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 50.3% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being rented at 49.7%. 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%
SA4 · 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).
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 16,934 to 23,741 over 24 years, averaging 1.4% per year.
Schools
6 in suburbGovernment 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 (50% own or mortgage), built for families (73% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire & flood risk
Hazard data is not yet available for WA.
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.