Blackheath
A 53-year median age, 45.2% working from home rate and 96.0% detached-home share give Blackheath a slower-paced, established profile. Age sits 13.0 years above the national comparison, while household income is at the 33.4th percentile. Compared with nearby Katoomba, Blackheath has a more consistently separate-house setting and a smaller average household size of 2.0 people. The suburb's 4,672 residents are supported by strong professional, healthcare and education participation, but growth is modest at 0.32% annually. High vacancy of 23.3% and an aging trajectory are important considerations because they can affect local rental choice, services and future demand.
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
56
Blackheath suits buyers seeking a detached home, garden or quieter lifestyle rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 96.0% of dwellings, compared with only 1.4% apartments, and 47.6% of homes have 3 bedrooms. The tenure mix shows 47.7% owned outright and 29.8% with a mortgage, suggesting many established owners and a relatively mature market. Typical weekly rent is $380, while the listed mortgage cost is $1,733 per month and mortgage payments equal 30.0% of household income, below the stated stress threshold. Compared with denser nearby markets, the trade-off is less housing variety, so buyers should check maintenance costs, access and the precise condition of older detached properties.
For Buyers
Blackheath suits buyers seeking a detached home, garden or quieter lifestyle rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 96.0% of dwellings, compared with only 1.4% apartments, and 47.6% of homes have 3 bedrooms. The tenure mix shows 47.7% owned outright and 29.8% with a mortgage, suggesting many established owners and a relatively mature market. Typical weekly rent is $380, while the listed mortgage cost is $1,733 per month and mortgage payments equal 30.0% of household income, below the stated stress threshold. Compared with denser nearby markets, the trade-off is less housing variety, so buyers should check maintenance costs, access and the precise condition of older detached properties.
For Investors
Blackheath presents a selective, low-density rental proposition. Renters account for 20.9% of households and the weekly rent is $380, but the 23.3% vacancy rate is a major risk because it can lengthen letting periods and weaken short-term pricing power. The 47.7% outright ownership rate also points to a strongly established owner base rather than a predominantly investor-held market. Compared with a tightly held rental market, vacancy is the key weakness, while 55 development matters recorded over 12 months indicate ongoing property activity. Annual growth is only 0.32%, so investment appeal depends more on property quality, scarcity and lifestyle demand than on rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
360
Last 12 Months
56
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Blackheath
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Blackheath has an older and more settled population than the national comparison. The median age is 53, or 13.0 years above national, while 82.1% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period and turnover was 17.9%. University attainment is 44.4%, which is 14.3 percentage points above national, helping explain the strong professional and knowledge-based employment profile. English, Irish and Scottish are the leading reported ancestries, with counts of 2,048, 840 and 732 respectively. No religion is the largest religious response at 2,411 people, ahead of Christianity at 1,579. Compared with more transient centres, the 2.0-person average household size and aging base point to smaller households and a growing need for accessible local services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.0%
Houses
2.0%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Blackheath is overwhelmingly detached and relatively owner-oriented. Separate houses represent 96.0% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes account for 47.6% and 4-plus-bedroom homes for 27.3%. Ownership is split between 47.7% outright owners, 29.8% mortgage holders and 20.9% renters, creating a more established tenure profile than a heavily rental-dependent suburb. Average household size is 2.0 people, 0.5 below the national comparison, which helps explain the prevalence of smaller households despite the large-house format. Household income sits at the 33.4th percentile, below the midpoint, while rent and mortgage costs are 28.5% and 30.0% of income. Compared with apartment-led markets, the main housing benefit is land and privacy, but supply is less flexible.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $380.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $600
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
29.2%
Couples with children
51.0%
Couples, no children
19.0%
Single parent
1,304
Total families
Economy & Employment
