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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Blackheath is $950k. House values have moved 4.0% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Blackheath has an estimated 4,680 residents. That puts 148 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Blackheath has an estimated resident tally of approximately 4,680, calculated through AreaSearch assessments of broader regional ABS demographic revisions and validated post-Census address additions. This indicates an addition of 8 people (0.2%) relative to the 2021 Census benchmark of 4,672 people. This shift draws upon an estimated resident population count of 4,673 determined via the June 2025 ABS ERP release alongside 37 validated new addresses identified following the Census. The resulting population density is 147 persons per square kilometer, preserving generous living space and capacity for prospective development.
Across the preceding decade, the suburb of Blackheath maintained stable expansion with a compound annual growth rate of 0.2%, exceeding the surrounding SA3 territory, with gains over recent intervals stemming almost entirely from overseas migration. Projections for each SA2 region rely on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia figures pegged to 2022, supplemented where necessary by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 data using 2021 as a base. Age-bracket expansion trends from these models are incorporated across all territories for the 2032 to 2041 period. Based on projected shifts, the suburb of Blackheath is tracked within the lower quartile of nationwide growth, with aggregated SA2 modeling indicating an increase of 53 persons by 2041, representing a 1.0% overall expansion across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
74 new dwellings have been approved in Blackheath over the past five years, an average of 14 a year. That is 2.4 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 10, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch shows that the locality has maintained an average of approximately 14 newly approved dwellings annually, reaching an estimated total of 74 residences over the preceding 5 financial years. Within FY-25 to date, 10 approvals have been logged. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 0.1 people arrived per newly constructed home, meaning residential construction has matched or outpaced local demand to provide ample choice for purchasers and headroom for demographic gains. These new builds carry an average construction value of $546,000, while recorded commercial approvals of $1.0 million during this financial year highlight the predominantly residential nature of the market.
Local building approval volumes exceed the Greater Sydney per capita benchmark by 36.0% over the 5 year period, offering solid buying opportunities while sustaining demand, despite a slowdown in building activity in recent times. Nevertheless, activity remains below national rates, indicating a mature market alongside prospective planning constraints. Approvals are composed of 91.0% separate houses and 9.0% townhouses or apartments, reinforcing a low-density character focused on detached dwellings for buyers seeking space. An estimated ratio of 622 residents per approved dwelling reflects a tranquil, low-intensity construction landscape. Looking forward, the community is projected to gain 46 residents up to 2041 according to the latest quarterly AreaSearch forecast. Given prevailing construction trends, the pipeline of residential building is well placed to accommodate anticipated demand, delivering supportive conditions for purchasers and enabling population expansion beyond baseline estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Blackheath
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 14 current infrastructure and development projects close to Blackheath, worth an estimated $164 million. 2 are already under construction and 5 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local economic and social conditions are substantially shaped by surrounding infrastructure schemes, planning frameworks, and capital projects. AreaSearch has pinpointed 1 primary initiative with local impact, while surrounding major projects include the Great Western Highway Upgrade - Katoomba to Lithgow, Regional NSW Road Network Safety Improvements, Paling Yards Wind Farm, and the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Katoomba Town Centre Place Activation Project
The Katoomba Town Centre Place Activation Project delivers high street, arts and culture, and community infrastructure improvements across Katoomba Town Centre. Funded by a $7.5 million NSW Government grant, the project includes upgraded street paving, kerb and guttering, new outdoor public dining facilities, improved outdoor public event spaces, street tree plantings, landscaping, public art, and smart cities technology.
Katoomba Town Centre Upgrade
Council led upgrade program to Katoomba Street and adjacent laneways in Katoomba town centre. Works include continuation and completion of paving, kerb and gutter upgrades, new street furniture and lighting, outdoor dining and event spaces, tree planting and landscaping, public art and heritage interpretation, and improved wayfinding and directional signage. The project is funded by a 7.5 million dollar NSW Government grant and is in the planning and design phase, with construction to follow and completion targeted for 2027.
Lilypad Katoomba
Lilypad Katoomba is a boutique collection of 24 luxury 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses completed in 2024 in the heart of Katoomba, offering mountain views, secure parking and high end finishes. The project delivers new residential stock close to Katoomba Street services and transport, developed by TQM as part of its New South Wales residential portfolio.
