Blackwall
At 1.14 square kilometres, Blackwall accommodates 1,941 residents at a density of 1,697.7 people per square kilometre. Its median age of 45 is 5.0 years above the national comparison, while 37.9% of residents work from home. Housing is predominantly detached, with 71.2% separate houses, and 31.5% of households rent. Compared with nearby Woy Woy and Ettalong Beach, Blackwall reads as a compact, established residential pocket with a slower 0.42% annual growth trend. The mix suits buyers seeking conventional housing and a quieter demographic profile, although affordability is worsening and mortgage costs require careful testing.
Local council: Central Coast (NSW)
Population
1,941
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,449/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Blackwall suits buyers who prioritise conventional family housing over apartment living. Separate houses account for 71.2% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 22.9% and apartments 2.6%; 46.1% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 24.4% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-led precincts, this makes land, maintenance and renovation condition more important when comparing properties. Monthly mortgage outgoings are $2,024, with mortgage costs reaching 32.3% of household income, higher than the 26.9% rent-to-income figure. A weekly rent of $390 provides a useful holding-cost reference, while outright ownership at 35.9% is higher than the 32.0% mortgage share. Buyers should stress-test repayments because the mortgage burden is already above the rental burden.
For Buyers
Blackwall suits buyers who prioritise conventional family housing over apartment living. Separate houses account for 71.2% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 22.9% and apartments 2.6%; 46.1% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 24.4% have 4 or more. Compared with apartment-led precincts, this makes land, maintenance and renovation condition more important when comparing properties. Monthly mortgage outgoings are $2,024, with mortgage costs reaching 32.3% of household income, higher than the 26.9% rent-to-income figure. A weekly rent of $390 provides a useful holding-cost reference, while outright ownership at 35.9% is higher than the 32.0% mortgage share. Buyers should stress-test repayments because the mortgage burden is already above the rental burden.
For Investors
Blackwall has a meaningful rental base, with 31.5% of households renting and weekly rent at $390. The 8.7% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market, so investors should allow for leasing variability rather than assume immediate tenant competition. Rent growth of 52.0% supports the recent income story, but the wider growth trend is only 0.42% annually. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, which may broaden demand, while 19 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing small-scale property activity. Compared with faster-growth locations, Blackwall is better suited to investors prioritising established housing and rental income over rapid capital expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
102
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Blackwall has an older profile than the national comparison: its median age is 45, or 5.0 years higher. Overseas-born residents account for 18.5%, which is 3.1 percentage points below the national figure, while university participation at 24.8% is 5.3 points lower. Average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national comparison, consistent with 42.5% of couples having no children and 23.7% of families being one-parent households. English ancestry is recorded for 831 residents, followed by Irish at 236 and Scottish at 199. Christianity has 946 adherents compared with 768 reporting no religion. The 76.8% who stayed at the same address reflects a relatively settled population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.2%
Houses
22.9%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Blackwall's housing profile is detached-led, with 71.2% separate houses, 22.9% semi-detached dwellings and 2.6% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 46.1% of stock, while 24.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and 25.0% have 2 bedrooms. Tenure is relatively balanced: 35.9% own outright, 32.0% have a mortgage and 31.5% rent. Compared with apartment-focused areas, this mix places more emphasis on land, upkeep and family-sized floorplans. Mortgage payments of $2,024 per month equate to 32.3% of household income, higher than the 26.9% rent-to-income ratio, while the 8.7% vacancy rate may give renters more choice than in lower-vacancy markets. Blackwall differs from more unit-oriented coastal precincts because detached housing remains the dominant form.
