Overall score
Ballarat Central
69.1/100
Mount Pleasant
46.3/100
Ballarat Central for retirees and investment; Mount Pleasant for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Ballarat Central
69.1/100
Mount Pleasant
46.3/100
Crime rate
Ballarat Central
580.8 / 1k
Mount Pleasant
156.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Ballarat Central
761
Mount Pleasant
42
Population
Ballarat Central
5,378
Mount Pleasant
2,225
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 | Ballarat Central | Mount Pleasant |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 69.1/100 | 46.3/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 54.9/100 | 76.0/100 |
| Crime rate | 580.8 / 1k | 156.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 8 | 8 |
| Parks & reserves | — | 2 |
| Public transport stops | 63 | 12 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 18.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 761 | 42 |
| Planning activity | 234 | 26 |
| Population | 5,378 | 2,225 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 7/10 | 3/10 |
Ballarat Central is a regional mid-sized suburb with local services and a more relaxed pace, while Mount Pleasant is a hillside smaller community with greener streets and a quieter pace. Mount Pleasant sits among greener hillside streets, while Ballarat Central keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Ballarat Central tends to lead on public transport access and walkability, while Mount Pleasant stands out for housing affordability and a quieter safety profile. Ballarat Central generally means more mid-market housing value, while Mount Pleasant leans toward more approachable housing costs.
Retirees and investors may find Ballarat Central the better fit, while households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Mount Pleasant.