-percentile incomes for most households.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$636
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
237
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.3%
Couples, no children
3,792
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce leans heavily on the care economy: Healthcare leads at 22.5% (387 workers) and Education follows at 14.2% (244), together more than a third of local jobs, with Public Admin at 8.8%, Professional/Tech at 8.1% and Construction at 8.0%. By occupation, Professionals (572) and Community/Personal Service workers (374) top the list, which explains why university attainment runs 2.5 points above national despite low incomes. Unemployment is elevated at 7.1% and participation reads just 49.0%, because 2,086 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the aging profile. SEIFA confirms the strain: IEO at decile 5 but IER (economic resources) at decile 2 and both IRSD and IRSAD at decile 3, the economic-resources gap reflecting the large renter and retiree base that depresses household wealth.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
6,267
Unemployed
189
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
49.0%
Employed
2,297
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.6%
Postgraduate
8.3%
Born Overseas
11.7%
Dwellings
2,556
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-dependent: 84.4% of residents drive to work while only 1.7% use public transport and 6.2% walk or cycle, higher car reliance than the national average and a function of the regional setting. The main liveability drag is safety, with 655 recorded offences and a crime rate of 110.3 per 1,000 residents, well above what a suburb of 5,937 would typically register, concentrated in property and deception offences (381) and crimes against the person (155). SEIFA places the area at decile 3 on relative disadvantage, near the lower end nationally, and 13.1% of residents (734 people) need daily assistance, partly reflecting the median age of 43. No schools are recorded inside the 5.98 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in surrounding Ballarat suburbs.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.05%/yr
(+490 people/yr)
EstablishedBallarat East is classified as established yet expanding, with the population up 34.1% over the past decade and a forecast annual growth rate of 2.05%, above the flat trajectory of mature metro suburbs. Internal migration is the engine, adding a net 486 residents a year against 104 from overseas, and the gentrification reading is Active at a score of 57, driven by signals such as accelerating net inflow. The catch is composition: growth is layered onto an aging base, with the senior share up 4.1 points and the young share down 1.3 points, so demand skews toward smaller, lower-maintenance households. Affordability has held broadly stable, easing only slightly from 46.6% in 2011 to 44.7% in 2021, which keeps the suburb attractive to relocating buyers priced out of larger cities.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+104
Net Internal / yr
+486
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +51% since 2011, Net internal migration +486/yr, Accelerating: 17% → 29%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
655
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
110.3
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ballarat East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballarat East a good suburb to live in?
It suits affordability-focused buyers, with a $480,000 median house price and a 26.7% mortgage-to-income ratio, below the 30% stress line. The trade-offs are a crime rate of 110.3 per 1,000 residents and a SEIFA disadvantage reading of decile 3, near the lower end nationally.
What is the median house price in Ballarat East?
The median house price is $480,000 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 13.5% from the $555,000 peak in 2023 but up 81.1% from $265,000 in 2013. Weekly rent averages $290 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300.
What schools are in Ballarat East?
No schools are recorded inside the 5.98 km2 Ballarat East boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding Ballarat suburbs. The local population is still well educated, with university qualifications at 32.6%, which is 2.5 points above the national figure.
Is Ballarat East safe?
Crime is a real concern, with 655 recorded offences and a rate of 110.3 per 1,000 residents, above what a suburb of 5,937 typically registers. The bulk are property and deception offences (381), followed by crimes against the person (155).
Is Ballarat East good for property investment?
Rent of $290 a week against the $480,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.1%, higher than inner Melbourne, and renters make up 41.3% of households. The risk is an 8.5% vacancy rate, though net internal migration of 486 a year supports demand.
How is Ballarat East's population changing?
The population of 5,937 grew 34.1% over the past decade and is forecast to expand about 2.05% a year, driven by net internal migration of 486 residents annually. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points and the young share down 1.3 points.
How much development is happening in Ballarat East?
There were 25 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly modifications, additions and small subdivisions rather than large new supply. This is steady activity for a detached suburb where 89.4% of dwellings are separate houses.
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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