Balaclava vs Braemar.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,001,250 and $980,000.
Braemar (median $980,000) is roughly 2% cheaper to buy into than Balaclava ($1,001,250). Over the past year, Balaclava (+15.1%) ran 7.4 percentage points ahead of Braemar (+7.7%) on house-price growth.
Braemar scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 4/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Balaclava (1037) sits above Braemar (1024).
For buyers
Braemar is the lower entry point at $980,000 median, 2% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Braemar delivers the better gross yield (2.28% vs 2.23%), but Balaclava has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
Balaclava edges out on average school ICSEA (1037 vs 1024).
Common questions
Is Balaclava or Braemar cheaper to buy in?
Braemar has the lower median house price at $980,000, roughly 2% below Balaclava ($1,001,250). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Balaclava or Braemar?
Over the past 12 months, Balaclava grew +15.1% vs +7.7% in Braemar, a gap of 7.4 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Balaclava or Braemar have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Balaclava scores 1037 vs 1024 in Braemar. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Balaclava or Braemar?
Braemar scores 4/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Balaclava or Braemar?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.28% in Braemar vs 2.23% in Balaclava. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Balaclava against another suburb