Rozelle vs Balmain.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,255,000 and $2,920,000.
Rozelle (median $2,255,000) is roughly 23% cheaper to buy into than Balmain ($2,920,000). Over the past year, Balmain (+20.3%) ran 19.6 percentage points ahead of Rozelle (+0.7%) on house-price growth.
Balmain scores higher on walkability (26/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Rozelle (1138) sits above Balmain (1130).
For buyers
Rozelle is the lower entry point at $2,255,000 median, 23% 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: Rozelle delivers the better gross yield (2.65% vs 2.32%), but Balmain 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
Rozelle edges out on average school ICSEA (1138 vs 1130).
Common questions
Is Rozelle or Balmain cheaper to buy in?
Rozelle has the lower median house price at $2,255,000, roughly 23% below Balmain ($2,920,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Rozelle or Balmain?
Over the past 12 months, Balmain grew +20.3% vs +0.7% in Rozelle, a gap of 19.6 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 Rozelle or Balmain have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Rozelle scores 1138 vs 1130 in Balmain. 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, Rozelle or Balmain?
Balmain scores 100/100 on walkability vs 26/100. 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, Rozelle or Balmain?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.65% in Rozelle vs 2.32% in Balmain. 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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