Blackheath
A median age of 53 sits 13.0 years above the national figure, the single most defining number in this upper Blue Mountains town. The housing stock is almost entirely detached at 96.0% separate houses, with apartments just 1.4%, so density runs at only 143.4 people per square kilometre across 32.58 km2. University qualifications reach 44.4%, which is 14.3 points above national, yet the household income percentile sits at 33.4, below the national midpoint. That gap between high education and modest income reflects a population skewed toward retirees and part-time workers, with a 42.8% labour force participation rate and 1,766 residents not in the workforce.
Population
4,672
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,332/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
61
Median House
$830K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $830,000 is modest for a NSW suburb, and it moved only from $820,000 in 2024 to $840,000 in 2025, a 2.4% gain over the year. Buyers get space rather than scale: 96.0% of dwellings are separate houses, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 47.6% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 27.3%. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 keep entry costs low compared with metropolitan Sydney, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0% sits right at the stress threshold because household income ranks in only the 33.4th percentile nationally. Outright owners dominate at 48.5% against 30.3% holding a mortgage, a sign that much of the stock is held by established, debt-free residents rather than recent buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $830,000 is modest for a NSW suburb, and it moved only from $820,000 in 2024 to $840,000 in 2025, a 2.4% gain over the year. Buyers get space rather than scale: 96.0% of dwellings are separate houses, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 47.6% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 27.3%. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 keep entry costs low compared with metropolitan Sydney, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0% sits right at the stress threshold because household income ranks in only the 33.4th percentile nationally. Outright owners dominate at 48.5% against 30.3% holding a mortgage, a sign that much of the stock is held by established, debt-free residents rather than recent buyers.
For Investors
The investment case here is thin. Weekly rent of $380 against an $830,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, and the renter pool is small at 21.3% of households compared with the much higher renter shares in metropolitan markets. The reported vacancy rate of 23.3% is high and points to soft rental absorption rather than tight demand, even though rent has grown 52.0% over the longer period. Development is steady but small in scale at 54 applications over 12 months, mostly alterations and single dwelling works rather than new supply. Population growth of just 0.32% a year, driven by net overseas migration of 42 against a net internal loss of 10 residents, leaves little organic demand, so returns rest on capital growth more than yield or tenant volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
345
Last 12 Months
61
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+19.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Blackheath iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Blackheath Public School
K-6 · 254 students
Mountains Christian College
K-12 · 169 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 runs 13.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 8.0 points while the working-age share fell 3.1 points and the young share fell 3.4 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents are 22.5%, only 0.9 points above national, so the population is comparatively local. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,048), Irish (840) and Scottish (732). University qualifications at 44.4% run 14.3 points above national, a highly educated base. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, consistent with the older couples profile: couples without children make up 39.6% of the 3,288 families, outnumbering couples with children at 1,033. Buddhism (110 residents) is the notable second religion behind Christianity (1,579).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.0%
Houses
2.0%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-heavy: 48.5% own outright, 30.3% carry a mortgage and only 21.3% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free wealth rather than a churn of new buyers. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 96.0% separate houses, with apartments at 1.4% and semi-detached at 2.0%, so buyers seeking a unit have almost no choice. Three-bedroom homes lead at 47.6% and four-plus-bedroom at 27.3%, while one-bedroom dwellings are scarce at 4.3%. The median house price rose from $820,000 to $840,000 across 2024 to 2025, a 2.4% one-year move. Mortgage-to-income at 30.0% sits at the stress threshold and rent-to-income at 28.5% is close behind, both elevated relative to incomes that rank in only the 33.4th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$740
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
23.3%
Unoccupied
644
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.6%
Couples, no children
3,288
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in service sectors rather than corporate ones: Healthcare leads at 19.7% (296 workers), Education follows at 15.9% (239) and Professional/Tech at 11.9% (179), with Public Admin at 8.6% and Construction at 6.5%. By occupation, Professionals (633) and Managers (257) dominate, which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation, the strongest of the four SEIFA indexes here. The other indexes are more moderate: IRSAD and IRSD both sit at decile 6 and IER (economic resources) at decile 5, because the aging, part-time profile depresses household income measures. Participation is low at 42.8% and the full-time employment rate is 53.4%, with 1,766 residents not in the labour force, reflecting the retiree-heavy base. Real incomes still grew 14.1% over the decade.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
2,820
Unemployed
104
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.4%
Part-time
41.7%
Participation
42.8%
Employed
1,641
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.4%
Postgraduate
15.0%
Born Overseas
22.5%
Dwellings
2,115
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 87.0% drive to work, well above the national average, while public transport carries just 2.9% and 6.4% walk or cycle, reflecting the spread-out layout at only 143.4 residents per square kilometre. The suburb scores decile 8 on IEO and decile 6 on both IRSAD and IRSD, placing it in the upper-middle of national advantage rather than the top tier. Volunteering is strong at 24.0%, well above typical rates, and consistent with an engaged, established community, though 7.1% (310 residents) need daily assistance, higher than younger suburbs because of the median age of 53. No schools are recorded inside the 32.58 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Blue Mountains towns, a practical trade-off for the low-density rural setting.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
6.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+19 people/yr)
EstablishedBlackheath is an established, slow-growth town: annual population growth registers 0.32% (about 19 people a year) and the 10-year change is just 5.5%. Historical figures show the population edging up from 5,797 in 2023 to 5,872 in 2025, and medium forecasts continue that gentle climb to 5,985 by 2031. Net overseas migration of 42 a year is the primary driver, partly offset by a net internal outflow of 10. The aging trajectory is the clearest signal, with the senior share up 8.0 points over the decade. Affordability worsened from 48.3% in 2011 to 52.3% in 2021, a deterioration that, combined with 52.0% rent growth, shows housing costs rising faster than the modest income base in the 33.4th percentile nationally can absorb.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+42
Net Internal / yr
-10
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blackheath compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blackheath a good suburb to live in?
Blackheath scores decile 8 on the IEO education index and decile 6 on IRSAD, placing it in the upper-middle tier nationally. University qualifications reach 44.4%, which is 14.3 points above national, and volunteering runs at 24.0%. The main trade-offs are car dependence at 87.0% and an older median age of 53.
What is the median house price in Blackheath?
The median house price is $830,000, modest for NSW. Prices rose 2.4% from $820,000 in 2024 to $840,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.0%, right at the stress threshold.
What schools are in Blackheath?
No schools are recorded inside the 32.58 km2 Blackheath boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Blue Mountains towns. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 44.4%, which is 14.3 points above the national figure.
Is Blackheath safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Blackheath in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, in the upper-middle tier, and 7.1% of its residents need daily assistance, broadly consistent with a settled, low-turnover area at 82.1% staying put.
Is Blackheath good for property investment?
Rent of $380 a week against an $830,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.4%, and the renter pool is small at 21.3%. The reported vacancy rate of 23.3% is high, signalling soft rental demand. With population growth of just 0.32% a year, returns depend on capital growth rather than yield.
How is Blackheath's population changing?
Population growth is 0.32% annually, about 19 people a year, with a 5.5% rise over 10 years. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 8.0 points and the young share down 3.4 points over the decade. Net overseas migration of 42 a year is the primary growth driver.
How much development is happening in Blackheath?
There were 54 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are alterations, additions and single dwelling works rather than new estates, consistent with an established, slow-growth town where 96.0% of dwellings are separate houses and annual population growth is just 0.32%.
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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