Blackburn South
A 3.6 sq km suburb supports 10,939 residents at a density of 3,041.5 people per sq km, giving Blackburn South an established and compact residential profile. The median age is 42, while 51.9% of residents have a university qualification and 38.0% were born overseas, both above national levels by 21.8 and 16.4 percentage points respectively. Compared with nearby Box Hill's more apartment-oriented centre, Blackburn South is defined by 75.7% separate houses and 34.8% homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 67.3rd percentile nationally, helping explain the suburb's established-wealth character and strong owner-occupier base.
Population
10,939
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,861/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$1.4M
October to December 2025
Blackburn South is aimed at buyers who value established detached housing over high-density stock. A further 34.8% have 4 or more bedrooms, so the housing mix is more family-sized than apartment-led. Mortgage costs of $2,251 per month equal 27.9% of income, below the 30% stress threshold used here, because household earnings are relatively solid. Compared with nearby Box Hill, buyers are paying for lower-density housing and larger floorplans.
For Buyers
Blackburn South is aimed at buyers who value established detached housing over high-density stock. A further 34.8% have 4 or more bedrooms, so the housing mix is more family-sized than apartment-led. Mortgage costs of $2,251 per month equal 27.9% of income, below the 30% stress threshold used here, because household earnings are relatively solid. Compared with nearby Box Hill, buyers are paying for lower-density housing and larger floorplans.
For Investors
The rental case rests on established demand rather than a large investor-owned apartment market. Renting accounts for 24.2% of occupied housing, compared with 38.5% owned outright and 35.2% with a mortgage, while advertised rent is $410 per week. A 7.8% vacancy rate gives tenants more choice than a tightly constrained market, so investors should test achievable rent and leasing time carefully. Rents have grown 23.5% across the wider area, and overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver. There were 10 development applications in the past 12 months, suggesting ongoing alterations and small-scale activity rather than a major new dwelling pipeline. The 22.0% rent-to-income share is below mortgage costs at 27.9%, which may support stable household demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+600.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Blackburn South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Orchard Grove Primary School
St Luke the Evangelist School
Aurora School
Demographics
Blackburn South has an older profile than the national average, with a median age of 42, or 2 years above the national figure. University attainment is 51.9%, 21.8 percentage points above national levels, and 38.0% of residents were born overseas, 16.4 points higher than nationally. English ancestry counts 2,745 people and Chinese ancestry 2,550, while Mandarin is spoken by 759 residents and Cantonese by 230. No religion is recorded for 4,666 people, compared with 4,563 identifying with Christianity. Household size averages 2.6 people, only 0.1 above the national figure. Compared with nearby Blackburn, the suburb's mix points to a similarly established eastern-suburban base, with international migration adding cultural and language variety. Resident stability is notable because 84.0% stayed at the same address over the reference period, while turnover was 16.0%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.7%
Houses
16.5%
Townhouse
7.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Blackburn South is predominantly detached and owner-occupied, with 38.5% of homes owned outright and 35.2% carrying a mortgage. Separate houses account for 75.7% of stock, compared with 16.5% semi-detached dwellings and 7.6% apartments. The most common formats are 3-bedroom homes at 46.1% and 4 or more bedrooms at 34.8%, supporting the suburb's established family-housing identity. Compared with nearby Box Hill, the lower-density stock is the defining difference, although the 24.2% rental share still provides a meaningful tenant segment.
Mortgage / mo
$2,251
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$410
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$753
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
340
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.9%
Couples with children
32.7%
Couples, no children
13.9%
Single parent
2,933
Total families
Economy & Employment
Blackburn South's economy is weighted toward health, professional and education work. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.9%, or 655 workers, followed by Professional and Technical services at 14.2% and 548 workers, Education at 13.1% and 508, Construction at 7.6% and 295, and Retail at 7.5% and 291. Professionals number 1,688 and managers 817, reinforcing the suburb's highly skilled employment base. Unemployment is 4.8% with a 60.3% participation rate, while the full-time employment rate is 57.8%. Household income ranks at the 67.3rd percentile nationally. SEIFA results are also strong: the IEO is in decile 9, above the IER in decile 7, while IRSD and IRSAD both sit in decile 8. That gap suggests education and occupation strength is higher than the economic-resources position, rather than all measures moving identically.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
5,447
Unemployed
259
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
60.3%
Employed
5,188
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.9%
Postgraduate
15.7%
Born Overseas
38.0%
Dwellings
4,028
Transport to Work
Daily life is more car-oriented than transit-oriented: 50.9% of residents drive to work, compared with 2.2% using public transport and 2.1% walking or cycling. Working from home is common at 41.3%, which supports local routines but also reduces the need for daily commuting. Education access includes 3 nearby schools, comprising 2 primary schools and 1 special school across government and Catholic sectors. Enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address because they can cross suburb boundaries. Recorded crime totalled 506 offences, equal to 46.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 320. That category is materially larger than justice procedures at 66 and crimes against the person at 65, providing a useful comparison point for household security planning. IRSAD sits in decile 8, above the midpoint nationally, and volunteering is 16.2%, supporting local participation.
Drive
50.9%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
41.3%
Population Forecast
+0.78%/yr
(+186 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than rapid, with an annual forecast trend of 0.78% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 11.5% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Mixed. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 25, so change is more likely to appear through renovations, household turnover and gradual demand shifts than a wholesale market reset. The affordability trend is labelled Improving, although affordability moved from 54.7% in 2011 to 46.7% in 2021. Real income growth of 17.6% has lagged rent growth of 23.5%, which may constrain younger entrants even as the working-age share increased 1.2%. Compared with a static established-suburb profile, the 0.78% trend and overseas migration signal continuing momentum without suggesting a high-growth corridor.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+414
Net Internal / yr
-98
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +15% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +414/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
506
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
46.3
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blackburn South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blackburn South a good suburb to live in?
Blackburn South suits households seeking established, detached housing, with 75.7% of dwellings being separate houses and a median age of 42. It also has strong education and income indicators, including 51.9% university attainment and a household income percentile of 67.3.
What schools are in Blackburn South?
There are 3 nearby schools listed for Blackburn South: 2 primary schools and 1 special school. The mix includes 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Families should confirm enrolment zones and intake rules for the exact property address before buying or renting.
Is Blackburn South safe?
Recorded crime totalled 506 offences, equivalent to 46.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 320, followed by justice procedures at 66 and crimes against the person at 65, so buyers should review local conditions and property-security needs.
Is Blackburn South good for property investment?
Blackburn South has an established rental base, with 24.2% of homes rented and weekly rent at $410. The vacancy rate is 7.8%, while wider-area rent growth is 23.5%. Overseas migration is the main forecast driver, but investors should allow for tenant choice and test the net return carefully.
How is Blackburn South's population changing?
The suburb has 10,939 residents today, with 84.0% of residents staying at the same address and turnover of 16.0%. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 11.5% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.78% driven primarily by overseas migration.
What languages are spoken in Blackburn South?
Mandarin is the most common listed language other than English, spoken by 759 residents, followed by Cantonese at 230 and Greek at 130. Hindi accounts for 60 speakers and Persian for 53, consistent with an overseas-born share of 38.0%.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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