Two neighbouring Sydney suburbs, 0.9 km apart, on the same open data. Balmain scores higher on 2 of 10 measures.
| Balmain | Birchgrove | |
|---|---|---|
| Active | 58 | 74 |
| Safety | 16 | 58 |
| Wealth | 84 | 97 |
| Value | 81 | 91 |
| Parks | 95 | 96 |
| Cafés | 88 | 62 |
| Transit | 65 | 66 |
| Green space | 60 | 82 |
| Active & healthy | 74 | 78 |
| Schools nearby (OSM) | 74 | 53 |
| Median rent | $625/wk | $700/wk |
| Median house price (Jan–Mar 2026) | $2,793,000 | $2,793,000 |
| House sales this quarter | 36 | 36 |
| Population | 10,454 | 3,228 |
| Full profile | Balmain in full | Birchgrove in full |
Scores are percentiles across all 422 Sydney suburbs: 100 is the best in the city, 50 is mid-table. Highlighted figures lead the row. How we rank suburbs.
Birchgrove scores higher for safety (recorded crime per 1,000 residents) between the two, based on official crime statistics.
Balmain and Birchgrove have the same median house price.
Balmain scores higher on 2 of 10 measures across safety, activity, value, parks and cafés — see the full breakdown below, or the complete profile for Balmain or Birchgrove.
Updated October 2026. Compare other Sydney suburbs →