Balmain East NSW 2041

Suburb

Suburb Summary

Balmain East, NSW 2041, is a harbourside suburb in Sydney’s Inner West and is governed by Inner West Council. In the Inner West & Inner West Fringe region, it is known for its heritage waterfront village character, strong walkability, ferry access and frequent buses, with typical CBD travel times of about 40 minutes by public transport and 20 minutes by car. Housing is predominantly apartments, with fewer separate houses. Tree canopy cover is 26.72%. The suburb shows above-average household income, solid cultural appeal and strong primary school results, with English, Australian and Irish ancestries prominent. Nearby major shopping options include the broader Balmain centre.

PART 1
Geographic Profile

Property Type Mix

The mix of houses and apartments that make up the Balmain East NSW 2041 property market, and the sale price range each achieved over the past 12 months.

Houses vs Apartments
45.9%
45.9%
8.2%
Houses (45.9%)
Apartments (45.9%)
Townhouses/Villas/Unclassified (8.2%)
House Price Range$1.9M–$11.6MPast 12 months
Apartment Price Range$750k–$2.1MPast 12 months

Major Road Frontage & Noise

How close Balmain East NSW 2041 properties sit to major roads or rail, and how much traffic noise that brings compared to properties set back from them.

Road & rail proximity
100%
On a major road (0%)
Near a major road
Away from major road or rail

Public Transport

Train, metro, light rail, ferry and B-Line services accessible from Balmain East NSW 2041.

Services in Balmain East NSW 2041
Wynyard
Balmain
Balmain East Wharf
The Star

Schools

Primary and secondary school catchments serving Balmain East NSW 2041, with star ratings and the share of suburb dwellings each catchment covers.

Primary School
Nicholson Street Public School
Good level100% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus
Strong level100% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus
Developing level100% of suburb properties in catchment
PART 2
Houses

"Houses" in this report includes detached houses, duplexes, and terraces.

Land Topography

How house lots across Balmain East NSW 2041 sit relative to street level — topography that affects drainage, flood risk, privacy, and build cost.

High-side vs low-side lots
High-sideFlatLow-side
19.5%
54.8%
25.7%
High-side (1m above)
Flat
Low-side (1m below)

Risks & Overlays

See which key planning overlays and environmental risks affect this suburb before you buy.

Heritage
100%
Of houses affected
Bushfire
0%
Of houses affected
Flood
0%
Of houses affected
High voltage power line
0%
Of houses affected

Train Station Proximity

The share of Balmain East NSW 2041 houses within easy walking distance (1.2km) of a train station.

Houses within 1.2km of train station0%Of all houses

Median Price Trend - Houses

The 20-year trend in median house sale prices across Balmain East NSW 2041, tracked separately from apartments.

Balmain East House Median
$1.3M$2.5M$3.8M$5M$690k · 1997$818k · 1998$1.5M · 2001$1.4M · 2002$1.2M · 2003$1.2M · 2004$1.2M · 2005$1.6M · 2006$1.7M · 2007$1.6M · 2008$1.3M · 2009$2.2M · 2010$1.5M · 2011$1.7M · 2012$2M · 2013$2M · 2014$2.5M · 2015$2.5M · 2016$3.2M · 2017$3M · 2018$2.8M · 2019$3.3M · 2020$2.8M · 2021$3.7M · 2022$3.4M · 2023$3M · 2024$4.2M · 202519962003201120182026

Land & Property Feature Metrics

Typical land characteristics and common property features across Balmain East NSW 2041.

Median land value$2.6MOf houses affected
Median lot frontage7.6mOf houses affected
Median land size225m²Of houses affected
Houses with a pool4.8%Of houses affected

Pocket Price Distribution

How property prices vary across the different pockets of Balmain East NSW 2041, and how each pocket compares.

Median house priceDerived from sales
House sales14Past 12 months
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PART 3
Apartments

Median Price Trend - Apartments

The 20-year trend in median apartment sale prices across Balmain East NSW 2041, tracked separately from houses.

Balmain East Apartment Median
$500k$1M$1.5M$2M$495k · 2003$850k · 2004$593k · 2005$700k · 2006$704k · 2007$530k · 2008$581k · 2009$580k · 2010$575k · 2011$595k · 2012$845k · 2013$1.1M · 2014$900k · 2015$1.1M · 2016$919k · 2017$1.3M · 2018$1.5M · 2019$1.4M · 2020$1.2M · 2021$1.3M · 2022$1.1M · 2023$1.9M · 2024$1.3M · 202519962003201120182026

Apartment Projects

Where apartment projects are concentrated across Balmain East NSW 2041, with project-level sales context.

Median apartment priceDerived from sales
Apartment sales11Past 12 months

Median Rent

The median weekly rent for apartments in Balmain East NSW 2041.

Median apartment rent$850Per week

Largest Apartment Projects

The largest apartment projects in Balmain East NSW 2041, ranked by number of lots.

1
8 NICHOLSON ST, BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
2
3 GALLIMORE AVE, BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
3
16 HOSKING ST, BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
4
9 NICHOLSON ST, BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
5
26 NICHOLSON ST, BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
PART 4
Community Profile

Top 3 Occupations

The most common occupations among Balmain East NSW 2041 residents.

Professionals40%
Managers20%
Community and Personal Service Workers10%

Key Demographics & Tenure

Median age, household income, and the renter-versus-owner split that shape the Balmain East NSW 2041 community.

Median age46Years
Median income$4,641Household / week
Renters vs owner-occupiers
RentersOwner-occupiers
40%
60%
Renters
Owner-occupiers

Household Composition

How households are made up across Balmain East NSW 2041 — from families with children to couples and single-person homes.

