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 $3.05M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 3 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
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 Q4 2025
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 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 1112 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Balmain Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1183
- Inner Sydney Montessori SchoolPrimary · IndependentICSEA 1181
- Fr John Therry Catholic Primary School Balmain-RozellePrimary · CatholicICSEA 1153
Nearby (within 10km)
- Birchgrove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.6kmICSEA 1131
- Sydney Secondary College Balmain CampusSecondary · Government · 0.9kmICSEA 1112
- Rozelle Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.1kmICSEA 1151
- Nicholson Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 1148
- Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay CampusSecondary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1100
- St Scholastica's College Glebe PointSecondary · Independent · 2kmICSEA 1134
- Annandale North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1151
- Fort Street Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1103
- Inner Sydney Montessori School, LilyfieldPrimary · Independent · 2.3km
- St Mark's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.4kmICSEA 1153
- St James Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.4kmICSEA 1120
- Marist Sisters' College WoolwichSecondary · Catholic · 2.4kmICSEA 1103
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
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
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
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Inner West
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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 7,614 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Balmain?
In Balmain, the median house price is $3.05M and the median unit price is $1.44M. Median weekly house rent is $1,250.
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 3 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1172 (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.