Balaclava, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Balaclava VIC is 5,392 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Balaclava is $1,172 per week ($60,944 per year). Median rent in Balaclava is $386 per week ($1,673 per month). Balaclava has a median age of 35 years, younger than the national median of 38. Balaclava has a population density of 7,059 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Balaclava is England. The most common religion is No religion (49.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Greek. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Balaclava is $2,223.

There were 798 recorded offences in Balaclava in 2025-25, a rate of 148 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (371 offences).

Population
5,392
Census 2021
Median income
$1,172/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$386/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
35years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Balaclava vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Balaclava is $1,172 a week, 53% above the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 47th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $386 a week, $70 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 19.1% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 35, 8 years younger than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBalaclavaTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,172/wk$767/wk +53%$766/wk
Household income$2,026/wk$1,687/wk +20%$1,637/wk
Rent$386/wk$316/wk +22%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,223/mo$1,723/mo +29%$1,733/mo
Median age3543 −8 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.1%19.1% −0.0 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Balaclava, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Balaclava Population

5,392 residents at the 2021 Census.

Balaclava Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,172/wk
$60,944 per year
Ranked 489 of 14,663
Median Rent
$386/wk
$1,673 per month
Ranked 2,377 of 14,663
Median Age
35years
3 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,223/mo
Avg household size: 2 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Balaclava Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $2,026/wk
Median rent $386/wk
Rent to income 19.1%

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

Median rent in Balaclava against your income

About $8,779 a month
Median rent $386/wk
Left after rent $1,640/wk
Rent share 19.1%

Balaclava Schools

48
schools nearby
14
government
1119
avg ICSEA score
20,114
total students
St Michael's Grammar School Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,143 students
1180
ICSEA
Wesley College Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 3,181 students
1172
ICSEA
Sholem Aleichem College Independent
Primary · Prep-6 · 96 students
1168
ICSEA
Loreto Mandeville Hall Catholic
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,220 students
1167
ICSEA
The King David School Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 592 students
1165
ICSEA
St Joseph's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 347 students
1164
ICSEA
Caulfield Junior College Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 536 students
1160
ICSEA
Caulfield Grammar School Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 3,555 students
1157
ICSEA
Armadale Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 254 students
1156
ICSEA
South Yarra Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 435 students
1152
ICSEA
St Columba's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 137 students
1152
ICSEA
Elsternwick Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 463 students
1147
ICSEA
St Kilda Park Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 314 students
1142
ICSEA
Our Lady of Lourdes School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 162 students
1142
ICSEA
Ripponlea Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 256 students
1141
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 48 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 Balaclava, with a map

Balaclava Map

Balaclava, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Balaclava, Victoria: 37.8707°S, 144.9949°E

Balaclava Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (48)

People in Balaclava

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.6% (2,673) Female 50.4% (2,717)

Population Density

7,059
people per km²
5,392 people · 0.8 km²

Households

2
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$2,899
Family income/wk

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)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
4.7%
India
2.9%
New Zealand
2.6%
Ireland
1.6%
United States of America
1.5%
Nepal
1.1%
China
1.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Greek
1.8%
Spanish
1.5%
Mandarin
1.3%
Russian
1.3%
Nepali
1.0%
French
1.0%
Italian
1.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
30.4%
Australian
24.3%
Irish
12.8%
Scottish
9.8%
Italian
4.8%
German
4.3%
Chinese
3.4%
Indian
3.3%
Greek
3.2%
Polish
3.0%
Russian
1.7%

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

Religion

No religion
49.9%
Catholic
13.0%
Judaism
11.6%
Not stated
8.7%
Anglican
3.4%
Hinduism
3.2%
Eastern Orthodox
2.6%
Buddhism
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
26.2% 1,229
Separated
1.8% 83
Divorced
8.4% 393
Widowed
2.2% 105
Never married
61.5% 2,887

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
42.8%
Couple: no children
38.6%
Couple: no children under 15
8.4%
One parent: children under 15
5.3%
One parent: no children under 15
4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
39.7%
2 persons
35.5%
3 persons
13.2%
4 persons
8.3%
5 persons
1.7%
6+ persons
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Balaclava

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,423 occupied private dwellings in Balaclava at the 2021 Census, 48.3% were rented, 19.2% owned outright and 29.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.3% 31 dwellings
Owned outright
19.2% 466 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
29.8% 721 dwellings
Rented
48.3% 1,171 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.5% 36 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
44.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
32.0%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
23.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
18.1%
2 bedrooms
51.2%
3 bedrooms
23.6%
4 bedrooms
5.6%
5 bedrooms
0.9%
6+ bedrooms
0.6%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.4%
$300-$449/mo
1.6%
$450-$599/mo
1.8%
$600-$799/mo
1.8%
$800-$999/mo
3.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
11.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
16.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.7%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
16.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
19.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
21.1%
1 vehicle
54.4%
2 vehicles
20.6%
3 vehicles
3.3%
4+ vehicles
0.8%

