Blackheath - Megalong Valley
Statistical Area - sa2

Blackheath - Megalong Valley is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Blackheath-Megalong Valley's population is approximately 5,884 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 120 people from the 2021 Census total of 5,764, indicating a growth rate of 2.1%. The rise can be attributed to an estimated resident population of 5,830 in June 2024 and the validation of 44 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 42 persons per square kilometer. The area's growth surpassed that of its SA3 region (1.2%), positioning it as a leader in population expansion. Overseas migration was the primary driver for this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using a 2021 base year are applied. Growth rates by age group are used for all areas from 2032 to 2041. Future trends suggest lower quartile growth nationally; Blackheath-Megalong Valley is projected to expand by 46 persons to 2041, reflecting a decline of 0.1% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Blackheath - Megalong Valley according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Blackheath-Megalong Valley averages approximately 21 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the area saw 107 homes approved, with 3 more approved in FY-26 so far. On average, 0.5 people per year move to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties is $721,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $2.0 million, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Blackheath-Megalong Valley records 84.0% more development activity per person, offering buyers greater choice, although recent periods have seen a moderation in development activity.

Recent construction comprises 86.0% standalone homes and 14.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 376 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Blackheath-Megalong Valley should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Blackheath - Megalong Valley has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified four projects likely impacting the region. Key projects are: - Great Western Highway Upgrade - Katoomba to Lithgow, - Mount Victoria Memorial Park Playspace and Court Upgrades, - Mount Victoria Station Upgrade, and - Great Western Highway Upgrade Program (West Section: Little Hartley to Lithgow).

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.6%, Blackheath - Megalong Valley has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Blackheath - Megalong Valley has a highly educated workforce with a low unemployment rate of 3.6%. As of June 2025, there are 2,801 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 0.6% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in the area lags behind Greater Sydney at 50.5%. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, employment levels in education & training are 1.5 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, finance & insurance employs only 2.8% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 7.3%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by a lower Census working population vs resident population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.3% while employment decreased by 2.0%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.6% over the same period. As of Sep-25 in NSW, employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Blackheath - Megalong Valley's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9%% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Blackheath - Megalong Valley had a median taxpayer income of $43,408 and an average of $60,859 in financial year 2022. These figures are lower than the national averages, with Greater Sydney having a median income of $56,994 and an average of $80,856. By March 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.6%, the estimated median income would be approximately $48,009 and the average around $67,310. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Blackheath - Megalong Valley rank modestly, between the 21st and 34th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 28.6% of residents (1,682 people), similar to regional levels where 30.9% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Blackheath - Megalong Valley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Blackheath-Megalong Valley, as per the latest Census, 96.5% of dwellings were houses, with 3.5% being other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 92.3% houses and 7.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackheath-Megalong Valley stood at 48.4%, with mortgaged properties at 31.2% and rented ones at 20.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Sydney's average of $2,033. Median weekly rent in the area was $380, compared to Sydney's $400. Nationally, Blackheath-Megalong Valley's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Blackheath - Megalong Valley features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households are prevalent, accounting for 61.1% of all households. They consist of 18.4% couples with children, 30.8% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.9%, with lone person households at 35.9% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Blackheath - Megalong Valley exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Blackheath-Megalong Valley is notable, with 40.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 23.9% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.9% and certificates for 20.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.3% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. The five schools in Blackheath-Megalong Valley have a combined enrollment of 602 students. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1036) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes three primary schools and two K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents (10.2) are below the regional average (14.5), indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Blackheath - Megalong Valley has 100 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 16 individual routes that collectively facilitate 1,060 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents located an average of 224 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 151 trips per day, amounting to approximately 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Blackheath - Megalong Valley is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Blackheath - Megalong Valley, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 50% (~2,942 people) have private health cover, lower than Greater Sydney's 54.4% and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (10.4%) and mental health issues (9.6%), while 61.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 64.1% in Greater Sydney.

The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 30.8% (1,814 people), versus 24.3% in Greater Sydney. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Blackheath - Megalong Valley records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Blackheath-Megalong Valley's cultural diversity aligns with the broader area's average. 77.5% of its residents were born in Australia, 88.9% are citizens, and 92.5% speak English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 37.7%.

Judaism's presence is higher than the regional average, with 0.5% compared to 0.2%. The top ancestral groups are English (30.6%), Australian (22.6%), and Irish (12.3%). Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 10.6%, along with Hungarian at 0.6% and Russian at 0.6%, compared to regional averages of 9.0%, 0.5%, and 0.4% respectively.

Blackheath - Megalong Valley ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Blackheath-Megalong Valley has a median age of 52, which is higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and significantly higher than Australia's national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 16.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort represents 7.3%. This 65-74 concentration is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group grew from 9.5% to 12.0%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 6.7% to 7.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 10.5% to 8.8%. By 2041, Blackheath-Megalong Valley is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 group will grow by 30%, reaching 919 people from the previous figure of 704. This growth is led entirely by those aged 65 and above, with no projected population growth for the younger cohorts of 0 to 4 and 25 to 34 years old.