Balga
WABalga is a growing suburb in WA with 13,864 residents.
- SAL code
- 50055
- SA2
- 505021085
- Population
- 13,864
- LGA
- Stirling
Balga, WA had 13,864 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 8.6% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 25-34 years, and the median age sits at 32. Households are most often couples with children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,482 a month. Around 48.6% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being rented at 48.0%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 67.6% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 22 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Balga, WA at a glance
Balga is an established, multicultural inner-NW Perth suburb ~11 km from the CBD in the City of Stirling. Most homes were built between 1964 and 1970 on ~700m² lots; older stock is increasingly being subdivided into modern duplexes and townhouses, gradually lifting streetscapes. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle and council pipeline.
For homebuyers
Balga is an affordable foothold close to Perth — single-storey post-war houses on bigger-than-average lots, with redevelopment opportunity baked in. The suburb is multicultural (Australia, India, Vietnam, Myanmar communities) with a vibrant Friday Markets + community feel. There's no train station, but Mirrabooka Bus Station links to Warwick and Stirling rail; freeway widening + the new METRONET extension to Yanchep have eased commutes. Princess Wallington Reserve anchors recreation; 22 parks across the suburb. SA4 unemployment 11.6% at Q4 2025 (ABS SALM) and crime higher than the metro median — the on-page tiles carry the detail. In short: an affordable, character-rich entry into Perth with redevelopment optionality, but quality-of-life trade-offs to weigh.
For investors
Balga is a yield play with surprisingly tight conditions. Median house $685K / unit $626K; rent $675/wk (houses) and $680/wk (units) → 5.04% / 5.62% gross yield (Your Investment Property May 2026). Vacancy is exceptionally tight at ~0.51%. Days-on-market 12 (houses), 9 (units). 309 house + 115 unit sales in the past 12 months — an exceptionally deep market for a suburb this size.
Strengths
- High gross yields (~5.0-5.6%) — among the better cashflow plays in metro Perth.
- Extremely tight vacancy (~0.51%) and short days-on-market = strong leasing velocity.
- Deep transaction market (~424 sales/yr across houses + units) — easy to enter and exit.
- Older stock on big lots opens duplex / triplex / townhouse value-add plays.
Trade-offs
- SEIFA IRSAD decile 1/10 (most disadvantaged statewide, ABS 2021) — historically lower capital growth than higher-SEIFA Perth suburbs.
- Crime ~120 incidents per 1,000 (Q4 2025) — well above the metro median; tenant-quality due diligence matters.
- SA4 unemployment 11.6% (Q4 2025, ABS SALM) flags broader local labour-market weakness.
What's coming
City of Stirling's Mirrabooka Town Square redevelopment is in delivery (2025/26 budget) — three new public art installations completed and the precinct upgrade continues. $149K Lynxight anti-drowning tech being installed at Stirling Leisure–Balga. A two-year bulk-waste verge-collection trial begins July 2026 across Balga, Mirrabooka, Nollamara and Westminster.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: an affordable, characterful entry to Perth with redevelopment upside — provided you're comfortable with the SEIFA + safety profile. For investors: a yield + value-add play with tight leasing but historically slower capital growth.
Population
?13,864
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+8.6%
3yr: +7.8% · 10yr: +14.2%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,299/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
32
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?1/10
SA2 · more disadvantaged
Unemployment
?11.6%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
6
4 primary, 1 secondary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?9
5 long day, 6 OSHC
Parks & green space
?22
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?45
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?329
Stirling · Feb 2026
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
state Valuer-General sale price data not yet loaded for WA
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from WA police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Balga - Mirrabooka (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Balga suburb alone is ~13,864 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 16,934 to 23,741 over 24 years, averaging 1.4% per year.
Schools
6 in suburbSector
5 public · 1 private
Type
4 primary · 1 secondary · 1 special
Total enrolment
1,741
Avg per school
290
Government school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for WA.
Source when available: WA Department of Education — Public School Local-Intake Areas.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 6.8%Predominantly detached houses (67.6%), mixed tenure (48.6% own or mortgage), built for families (73% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
WA 27%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
This suburb falls outside every bushfire polygon mapped by the relevant authority. Always confirm at the property address — local conditions and unmapped overlays can still apply.
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions. Source when available: WA DFES Bush Fire Prone Areas and DWER Floodplain Mapping.
Flood risk
Flood data is not yet available for WA.
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions. Source when available: WA DFES Bush Fire Prone Areas and DWER Floodplain Mapping.
Planning zones
Planning-zone data is not yet available for WA.
Source when available: Landgate / WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.