Balgownie

An assessment of population growth drivers in Balgownie reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Balgownie is around 5,705, reflecting a decrease of 17 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,722. This estimation is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, indicating a resident population of 5,681. The population density as of February 2026 is 1,546 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Balgownie. 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 utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Balgownie is anticipated to have an above median population growth compared to Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with an expected increase of 972 persons by 2041, reflecting a gain of 16.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Balgownie recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates that Balgownie has experienced approximately 34 dwelling approvals per year. Between the financial years FY-21 and FY-25, around 172 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved in FY-26 to date. This results in an average of about 0.1 new residents arriving per new home over the past five financial years, suggesting that supply is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction value of these dwellings is approximately $555,000, indicating a focus on premium market developments. In FY-26, Balgownie has registered around $9.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting its residential character. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Balgownie maintains similar construction rates per person, contributing to regional market stability. Recent construction comprises 40% standalone homes and 60% medium to high-density housing, offering more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. Currently, around 72% of dwellings in Balgownie are houses, suggesting a shift towards higher-density living due to decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles.

The area reflects a low density with approximately 170 people per approval. Future projections estimate an addition of 948 residents by 2041, aligning with current development levels that maintain stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

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

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to influence the local area's performance: Mount Ousley Interchange, Sylvan Ridge, Balgownie Mountain Bike Trail Infrastructure, and 68-74 Princes Highway Mixed-Use Development. These are the key projects with potential impact on the area.

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Balgownie maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Balgownie's workforce is well-educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.9% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. In December 2025, 2,888 residents were employed, aligning with Regional NSW's 3.9% unemployment rate and a workforce participation rate of 64.0%.

Notably, 32.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with the latter being particularly concentrated at 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed none of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population.

Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 0.8% while labour force and unemployment remained broadly flat, contrasting with Regional NSW's employment decline of 1.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balgownie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Balgownie had a median taxpayer income of $58,855 and an average income of $79,105. These figures are high compared to national levels of $52,390 and $65,215 in Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth from financial year 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $64,070 and average income is around $86,114. Census data shows incomes in Balgownie are at the 55th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant with 27.5% of residents (1,568 people). After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses. Balgownie's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Balgownie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Balgownie's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 71.7% houses and 28.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Balgownie was at 47.0%, with the rest being mortgaged (30.7%) or rented (22.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent was recorded at $450, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Balgownie's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Balgownie has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.1% of all households, including 34.1% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.9%, with lone person households at 22.3% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Balgownie shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's university qualification rate is 31.3%, exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region's rate of 25.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 23.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.4% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Balgownie has 53 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 22 different routes that together facilitate 421 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 151 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward using their cars, which remain the dominant mode of transportation at 94%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Balgownie. According to the 2021 Census, 32.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 60 trips per day, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Balgownie is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Balgownie shows better-than-average health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 58% (~3,318 people) have private health cover, higher than the Regional NSW average of 51.9%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (9.1%) and mental health issues (6.9%), while 69.2% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Under-65 residents have better-than-average health outcomes. Balgownie has 20.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,180 people), lower than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Balgownie was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Balgownie's cultural diversity is above average, with 20.4% born overseas and 16.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity dominates Balgownie's religion, at 57.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups are English (25.1%), Australian (24.0%), and Italian (10.0%).

Notably, Welsh (0.9%) and Macedonian (1.3%) groups are overrepresented in Balgownie compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Serbian is also notably higher at 0.6%.

Balgownie's median age exceeds the national pattern

Balgownie's median age is 41 years, which is slightly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but modestly higher than Australia's national average of 38 years. The 15-24 age group comprises 14.1% of Balgownie's population, a stronger representation compared to Regional NSW. Meanwhile, the 65-74 age cohort makes up 10.4%, which is less prevalent than in Regional NSW. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that younger residents have decreased the median age by 1.1 years to reach 41 years. Notable shifts include an increase in the 15-24 age group from 11.1% to 14.1%, and a rise in the 25-34 cohort from 10.5% to 12.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 12.7% to 10.7%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 13.1% to 11.6%. Population forecasts for Balgownie in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to grow by 42%, adding 310 residents to reach a total of 1,046. Conversely, the 55-64 age group is expected to decrease by 79 residents.