Household type
Married with children47.9%
Married without children51.9%
Other1%

Top 5 Birth Countries

The leading countries of birth among Balmain East NSW 2041 residents, reflecting the suburb's cultural diversity.

Country of birth
Australia62.8%
England8.8%
New_Zealand3.2%
USA1.1%
China0.8%

Religion

The most common religious affiliations reported by Balmain East NSW 2041 residents.

Top 3 religious affiliations
Christianity43.9%
No Religion11.5%
Buddhism1.4%

Crime in Balmain East NSW 2041

How safe is Balmain East NSW 2041? A local safety rating based on recorded crime rates in the area.

Suburb safety rating
The suburb safety rating is calculated by knest.ai based on crime statistics in NSW by BOCSAR.

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Living in Balmain East NSW 2041: Suburb Profile & FAQs

Common questions about living in and buying property in Balmain East NSW 2041 — lifestyle, transport, schools, and the housing market.

Note: Data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census data and knest.ai internal statistical data.

Is BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 a good suburb for families?

BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 is a solid but mixed option for families rather than an all-round family suburb. The strongest family drawcard is schooling: the primary school rating is 10 out of 10, which is a standout result for buyers focused on younger children. There is also a reasonable child presence, with 5.5% of residents aged 0 to 4 and 11.3% aged 5 to 14, so families are clearly part of the local community. Daily life can work well for parents too because walkability is 4 out of 5 and ferry plus bus access help with school runs and city commuting. The trade-off is housing mix and space. Only 7% of homes are separate houses while 56% are apartments, and the average household size is 2.2, so BALMAIN EAST tends to suit families comfortable with compact living more than buyers wanting a large backyard and a quieter, lower-density setting.

What is it like to live in BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041?

Living in BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 feels established, waterside and village-like, with a strong harbour setting rather than a fast-moving urban centre. Its character is best described as a heritage waterfront village, and that matches the lifestyle picture: good walkability at 4 out of 5, solid cultural appeal at 4 out of 5, and a harbour environment that gives the suburb a very Sydney feel. Buyers who value atmosphere, foreshore outlooks and an older Inner West streetscape will usually see the appeal quickly. At the same time, BALMAIN EAST is not a major retail hub, with retail rated 2 out of 5, so everyday convenience is more selective than in larger centres. Safety sits at 3 out of 5, which suggests a fairly balanced result rather than a suburb you would describe as especially calm or insulated. In practical terms, BALMAIN EAST lifestyle suits buyers who prioritise character, water access and walkable surroundings over big shopping and broader local amenity.

Is BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 well connected for commuting?

BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 is reasonably well connected for commuting, especially for buyers who are happy using ferries and buses rather than relying on rail. The suburb has no train, metro or light rail service, so it does not offer the full range of public transport options that some Sydney commuters want. Even so, bus service is strong, ferry access is available, and the average public transport commute to the Sydney CBD is about 40 minutes, with driving around 20 minutes in typical conditions. That makes BALMAIN EAST workable for city-based professionals, particularly those heading into central or harbour-side employment areas. The trade-off is flexibility. If you prefer a suburb with direct train access or multiple transport backups, BALMAIN EAST may feel more limited day to day. For buyers who enjoy harbour commuting and accept a more mode-specific transport network, though, it remains a very practical inner-ring choice.

Who does BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 suit best?

BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 suits professionals, higher-income couples, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers best. The resident profile is a strong clue here: 68.9% of locals work in manager and professional roles, the top occupation group is professionals at 44.5%, and median weekly family income is $3,521, which points to an affluent buyer pool. The suburb also has a mature feel, with a median age of 43, and its housing mix leans heavily toward apartments rather than large family homes. That means BALMAIN EAST often appeals to buyers who want harbour character, walkability and a polished Inner West lifestyle more than maximum land size. With 40.7% of homes rented, it also has a more active and mixed housing market than tightly held family-only enclaves. It may suit larger families less well, especially those wanting four bedrooms, more parking or a traditional house-dominant streetscape, but it can work very well for buyers who value quality of location over sheer space.

What are the pros and cons of living in BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041?

The main trade-off in BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 is that you get harbour character and strong lifestyle appeal, but you give up some space, convenience and transport variety. On the plus side, BALMAIN EAST has a very appealing setting: waterfront surroundings, a heritage village feel, walkability rated 4 out of 5, culture at 4 out of 5, many buses and ferry access. For buyers wanting an inner-harbour suburb with personality, that is a compelling mix. The compromises are just as important to understand. Retail is only 2 out of 5, so this is not one of Sydney’s more shop-heavy, ultra-convenient hubs. Safety is a middle 3 out of 5 rather than especially strong, and the housing stock is dominated by apartments, with only 7% separate houses. That matters most to larger families or buyers wanting a lower-density environment. For professionals, downsizers and buyers prioritising position and lifestyle, BALMAIN EAST can still be an excellent fit.

What are property prices like in BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041?

Property prices in BALMAIN EAST NSW 2041 are expensive to premium by Sydney buyer expectations, especially once you look at the limited supply. In the past six months, apartments recorded a median sale price of $1.5 million from 9 sales, while houses recorded a median of $4.2 million from just 2 sales. For buyers, that pricing tells a clear story: BALMAIN EAST is not an entry-level harbour suburb, and detached homes sit in a very high budget bracket because stock is scarce and the location is tightly held. Apartments provide the more accessible way into the suburb, but even that entry point is still firmly in Sydney’s upper tier. The trade-off is that buyers are paying for a specific lifestyle package rather than pure land value alone: harbour position, established character, walkability and proximity to the CBD. If your budget is strong and lifestyle matters most, BALMAIN EAST can justify the premium; if value and house size lead the brief, it may feel financially demanding.