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

Work, income and education in Balaclava

Employment

Employed full-time
50.4% 2,092 people
Employed part-time
24.3% 1,009 people
Unemployed
3.4% 140 people
Not in labour force
21.9% 909 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
43.5%
Managers
20.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
9.4%
Clerical & Administrative
9.1%
Community & Personal Service
8.3%
Sales Workers
5.0%
Labourers
3.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.3%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.3%
$300-$399/wk
2.1%
$400-$499/wk
5.4%
$500-$649/wk
3.0%
$650-$799/wk
3.6%
$800-$999/wk
5.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.9%
$4,000+/wk
20.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
5.7%
$1-$149/wk
2.5%
$150-$299/wk
3.7%
$300-$399/wk
2.4%
$400-$499/wk
2.9%
$500-$649/wk
3.5%
$650-$799/wk
6.8%
$800-$999/wk
9.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.6%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
14.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.8%
$3,500+/wk
8.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
45.8%
Did not go to work
22.1%
Train
9.9%
Walked only
7.5%
Tram/Light Rail
4.8%
Bicycle
3.3%
Car (passenger)
3.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.1%
Other
0.8%
Bus
0.7%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.3%
Truck
0.2%
Ferry
0.2%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
87.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
4.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
1.5%

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

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
45.8%
Postgraduate Degree
19.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
14.9%
Certificate III/IV
12.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.8%
Certificate I/II
0.8%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
25.4%
Society & Culture
19.6%
Creative Arts
11.5%
Health
9.9%
Engineering
7.7%
Education
6.4%
Information Technology
5.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
4.8%
Architecture & Building
4.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.9%
Agriculture & Environment
1.2%

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

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
22.2%
Primary: Government
21.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
14.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
13.1%
Pre-school
12.4%
Secondary: Government
9.7%
Primary: Catholic
3.6%
Secondary: Catholic
2.8%

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

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
89.1%
Has need for assistance
3.4%
Need for assistance not stated
7.5%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
595
Asthma
191
Arthritis
91
Heart disease
81
Diabetes
71
Cancer
44
Lung condition
42
Kidney disease
39
Stroke
36

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
11.2% 482
Did not provide
88.8% 3,831

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.6% 718
Not a volunteer
83.4% 3,608

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
0.9% 38
Never served
99.1% 4,306

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
65.4%
1 child
13.6%
2 children
14.8%
3 children
4.8%
4 children
1.4%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
12
1951: 1960
51
1961: 1970
101
1971: 1980
117
1981: 1990
171
1991: 2000
191
2001: 2010
315
2011: 2015
282
2016
88
2017
113
2018
111
2019
143
2020
49
2021
6

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

Population Mobility

24.0%
moved in the last year
55.7%
moved in the last 5 years
4.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
73.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,794
Moved from VIC
813
Moved: same area (SA2)
247
Moved from overseas
61
Moved from QLD
27
Moved from NSW
19
Moved from SA
7
Moved from WA
7
Moved from TAS
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
28.7%
5: 14 hours
35.9%
15: 29 hours
9.0%
30+ hours
4.5%
Did not do domestic work
21.8%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
91.4%
Step family: no other children
6.7%
Blended family: no other children
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Balaclava Crime Statistics

798 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
371
Assault
95
Property Damage
71
Justice Procedures
71
Fraud
59
Break & Enter
55
Drug Offences
24
Public Order
23
Weapons
17
Robbery
6
Other
4
Traffic
2

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Yallambie
Income: $1,021/wk Rent: $340/wk $46/wk less rent
Eynesbury
Income: $1,132/wk Rent: $380/wk $6/wk less rent
Geelong West
Income: $974/wk Rent: $350/wk $36/wk less rent
Travancore
Income: $1,027/wk Rent: $351/wk $35/wk less rent
Baranduda
Income: $942/wk Rent: $355/wk $31/wk less rent
Kingsville
Income: $1,202/wk Rent: $355/wk $31/wk less rent
Fairfield (Vic.)
Income: $1,093/wk Rent: $369/wk $17/wk less rent
South Kingsville
Income: $1,259/wk Rent: $381/wk $5/wk less rent

Suburbs near Balaclava

The closest suburb to Balaclava is St Kilda East, 0.6 km away.

St Kilda East
0.6 km away · income $1,183/wk · rent $396/wk
Ripponlea
0.9 km away · income $1,190/wk · rent $391/wk
St Kilda (Vic.)
1.4 km away · income $1,214/wk · rent $381/wk
Elwood
1.4 km away · income $1,364/wk · rent $415/wk
Windsor (Vic.)
1.8 km away · income $1,278/wk · rent $411/wk
Prahran
2.0 km away · income $1,378/wk · rent $421/wk

Compare Balaclava (Vic.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Balaclava

What is the population of Balaclava VIC?

The population of Balaclava VIC is 5,392 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 7,059 people per km². Balaclava is ranked #1,461 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Balaclava?

The median personal income in Balaclava VIC is $1,172 per week, or $60,944 per year. The median household income is $2,026 per week. Family income is $2,899 per week. Balaclava is ranked #489 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Balaclava?

Median rent in Balaclava VIC is $386 per week ($1,673 per month). Rent represents 19.1% of household income, which is considered affordable. Balaclava ranks #2,377 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Balaclava?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Balaclava VIC is $2,223. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Balaclava?

The median age in Balaclava VIC is 35 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Balaclava a good suburb to live in?

Balaclava is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 5,392. The median income is $1,172/wk, which is above the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 20105. All dollar figures in AUD.