Moving to Balgowlah NSW 2093
What the official numbers say about living in Balgowlah — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $640 a week, against a median household income of $2,681 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Balgowlah grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,495 → 8,068 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, French, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Balgowlah sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (30% of workers), while 63% work from home.
Nearest train station: St Leonards, 7 km south-west.
Nearest metro station: Crows Nest, 6.8 km south-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Cremorne Point Wharf, Milson Rd, 6.6 km south-west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Manly Wharf, 2.1 km east.
Nearest airport: Rose Bay Seaplane Base, 8.4 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 10 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 44 schools · 133 cafes & restaurants · 9 supermarkets · 60 parks · 24 beaches — see them all on the Balgowlah profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School Balhowlah 450 m · Manly West Public School 650 m · Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus 750 m · Manly Vale Public School 1.2 km · Seaforth Public School 1.3 km · Balgowlah Heights Public School 1.3 km · St Kieran's Catholic Primary School 1.4 km · Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus 1.6 km
Groceries: Coles 200 m · Woolworths 850 m · Balgowlah Heights IGA 900 m · Harris Farm Markets 1.9 km · Coles Local 2.2 km · Coles 2.3 km · Manly Food Co-op 2.4 km · IGA 2.8 km
Parks and reserves: North Harbour Reserve 550 m · Brimebecon Park 650 m · Swaine Reserve 700 m · Manly West Park 900 m · Nanbaree Reserve 950 m · Weerona Park 950 m · Woodbine Reserve 1.1 km · Condover Street Reserve 1.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Balgowlah, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Brush-turkey · Noisy Miner · Australian Magpie · Pied Currawong · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Balgowlah, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balgowlah here | 8,068 | — | 10/10 | 17% |
| Balgowlah Heights | 3,546 | — | 10/10 | 29% |
| Manly Vale | 6,389 | — | 10/10 | 24% |
| Fairlight | 6,141 | — | 10/10 | 13% |
| North Balgowlah | 3,816 | — | 10/10 | 24% |
| Clontarf | 1,746 | — | 10/10 | 36% |
| Seaforth | 7,384 | — | 10/10 | 31% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Northern Beaches — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Warringah — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2093 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Balgowlah profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $640 a week.
The population grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,495 people to 8,068. It sits about 10 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and St Leonards station is roughly 7 km away. Local government is Northern Beaches council, and the federal seat is Warringah.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Balgowlah vs Manly Vale · Balgowlah vs Fairlight.
Nearby guides: Balgowlah Heights · Manly Vale · Fairlight · North Balgowlah · Clontarf · Seaforth.
Keep an eye on Balgowlah
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