Median house price
$2.98M
+12% change
NSW · Inner West Council
Balmain East, 2041
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,562
Growth (1 yr)
+1.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.3%
Median age
46
Median income
$3,020/wk
Employment rate
60.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$2,975,000
Languages at home
11.2%non-English
Most common: Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Balmain East hums with inner-city energy, a smaller community where there is always something happening nearby. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Many residents were born overseas or speak a language other than English at home.
Families have many nearby school and early-learning options to choose from. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum.
At a glance
Balmain East snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$900/wk
Houses $1,210 · Units $800
Population (ERP)
1,562
+1.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
14.8%
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
#38
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
42nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
67th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
95th
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
- 48.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 34% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2395th in Australia
- State rank
- 715th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #38 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #504 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $800
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,210
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $900
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 173
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $2,975,000
- Median price change
- +11.9%
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
1,562(June 2025)
+1.0% annual · +0.3% over 5 years · 67th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.0%
- 5-year growth
- +0.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +16
- Change in 5 years
- +4
- 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 (~1,600), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,900
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $3,020
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 138 of 931
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,333
- Employment rate
- 60.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 125 / 367 / 299
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)
- 94
- Against the person
- 22
- Against property
- 30
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 60.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 86 residents
- State safety percentile
- 41.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.7%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions217
- Domestic Violence Related Assault55
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment68
- Malicious Damage To Property71
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault74
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
- 8
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 1,151
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 95th
School list
- Nicholson Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1151 · 95th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 95 students · Top SEA quarter 61% · 0.1 km awayView on My School →
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain - RozellePrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1170 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 349 students · Top SEA quarter 68% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Balmain Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1172 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 38% · 321 students · Top SEA quarter 69% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Fort Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1094 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 84% · 284 students · Top SEA quarter 39% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Observatory Hill Environmental Education CentreCombined · Government · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Birchgrove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1132 · 92th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 214 students · Top SEA quarter 57% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Inner Sydney Montessori SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1178 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 95 students · Top SEA quarter 71% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Macquarie Grammar SchoolSecondary · Independent · ICSEA 1027 · 58th percentile · LBOTE 96% · 84 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.9 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
12 public transport stops in this suburb
- Balmain East Wharf
- Balmain East Wharf, Darling St
- Darling St At Nicholson St
- Darling St Opp Ewenton St
- Darling Street Anglican Church, Darling 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
95 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pubs · 1 supermarkets · 1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 24 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 11 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 12 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 27 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 45/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.53
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 5.79
Food & drink(1)
- East Village Hotel BalmainPub
82 Darling Street
Shopping(1)
- Balmain East Liquor & DeliSupermarket
60 Darling Street, Balmain East
Community(2)
- Kindergarten
- Nicholson Street Public SchoolSchool
Balmain East
Sport & outdoors(38)
- Datchett Street ReservePark
- Gallimore ReservePark
- Hoskins Street ReservePark
- Illoura ReservePark
- Johnston Street ReservePark
- Origlass ParkPark
- Park
- Propeller ParkPark
- Simmons Point ReservePark
- The Zig ZagPark
- Thornton ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (24)
Entertainment(2)
- Former Barracks BuildingMuseum
- Clifton Lane StepsViewpoint
Transport(6)
6 bus stops
Other(15)
- Artwork (2)
- PropellerArtwork
- Bench (3)
- Boat Storage (2)
- Chalet
- Fountain
- Former Magazine AnnexInformation
- Local History: Simmons PointInformation
- Parking (13)
- Parking Space (7)
- Picnic Table (6)
- St MarysPlace of worship
- Public toilets
- Barney's CutSlipway
- Slipway (4)
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
Parks & reserves
10 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Datchett Street ReservePark
- Gallimore ReservePark
- Hoskins Street ReservePark
- Illoura ReservePark
- Johnston Street ReservePark
- Origlass ParkPark
- Propeller ParkPark
- Simmons Point ReservePark
- The Zig ZagPark
- Thornton ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 11
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- St Marys
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Balmain Hospital (1.2 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)
- 22
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 14.1
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
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 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· 14 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development3 VERNON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation13 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
June 2026
- Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading2-8 WESTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 LITTLE EDWARD STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure132A DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 EDWARD STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation104 DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool18 PEARSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition5 Duke Place Balmain East NSW 2041 Lot 2/DP 816580Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SIMMONS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Under Assessment
2025· 30 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition1A WILLIAM STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition2A DUKE PLACE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 LOOKES AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 PAUL STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition4/125 Darling Street Balmain East NSW 2041Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)3 NICHOLSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 HART STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
October 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 CLIFTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 PEARSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 ST MARYS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Subdivision25 3 GALLIMORE AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 HART STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
August 2025
- Demolition10 37 NICHOLSON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house6 WILLIAM STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Horticulture6 DUKE STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 JOHNSTON STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure142A Darling St Balmain East NSW 2041Determined
- Demolition1 THE AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Horticulture10 ST MARYS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation64A DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 SIMMONS STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 14 Hosking Street Balmain EastDetermined
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Neighbourhood shop; Hours of operation and trading53 DARLING STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 UNION STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
May 2025
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 8 LOOKES AVENUE BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 DATCHETT STREET BALMAIN EAST 2041Determined
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)
Heritage
4 heritage places
- Fenwick & Co Boat Store2-8 Weston Street BalmainSHR
- Goat IslandPort JacksonSHR
- Illoura ReserveWeston StSHR
- Waterview Wharf Workshops37 Nicholson Street BalmainSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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
- Sydney
- Member of Parliament
- Tanya PLIBERSEK (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,445
- Turnout (2025)
- 87.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 21.9%Labor 78.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.0 km away).
Coalition 22.6%Labor 77.5%
0.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Balmain EastLabor 78.0% · Coalition 22.0% TPP (2025)0.2 km away
- Balmain CentralLabor 80.0% · Coalition 20.0% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
- Millers PointLabor 57.0% · Coalition 43.0% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- PyrmontLabor 66.3% · Coalition 33.7% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Birchgrove EastLabor 78.8% · Coalition 21.2% TPP (2025)1.3 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Inner West Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.