Blacktown
More than half of Blacktown's 50,961 residents were born overseas (53.4%, a full 31.8pp above the national average), and the suburb's character is shaped less by old Western Sydney and more by recent Indian and Filipino migration: Punjabi is now the second-most-spoken language at home with 2,855 speakers, ahead of Arabic and Mandarin. At a median age of 34 (six years younger than nationally) and density of 3,172/sqkm, Blacktown reads more like an inner Parramatta-style migrant gateway than a typical mortgage-belt suburb, while a $875,000 median house price keeps it 30-40% cheaper than Parramatta itself.
Population
50,961
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,774/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
475
Median House
$1.2M
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
Detached houses still dominate at 65.6% of stock, with 71.2% of dwellings carrying three or more bedrooms, but the median house price has jumped 12.7% in a single year (from $825,000 in 2024 to $930,000 in 2025) which is faster than greater Sydney's run-rate. Mortgage holders spend 27.3% of household income on repayments, just under the 30% stress threshold, but real income growth of 14.9% over the decade has actually improved affordability from 57.5% to 54.2%. Compared with Mount Druitt one station west, Blacktown buyers pay a roughly $100k premium for closer rail access to the CBD and a deeper school catchment.
For Buyers
Detached houses still dominate at 65.6% of stock, with 71.2% of dwellings carrying three or more bedrooms, but the median house price has jumped 12.7% in a single year (from $825,000 in 2024 to $930,000 in 2025) which is faster than greater Sydney's run-rate. Mortgage holders spend 27.3% of household income on repayments, just under the 30% stress threshold, but real income growth of 14.9% over the decade has actually improved affordability from 57.5% to 54.2%. Compared with Mount Druitt one station west, Blacktown buyers pay a roughly $100k premium for closer rail access to the CBD and a deeper school catchment.
For Investors
Renters make up 44.8% of households (well above the NSW average near 32%), but the headline 7.0% vacancy rate is misleadingly high for a suburb with a strong overseas migrant inflow of +324 people per year. Weekly rent of $400 against $875,000 median translates to a gross yield near 2.4%, which is lower than Penrith or Mount Druitt, and rent has grown 33.3% over a decade. The 418 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including subdivisions and seniors housing, signal that supply will continue to compete with existing landlords. Investors should watch the IER decile of 2, indicating thin tenant savings buffers in any rate-shock scenario.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2,089
Last 12 Months
475
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+13.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Blacktown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Tyndale Christian School
K-12 · 816 students
St Patrick's Primary School
K-6 · 295 students
Blacktown Boys High School
7-12 · 898 students
Nagle College
7-12 · 532 students
Blacktown Girls High School
7-12 · 1080 students
Demographics
Blacktown's demographic engine is overseas migration: 53.4% of residents were born abroad versus 21.6% nationally, and Indian (7,376) and Filipino (3,686) ancestries each rival the English-ancestry count of 7,420. The Hindu population of 7,367 is a third the size of the Christian one (21,297), unusually high for a suburb of this size. Median age is 34, six years younger than the national 40, and 42.5% of adults hold a university qualification (12.4pp above national). Average household size of 2.9 reflects the prevalence of multi-generational migrant households, especially compared with the 2.5 average in eastern-suburb Sydney.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.6%
Houses
18.6%
Townhouse
15.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split is unusual for outer Sydney: only 22.4% own outright, 32.8% are paying off a mortgage, and 44.8% rent, a renter share more typical of inner suburbs than the mortgage belt. House prices climbed from $825,000 (2024) to $930,000 (2025), a 12.7% one-year jump, while mortgage repayments now consume 27.3% of household income and rent 22.5%, neither tripping the 30% stress flag but both well above outright-owner Penrith. Stock is 65.6% detached houses, 18.6% semi-detached, and 15.8% apartments, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 43.7% of all dwellings. Compared with peer Parramatta where apartments are over 60% of stock, Blacktown remains a land-and-house market.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$2,094
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $400.
$610
Bond data Mar 2026 · houses $650 · units $550
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$757
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.0%
Unoccupied
1,240
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.9%
Couples, no children
40,279
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare and social assistance employ 19.5% of working residents (2,850 jobs), driven by Blacktown Hospital, more than double the share of the next sector, transport at 10.5%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 4,341, but machinery operators and drivers (3,232) and labourers (2,348) together outweigh them, reflecting Western Sydney logistics corridors. The unemployment rate sits at 8.2%, above the NSW figure near 4%, and SEIFA tells a split story: economic resources rank in the 2nd decile (low household wealth) while education and occupation rank in the 5th, meaning skills are present but earning power lags. Compared with Parramatta's professional-services base, Blacktown's economy is service-and-logistics weighted.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
11,094
Unemployed
496
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.2%
Part-time
26.6%
Participation
49.4%
Employed
18,637
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.5%
Postgraduate
13.4%
Born Overseas
53.4%
Dwellings
16,464
Transport to Work
Ten schools sit within the suburb, all with ICSEA scores between 1001 and 1066 (above the 1000 national baseline), led by Tyndale Christian (1066) and St Patrick's Primary (1058), with Blacktown Girls High enrolling 1,080 students and Patrician Brothers' College 1,014. Transport patterns are car-dominated at 80.3% driving to work versus 9.3% on public transport, despite Blacktown station being a major T1 line interchange, indicating dispersed workplaces across Western Sydney. SEIFA IRSAD sits in the 4th decile with IRSD in the 3rd, meaning relative disadvantage is real but milder than Mount Druitt. Volunteering rate of 8.5% is below the national 14% baseline, common in time-poor migrant-majority suburbs.
