Side by sideSuburb comparison

Tarrawanna vs Balgownie.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,400,000 and $1,355,000. Balgownie edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Balgownie (median $1,355,000) is roughly 3% cheaper to buy into than Tarrawanna ($1,400,000). Over the past year, Balgownie (-1.1%) ran 0.7 percentage points ahead of Tarrawanna (-1.8%) on house-price growth.

On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Balgownie (1043) sits above Tarrawanna (1019). Balgownie skews owner-occupied (76%), Tarrawanna runs more rental-dense (64% owner).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Balgownie is the lower entry point at $1,355,000 median, 3% 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: Tarrawanna delivers the better gross yield (3.04% vs 2.88%), but Balgownie 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

Balgownie edges out on average school ICSEA (1043 vs 1019).

Common questionsTarrawanna vs Balgownie

Common questions

Is Tarrawanna or Balgownie cheaper to buy in?

Balgownie has the lower median house price at $1,355,000, roughly 3% below Tarrawanna ($1,400,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, Tarrawanna or Balgownie?

Over the past 12 months, Balgownie grew -1.1% vs -1.8% in Tarrawanna, a gap of 0.7 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 Tarrawanna or Balgownie have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Balgownie scores 1043 vs 1019 in Tarrawanna. 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, Tarrawanna or Balgownie?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.04% in Tarrawanna vs 2.88% in Balgownie. 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

Tarrawanna
Metric
Balgownie

Price & Market

$1,400,000
Median house
$1,355,000
$343,440
Median unit
$354,960
-1.8%
Annual growth (house)
-1.1%
Days on market

Rental

$818/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$750/wk
$550/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$540/wk
64.0%
Owner occupied
76.0%
29.0%
Renter occupied
22.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

Walk score
0
Transit score
0
Bike score
70
2,184
Population
5,722
48
Median age
42

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1019
Avg ICSEA
1043

Climate

Annual rainfall
Mean max (Jan)

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