Blackbutt
With 49% of dwellings carrying four or more bedrooms, Blackbutt (postcode 2529) skews heavily toward large detached homes, well above the national average for room size. The suburb holds 3,291 residents across a 2.58 km2 footprint at a density of 1,278 per km2. Median age sits at 43, three years above the national figure, pointing to an established owner-occupier base. Household income reaches the 52.7th percentile nationally, a mid-range position that contrasts with a median house price of $895,000, putting purchase costs well above what the income profile alone would suggest. The dominant ancestry is English (1,053 residents), and 24.3% of residents were born overseas, moderately above the national benchmark.
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
Median House
$895K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $895,000, derived from a price run that moved from $850,000 in 2024 to $925,000 in 2025, an 8.8% one-year rise. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold, which explains why 29% of households carry a mortgage without triggering financial stress. Separate houses make up 70.1% of stock and semi-detached dwellings 28.4%, leaving apartments at just 1.5%. The bedroom profile is skewed large: 49% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 37% have three, which suits families seeking space. With 41.2% of dwellings owned outright, the suburb shows a settled, long-term ownership base rather than high turnover.
For Buyers
The median house price is $895,000, derived from a price run that moved from $850,000 in 2024 to $925,000 in 2025, an 8.8% one-year rise. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold, which explains why 29% of households carry a mortgage without triggering financial stress. Separate houses make up 70.1% of stock and semi-detached dwellings 28.4%, leaving apartments at just 1.5%. The bedroom profile is skewed large: 49% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 37% have three, which suits families seeking space. With 41.2% of dwellings owned outright, the suburb shows a settled, long-term ownership base rather than high turnover.
For Investors
Renters make up 29.8% of households, providing a reasonable tenant pool for investors, with weekly rents at $420. Against an $895,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 2.4%, below the national average but consistent with capital-growth coastal markets. Vacancy sits at 3.6%, slightly elevated above a balanced 2-3% range, suggesting limited undersupply pressure. Development activity recorded 12 applications in the past 12 months, a low volume for a suburb this size, indicating constrained new supply. The 8.8% price appreciation from 2024 to 2025 outpaces many state benchmarks, supporting the case that capital growth rather than yield is the primary return driver here.
Development Activity
Total DAs
73
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Blackbutt's median age of 43 is three years higher than the national figure, placing it among more established, aging suburbs. University qualifications reach 24.1%, which is 6.0 points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar and trades-oriented workforce. Overseas-born residents account for 24.3%, roughly 2.7 points above the national figure. Ancestry is led by English (1,053), followed by Macedonian (357) and Irish (267), giving the suburb an Anglo-Celtic base with a distinct Macedonian presence. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national average. Macedonian is the most spoken non-English language with 120 speakers, followed by Greek and Italian at 15 each.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.1%
Houses
28.4%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits clearly toward ownership: 41.2% own outright and 29.0% hold a mortgage, while 29.8% rent. The high outright-ownership share reflects the older median age of 43 and long residency, with 79.5% of residents having stayed put for five or more years. Separate houses dominate at 70.1% and semi-detached at 28.4%, with apartment stock at just 1.5%, lower than the national share. The bedroom breakdown favours large homes: 49% have four or more bedrooms and 37% have three. The price series shows $850,000 in 2024 rising to $925,000 in 2025, a gain of 8.8%. Rent-to-income at 26.2% stays below the 30% stress threshold, keeping the rental market manageable for tenants relative to state averages.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$420
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
27.2%
Couples, no children
2,817
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 21.2% of workers (212 people), followed by Construction at 12.7% (127) and Education at 12.1% (121), with Manufacturing at 9.0% and Retail at 7.5%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 278, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 206 and Community/Personal Service at 182. The full-time employment rate is 61.2%, with 802 full-time and 509 part-time workers. Unemployment stands at 5.5%, above the national average of roughly 4%, partly because the participation rate is only 50.2%, leaving 1,057 residents outside the labour force. This lower-participation, higher-unemployment profile is consistent with the older-than-average population and the relatively modest household income at the 52.7th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
50.2%
Employed
1,311
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.1%
Postgraduate
5.3%
Born Overseas
24.3%
Dwellings
1,217
Transport to Work
Blackbutt is almost entirely car-dependent: 90% of residents drive to work and only 1.7% use public transport, well below the national average, reflecting the suburb's suburban coastal character. Walked or cycled trips account for 2.2%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions. Crime data is not available in the current dataset. Need-for-assistance affects 7.4% of residents (233 people), slightly above the national average of around 5%, consistent with the older age profile. Volunteering sits at 9.0%. The 3.6% vacancy rate indicates the rental market is moderately balanced, and the rent-to-income ratio of 26.2% keeps housing costs below the stress threshold for most tenants, compared to tighter coastal markets.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
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 suits owner-occupier families seeking large homes, with 70.1% separate houses and 49% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms. Median age is 43, three years above national, and 79.5% of residents stay long-term. The main trade-offs are near-total car dependence (90% drive) and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Blackbutt?
The median house price is $895,000. Prices rose from $850,000 in 2024 to $925,000 in 2025, an 8.8% increase. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $420.
What schools are in Blackbutt?
No schools are recorded within the Blackbutt suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the postcode 2529 area. University qualification rates reach 24.1% locally, which is 6.0 points below the national figure.
Is Blackbutt safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Blackbutt in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 7.4% of the 3,291 residents (233 people) need daily assistance, and the household income sits at the 52.7th percentile nationally, a mid-range position. Volunteering at 9.0% and long-term residency at 79.5% suggest a stable, settled community.
Is Blackbutt good for property investment?
The 8.8% price rise from $850,000 to $925,000 in 2024-2025 is a positive signal for capital growth. Gross rental yield sits near 2.4% based on $420 weekly rent against the $895,000 median, below the national average, so returns depend more on price appreciation than income. Vacancy of 3.6% is slightly above balanced levels, and the 12 development applications in 12 months indicate constrained supply.
How is Blackbutt's population changing?
Blackbutt's population stands at 3,291 with a median age of 43, three years above national. The suburb shows very low turnover: 79.5% of residents stayed for five or more years, a turnover rate of just 20.5%. No forecast population data is available, but constrained development (12 applications in 12 months) limits growth in dwelling numbers.
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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