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Balmain vs North Shore

Name: Balmain vs North Shore — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

State Electorate comparison ≈ 9.0 km apart · Balmain profile · North Shore profile

Balmain North Shore

Balmain and North Shore are two populous neighbouring areas in Sydney with distinct profiles. North Shore has a notably older population, with 18.5% of residents aged 65 or over compared to 13.5% in Balmain. It also has more expansive educational facilities, with an average school size of 857 students, far higher than the 383 in Balmain. Infrastructure and accessibility differ as well; North Shore has far more public transport stops (369 compared to 199) and more walkable amenities per 1,000 residents (18.4 versus 10.8).

Both areas are effectively alike in their housing and family life, with nearly identical rental rates around 48% and about two people per home. Since 2011, the gaps in education and income have narrowed as the lead has flipped for university degrees and high earners. While North Shore continues to have a higher share of people born overseas, the difference has shrunk from a 17.7% lead to 5.6%.

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Where they differ most

Aged 65+: 5.0 pts higher in North Shore No religion: 8.6 pts higher in Balmain Unemployment: 1.1 pts higher in Balmain First Nations: 1.0 pts higher in Balmain Born overseas: 5.6 pts higher in North Shore

Demographics & Identity

Population in Balmain in North Shore +4,380 larger in Balmain gap narrowing

83,273 86th pct 78,893 80th pct

Median age in Balmain in North Shore +2 yrs older in North Shore gap widening

38 yrs 43rd pct 40 yrs 57th pct

Age structure

35.7% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.0 pts 34.8%

25.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.4 pts 24.8%

13.5% Seniors (65+) +5.0 pts ▸ 18.5%

14.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.9 pts 13.0%

10.6% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.7 pts 8.9%

Marital status

48.4% Never married ◂ +7.4 pts 41.0%

37.0% Married +6.1 pts ▸ 43.1%

9.1% Divorced +0.4 pts ▸ 9.5%

2.9% Widowed +1.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.6% Separated ◂ +0.2 pts 2.3%

Age & sex structure

Balmain North Shore

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

61.3% Australia ◂ +4.8 pts 56.5%

6.0% England +1.1 pts ▸ 7.1%

3.4% China +0.2 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.5% New Zealand even 2.5%

1.1% India +0.8 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.7% South Africa +1.0 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.2% Italy ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

0.8% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

0.1% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

33.4% English +1.9 pts ▸ 35.4%

25.4% Australian ◂ +2.1 pts 23.3%

14.4% Irish ◂ +1.2 pts 13.2%

10.5% Scottish +0.4 pts ▸ 10.9%

8.7% Chinese +1.2 pts ▸ 10.0%

5.9% Italian ◂ +2.0 pts 3.8%

3.7% German +0.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.0% Indian +0.9 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.2% Greek ◂ +0.8 pts 1.4%

1.4% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.2% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%

Language

Language used at home

74.0% English only ◂ +0.6 pts 73.4%

3.8% Mandarin +0.4 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.5% Cantonese +0.9 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.7%

1.0% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 0.5%

0.9% Vietnamese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.3%

0.5% Hindi +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Arabic ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

53.2% No religion ◂ +8.6 pts 44.6%

34.0% Christianity +8.5 pts ▸ 42.5%

6.7% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 6.3%

2.9% Buddhism ◂ +0.6 pts 2.3%

1.1% Hinduism +1.0 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.0% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.6% Judaism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% Other religions even 0.5%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Balmain in North Shore +0.13 more in Balmain

2.17 60th pct 2.04 57th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Balmain in North Shore +6 more in Balmain

