Ballarat North
Gentrification activity is picking up in Ballarat North, with a score of 57 placing it at the Active stage, even as its $482,500 median house price sits well below the national average. The suburb grew 34.1% over the past decade, driven by net internal migration of 486 residents a year. Population density of 1,520 people per km2 across only 2.66 km2 keeps the area compact, and 82.1% of dwellings are separate houses, giving it a distinctly suburban character. Household income sits at the 30th percentile nationally, below the national median, yet SEIFA scores place it in decile 7 for disadvantage, suggesting residents are modestly but not severely financially stretched.
Population
4,041
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,290/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$482K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $482,500 median house price (Apr-Jun 2024) is down from a peak of $665,000 in Apr-Jun 2023, a 27.4% correction from peak, yet it has still climbed 63% from $296,000 in 2013. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,416, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 82.1%, with 3-bedroom homes making up 45.2% of stock and 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 27.2%, giving buyers genuine family-sized options compared to denser suburbs. Outright owners at 36.9% outnumber renters at 32.3% and mortgagees at 30.8%, suggesting a stable, established ownership base.
For Buyers
The $482,500 median house price (Apr-Jun 2024) is down from a peak of $665,000 in Apr-Jun 2023, a 27.4% correction from peak, yet it has still climbed 63% from $296,000 in 2013. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,416, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 82.1%, with 3-bedroom homes making up 45.2% of stock and 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 27.2%, giving buyers genuine family-sized options compared to denser suburbs. Outright owners at 36.9% outnumber renters at 32.3% and mortgagees at 30.8%, suggesting a stable, established ownership base.
For Investors
The 32.3% renter share provides a solid tenant pool, with weekly rent at $285 and a rent-to-income ratio of 22.1%, keeping tenants financially comfortable. Vacancy rate is elevated at 7.9%, above typical investment benchmarks, signalling moderate oversupply and warranting careful stock selection. Rent grew 37% over the decade, outpacing the suburb's real income growth of 16.1%, a dynamic that supports continued rental demand. Net internal migration of 486 per year and annual population growth of 2.05% give investor confidence that demand is structural rather than one-off. Development applications reached 11 in the past 12 months, concentrated on dual-occupancy and subdivision rather than large apartment blocks, so supply pressure remains manageable.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+750.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ballarat North iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Columba's School
Prep-6 · 334 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, consistent with the aging trajectory where the senior share rose 4.1 points and the young adult share fell 1.3 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 35%, which is 4.9 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the suburb's concentration of healthcare and education workers. Overseas-born residents are just 9.4%, which is 12.2 percentage points below the national figure, making Ballarat North one of the more Anglo-Celtic suburbs by composition. Ancestry is led by English (1,806), Irish (725) and Scottish (564). Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, and 29.7% of families are couples without children, consistent with the older demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.1%
Houses
17.2%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into 36.9% owned outright, 30.8% on a mortgage and 32.3% renting. Separate houses account for 82.1% of stock and semi-detached dwellings 17.2%, with apartments minimal at 0.7%, keeping this among the more detached-dominant suburbs compared to metropolitan averages. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 45.2% and four-plus at 27.2%, meaning buyer choice skews toward larger homes. The median house price sits at $482,500, having declined 27.4% from the Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $665,000, yet the long-run CAGR over 14 years remains a steady 3.6%. Rent-to-income at 22.1% and mortgage-to-income at 25.4% both sit below common stress thresholds, indicating housing costs are manageable relative to incomes in the 30th percentile household income band.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,416
Rent / wk
$285
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$723
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
150
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.7%
Couples, no children
2,979
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 23%, employing 290 workers, followed by Education at 16.8% (212) and Construction at 9.8% (123). Public Administration accounts for 8.5% and Professional/Tech 7.1%, a distribution that anchors income stability through public-sector and essential-service employment. By occupation, Professionals lead at 459 workers, ahead of Managers (251) and Community/Personal workers (231). Unemployment sits at 4.2% and the full-time employment rate is 61.1%. The SEIFA IEO decile of 7 and IRSAD decile of 6 indicate the suburb is above the national median on education and occupation advantage, even with household income at the 30th percentile nationally.
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
61.1%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
52.9%
Employed
1,684
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.0%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
9.4%
Dwellings
1,740
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 89.9% of residents driving to work, compared to a much higher public transport use in capital cities. Public transport accounts for only 0.6% of commutes and walking or cycling 2.1%, reflecting the regional city context where transit options are more limited than the national average. IRSAD decile 6 places the suburb in the upper half nationally on the combined advantage-disadvantage scale. Crime totals 269 incidents recorded, at a rate of 66.6 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 121 incidents. Volunteering runs at 17.5%, above many comparable suburbs. With 8.4% of residents (325 people) requiring daily assistance, local support services carry a meaningful load relative to the small 4,041-person population.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.05%/yr
(+490 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth of 2.05% adds roughly 490 residents a year, well above the national average for an established suburb, driven primarily by net internal migration of 486 per year. The broader SA2 population grew from 22,051 in 2023 to 23,952 in 2025, and medium forecasts project continued growth to 26,169 by 2031. The gentrification score of 57 is rated Active, with signals including population growth of 51% since 2011, accelerating university qualification rates (17% to 29%) and sustained migration inflows. Affordability has remained stable (46.6% in 2011 vs 44.7% in 2021), avoiding the pricing-out dynamics seen in higher-growth corridors. Real income grew 16.1% over the decade, below the 37% rent growth, a tension that will influence future rental demand.
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
269
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
66.6
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 North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballarat North a good suburb to live in?
Ballarat North scores SEIFA decile 7 on both the IRSD and IEO indexes, placing it above the national median on advantage measures. The suburb offers predominantly detached houses (82.1% of stock) at an accessible $482,500 median, with mortgage-to-income at 25.4%, below stress levels. The trade-offs are high car dependency (89.9%) and a vacancy rate of 7.9% that suggests some market softness.
What is the median house price in Ballarat North?
The median house price is $482,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024, down 27.4% from the Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $665,000. Over 14 years from 2013, prices have risen 63% at a CAGR of 3.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,416, and weekly rent sits at $285.
What schools are in Ballarat North?
No schools are recorded inside the Ballarat North boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Ballarat suburbs. The local population is comparatively well-educated, with 35% holding university qualifications, 4.9 percentage points above the national average, driven by the suburb's healthcare and education workforce.
Is Ballarat North safe?
Recorded crime sits at 269 incidents, or 66.6 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for the largest share at 121 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 86. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 7 indicates the suburb is above the national median on relative advantage, which typically correlates with lower crime exposure.
Is Ballarat North good for property investment?
Annual population growth of 2.05%, net internal migration of 486 per year and rent growth of 37% over the decade support the investment case. The 32.3% renter share is solid, though the 7.9% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention. Against a $482,500 median, $285 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 3.1%, modest but more viable than many capital-city markets.
How is Ballarat North's population changing?
The population of 4,041 sits within an SA2 that grew from 22,051 to 23,952 between 2023 and 2025. Annual growth of 2.05% adds around 490 residents each year, driven mainly by internal migration of 486 net arrivals annually. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 26,169 by 2031. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points over the decade.
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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