Balmain East
NSW 2041 · Inner West
1,900 (2021) → 1,960 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Inner West local government area (est. 172,783 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Balmain East is a stable suburb in Inner West, NSW 2041, about 2km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $4.03M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 86/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Balmain East has an overall score of 93/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 53/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (8.47%), New Zealand (1.74%), USA (1.74%), South Africa (1.47%), Ireland (1.26%)
Top languages: Spanish (1.32%), Mandarin (1.05%), French (0.95%), Arabic (0.84%), German (0.79%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q4 2025
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated 2025
Schools
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1117 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Nicholson Street Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1148
Nearby (within 10km)
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain-RozellePrimary · Catholic · 0.9kmICSEA 1153
- Inner Sydney Montessori SchoolPrimary · Independent · 0.9kmICSEA 1181
- Balmain Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1183
- Fort Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.1kmICSEA 1103
- Observatory Hill Environmental Education CentreCombined · Government · 1.3km
- Birchgrove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1131
- Macquarie Grammar SchoolSecondary · Independent · 1.9kmICSEA 1081
- Cameragal Montessori School, Lavender Bay CampusPrimary · Independent · 2km
- SHORE - Sydney Church of England Preparatory School, North SydneyPrimary · Independent · 2km
- Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay CampusSecondary · Government · 2.1kmICSEA 1100
- Conservatorium High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.1kmICSEA 1176
- St Aloysius' CollegeSecondary · Independent · 2.1kmICSEA 1223
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Fitness paradise
Top 20% nationally — gyms, leisure centres, pools and sports fields all close by. Easy to stay active without travelling far.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Outdoor paradise
Top 20% nationally — abundant parks and green space, plus trails, bike paths and places to enjoy the outdoors.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Cultural hotspot
Top 20% nationally — theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and landmarks all within reach. A genuinely vibrant cultural scene.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW
Childcare
Limited options
Below average for childcare access — fewer services nearby, and families may need to travel further for preferred options.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Inner West
Compare Balmain East with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Balmain East
Is Balmain East safe?
Balmain East has a residential safety score of 53/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 4,895 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Balmain East?
In Balmain East, the median house price is $4.03M and the median unit price is $2.22M. Median weekly house rent is $1,250.
How far is Balmain East from Sydney CBD?
Balmain East is about 2.3 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 19 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Balmain East?
Balmain East has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1148 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Balmain East?
Balmain East has a transport score of 86/100 and 7 bus stops.