27 71st pct 21 54th pct

Students in Balmain in North Shore +7,641 more in North Shore

10,354 58th pct 17,995 89th pct

Avg size in Balmain in North Shore +473 larger in North Shore

383 31st pct 857 93rd pct

ICSEA in Balmain in North Shore +51 higher in North Shore

1,129 92nd pct 1,180 100th pct

Highest year of school

79.8% Year 12 +5.1 pts ▸ 84.9%

7.5% Year 10 ◂ +1.7 pts 5.8%

3.8% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.2 pts 1.6%

2.9% Year 11 ◂ +0.2 pts 2.6%

Highest qualification level

41.4% Bachelor degree +3.5 pts ▸ 44.9%

21.8% Postgraduate degree +0.4 pts ▸ 22.2%

11.4% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.1 pts ▸ 11.5%

8.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.7 pts 5.8%

4.8% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 4.7%

0.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

Field of qualification

23.4% Management & commerce +7.3 pts ▸ 30.7%

18.1% Society & culture even 18.0%

10.2% Creative arts ◂ +3.5 pts 6.7%

8.4% Health +0.4 pts ▸ 8.8%

7.2% Engineering & related +0.1 pts ▸ 7.3%

5.6% Education ◂ +0.3 pts 5.3%

4.6% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.4 pts 4.1%

4.5% Architecture & building ◂ +1.2 pts 3.4%

3.9% Information technology +0.2 pts ▸ 4.1%

2.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.5 pts 2.0%

1.0% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Balmain in North Shore +$242 higher in North Shore gap narrowing

$1,336 96th pct $1,578 100th pct

Household income in Balmain in North Shore +$196 higher in North Shore gap narrowing

$2,444 93rd pct $2,640 99th pct

Family income in Balmain in North Shore +$231 higher in North Shore gap narrowing

$3,642 100th pct $3,873 100th pct

Household income distribution

31.0% $4,000 or more +2.3 pts ▸ 33.2%

24.1% $1,500–$2,999 +2.7 pts ▸ 26.7%

16.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.4 pts 15.2%

13.0% Under $650 ◂ +3.8 pts 9.2%

10.6% $3,000–$3,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 11.1%

Personal income distribution

25.3% $1,500–$2,999 +3.1 pts ▸ 28.5%

27.4% Under $650 ◂ +5.0 pts 22.4%

23.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.0 pts 22.7%

17.4% $3,000 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 21.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.3% Mental health ◂ +2.8 pts 6.5%

7.8% Other condition ◂ +0.9 pts 6.9%

7.5% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 6.8%

5.7% Arthritis +0.3 pts ▸ 6.0%

2.5% Heart disease +0.9 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.5% Cancer +0.6 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.1 pts 2.4%

1.1% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.5% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

68.5% None +2.2 pts ▸ 70.7%

18.2% One condition ◂ +0.9 pts 17.3%

4.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.2 pts 4.2%

1.7% Three or more even 1.6%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Balmain in North Shore +0.1 larger in Balmain gap widening

2.2 10th pct 2.1 5th pct

Family composition

53.8% Couples with children ◂ +4.5 pts 49.3%

33.7% Couples without children +6.1 pts ▸ 39.9%

11.0% One-parent families ◂ +1.6 pts 9.4%

1.5% Other families even 1.4%

Household size

35.1% 2 people +2.4 pts ▸ 37.6%

33.4% 1 person +3.5 pts ▸ 36.9%

14.9% 3 people ◂ +2.2 pts 12.7%

12.8% 4 people ◂ +3.4 pts 9.4%

3.1% 5 people ◂ +0.3 pts 2.8%

0.7% 6 or more even 0.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Balmain in North Shore +$40 higher in North Shore gap narrowing

$550 97th pct $590 100th pct

Mortgage in Balmain in North Shore +$366 higher in Balmain gap narrowing

$3,399 100th pct $3,033 100th pct

People / bedroom in Balmain in North Shore even gap steady

1.00 93rd pct 1.00 93rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

47.7% Rented +0.2 pts ▸ 47.9%

23.5% Owned outright +5.3 pts ▸ 28.7%

26.4% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.5 pts 20.9%

1.2% Other tenure +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.3% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 0.8%

Types of homes

43.2% Flat or apartment +28.9 pts ▸ 72.0%

35.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +24.3 pts 11.0%

20.6% Separate house ◂ +4.1 pts 16.4%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

35.9% 2 bedrooms +2.9 pts ▸ 38.8%

28.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +4.8 pts 23.6%

18.6% 1 bedroom +2.3 pts ▸ 20.8%

10.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.7 pts 8.9%

2.3% 5 or more +2.1 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.8% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

