Balmain
Statistical Area - sa2

Balmain is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Balmain's population is approximately 15,951 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 372 people, a growth rate of 2.4%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 15,579. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,990 as of June 2024 and an additional 8 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6,182 persons per square kilometer, placing Balmain within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Balmain's growth rate of 2.4% since the census is within 1.0 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.4%, demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. The population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 72.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Balmain is expected to experience population growth just below the national median, increasing by approximately 1,072 persons by 2041, representing a total gain of 6.9% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Balmain is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Balmain has recorded approximately 12 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 61 homes were approved, with an additional 2 approved so far in FY-26. Despite a falling population during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to other areas, which is positive for buyers.

The average value of new homes being built is $609,000, indicating that developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. In terms of commercial approvals, there have been $16.0 million in FY-26, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, Balmain has significantly less development activity, at 74.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. The location has approximately 1984 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market.

Population forecasts suggest Balmain will gain 1,100 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth. New building activity shows 83.0% detached dwellings and 17.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This is notably higher than current patterns (22.0% at Census), demonstrating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures.

Balmain has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects that may impact this area. Notable ones include Western Harbour Tunnel, White Bay Power Station Redevelopment, 73-75 Beattie Street Balmain, and Loyalty Square Balmain Revitalisation. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Balmain demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Balmain has a highly educated workforce. In the technology sector specifically, it stands out in terms of representation.

The unemployment rate is 3.1%. Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 3.9%. As of June 2025, 9,905 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Balmain is higher at 67.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Professional & technical jobs are particularly notable, with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average. Retail trade is under-represented, with only 6.0% of Balmain's workforce compared to 9.3% in Greater Sydney. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, employment increased by 3.9% while labour force grew by 4.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Balmain's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.5%% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Balmain's median taxpayer income was $87,396 with an average of $162,783 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. Based on a 12.61% growth in Wage Price Index since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $98,417 (median) and $183,310 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Balmain rank highly nationally, between the 98th and 99th percentiles. Income analysis shows that the $4000+ earnings band captures 41.8% of the community (6,667 individuals), differing from regional patterns where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 30.9%. This substantial proportion of high earners (51.8% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout the suburb. High housing costs consume 16.3% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 97th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Balmain displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Balmain's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 22.3% houses and 77.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 30.0% houses and 70.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balmain stood at 32.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.5% and rented ones at 39.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $4,000, while the median weekly rent was $640. Nationally, Balmain's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Balmain features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.4% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 29.1% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.6%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households at 3.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.3.

Educational achievement in Balmain places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Balmain exceeds broader benchmarks, with 61.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% state-wide. Bachelor degrees are most common at 36.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 18.3% of qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (8.9%). Educational participation is high with 26.6% currently enrolled in formal education: 8.8% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 5.9% in tertiary education.

Balmain's four schools have a combined enrollment of 1019 students. The area has an ICSEA score of 1160, indicating high educational advantage nationally. All four schools focus on primary education; secondary options are available nearby. School places per 100 residents (6.4) are below the regional average (10.3), suggesting some students attend schools in adjacent areas.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Balmain has 46 active public transport stops, including both ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 15 different routes that together facilitate 6,129 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport options is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing within 150 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 875 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 133 weekly trips per individual stop.

Balmain's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Balmain. The prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups is very low. Approximately 88% of the total population (14,020 people) has private health cover, compared to 80.5% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 7.8 and 7.1% of residents respectively. Seventy-three point one percent of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.2% across Greater Sydney. Nineteen point three percent of residents are aged 65 and over (3,086 people), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors in Balmain perform even better than the general population in health metrics.

Balmain was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Balmain's cultural diversity surpassed most local markets, with 12.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 31.4% born overseas. Christianity was the primary religion in Balmain, representing 41.1%. Notably, Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 0.8% versus 0.7%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (29.1%), Australian (19.4%), and Irish (12.7%). Some ethnic groups showed notable variations: French at 0.8%, Russian at 0.5%, and Scottish at 9.0% compared to regional percentages.

Balmain hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Balmain is 43 years, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 make up 14.3% of the population, while those aged 25-34 constitute 11.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 8.1% to 10.0%, while the 75-84 cohort has risen from 5.4% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 11.3% to 9.8%, and the 35-44 age group has fallen from 15.8% to 14.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Balmain's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow by 410 people (142%), from 288 to 699. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 77% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.