Balmain is well-off — but expensive to rent
Balmain 2041 · Leichhardt, Greater Sydney, NSW
Balmain is among the more advantaged parts of Australia (SEIFA decile 10 of 10); well served for the everyday — 4 schools and 3 supermarkets. The trade-offs: renting is expensive, a median of $900 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1).
A mix of houses and units, with a median age of 43 and households on a median $3,149 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, NSW DCJ median rents, NSW DCJ median sale prices, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported offences, OpenStreetMap and ACARA Schools NSW / NSW Dept of Education · figures current to September 2026.
What it costs to buy
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2025-Q4Median sale price from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's recorded property sales. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2025-Q4 quarter
| Type | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| House | $2,975,000n=61 |
| Unit / flat | $1,380,000n=33 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Balmain was $2,480,000, based on sales in postcode 2041, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $1,280,000 above the Greater Sydney median. By type: a house $2,975,000 and a unit / flat $1,380,000.
This is the median price of properties recorded as sold this quarter — settlement can lag a purchase decision by weeks, so the most recent quarter can revise slightly as more sales are recorded.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median price | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | $2,480,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2041, December 2025 release. Figures are the median for properties sold in the quarter. DCJ suppresses a median where too few properties sold.
What it costs to rent
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2026-Q1Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2026-Q1 quarter
| Type | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | — | $930low sample | $1,350low sample | $1,780low sample |
| Unit / flat | — | $650n=37 | $893n=50 | — | — |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure marked low sample as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Balmain was $900, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2041, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $120 a week above the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $1,350 and a 2-bedroom unit $893.
This is the median rent on new leases signed this quarter, not what existing tenants pay. It usually runs higher than the Census figure.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $900 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2041, March 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. DCJ suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
Balmain on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Balmain, NSW.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Balmain against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Balmain population grew from 16,629 in 2016 to 16,124 in 2025, a change of -3.0% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Balmain | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 16,629 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 16,637 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 16,609 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 16,448 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 16,204 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 15,634 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 15,500 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 15,812 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 16,023 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 16,124 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Balmain gained 1,276 residents from internal migration and 595 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 1,848 people moved away — a net addition of 23 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,276
- Internal migration out+1,454
- Overseas migration in+595
- Natural increase+78
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,686 | 15,579 | -0.7% |
| Median age | 41 | 43 | +2 yrs |
| Median household income | $2,673/wk | $3,149/wk | +18% |
| Median weekly rent | $610/wk | $640/wk | +4.9% |
| Born overseas | 31.7% | 31.4% | -0.3 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 31.7%
- Mortgaged 27.9%
- Rented 38.5%
- Other / not stated 1.8%
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 10score 1,089
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 10score 1,161
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 8score 1,037
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 10score 1,185
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Balmain, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Balmain, last 12 months
- Malicious damage to property360 /100k+25% vs Greater Sydney↓ 6%
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment347 /100k+11% vs Greater Sydney↓ 5%
- Assault180 /100k+241% vs Greater Sydney↓ 33%
- Theft155 /100k+303% vs Greater Sydney↑ 14%
- Drug offences143 /100k+771% vs Greater Sydney↑ 35%
- Robbery19 /100k+555% vs Greater Sydney↑ 200%
Rate per 100,000 people in Balmain; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, malicious damage to property is reported most in Balmain over the last 12 months, running 25% above the Greater Sydney rate and down on the year before.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malicious damage to property | 360 per 100k | 287 per 100k | ↓ 6% vs prior year |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 347 per 100k | 312 per 100k | ↓ 5% vs prior year |
| Assault | 180 per 100k | 53 per 100k | ↓ 33% vs prior year |
| Theft | 155 per 100k | 38 per 100k | ↑ 14% vs prior year |
| Drug offences | 143 per 100k | 16 per 100k | ↑ 35% vs prior year |
| Robbery | 19 per 100k | 3 per 100k | ↑ 200% vs prior year |
Crime statistics © State of New South Wales (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research), used under CC BY 4.0, updated June 2026. Matched to this suburb from BOCSAR’s own locality-level data — see the safest/highest-crime rankings’ methodology for the locality-to-suburb matching used. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Balmain SA2, OpenStreetMap records 4 schools, 2 childcare and kindergarten centres, 1 hospital, 2 GP or clinic locations, 3 supermarkets and 48 green spaces. For families: 1 library and 15 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 14 cafés, 9 restaurants and 13 pubs and bars. Staying active: 1 gym and 30 sports fields. The nearest train station, John Street Square, is about 1,550 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 41 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Balmain Public School
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School
- Birchgrove Public School
- Nicholson Street Public School
Childcare & kindergartens
- Bichgrove Preschool
Libraries
- Balmain Library
Gyms & fitness
- Orangetheory Fitness
Hospitals
- Balmain Hospital
GPs & clinics
- Balmain Villege Health
Supermarkets
- Woolworths
- QE Foodstores
- Balmain East Liquor & Deli
Green spaces
- Issy Wyner Reserve
- College Street Playground
- Gladstone Park
- Birrung Park
- Colgate Avenue Reserve
- Vanardi Green
- Stephen Street Playground
- Punch Park
Schools
Every open NSW school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Balmain SA2 contains 5 schools, of which 3 are government and 2 non-government. Its schools with a published ICSEA average 1161 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Balmain sits in decile 10 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 86% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Balmain Public School (primary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Birchgrove Public School (primary), Nicholson Street Public School (primary), Rozelle Public School (primary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Balmain Public School · State
- Birchgrove Public School · State
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain-Rozelle · Non-Government
- Inner Sydney Montessori School · Non-Government
- Nicholson Street Public School · State
School list: NSW Government open data — ACARA Schools NSW, via the NSW data portal, CC BY 4.0. Catchments: NSW Department of Education “School intake zones” dataset, CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Leichhardt
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereBalmain+0.6%
- 01Leichhardt+0.7%
- 02Annandale (NSW)+0.6%
- 03Lilyfield - Rozelle+0.4%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Balmain: common questions
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