Blackburn South
Detached housing still defines Blackburn South: 75.7% of dwellings are separate houses, yet the median house price has eased 5.3% below its Oct-Dec 2023 peak to $1,326,000. The suburb sits between Blackburn and Forest Hill with 10,939 residents, a median age of 42, and household income in the 67.3 percentile nationally. Its profile is wealthier than average without being apartment-led, because long-held family homes and 39.3% outright ownership keep turnover and redevelopment pressure moderate.
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
5
Median House
$1.3M
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers are paying for land and family format rather than density: 75.7% of homes are separate houses, apartments are only 7.6%, and 34.8% have 4 or more bedrooms. The $1,326,000 median house price is 5.3% below the recent peak, giving slightly better entry than late 2023, but mortgage costs still take 27.9% of income. Compared with inner eastern apartment markets, Blackburn South suits buyers wanting a 3 bedroom stock base, which makes up 46.1% of dwellings.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying for land and family format rather than density: 75.7% of homes are separate houses, apartments are only 7.6%, and 34.8% have 4 or more bedrooms. The $1,326,000 median house price is 5.3% below the recent peak, giving slightly better entry than late 2023, but mortgage costs still take 27.9% of income. Compared with inner eastern apartment markets, Blackburn South suits buyers wanting a 3 bedroom stock base, which makes up 46.1% of dwellings.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed setup. Renting is 24.7%, below owner-occupied tenure, and the $410 weekly rent is supported by family demand rather than a large apartment renter pool. Vacancy is high at 7.8%, so income risk is higher than in tighter markets, while only 3 planning permits in 12 months point to limited new supply. The investment case leans more to long-term land value because prices are up 90.1% since 2013, despite the latest value sitting 5.3% below peak.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Blackburn South iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Orchard Grove Primary School
Prep-6 · 592 students
St Luke the Evangelist School
Prep-6 · 137 students
Demographics
Blackburn South is older and more educated than the national profile, with a median age of 42, 2.0 years above national, and 51.9% university attainment, 21.8 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 38.0%, 16.4 points above national, led by English ancestry at 2,745 people and Chinese ancestry at 2,550. Mandarin is the largest non-English language count at 759, which helps explain demand for established family housing near Blackburn and Box Hill South.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.7%
Houses
16.5%
Townhouse
7.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing wealth is deep but not speculative at the fringe. The median house price rose from $697,500 in 2013 to $1,326,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 90.1% lift and 4.7% annual growth over 14 years, while the latest value is 5.3% below the $1,400,000 peak. Ownership is high: 39.3% own outright and 35.9% have a mortgage, compared with 24.7% renting. Price pressure is softened by low stress measures, with mortgage costs at 27.9% of income and rent at 22.0%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,251
Rent / wk
$410
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
21.8%
Couples, no children
8,862
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce skews professional, which supports incomes above average. Healthcare employs 655 people or 16.9%, followed by Professional/Tech at 548, Education at 508, Construction at 295, and Retail at 291. Professionals are the top occupation with 1,688 workers, ahead of 817 managers. SEIFA is strong but uneven: IEO is decile 9, IER decile 7, IRSD decile 8, and IRSAD decile 8, suggesting high education and occupation scores with slightly lower economic resources.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
13,930
Unemployed
605
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
4,898
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.9%
Postgraduate
15.7%
Born Overseas
38.0%
Dwellings
4,028
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 86.7% drive to work, while public transport is only 3.8% and walking or cycling is 3.6%, so access depends more on roads than station-style commuting. School options are compact but strong, with 2 local primary schools and an ICSEA range of 1108 to 1130; Orchard Grove Primary has 592 enrolments and St Luke the Evangelist has 137. Safety is a clear plus compared with many urban areas, with 506 offences and a crime rate of 46.3 per 1,000.
Drive
86.7%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.78%/yr
(+186 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than fast. The forecast trend is 0.78% a year, or about 186 people annually, with the medium path rising from 23,731 in 2026 to 24,662 in 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver at +414 people a year, offset by internal migration at -98, so population gains depend more on international arrivals than local moves. The gentrification score is 25 and stage is Early signs, compared with stronger renewal markets, because development activity remains modest.
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?
Yes for buyers who value established family housing and quieter streets. Blackburn South has 75.7% separate houses, a median age of 42, and a crime rate of 46.3 per 1,000, which compares well with many busier urban areas.
What is the median house price in Blackburn South?
The median house price in Blackburn South is $1,326,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 5.3% below the $1,400,000 peak recorded in Oct-Dec 2023, but still 90.1% above the 2013 level of $697,500.
What schools are in Blackburn South?
Blackburn South has 2 local primary schools. Orchard Grove Primary School is a Government school with ICSEA 1130 and 592 enrolments, while St Luke the Evangelist School is Catholic with ICSEA 1108 and 137 enrolments.
Is Blackburn South safe?
Blackburn South records 506 offences and a crime rate of 46.3 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences are the largest category with 320 incidents, above crimes against the person at 65.
Is Blackburn South good for property investment?
It is more of a long-term land value market than a high-yield rental market. Prices are up 90.1% since 2013 and rent is $410 a week, but vacancy is 7.8% and only 24.7% of homes are rented.
How is Blackburn South's population changing?
Population growth is forecast at 0.78% a year, or about 186 people annually. The medium projection rises from 23,731 in 2026 to 24,662 in 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration of +414 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Blackburn South?
Blackburn South has a substantial overseas-born population at 38.0%, which is 16.4 percentage points above national. Mandarin is the largest listed language with 759 speakers, followed by Canton at 230 and Greek at 130.
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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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