Balmain
NSW 2041 · Inner West
10,454 (2021) → 10,782 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 is a stable suburb in Inner West, NSW 2041, about 3km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $2.86M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 2 schools, a transport score of 81/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Balmain has an overall score of 91/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 67/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2041 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (9.08%), New Zealand (2.79%), USA (1.66%), Ireland (1.34%), China (1.24%)
Top languages: Mandarin (1.52%), Italian (1.18%), Spanish (0.99%), French (0.78%), Greek (0.77%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
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 March 2026
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 1112 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Balmain Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1172
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain - RozellePrimary · CatholicICSEA 1170
Nearby (within 10km)
- Inner Sydney Montessori SchoolPrimary · Independent · 0.5kmICSEA 1178
- Birchgrove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.6kmICSEA 1132
- Sydney Secondary College Balmain CampusSecondary · Government · 0.9kmICSEA 1112
- Rozelle Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.1kmICSEA 1162
- Nicholson Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 1151
- Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay CampusSecondary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1094
- St Scholastica's College Glebe PointSecondary · Independent · 2kmICSEA 1138
- Annandale North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1148
- Fort Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1094
- Inner Sydney Montessori School, LilyfieldPrimary · Independent · 2.3km
- St Mark's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.4kmICSEA 1156
- St James Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.4kmICSEA 1125
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
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.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
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
Solid scene
Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Inner West
Compare Balmain with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Balmain
Is Balmain safe?
Balmain has a residential safety score of 67/100, 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 4,859 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Balmain?
In Balmain, the median house price is $2.86M and the median unit price is $1.45M. Median weekly house rent is $1,200.
How far is Balmain from Sydney CBD?
Balmain is about 3.0 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 21 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Balmain?
Balmain has 2 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1171 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Balmain?
Balmain has a transport score of 81/100 and 26 bus stops.