Balga, WA: suburb profile

The population of Balga WA is 13,864 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Balga is $713 per week ($37,076 per year). Median rent in Balga is $310 per week ($1,343 per month). Balga has a median age of 32 years, younger than the national median of 38. Balga has a population density of 2,638 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Balga is India. The most common religion is No religion (27.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Balga is $1,482.

Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Balga Map

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Balga Population

13,864 residents at the 2021 Census.

Balga Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$713/wk

$37,076 per year

Ranked 5,244 of 14,663

Median Rent

$310/wk

$1,343 per month

Ranked 4,328 of 14,663

Median Age

32years

6 years younger than the national median

Mortgage

$1,482/mo

Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.8 per bedroom

Balga Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.6% (7,010) Female 49.4% (6,856)

Population Density

2,638

people per km²

13,864 people · 5.3 km²

Households

2.4

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$1,490

Family income/wk

Balga Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Balga Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Balga, 31.2% are owned outright and 68.8% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

31.2%

Owned with mortgage

68.8%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

India
England
China
Afghanistan
Brazil
Iran
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Egypt

Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Balga Religion

No religion

27.2%

Catholic

15.8%

Not stated

10.4%

Islam

10.3%

Christian (other)

5.6%

Anglican

5.0%

Buddhism

4.1%

Hinduism

3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Balga Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

67.6%

Year 10 or equivalent

19.2%

Year 11 or equivalent

8.9%

Year 9 or equivalent

4.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Punjabi
Vietnamese
Arabic
Urdu
Macedonian
Mandarin

Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Balga Employment

Employed full-time

37.2% 3,551 people

Employed part-time

23.4% 2,235 people

Unemployed

5.0% 476 people

Not in labour force

34.3% 3,272 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Balga Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

34.8%

Bachelor Degree

27.8%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

21.4%

Postgraduate Degree

9.7%

Certificate I/II

3.9%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Balga Occupation

Community & Personal Service

21.4%

Professionals

17.7%

Technicians & Trade Workers

16.6%

Labourers

11.9%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

10.4%

Clerical & Administrative

9.5%

Managers

6.6%

Sales Workers

6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Balga Field of Study

Management & Commerce

21.6%

Engineering

17.0%

Society & Culture

15.8%

Health

11.3%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

9.7%

Education

6.4%

Information Technology

4.9%

Architecture & Building

4.3%

Natural & Physical Sciences

4.0%

Creative Arts

3.3%

Agriculture & Environment

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

Balga Dwelling Types

Separate house

69.8%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

27.5%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Balga Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

2.0%

$1-$149/wk

0.7%

$150-$299/wk

2.1%

$300-$399/wk

3.5%

$400-$499/wk

7.7%

$500-$649/wk

5.5%

$650-$799/wk

7.4%

$800-$999/wk

8.7%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.3%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

10.9%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

7.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

7.0%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

12.0%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

5.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.2%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

2.0%

$4,000+/wk

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Balga Marital Status

Married

39.6% 4,328

Separated

4.7% 519

Divorced

10.9% 1,189

Widowed

4.0% 437

Never married

40.8% 4,468

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Balga Ancestry

English

20.6%

Australian

18.0%

Indian

5.1%

Irish

4.7%

Scottish

4.2%

Italian

4.0%

Chinese

3.7%

Vietnamese

3.7%

Australian Aboriginal

2.6%

Filipino

2.2%

Macedonian

2.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Balga School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

28.2%

Vocational Education

22.4%

Secondary — Government

16.8%

Pre-school

10.6%

Primary — Catholic

8.2%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

5.7%

Secondary — Catholic

5.1%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Balga Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

5.3%

No need for assistance

94.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Balga Volunteering

Volunteer

10.6% 1,051

Not a volunteer

89.4% 8,839

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Balga Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

4.8%

$300-$449/mo

2.0%

$450-$599/mo

1.7%

$600-$799/mo

4.6%

$800-$999/mo

6.6%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

26.6%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

28.4%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

17.9%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

5.1%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Balga How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

75.3%

Did not go to work

10.4%

Car (passenger)

5.5%

Bus

3.5%

Other

1.5%

Train

1.1%

Taxi/Rideshare

1.1%

Truck

0.6%

Walked only

0.4%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.4%

Bicycle

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Balga Car Ownership

0 vehicles

7.9%

1 vehicle

44.9%

2 vehicles

35.1%

3 vehicles

8.7%

4+ vehicles

3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Balga Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

4.2%

2 bedrooms

12.6%

3 bedrooms

72.7%

4 bedrooms

9.5%

5 bedrooms

1.0%

6+ bedrooms

0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Balga Population Mobility

15.4%

moved in the last year

50.3%

moved in the last 5 years

7.2%

unemployment rate (Census)

61.0%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Balga Indigenous Population

3.0%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Balga Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

1,086

Asthma

375

Diabetes

340

Arthritis

303

Heart disease

237

Lung condition

233

Kidney disease

107

Stroke

103

Cancer

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Balga Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

11.3%

$1-$149/wk

3.0%

$150-$299/wk

8.0%

$300-$399/wk

5.0%

$400-$499/wk

4.3%

$500-$649/wk

4.3%

$650-$799/wk

10.2%

$800-$999/wk

13.4%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

14.4%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.8%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.0%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.3%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

4.9%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

0.7%

$3,500+/wk

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Balga Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