Blackheath's employment base is anchored by healthcare, education and professional work. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.7%, followed by education at 15.9%, professional and technical services at 11.9%, public administration at 8.6% and construction at 6.5%. The occupation mix reinforces this pattern, led by 633 professionals, 260 trades workers and 257 managers. Labour-force participation is 50.2%, unemployment is 4.2% and 876 people work full time compared with 765 part time. The suburb's socioeconomic profile is mixed: the Index of Education and Occupation is in decile 8, versus decile 5 for the Index of Economic Resources, while IRSAD is decile 6. This gap suggests education and occupational advantage is stronger than measured financial resources, partly because an older population includes many people outside the labour force.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
2,025
Unemployed
85
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
45.2%
Part-time
39.4%
Participation
50.2%
Employed
1,940
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.4%
Postgraduate
15.0%
Born Overseas
22.5%
Dwellings
2,115
Transport to Work
Blackheath offers a low-density setting across 32.58 square kilometres, with density of 143.4 people per square kilometre and a strong work-from-home rate of 45.2%. Daily travel is mainly car-based: 47.6% drive to work, compared with 1.6% using public transport and 3.5% walking or cycling. There is 1 identified local school, Blackheath Public School, a government primary school; families should confirm enrolment zones for the exact address. Community participation is notable, with volunteering at 24.0%. The socioeconomic indicators are mixed but generally supportive, including an Education and Occupation decile of 8, IRSAD decile 6 and need for assistance at 7.1%. Compared with denser centres, the result is more space and quiet, but fewer transport options and a greater reliance on private vehicles.
Drive
47.6%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
45.2%
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+19 people/yr)
EstablishedBlackheath is following an aging, slow-growth trajectory. The forecast annual trend is 0.32%, while population change across the wider area is 5.5% over 10 years and the primary migration driver is overseas migration. The shift profile records an 8.0 percentage point increase in the senior share, alongside a 3.4 point decline in the young share and a 3.1 point decline in the working share. Affordability worsened from 48.3 in 2011 to 52.3 in 2021, even as real income growth reached 14.1% and rents grew 52.0%. Compared with those earlier shift signals, the current gentrification forecast is more restrained: its score is 0 and stage is Not gentrifying, despite a separate historical shift score of 51 and Active stage. Growth is therefore more likely to be gradual and service-led than development-led.
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 can suit residents seeking space, quiet and a settled community. The median age is 53, 45.2% work from home and volunteering is 24.0%. Compared with denser centres, public transport is limited at 1.6%, so a car is usually more practical for regular travel.
What is the median house price in Blackheath?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales for the exact period. Blackheath is a 96.0% separate-house market, with 47.7% of homes owned outright and 47.6% containing 3 bedrooms, so suburb-wide figures can mask substantial differences by block, condition and dwelling size.
What schools are in Blackheath?
Blackheath Public School is the identified local school, operating as a government primary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address before buying or renting. The suburb has an average household size of 2.0 people and 29.2% of families are couples with children.
Is Blackheath safe?
A suburb-wide crime rate is not stated, so prospective residents should check recent NSW Police information and inspect the exact street at different times. Blackheath has 47.6% of workers driving and 1.6% using public transport, which can mean quieter local streets but also less passive activity around transport points.
Is Blackheath good for property investment?
Blackheath is better suited to a selective long-term strategy than a high-growth rental play. Rent is $380 per week and 20.9% of households rent, but vacancy is high at 23.3%. Compared with tighter rental markets, investors need to allow for letting risk, while 55 development matters in 12 months show ongoing property activity.
How is Blackheath's population changing?
The wider-area growth trend is modest at 0.32% annually, with 5.5% population change over 10 years. Blackheath is aging: the senior share increased 8.0 percentage points, while the young share fell 3.4 points. Compared with a younger growth corridor, demand is more likely to centre on established households, downsizers and local services.
What development is happening in Blackheath?
There were 55 development matters recorded over 12 months, including new dwelling-house proposals, modifications, earthworks and retaining works. This indicates active property maintenance and redevelopment rather than a clearly defined large-scale housing pipeline. With 96.0% separate houses and annual growth of 0.32%, changes are likely to remain mainly site-by-site.
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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