Family-life report

Is SW12 Balham good for families?

SW12 scores 65/100 for family infrastructure — above average of the 179 London postcodes we track (rank 78). Around 14.8% of nearby households have dependent children.

Parks

3

GP surgeries

6

Libraries

0

Supermarkets

11

Family density

Who lives in SW12?

Very low · Under 16%14.8% of households have dependent children at the representative LSOA. Source: ONS Census 2021, table TS003 (Household composition), via nomisweb.

Commute

31 min

Fastest door-to-door to Waterloo (TfL, 08:15 weekday).

Council tax

£991

Band D, 2025/26 (lowest of 2 touching boroughs).

Safety

86/100

0 Met Police incidents in the latest released month (2026-05).

How SW12 compares nearby

Families in SW12 — FAQ

Is SW12 good for families with kids?
SW12 scores 65/100 for family infrastructure — above average of the 179 London postcodes we track (rank 78). Within 1km you'll find 3 parks, 6 GP surgeries, 0 libraries and 11 supermarkets. 14.8% of nearby households have dependent children (very low family density).
What are the school catchments near SW12?
Wandsworth's most popular primaries in Balham and Earlsfield routinely cut off under 400 metres.
How long is the commute from SW12 for working parents?
Fastest door-to-door commute from SW12 is 31 minutes to Waterloo, per TfL Journey Planner (08:15 weekday arrival). The full /moving-to page lists every central hub.
How much is council tax in SW12?
Band D council tax in SW12 is £991 a year (2025/26, includes the GLA precept). Families typically sit in Bands C–F; multiply roughly 0.89×, 1.0×, 1.11×, 1.22× and 1.44× for bands B, C, D, E, F respectively.
Are there enough parks and GPs in SW12?
3 parks, 6 GP surgeries, 0 libraries and 11 supermarkets sit within a kilometre of the representative postcode. These counts describe everyday family infrastructure; school catchment guidance is provided separately by School Owl.
How does SW12 compare to other London areas for families?
SW12 ranks 78 of 179 London postcodes on our family-life index. See the neighbour list below for nearby alternatives that score higher or lower.

See the full SW12 family report

Schools, safety, commute, council tax and green space — on the same yardstick.

View SW12 family report