Balga (WA)

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Based on demographic assessments of broader regional updates from the ABS alongside new address verifications by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Balga has an estimated population of 15,291 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,427 people (10.3%) from the 2021 Census, which documented 13,864 residents. The estimate builds upon a baseline resident population of 15,257 calculated by Districts using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025), combined with 70 validated new addresses added since the Census. With this population level, the density stands at 2,912 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb in the top quartile of all nationwide locations evaluated by Districts. The 10.3% rate of growth since the 2021 census outpaced the national figure of 9.3%, positioning the suburb as a key growth point in the region. This expansion was largely underpinned by arrivals from overseas, who represented approximately 71.0% of the overall population gains in recent times.

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Workforce analysis by Districts across aggregated statistical tracts shows a diverse range of skills in the local labor pool, an unemployment rate of 11.0%, and a job growth estimate of 4.0% over the prior year. In March 2026, the employed population numbered 7,826 residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 6.8% higher than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, suggesting potential for labor market improvement, while workforce participation is very close to the Greater Perth level of 70.2%. Census returns show that a small proportion of residents, 4.1%, worked from home, although these figures may reflect the influence of COVID-19 restrictions.

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According to the latest postcode-level tax data released by the ATO for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the suburb of Balga earn a median income of $49,848 and an average of $55,988. These figures sit below national averages and compare to a median of $60,748 and average of $80,248 across Greater Perth. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current figures would translate to roughly $55,296 for the median and $62,107 for the average as of March 2026. Census findings place household, family, and individual incomes in the modest range, ranking between the 20th and 30th percentiles. In terms of earnings distribution, the largest cohort is the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which accounts for 31.8% of residents (4,862 people), matching the regional distribution where this group constitutes . Housing cost pressures are pronounced, with residents retaining only of their income, which ranks in the th percentile.

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Residential structures in the suburb of Balga at the time of the last Census consisted of 67.6% houses and 32.5% alternative dwelling types, such as apartments and semi-detached properties, compared to the wider Perth metropolitan distribution of 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings. Home ownership rates in the suburb of Balga were lower than the Perth metro baseline, standing at 15.7%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (34.7%) or tenants (49.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,482 was notably lower than the Perth metro median of $1,907, while the median weekly rental cost was $310 compared to the metropolitan median of $350. Nationally, local mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also well below the national median of $375.

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Family units constitute the majority of households at 61.5%, which includes 24.3% couples raising children, 19.5% couples without children, and 15.7% single parent homes. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 38.5% of households, with single-person households at 32.4% and group shared households representing 6.1%. The median household occupancy of 2.4 people is slightly lower than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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Educational attainment levels in the suburb of Balga are below regional standards, with 23.0% of residents aged 15+ holding a tertiary degree, compared to a national figure of 30.4%. This differential suggests opportunities for future skills development. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 16.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 5.6% and graduate diplomas at 1.4%. Vocational and technical training is highly represented, with 36.9% of the population aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 24.6%.

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Public transport networks in the suburb of Balga feature 74 active stops, consisting of various bus options. These stops accommodate 13 distinct routes, which combine to deliver 2,450 passenger journeys each week. Access to transit is rated as excellent, with dwellings situated an average of 161 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, leading to high outbound commuting, with private vehicles being the main transit choice at 84%, followed by buses at 6% and trains at 6%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.1, which is below the metropolitan standard. Work-from-home rates were low at 4.1% during the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

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The suburb of Balga exhibits clear health vulnerabilities based on mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, with various conditions common across the population, particularly in older age brackets, alongside a low rate of private health insurance coverage at roughly 49% of residents (~7,558 people). This compares to a coverage level of 59.0% across Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

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The suburb of Balga exhibits high levels of multiculturalism, with 49.4% of residents using a non-English language at home and 51.0% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 44.8% of the local population. The most prominent divergence from regional patterns is in the Islamic community, which represents 11.5% of the population, a figure notably higher than the Greater Perth average of 3.2%.

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The median age in the suburb of Balga is 32 years, making the population younger than the Greater Perth average of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to the wider metropolitan area, the suburb has a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (21.3%) and a lower share of older adults aged 55 - 64 (7.5%). The 25 - 34 bracket is also higher than the national share of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age cohort has increased its share from 3.8% to 4.8%, while the 0 to 4 cohort has shrunk from 8.6% to 7.7%. Demographic modeling indicates significant shifts by with the to age group projected to grow by , adding residents to reach a total of . Seniors aged and older are expected to account for of all population growth, while the youth cohorts aged to and to are projected to experience declines.

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Balga currently has an estimated 1,177 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 622 children aged 0-2 and 414 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 1% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 1% by 2041 (to approximately 1,160 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 1,596. Birth rates in the area have averaged 15.3 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a high rate (among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.