Colo Vale vs Balaclava

Colo Vale (median $1,000,000) is roughly 0% cheaper to buy into than Balaclava ($1,001,250). Over the past year, Colo Vale (+22%) ran 6.9 percentage points ahead of Balaclava (+15.1%) on house-price growth.

Buying in Colo Vale or Balaclava?

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Selling in Colo Vale? The free selling guide

Colo Vale and Balaclava side by side

MeasureColo ValeBalaclava
Price and market
Median house$1,000,000$1,001,250
Median unit$343,440$343,440
House price change, 12 months+22.0%+15.1%
Renting
House rent$750/wk$750/wk
Owner occupied81.0%76.0%
Renter occupied18.0%22.0%
Schools
Schools nearby916
Average ICSEA10101037
Lifestyle and people
Walk score00
Transit score00
Bike score355
Population1,775574
Median age3840
Climate
Annual rainfall828 mm852 mm
Mean max, January26.1°C25.9°C

Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.

Which suits whom

On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Balaclava (1037) sits above Colo Vale (1010).

For buyers
Colo Vale is the lower entry point at $1,000,000 median, 0% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Colo Vale carries both higher gross yield (3.90% vs 3.90%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Balaclava edges out on average school ICSEA (1037 vs 1010).

Colo Vale vs Balaclava: common questions

Is Colo Vale or Balaclava cheaper to buy in?

Colo Vale has the lower median house price at $1,000,000, roughly 0% 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, Colo Vale or Balaclava?

Over the past 12 months, Colo Vale grew +22% vs +15.1% in Balaclava, a gap of 6.9 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 Colo Vale or Balaclava have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Balaclava scores 1037 vs 1010 in Colo Vale. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Colo Vale or Balaclava?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.90% in Colo Vale vs 3.90% 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.