Blacks Beach
With 65.4% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, Blacks Beach is oriented toward families in a way that few coastal suburbs match nationally. Household incomes sit at the 75.4th percentile, yet the median house price is estimated at $488,000, well below the national median for comparable income brackets. The suburb has a notably young population at median age 31, which is 9 years below the national figure, and a high renter share of 54.6%, driven partly by the Mackay region's mining-adjacent workforce needing flexible accommodation.
Population
4,153
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,013/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$488K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $488,000 positions Blacks Beach as affordable compared to most coastal QLD markets, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,733 against a household income at the 75.4th percentile nationally. Housing stock heavily favours detached houses at 86.1%, and 65.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, making this suburb well suited to families seeking space. Semi-detached homes account for 11.8%, while apartments are rare at 0.9%. Mortgage-to-income sits at 19.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the typical mortgaged household here is not under financial pressure. Only 15.9% own outright, lower than national averages, reflecting the relatively young median age of 31 and a population still accumulating equity.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $488,000 positions Blacks Beach as affordable compared to most coastal QLD markets, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,733 against a household income at the 75.4th percentile nationally. Housing stock heavily favours detached houses at 86.1%, and 65.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, making this suburb well suited to families seeking space. Semi-detached homes account for 11.8%, while apartments are rare at 0.9%. Mortgage-to-income sits at 19.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the typical mortgaged household here is not under financial pressure. Only 15.9% own outright, lower than national averages, reflecting the relatively young median age of 31 and a population still accumulating equity.
For Investors
A 54.6% renter share is well above the national average, producing a consistently deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $390 reflects demand from Mackay's healthcare and mining workforce. Against a $488,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield around 4.2%, more competitive than most capital city suburbs. The vacancy rate of 8.1% is elevated, signalling some softness in the rental market that investors should weigh against the yield. Only 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal. The suburb's proximity to mining employment creates cyclical demand, meaning rental conditions tend to track commodity cycles more than typical suburban markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
3
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
Demographics
The median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, marking Blacks Beach as one of QLD's younger suburban communities. Overseas-born residents account for 16.7% of the population, which is 4.9 points below the national average, and English-origin ancestry dominates, with English (1,600), Irish (395) and Scottish (389) the top three groups. The average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national figure, consistent with the family-oriented stock where 1,464 couples with children are recorded against 689 couples without. University qualification rates at 19.5% run 10.6 points below national levels, which aligns with the industrial and trade employment base in the wider Mackay region.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.1%
Houses
11.8%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Blacks Beach is overwhelmingly a detached-house suburb, with 86.1% of dwellings separate houses and only 0.9% apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 65.4%, with three-bedroom at 28.9%, making it one of QLD's larger-home suburbs by bedroom composition. The tenure split shows 54.6% renting, 29.5% with a mortgage and 15.9% owning outright, a renter-majority profile more typical of regional centres than suburban coastal areas. Rent-to-income at 19.4% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% are both below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes in the 75.4th percentile nationally. Estimated median house price is $488,000 with weekly rent at $390.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$949
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.1%
Unoccupied
115
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.8%
Couples, no children
3,158
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment base at 19.8% (238 workers), reflecting both the suburb's residential character and Mackay's role as a regional health hub. Mining employs 13.6% (164 workers), a share that is significantly higher than most non-resource suburbs nationally and explains the strong income profile despite lower university qualification rates. Education (9.5%, 114 workers) and Construction (9.2%, 111 workers) round out the top four, followed by Retail at 7.7%. By occupation, Professionals (290) lead, followed closely by Community/Personal Service (246) and Clerical/Admin (223). The full-time employment rate is 69% and unemployment sits at 4.5%, with a labour force participation rate of 62.7%.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.0%
Part-time
26.5%
Participation
62.7%
Employed
1,853
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.5%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
16.7%
Dwellings
1,312
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 90.2% driving to work, compared to the national average where a larger share uses public transport, with only 2.2% of residents relying on public transport. This reflects the suburban layout and limited transit infrastructure typical of regional coastal QLD. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Mackay schools. The volunteering rate of 12.1% indicates moderate community participation. Only 4% of residents (148 people) need daily assistance, and housing stress indicators are favourable, with both rent-to-income at 19.4% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% below the 30% stress benchmark, suggesting the suburb's above-median incomes go far at these price levels.
Drive
90.2%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blacks Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blacks Beach a good suburb to live in?
Blacks Beach suits families and those working in Mackay's healthcare and mining sectors. Household incomes sit at the 75.4th percentile nationally, yet the median house price is only $488,000, keeping both rent-to-income at 19.4% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% below stress thresholds. The suburb has limited public transport at 2.2%, so a car is essential.
What is the median house price in Blacks Beach?
The median house price is estimated at $488,000 based on 2025 rent data. Weekly rent averages $390 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,733. Against local household incomes in the 75.4th percentile nationally, mortgage costs are manageable at around 19.9% of income.
What schools are in Blacks Beach?
No schools are recorded within the Blacks Beach suburb boundary in this dataset. With 4,153 residents across 6.16 km2, families rely on schools in the broader Mackay area. University qualification rates locally are 19.5%, which is 10.6 points below the national figure, consistent with the region's trade and industrial employment base.
Is Blacks Beach safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Blacks Beach in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low, with both rent-to-income at 19.4% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% well below stress thresholds, and only 4% of residents (148 people) need daily assistance, suggesting a stable and well-resourced community.
Is Blacks Beach good for property investment?
The 54.6% renter share is significantly above average, providing a large tenant pool. Weekly rent of $390 against a $488,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, competitive compared to most coastal QLD markets. The vacancy rate of 8.1% is elevated and investors should note that demand is partly tied to Mackay's mining cycle. Only 2 development applications in the past 12 months means minimal new supply pressure.
How is Blacks Beach's population changing?
Blacks Beach has a population of 4,153 with a young median age of 31, which is 9 years below the national figure. Residential turnover is 35.6% over the five-year Census period, higher than the 64.4% who remained, reflecting the transient nature of Mackay's mining and resource workforce. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, suggesting steady family-formation demand.
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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