Mortgage / mo
$2,024
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $390.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $650 · units $498
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$732
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.3% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.0%
Couples with children
42.5%
Couples, no children
23.7%
Single parent
541
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Blackwall's largest industry at 19.1%, or 105 workers, followed by construction at 14.6% and 80 workers, professional and technical services at 9.7%, education at 9.3% and public administration at 6.6%. Healthcare's share is higher than construction's, giving the local employment base a strong care-sector presence. The main occupations are professionals at 171 people, trades at 137, clerical and administrative workers at 122, managers at 99 and community or personal service workers at 96. The labour force totals 867, with unemployment at 5.0% and participation at 53.2%. SEIFA results are below the midpoint overall: IEO is decile 4, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 3 and IRSAD decile 3. The IER result ranks lower than IEO, indicating household resources are weaker than the education and occupation profile.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
867
Unemployed
43
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.9%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
53.2%
Employed
824
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.8%
Postgraduate
6.0%
Born Overseas
18.5%
Dwellings
822
Transport to Work
Daily travel in Blackwall is car-led: 51.4% travel as a car driver, compared with 3.9% using public transport and 2.9% walking or cycling. Work-from-home participation is 37.9%, which reduces commuting pressure for many households but does not replace local transport access. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, buyers should assess car dependence, parking and connections to surrounding centres. School planning should be address-specific within postcode 2256, with families checking current enrolment zones, year levels, government and non-government options, and travel times before committing. Blackwall's IRSAD decile of 3 is below the midpoint of the 10-decile scale, while 7.7% of residents need assistance with core activities. A current street-level safety check is sensible because conditions can vary across a dense 1,697.7-person-per-square-kilometre area.
Drive
51.4%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
37.9%
Growth Outlook
Blackwall is on a restrained growth path, with an annual trend of 0.42% and population change across the wider area of 8.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, but the trajectory is Mixed, so growth may be uneven rather than consistently accelerating. The demographic direction is older, with the senior share up 1.2 percentage points and the young share down 0.4 points. Affordability is worsening, moving from 55.7 in 2011 to 59.2 in 2021, while rent growth has reached 52.0%. Gentrification signals are mixed: the shift measure records an Active stage and score of 50, while the current gentrification measure is 0 and labelled Not gentrifying. Compared with rapid-growth corridors, the 0.42% pace points to gradual change because Blackwall is already established.
Population trend: Central Coast (NSW) council area
Blackwall sits in the Central Coast (NSW) council area. These are the council area's residents, not Blackwall's.
Residents 2025
357,816
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blackwall compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blackwall a good suburb to live in?
Blackwall can suit households wanting established detached housing, a settled population and strong work-from-home participation. The median age is 45, 37.9% work from home and 71.2% of dwellings are separate houses. Buyers should weigh car dependence, mortgage costs of $2,024 monthly and the suburb's IRSAD decile of 3.
What is the median house price in Blackwall?
Use recent settled sales to establish the current median, especially because 71.2% of homes are separate houses and 46.1% have 3 bedrooms. A single suburb figure can hide differences between 3-bedroom, 4-plus-bedroom and semi-detached properties, so compare like-for-like sales and check how the result sits against nearby Woy Woy and Ettalong Beach.
What schools are in Blackwall?
School choice in the 2256 area should be checked by exact address, year level and enrolment zone. Compare current government and non-government options, travel times and before or after-school arrangements, because catchments can change and short distance does not guarantee eligibility. NSW School Finder is a practical starting point before signing a contract.
Is Blackwall safe?
Assess safety using current street-level information for the exact address rather than relying only on a suburb-wide impression. Review recent NSW Police incident patterns and visit at different times. Blackwall has 1,941 residents at a density of 1,697.7 people per square kilometre, so conditions and activity can vary between pockets.
Is Blackwall good for property investment?
Blackwall may suit investors seeking established housing and rental income rather than rapid growth. Weekly rent is $390, 31.5% of households rent and vacancy is 8.7%, which is higher than a tightly supplied market. The annual growth trend is 0.42%, while 19 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing but modest property activity.
How is Blackwall's population changing?
Blackwall has 1,941 residents today, with growth across the wider area running at 8.3% over 10 years and the annual trend at 0.42%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed. The senior share has risen 1.2 percentage points and the young share has fallen 0.4 points, reinforcing an aging direction.
Is Blackwall affordable for renters?
Renters face a weekly cost of $390, equal to 26.9% of household income, while 31.5% of households rent. The 8.7% vacancy rate may provide more choice than in lower-vacancy markets, but rent growth of 52.0% makes longer-term affordability important. Compare the full cost of housing with transport and utility expenses.
Does Blackwall suit downsizers?
Blackwall may suit downsizers who want an established setting, although the housing mix remains dominated by separate houses at 71.2%. The median age is 45, which is 5.0 years above the national comparison, and 22.9% of dwellings are semi-detached. Check maintenance costs, access, parking and nearby services before choosing between a house and smaller property.
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).
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