Weekly rent distribution

26.0% $350–$549 +7.1 pts ▸ 33.1%

26.8% $550–$749 +4.4 pts ▸ 31.3%

23.7% $750 or more +2.3 pts ▸ 26.1%

10.7% $200–$349 ◂ +6.3 pts 4.5%

10.2% Under $200 ◂ +7.6 pts 2.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

56.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.3 pts 50.6%

19.7% $1,800–$2,999 +1.7 pts ▸ 21.5%

9.0% Under $1,000 +2.0 pts ▸ 11.0%

9.8% $1,000–$1,799 +0.8 pts ▸ 10.5%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Balmain in North Shore +170 more in North Shore

199 33rd pct 369 75th pct

Stops/1k in Balmain in North Shore +2.29 more in North Shore

2.39 13th pct 4.68 52nd pct

Departures/1k in Balmain in North Shore +159.5 more in Balmain

2,697.3 93rd pct 2,537.8 91st pct

PT routes in Balmain in North Shore +10 more in North Shore

45 81st pct 55 86th pct

How people get to work

56.3% Worked at home +4.5 pts ▸ 60.8%

17.6% Car (driver) ◂ +1.0 pts 16.6%

5.1% Walked ◂ +0.7 pts 4.4%

2.6% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 2.2%

0.6% Train +1.4 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.4% Car (passenger) even 1.4%

1.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

51.9% 1 vehicle +1.8 pts ▸ 53.7%

22.5% 2 vehicles +0.1 pts ▸ 22.6%

20.7% No vehicle ◂ +2.9 pts 17.8%

3.7% 3 vehicles +0.4 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.2% 4 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.2% Professional & technical +3.4 pts ▸ 21.5%

9.7% Finance & insurance +4.2 pts ▸ 13.9%

11.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.5 pts 11.0%

10.2% Education & training ◂ +2.8 pts 7.3%

6.5% Retail trade ◂ +0.7 pts 5.8%

5.5% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.6 pts 4.8%

5.1% Construction ◂ +0.9 pts 4.2%

5.1% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.9 pts 4.2%

5.0% Media & telecommunications ◂ +0.9 pts 4.1%

2.1% Rental & real estate +0.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.5% Wholesale trade +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.9% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

Occupations people work in

43.1% Professionals +1.7 pts ▸ 44.8%

21.7% Managers +1.4 pts ▸ 23.1%

10.6% Clerical & administrative +0.9 pts ▸ 11.5%

6.6% Community & personal service ◂ +1.2 pts 5.4%

6.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.5 pts 4.6%

6.0% Sales workers even 6.0%

2.9% Labourers ◂ +1.0 pts 1.9%

1.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Balmain in North Shore +0.2 higher in Balmain

9.2 100th pct 9.0 98th pct

Types ≤15 min in Balmain in North Shore +0.1 more in Balmain

7.9 99th pct 7.8 96th pct

15-min city in Balmain in North Shore +2.3 pts higher in Balmain

100.0% 100th pct 97.6% 90th pct

Walk to shops in Balmain in North Shore +2.4 pts higher in Balmain

99.5% 99th pct 97.1% 93rd pct

Walk to transit in Balmain in North Shore even

100.0% 100th pct 100.0% 99th pct

Walk to school in Balmain in North Shore +2.4 pts higher in Balmain

99.9% 100th pct 97.5% 92nd pct

Walk to a park in Balmain in North Shore even

100.0% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct

Walk to health in Balmain in North Shore +2.7 pts higher in Balmain

98.2% 99th pct 95.5% 96th pct

Amenities/1k in Balmain in North Shore +7.5 more in North Shore

10.8 18th pct 18.4 74th pct

Intersections/km² in Balmain in North Shore +54 higher in Balmain

418 96th pct 364 93rd pct

Mean slope in Balmain in North Shore +4.1 pts higher in North Shore

7.4% 80th pct 11.4% 100th pct

Compare Balmain with nearby areas

Newtown Summer Hill Sydney Heffron Drummoyne Lane Cove Rockdale Canterbury

Compare North Shore with nearby areas

Willoughby Manly Sydney Vaucluse Wakehurst Coogee Balmain Newtown

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Balmain vs North Shore [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED10004/balmain/vs/SED10060/north-shore