Hawthorne vs Balmoral.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,100,000 and $1,880,000. Balmoral edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Balmoral (median $1,880,000) is roughly 12% cheaper to buy into than Hawthorne ($2,100,000).
Balmoral scores higher on walkability (72/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Balmoral (1112) sits above Hawthorne (1103).
For buyers
Balmoral is the lower entry point at $1,880,000 median, 12% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Balmoral offers the higher gross rental yield (2.49% vs 2.23%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Balmoral edges out on average school ICSEA (1112 vs 1103).
Common questions
Is Hawthorne or Balmoral cheaper to buy in?
Balmoral has the lower median house price at $1,880,000, roughly 12% below Hawthorne ($2,100,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Hawthorne or Balmoral have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Balmoral scores 1112 vs 1103 in Hawthorne. 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, Hawthorne or Balmoral?
Balmoral scores 100/100 on walkability vs 72/100. 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, Hawthorne or Balmoral?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.49% in Balmoral vs 2.23% in Hawthorne. 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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