St Kilda East vs Balaclava.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,520,000 and $1,150,000. Balaclava edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Balaclava (median $1,150,000) is roughly 32% cheaper to buy into than St Kilda East ($1,520,000).
Balaclava scores higher on walkability (70/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving St Kilda East (1116) sits above Balaclava (1114).
For buyers
Balaclava is the lower entry point at $1,150,000 median, 32% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Balaclava offers the higher gross rental yield (1.79% vs 1.35%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
St Kilda East edges out on average school ICSEA (1116 vs 1114).
Common questions
Is St Kilda East or Balaclava cheaper to buy in?
Balaclava has the lower median house price at $1,150,000, roughly 32% below St Kilda East ($1,520,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does St Kilda East or Balaclava have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), St Kilda East scores 1116 vs 1114 in Balaclava. 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, St Kilda East or Balaclava?
Balaclava scores 100/100 on walkability vs 70/100. 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, St Kilda East or Balaclava?
Gross rental yield on houses is 1.79% in Balaclava vs 1.35% in St Kilda East. 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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