Blackbutt
A 43-year median age and 3,291 residents give Blackbutt a more mature profile than the national average, while 70.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 49.0% have four or more bedrooms. The overseas-born share is 24.3%, which is 2.7 percentage points above the national figure, adding cultural variety without changing the suburb's predominantly established housing pattern. For buyers comparing Blackbutt with nearby Shell Cove and Flinders, the key distinction is its detached-dominant stock, moderate density of 1,277.7 people per square kilometre and relatively settled population.
Population
3,291
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,604/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Blackbutt is suited to buyers prioritising larger, established homes over apartment living. Separate houses account for 70.1% of dwellings, while 28.4% are semi-detached and only 1.5% are apartments; 49.0% of homes have four or more bedrooms. A typical monthly mortgage figure of $2,000 equates to 28.8% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold, while weekly rent of $420 represents 26.2% of income. Compared with apartment-led markets, the local mix provides more family-sized space because detached and four-bedroom housing dominate.
For Buyers
Blackbutt is suited to buyers prioritising larger, established homes over apartment living. Separate houses account for 70.1% of dwellings, while 28.4% are semi-detached and only 1.5% are apartments; 49.0% of homes have four or more bedrooms. A typical monthly mortgage figure of $2,000 equates to 28.8% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold, while weekly rent of $420 represents 26.2% of income. Compared with apartment-led markets, the local mix provides more family-sized space because detached and four-bedroom housing dominate.
For Investors
Blackbutt has a meaningful rental base, with 29.7% of occupied dwellings rented compared with 41.0% owned outright and 28.9% held with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 3.6%, indicating that tenant demand should be assessed alongside the suburb's established owner base rather than assumed from rental share alone. Twelve development applications were recorded over 12 months, mostly involving dwelling alterations or additions, which points to incremental improvement rather than a large new supply pipeline. Compared with a tightly held ownership market, the 29.7% rental share provides a broader tenant pool, but purchase price is essential for judging yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
74
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+140.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Blackbutt's median age is 43, three years above the national figure, and its university-qualified share is 24.1%, six percentage points below the national level. The overseas-born share is 24.3%, or 2.7 points above the national comparison, with English, Macedonian, Irish and Scottish ancestry prominent at 1,053, 357, 267 and 232 people respectively. Macedonian is the leading non-English language, used by 120 residents. Average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above the national figure, while 43.9% of families are couples with children and 38.8% are couples without children. Compared with nearby Shell Cove and Flinders, these figures suggest a settled, family-oriented demographic with a strong Macedonian connection.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.1%
Houses
28.4%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing structure is weighted toward established family stock: 70.1% of dwellings are separate houses, 28.4% are semi-detached and 1.5% are apartments. Four-bedroom-or-larger homes account for 49.0%, compared with 37.0% for three-bedroom dwellings and 10.6% for two-bedroom homes. Tenure is relatively balanced, with 41.0% owned outright, 28.9% under mortgage and 29.7% rented. Compared with apartment-heavy suburbs, Blackbutt provides substantially more detached and larger-format housing because its 2.58 square kilometre area is dominated by conventional residential stock. Mortgage costs equal 28.8% of household income and rent equals 26.2%, both below common stress benchmarks, while vacancy is 3.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $420.
$780
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $810 · units $660
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$707
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
45
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.9%
Couples with children
38.8%
Couples, no children
16.5%
Single parent
969
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Blackbutt's largest listed industry, employing 212 people or 21.2% of workers, followed by construction at 12.7%, education at 12.1%, manufacturing at 9.0% and retail at 7.5%. The occupational mix reinforces this service-and-trades base, with 278 professionals, 249 trades workers, 206 clerical and administration workers, 182 community and personal service workers and 168 managers. The unemployment rate is 4.8%, participation is 58.1% and 52.5% of employed residents work full time. Household income is $1,604 per week, placing Blackbutt at the 52.7th percentile, slightly above the national midpoint. Compared with lower-income locations, healthcare and education provide stabilising employment because they are less dependent on a single construction or retail cycle.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
1,605
Unemployed
77
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.5%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
1,528
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.1%
Postgraduate
5.3%
Born Overseas
24.3%
Dwellings
1,217
Transport to Work
Blackbutt is strongly car-oriented: 68.8% of residents travelled as car drivers, compared with 1.3% using public transport and 1.6% walking or cycling. A further 23.6% worked from home, which can reduce commuting pressure for suitable households but also makes internet reliability and home workspace more important. The suburb covers 2.58 square kilometres at a density of 1,277.7 people per square kilometre, creating a compact residential setting. Compared with transit-rich suburbs, daily convenience depends more on private vehicles because car use is far higher than public transport use. Community participation is reflected in a 9.0% volunteering rate, while 7.4% of residents need assistance with core activities, an important consideration for accessible housing and support services.
Drive
68.8%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
23.6%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blackbutt compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blackbutt a good suburb to live in?
Blackbutt can suit households wanting established, larger homes and a settled community. The median age is 43, 70.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 49.0% have four or more bedrooms. Car dependence is high at 68.8%, so lifestyle fit depends on access to a vehicle.
What is the median house price in Blackbutt?
Check a current sales source for the median house price before buying, as recent comparable sales are important. Blackbutt has 70.1% separate houses and 49.0% of dwellings with four or more bedrooms, so its pricing may differ from apartment-heavy suburbs. Weekly rent is $420 for context.
What schools are in Blackbutt?
School access should be checked by exact address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Blackbutt has 3,291 residents and a median age of 43, but families should confirm the relevant government or independent options, travel times and year-level availability before signing a lease or contract.
Is Blackbutt safe?
Use current police and council incident information to assess safety rather than relying on a suburb-wide label. Blackbutt has 3,291 residents, and 68.8% of journeys are made by car, so street activity and transport patterns may differ between residential pockets. Check recent incidents around any exact address.
Is Blackbutt good for property investment?
Blackbutt has 29.7% renters, weekly rent of $420 and a 3.6% vacancy rate, creating a measurable rental base. Twelve development applications in 12 months suggest ongoing property investment, mostly through alterations. Compare the purchase price, likely rent and local vacancy against the 41.0% outright ownership share before deciding.
How is Blackbutt's population changing?
Blackbutt appears relatively settled, with 79.5% of residents staying at the same address and 20.5% turning over. The current population is 3,291 and the median age is 43, which is 3 years above the national comparison. These figures point to gradual change rather than unusually high household churn.
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 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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