Side by sideSuburb comparison

Lake Wendouree vs Ballarat North.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $795,000 and $530,000. Ballarat North edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Ballarat North (median $530,000) is roughly 50% cheaper to buy into than Lake Wendouree ($795,000).

Lake Wendouree scores higher on walkability (34/100 vs 10/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Ballarat North (1024) sits above Lake Wendouree (1023).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Ballarat North is the lower entry point at $530,000 median, 50% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

Ballarat North offers the higher gross rental yield (2.94% vs 1.96%), favouring cash-flow investors.

For families

Ballarat North edges out on average school ICSEA (1024 vs 1023).

Common questionsLake Wendouree vs Ballarat North

Common questions

Is Lake Wendouree or Ballarat North cheaper to buy in?

Ballarat North has the lower median house price at $530,000, roughly 50% below Lake Wendouree ($795,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Lake Wendouree or Ballarat North have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Ballarat North scores 1024 vs 1023 in Lake Wendouree. 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, Lake Wendouree or Ballarat North?

Lake Wendouree scores 34/100 on walkability vs 10/100. 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, Lake Wendouree or Ballarat North?

Gross rental yield on houses is 2.94% in Ballarat North vs 1.96% in Lake Wendouree. 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

Lake Wendouree
Metric
Ballarat North

Price & Market

$795,000
Median house
$530,000
$512,500
Median unit
$685,000
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

$300/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$300/wk
$321/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$285/wk
73.0%
Owner occupied
65.0%
25.0%
Renter occupied
31.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

34
Walk score
10
0
Transit score
0
100
Bike score
100
2,878
Population
4,041
53
Median age
43

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1023
Avg ICSEA
1024

Climate

612 mm
Annual rainfall
612 mm
23.2°C
Mean max (Jan)
23.2°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).