Black Hill vs Ballarat North.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $495,000 and $530,000. Black Hill edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Black Hill (median $495,000) is roughly 7% cheaper to buy into than Ballarat North ($530,000).
Ballarat North scores higher on walkability (2/100 vs 10/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Black Hill (1036) sits above Ballarat North (1024).
For buyers
Black Hill is the lower entry point at $495,000 median, 7% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Black Hill offers the higher gross rental yield (3.15% vs 2.94%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Black Hill edges out on average school ICSEA (1036 vs 1024).
Common questions
Is Black Hill or Ballarat North cheaper to buy in?
Black Hill has the lower median house price at $495,000, roughly 7% below Ballarat North ($530,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Black Hill or Ballarat North have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Black Hill scores 1036 vs 1024 in Ballarat North. 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, Black Hill or Ballarat North?
Ballarat North scores 10/100 on walkability vs 2/100. 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, Black Hill or Ballarat North?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.15% in Black Hill vs 2.94% in Ballarat North. 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).
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