Escarpments Estate
Escarpments Estate is a master-planned residential community adjoining the former Katoomba Golf Course, now an established street-scale estate of around 100 dwellings including houses, townhouses and a small number of units, offering contemporary homes with escarpment and parkland views and ongoing resale activity.
Echo Point Precinct Upgrade
Multi-stage upgrade of the Echo Point visitor precinct at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. Following the 2020 completion of the sandstone gathering place, Prince of Wales Lookout, and night-lit boardwalk, current works funded by the NSW Government Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program are delivering balustrade and pathway improvements, upgraded lighting, and improved signage at Echo Point. The broader visitor infrastructure program also covers Pulpit Rock and Sublime Point, coordinated with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, improving accessibility and visitor flow for one of Australia's most popular tourism destinations.
Lithgow Council Subdivision 47 Allotments
Council-owned land subdivision into 47 residential allotments developed in 2 construction stages. The project includes new roads, supporting infrastructure, and bulk earthworks to create housing opportunities in the growing Bowenfels area. This development addresses the increasing housing demand in the Lithgow region, particularly in anticipation of population growth from the Western Sydney Airport development.
Lithgow Area Resignalling (Stage 2)
Upgrade of the signalling system with a new computer-based interlocking system to increase network capacity, meet operational requirements for new trains, and improve reliability and safety. Resignalling work at Lithgow is underway and will take up to three years to complete.
Bowen Vista Estate
Residential subdivision in South Bowenfels. Hynash constructed Stage 3 comprising 10 lots with roads, kerb and gutter, signage, and installation of utilities. Works for Stage 3 commenced January 2016 and were completed by early December 2016.
2,182 residents of Blackheath are employed, from a labour force of 2,270. Unemployment sits at 3.9%, with participation at 55.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,848, about 82% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market features a highly educated talent base with strong professional services participation and an unemployment rate standing at 3.9%, based on AreaSearch statistical aggregations. Across the area as of March 2026, 2,182 residents are employed, with unemployment tracking 0.2% below the Greater Sydney figure of 4.1%, whereas the participation rate of 55.1% falls well short of the metropolitan benchmark of 68.9%. Census records indicate that 44.0% of workers operated from home, though pandemic-related lockdown conditions should be considered. Local employment is heavily oriented around health care & social assistance, education & training, alongside professional & technical roles.
Representation in education & training is especially pronounced, tracking at 1.5 times the regional average, whereas finance & insurance accounts for a modest 2.7% share compared to 7.3% across the wider region. Comparing Census-recorded working positions against resident totals suggests a constrained pool of jobs situated directly within the area. Through the year ending March 2026, combined SALM and ABS statistical data indicates the local workforce contracted by 4.0% while employment declined by 3.5%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point drop in the jobless rate. In contrast, Greater Sydney logged employment expansion of 1.9%, labour force growth of 1.9%, and a slight reduction in unemployment. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia projections from Mar-26 outline national employment growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with distinct variations among sectors. Mapping these national trajectories to the local occupational structure suggests potential employment expansion of 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years (representing an illustrative weighting model that does not incorporate specific local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Blackheath is $1,332 a week (about $69,000 a year), with median personal income at $740 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $44,184 a year against an average of $61,947. The average runs 40% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation data for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch indicates that taxpayers in the area earned a median income of $44,184 and an average of $61,947, sitting below both the Australian standard and Greater Sydney benchmarks of $60,817 and $83,003. Applying a 10.32% Wage Price Index increase since financial year 2023 brings estimated figures to approximately $48,744 (median) and $68,340 (average) as of March 2026. Census metrics place household, family, and individual incomes between the 22nd and 37th percentiles, with the largest group comprising 28.9% earning between $1,500 - 2,999 per week (1,352 residents), in line with the regional proportion of 30.9%.