45.6%

Couple — no children

22.7%

One parent — children under 15

14.3%

One parent — no children under 15

9.8%

Couple — no children under 15

7.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Balga Military Service

Current ADF — Regular

0.1% 8

Current ADF — Reserves

0.0% 3

Previously served

1.9% 186

Never served

98.0% 9,750

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Balga Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

10.3% 1,012

Did not provide

89.7% 8,810

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Balga Children Ever Born

No children

37.1%

1 child

18.2%

2 children

24.3%

3 children

12.6%

4 children

5.6%

5+ children

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

Balga When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

302

1971–1980

234

1981–1990

391

1991–2000

552

2001–2010

1,713

2011–2015

1,312

2016

352

2017

328

2018

345

2019

465

2020

171

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Balga Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

19.4%

5–14 hours

23.4%

15–29 hours

8.1%

30+ hours

7.7%

Did not do domestic work

41.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Balga Household Size

1 person

32.4%

2 persons

29.9%

3 persons

17.1%

4 persons

11.9%

5 persons

5.5%

6+ persons

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Balga Where Residents Moved From

Same address

10,490

Moved from WA

1,240

Moved — same area (SA2)

361

Moved from overseas

132

Moved from VIC

Moved from NSW

Moved from QLD

Moved from TAS

Moved from NT

Moved from SA

Moved from ACT

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Balga Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

84.4%

Step family — no other children

10.3%

Blended family — no other children

3.2%

Intact family — other children present

1.4%

Other couple — children only

0.4%

Step family — other children present

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Balga Schools

schools nearby

government

979

avg ICSEA score

14,091

total students

West Coast Steiner School Independent

Primary · PP-6 · 172 students

1101

ICSEA

Dianella Heights Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 448 students

1098

ICSEA

John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Independent

Combined · PP-12 · 1,702 students

1075

ICSEA

West Balcatta Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 495 students

1070

ICSEA

Balcatta Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 292 students

1064

ICSEA

St Lawrence Primary School Catholic

Primary · PP-6 · 200 students

1060

ICSEA

Takari Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 193 students

1055

ICSEA

East Hamersley Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 248 students

1051

ICSEA

Balcatta Senior High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,088 students

1045

ICSEA

St Gerard's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · PP-6 · 176 students

1015

ICSEA

Gladys Newton School Government

Combined · K-12 · 157 students

1008

ICSEA

Our Lady of Mercy Primary School Catholic

Primary · PP-6 · 334 students

997

ICSEA

Mercy College Catholic

Combined · PP-12 · 1,574 students

988

ICSEA

Warwick Senior High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 811 students

988

ICSEA

Burbridge School Government

Combined · K-12 · 64 students

987

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 43 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Balga, with a map

Balga Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,299/wk

Median rent $310/wk

Rent to income 23.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Balga against your income

Your weekly income

About $5,629 a month

Median rent $310/wk

Left after rent $989/wk

Rent share 23.9%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Leda

Income: $699/wk Rent: $303/wk $7/wk less rent

Karawara

Income: $588/wk Rent: $300/wk $10/wk less rent

Utakarra

Income: $631/wk Rent: $240/wk $70/wk less rent

Glendalough

Income: $848/wk Rent: $280/wk $30/wk less rent

Brookdale (WA)

Income: $620/wk Rent: $300/wk $10/wk less rent

Derby (WA)

Income: $855/wk Rent: $180/wk $130/wk less rent

Midvale

Income: $730/wk Rent: $275/wk $35/wk less rent

Kenwick

Income: $683/wk Rent: $300/wk $10/wk less rent

Balga vs the typical WA suburb

The median personal income in Balga is $713 a week, 12% below the typical WA suburb ($806). That ranks 488th of 701 WA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $310 a week, $10 less than the typical WA suburb. Rent takes 23.9% of the median household income here, against 18.6% in the typical WA suburb. The median resident is 32, 9 years younger than in the typical WA suburb (41).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
Measure	Balga	Typical WA	Typical Australia
Personal income	$713/wk	$806/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,299/wk	$1,722/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$310/wk	$320/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$1,482/mo	$1,759/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	32	41	42
Rent share of household income	23.9%	18.6%	20.3%

Suburbs near Balga

The closest suburb to Balga is Girrawheen, 1.4 km away.

Girrawheen

1.4 km away · income $582/wk · rent $293/wk

Westminster

1.4 km away · income $769/wk · rent $330/wk

Hamersley

2.6 km away · income $892/wk · rent $380/wk

Mirrabooka (WA)

2.8 km away · income $482/wk · rent $290/wk

Balcatta

2.9 km away · income $804/wk · rent $340/wk

Marangaroo

2.9 km away · income $661/wk · rent $350/wk

Compare Balga

Frequently Asked Questions About Balga

What is the population of Balga WA?

The population of Balga WA is 13,864 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 2,638 people per km².Balga is ranked #330 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Balga?

The median personal income in Balga WA is $713 per week, or $37,076 per year.The median household income is $1,299 per week.Family income is $1,490 per week.Balga is ranked #5,244 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Balga?

Median rent in Balga WA is $310 per week ($1,343 per month).Rent represents 23.9% of household income, which is considered affordable.Balga ranks #4,328 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Balga?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Balga WA is $1,482. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Balga?

The median age in Balga WA is 32 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Balga a good suburb to live in?

Balga is a suburb in Western Australia with a population of 13,864.The median income is $713/wk, which is below the typical WA suburb ($806/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Perth Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 50055. All dollar figures in AUD.