Median house price
$1.06M
+13% change
NSW · Wingecarribee Council
Balaclava, 2575
Est. population · Jun 2025
600
Growth (1 yr)
+1.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.7%
Median age
40
Median income
$2,023/wk
Employment rate
64.6%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,060,000
Languages at home
10.2%non-English
Most common: Malayalam, Punjabi, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Balaclava offers a slower smaller community life in Wingecarribee Council, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Open space is thinner than in many regional towns, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
Desirability lands below average here: softer schools and education weighing on the result versus similar regional towns, even with growth momentum, plus community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Balaclava snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$680/wk
Houses $750 · Units $520
Population (ERP)
600
+1.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#129
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
15th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
67th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
20th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 37.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4289th in Australia
- State rank
- 1347th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #129 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #481 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $520
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $680
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 97
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,060,000
- Median price change
- +13.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
600(June 2025)
+1.0% annual · +7.7% over 5 years · 67th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.0%
- 5-year growth
- +7.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +6
- Change in 5 years
- +43
- Growth rank in NSW
- 67th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~650), extrapolated at +2.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 574
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,023
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 9 of 206
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 64.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 200 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 22
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 8
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 36.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 96 residents
- State safety percentile
- 14.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -11.8%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault32
- Fraud52
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment70
- Malicious Damage To Property73
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault49
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 915.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 20th
School list
- Highlands SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 860 · 6th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 37 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Tangara SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 971 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 48 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
20 public transport stops in this suburb
- Crimea St Before Beresford St
- Elsworth Av After Old Hume Hwy
- Elsworth Av Before Anatolia Av
- Old Hume Hwy Opp Railway Tce
- Renwick Dr Opp Crane St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 20 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Transport(3)
3 bus stops
Other(2)
- Reddy ExpressPetrol station
192 Old Hume Highway
- ShellPetrol station
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Bowral and District Hospital (7.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 16
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 26.7
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 282 mm · ~35 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 241 mm · ~30 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 11° / 3°
- Rainfall
- 179 mm · ~22 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 201 mm · ~25 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 2 proposals
May 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)17 INKERMAN ROAD BALACLAVA 2575Under Assessment
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development10 CRIMEA STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
2025· 5 proposals
November 2025
- Subdivision10 BERESFORD STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences24 CRIMEA STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
September 2025
- Subdivision; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 SCARLET STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision5-11 CAMPBELL STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
March 2025
- Subdivision; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 SCARLET STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12A BERESFORD STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2B BALACLAVA STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
August 2024
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure21-29 OLD HUME HIGHWAY BALACLAVA 2575Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12A BERESFORD STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12B BERESFORD STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 POPPY PLACE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
January 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure27 INKERMAN ROAD BALACLAVA 2575Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 CARDIGAN STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
2023· 8 proposals
October 2023
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision1-7 ELSWORTH AVENUE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling16 POPPY PLACE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling19 INKERMAN ROAD BALACLAVA 2575Determined
June 2023
- Stormwater management systems; Earthworks / change in levels9 SCARLET STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
March 2023
- Centre based childcare; Change of use1A CRIMEA STREET BALACLAVA 2575Withdrawn
February 2023
- Shed42-48 INKERMAN ROAD BALACLAVA 2575Withdrawn
January 2023
- Dwelling12 POPPY PLACE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
- Dwelling3 POPPY PLACE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
2022· 10 proposals
December 2022
- Stormwater management systems; Earthworks / change in levels9 SCARLET STREET BALACLAVA 2575Withdrawn
- Dwelling8-12 CASCABEL CLOSE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
November 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land7 CARDIGAN STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
- Dwelling7 POPPY PLACE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces17 CARDIGAN STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
September 2022
- Subdivision of land10 BERESFORD STREET BALACLAVA 2575Operational consent issued
August 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land4 POPPY PLACE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
- Dwelling11 Poppy Place Balaclava 2575Determined
April 2022
- Subdivision of land12 CLARIVILLE STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
March 2022
- Shed72-74 INKERMAN ROAD BALACLAVA 2575Determined
2021· 7 proposals
November 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces3 CASCABEL CLOSE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
October 2021
- Shed15 CASCABEL CLOSE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
- Subdivision of land10 CARDIGAN STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
September 2021
- Subdivision of land14-20 SCARLET STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
June 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development8 RENWICK DRIVE BALACLAVA 2575Determined
May 2021
- Multi-dwelling housing15 Beresford St Balaclava 2575Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 CRANE STREET BALACLAVA 2575Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Whitlam
- Member of Parliament
- Carol BERRY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 130,093
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.1 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 43.8%Labor 56.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.2 km away).
Coalition 48.7%Labor 51.3%
5.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- RenwickLabor 51.3% · Coalition 48.7% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- WelbyLabor 54.0% · Coalition 46.0% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- MittagongLabor 54.1% · Coalition 45.9% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
- Colo ValeLabor 48.6% · Coalition 51.4% TPP (2025)4.4 km away
- Bowral EastLabor 44.6% · Coalition 55.4% TPP (2025)6.8 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Wingecarribee Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.