Affordability constraints are acute, as households retain 84.8% of income after housing expenses (placing in the 24th percentile), while the SEIFA income index sits in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Blackheath had 2,120 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 1% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 48% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $380 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 28.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 30.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that separate houses account for 96.0% of local dwellings and other formats (semi-detached dwellings, units, and alternative housing types) make up 3.9%, compared with metropolitan Sydney where houses represent 55.9% and other residences comprise 44.1%. Full home ownership stands at 48.4%, well above the Sydney metro rate, with mortgaged properties accounting for 30.5% and rental accommodation making up 21.1%. Typical monthly mortgage payments of $1,733 are below the Sydney metro level of $2,427 and the national average of $1,863. Conversely, median weekly rent sits at $380, trailing the Sydney metro median of $470 but exceeding the nationwide figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Blackheath counted 2,120 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.0 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 91% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 36% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 61.4% of all local households, divided between couples without children (31.2%), couples with children (18.0%), and single parent families (11.3%). The balance of 38.6% consists of non-family arrangements, primarily lone person residences at 35.9% alongside group households at 2.8%. Typical household occupancy is 2.0 people, below the Greater Sydney benchmark of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
41.4% of adults in Blackheath hold a university qualification, including 24.7% with a bachelor degree and 12.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 75% of areas nationally. A further 19.9% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 453 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,045 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Higher education qualifications are held by 41.4% of residents aged 15+, notably outperforming the SA4 region level of 23.9% and the national figure of 30.4%. Within this cohort, bachelor degrees comprise 24.7%, postgraduate awards represent 12.6%, and graduate diplomas account for 4.1%. In addition, 33.1% of individuals aged 15+ hold technical or vocational credentials, consisting of 13.2% with advanced diplomas and 19.9% with certificates. Current participation in formal study involves 25.5% of the local population, with primary school students making up 8.6%, secondary students accounting for 6.8%, and tertiary education participants representing 4.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Blackheath reaches 89 stops on 27 routes, timetabled for about 1,100 services a week. The typical home sits about 230 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.0 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
A local network of 89 operational public transport stops across train and bus modes provides 1,062 scheduled weekly passenger services across 27 individual routes. Stops are conveniently situated, with residents located an average of 225 meters from their nearest boarding point. Private motor vehicles serve as the main commuting choice for 86% of traveling residents, while 5% walk to work. Vehicle availability sits at 1.0 per household, below regional figures, and 44.0% of employed locals worked remotely according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era travel patterns. Across the entire network, transport services run at a daily average of 151 trips, which translates to roughly 11 weekly departures for each designated stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
60.2% of residents in Blackheath report no long-term health condition. 6.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Resident health outcomes align closely with broader Australian benchmarks, exhibiting typical incidence levels of standard medical conditions across both younger and older demographics, while private hospital cover is held by approximately 51% of the population (~2,407 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent reported illnesses, affecting 10.4 and 9.6% of the population respectively, while 60.2% reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Chronic health issues are relatively elevated among working-age residents. Individuals aged 65 and over represent 32.8% of the community (1,535 people), well above the Greater Sydney proportion of 15.5%, with older residents demonstrating particularly favorable health indicators relative to national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Blackheath is largely Australian-born, at 77.5% of residents, with 7.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.6%) and Australian (22.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics are broadly comparable to regional averages, with 77.5% of residents born in Australia, 88.3% holding Australian citizenship, and 92.9% speaking only English in domestic settings. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation at 37.6% of the population. Judaism accounts for 0.6% locally, compared with 0.8% across Greater Sydney. The primary reported ancestries are English at 30.6% (above the regional mark of 19.0%), Australian at 22.3%, and Irish at 12.5% (exceeding the regional share of 6.1%). Notable divergence is also seen in other backgrounds, with Scottish heritage accounting for 10.9% (compared to 4.8% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (against 0.4%), and Hungarian ancestry at 0.6% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Blackheath is 53, older than 95% of areas nationally. 14.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile strongly reflects the area's lifestyle and retirement appeal, with seniors and retirees (65+) comprising 32.8% of the population as at August 2026 compared to 15.5% in Greater Sydney, while younger working-age cohorts (25 - 44) account for 18.6% versus 31.4% regionally. The median age is an estimated 53 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census figure and tracking 16 years above Greater Sydney's 37 years and the Australian median of 38 from that Census. Since the Census, the 65+ age bracket has risen from 29.4% to an estimated 32.8% and is projected to add 343 residents (22%) to reach 1,878 by 2041, while child, youth, and younger adult cohorts are expected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Blackheath
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 37 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,672 at the 2021 Census → 4,680 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10392). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.