Drive
80.3%
Public Transport
9.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.23%/yr
(+265 people/yr)
EstablishedBlacktown's population is forecast to grow 1.23% per year (about 265 residents annually), tracking just below the national rate, with the medium scenario reaching 23,166 in the 2026 SA1 model versus 21,468 today. The driver is asymmetric: a net internal outflow of 314 residents per year is more than offset by net overseas migration of 324, so the suburb is essentially trading Australian-born movers for new arrivals. Gentrification scores 33 (Early signs) with a population already up 22.0% since 2011, real income up 14.9%, and rent up 33.3%, while the under-35 share has only slipped 0.3pp, so this is migration-led densification rather than a young-professional takeover seen in inner Marrickville.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+324
Net Internal / yr
-314
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal outflow -314/yr, Strong overseas inflow +324/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blacktown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blacktown a good suburb to live in?
Blacktown suits buyers who want a Western Sydney rail hub at a $875,000 median, roughly $100,000 cheaper than Parramatta and with 10 schools (ICSEA 1001-1066). Trade-offs include 8.2% unemployment above the NSW average and a renter-heavy 44.8% population, closer to a busy migrant gateway than a quiet family suburb. Buyers prioritising cultural diversity (53.4% born overseas) and rail access rank it well; those after low-density calm prefer peers like Quakers Hill.
What is the median house price in Blacktown?
The median house price in Blacktown sits at $875,000 as of the 2024-2025 NSW PSI-derived data, up from $825,000 in 2024 and reaching $930,000 in 2025, a 12.7% one-year jump. That keeps Blacktown about 30-40% cheaper than Parramatta but well above Mount Druitt by roughly $100,000. Mortgage repayments average $2,094 per month, consuming 27.3% of household income, just below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Blacktown?
Blacktown has 10 schools spanning government, Catholic and independent sectors, all with ICSEA at or above the 1000 national baseline. Top performers are Tyndale Christian (ICSEA 1066, 816 students) and St Patrick's Primary (1058). Larger secondaries include Blacktown Girls High (1,080 students, 1046), Patrician Brothers' College (1,014, 1016) and Blacktown Boys High (898, 1053). The depth is wider than most outer Western Sydney peers of similar size.
Is Blacktown safe?
Crime statistics from the BOCSAR feed are not currently published at suburb level for this profile, so a per-1,000 rate cannot be quoted. Indirect signals: SEIFA IRSAD ranks Blacktown in the 4th decile (below the 5th-decile midpoint), and the IRSD disadvantage index is 3rd decile, both higher disadvantage than Quakers Hill but milder than Mount Druitt. Residents should consult NSW BOCSAR's quarterly suburb reports for the latest verified counts.
Is Blacktown good for property investment?
Blacktown's gross rental yield runs near 2.4% ($400 weekly rent against $875,000 median), lower than Penrith or Mount Druitt, but capital growth of 12.7% in the past year and 33.3% rent growth over a decade have rewarded long holders. The 7.0% vacancy rate is elevated, and 418 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing supply pressure. Investors with a 7-10 year horizon get migration-led demand (+324 overseas arrivals annually); yield hunters should look further west.
How is Blacktown's population changing?
Blacktown's population is forecast to grow about 1.23% per year, adding roughly 265 residents annually, with the medium-scenario projection reaching 23,166 by 2031 versus 21,468 today. Growth is driven entirely by overseas migration (+324 net arrivals annually) which more than offsets a net internal outflow of 314 residents per year. The population is up 22.0% since 2011, faster than greater Sydney's average.
What languages are spoken in Blacktown?
With 53.4% of residents born overseas (31.8pp above the national average), home languages reflect strong South Asian migration. Punjabi leads non-English at 2,855 speakers, followed by Hindi (1,128), Arabic (1,055), Gujarati (749) and Mandarin (615). Indian ancestry (7,376) and Filipino (3,686) together rival English-ancestry (7,420), making Blacktown one of the more South-Asian-leaning suburbs in greater Sydney, compared with Cantonese-leaning Hurstville.
How active is development in Blacktown?
Blacktown lodged 418 development applications in the past 12 months, a high count for a suburb of 50,961 people. Recent samples include subdivisions, seniors housing and independent living units, and complying-development residential accommodation. The volume signals continued supply pressure on the rental market (current vacancy 7.0%) and aligns with the suburb's 22.0% population growth since 2011, putting it ahead of slower-developing peers like Quakers Hill on a per-capita DA basis.
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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