Overall score
Balaklava
38.1/100
Owen
34.2/100
Balaklava for retirees and families; Owen for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Balaklava
38.1/100
Owen
34.2/100
Crime rate
Balaklava
21.9 / 1k
Owen
20.6 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Balaklava
14
Owen
1
Population
Balaklava
2,083
Owen
509
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Balaklava | Owen |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 38.1/100 | 34.2/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 60.4/100 | 58.8/100 |
| Crime rate | 21.9 / 1k | 20.6 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 15.5/100 | 15.5/100 |
| Public transport stops | 2 | 1 |
| Walkability | 3.0/100 | 1.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 14 | 1 |
| Planning activity | 23 | 9 |
| Green cover | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Population | 2,083 | 509 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 2/10 | 1/10 |
Balaklava is a quieter smaller community with space and a country-town pace, while Owen is a more rural smaller community that rewards people who want room to breathe.
On the data, Balaklava is stronger for housing affordability, schools and education options, and public transport access; Owen answers with a quieter safety profile and a calmer planning outlook.
Choose Balaklava if you are weighing retirees, families, and value-focused buyers; lean toward Owen for households prioritising schools.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.