Black Hill vs Ashtonfield

Ashtonfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 47 in Black Hill. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Black Hill: a median of $1.73 million, against $886,000 in Ashtonfield, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Black Hill tends to suit couples, while Ashtonfield suits families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Black Hill has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Ashtonfield has more childcare (5 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Ashtonfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($886,500 vs $1,730,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ashtonfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $586/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Black Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (113 min vs 147 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (160.1 km vs 164.7 km)
  • But Ashtonfield is more walkable (42/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ashtonfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (42/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (35/100 vs 92/100)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Ashtonfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-1.2% vs -7.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Black Hill and Ashtonfield drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Walkability 0 / 42
Black Hill — Walkability: 0/100 Ashtonfield — Walkability: 42/100
Safety 8 / 65
Black Hill — Safety: 8/100 Ashtonfield — Safety: 65/100
Low fire risk 59 / 100
Black Hill — Low fire risk: 59/100 Ashtonfield — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ashtonfield has more residents (4,589 vs 516); Black Hill has higher household incomes ($154,960 vs $111,696).

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Population 516 4,589
+789% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -7.9% -1.2%
Median age 47 39
Median household income $154,960/yr
+28% vs other
 $111,696/yr
Median weekly rent $586/wk
+25% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Black Hill Ashtonfield
0-4 2.7% / 4.9%
Black Hill — 0-4: 2.7% Ashtonfield — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 13.8% / 15.9%
Black Hill — 5-14: 13.8% Ashtonfield — 5-14: 15.9%
15-19 7.9% / 7.9%
Black Hill — 15-19: 7.9% Ashtonfield — 15-19: 7.9%
20-24 7.6% / 5.6%
Black Hill — 20-24: 7.6% Ashtonfield — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 6.2% / 10.7%
Black Hill — 25-34: 6.2% Ashtonfield — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 9.3% / 13.0%
Black Hill — 35-44: 9.3% Ashtonfield — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 17.8% / 14.4%
Black Hill — 45-54: 17.8% Ashtonfield — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 14.3% / 12.8%
Black Hill — 55-64: 14.3% Ashtonfield — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 14.1% / 9.3%
Black Hill — 65-74: 14.1% Ashtonfield — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 4.5% / 4.2%
Black Hill — 75-84: 4.5% Ashtonfield — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 0.6% / 1.2%
Black Hill — 85+: 0.6% Ashtonfield — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Black Hill 71.6% couple families
Black Hill — Couple Families: 71.6% Black Hill — Lone Person: 12.8% Black Hill — One Parent Families: 15.6% Black Hill — Group Household: 0.0% Black Hill — Other Families: 0.0%
Ashtonfield 58.9% couple families
Ashtonfield — Couple Families: 58.9% Ashtonfield — Lone Person: 22.5% Ashtonfield — One Parent Families: 16.3% Ashtonfield — Group Household: 1.8% Ashtonfield — Other Families: 0.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Black Hill 6.9% renting
Black Hill — Owned Outright: 46.5% Black Hill — Mortgage: 46.5% Black Hill — Renting: 6.9%
Ashtonfield 21.7% renting
Ashtonfield — Owned Outright: 34.2% Ashtonfield — Mortgage: 44.0% Ashtonfield — Renting: 21.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 17.8%
Black Hill — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Ashtonfield — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 13.4% / 10.9%
Black Hill — Bachelor Degree: 13.4% Ashtonfield — Bachelor Degree: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.8% / 8.4%
Black Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.8% Ashtonfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 3.7%
Black Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Ashtonfield — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.4%
Black Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Ashtonfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Black Hill Ashtonfield
England 3.1% / 2.0%
Black Hill — England: 3.1% Ashtonfield — England: 2.0%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.4%
Black Hill — New Zealand: 0.6% Ashtonfield — New Zealand: 1.4%
India — / 1.2%
Black Hill — India: not among its largest Ashtonfield — India: 1.2%
China — / 0.9%
Black Hill — China: not among its largest Ashtonfield — China: 0.9%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Black Hill — Philippines: not among its largest Ashtonfield — Philippines: 0.8%
Egypt 0.6% / —
Black Hill — Egypt: 0.6% Ashtonfield — Egypt: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Black Hill 100.0% houses
Black Hill — Houses: 100.0% Black Hill — Townhouses: 0.0% Black Hill — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Ashtonfield 93.9% houses
Ashtonfield — Houses: 93.9% Ashtonfield — Townhouses: 5.8% Ashtonfield — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Median house price $1,730,000 $886,500
Median unit price — $630,000
Median land price — $1,115,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 21 days
from 41 sales

Zoning mix

Black Hill has more land zoned for conservation (32% vs 18%); Black Hill has more rural and farming land (59% vs 48%).

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Rural and farming 59% 48%
Environmental 32% 18%
Residential 0% 29%
Industrial 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Black Hill Ashtonfield
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
 1,413
across Maitland
Approvals change year on year -31% +20%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Houses — 4.4%
$755/wk on $888K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Black Hill Ashtonfield
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 89% of NSW

Liveability

Ashtonfield is more walkable (42 vs 0); Ashtonfield scores higher overall (61 vs 36).

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Grade C B
Score 36/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Black Hill carries more bushfire risk (41 vs 0); Black Hill carries more crime risk (92 vs 35).

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Bushfire Moderate
41/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
92/100
 Low
35/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Black Hill

  • Black Hill Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Ashtonfield

  • Ashtonfield Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Hunter Valley Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 0 5
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Waterways 22 1

Mobility

Ashtonfield sits further from the CBD (164.7 km vs 160.1 km).

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Walkability score 0/100 42/100
Distance to Sydney 160.1 km 164.7 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 113 min 147 min
Public transport score 31/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 72.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2322
 0.5%
postcode 2323
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 2322
 44
postcode 2323

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Car (driver) 63.6% / 69.8%
Black Hill — Car (driver): 63.6% Ashtonfield — Car (driver): 69.8%
Worked from Home 29.9% / 24.1%
Black Hill — Worked from Home: 29.9% Ashtonfield — Worked from Home: 24.1%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 4.5%
Black Hill — Car (passenger): 2.8% Ashtonfield — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 3.7% / 1.0%
Black Hill — Walked Only: 3.7% Ashtonfield — Walked Only: 1.0%
Train — / 0.4%
Black Hill — Train: not among its largest Ashtonfield — Train: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.8%).

Setting

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.0 km 17.8 km

NBN connectivity

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Connectivity score 30/100 99/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
173 premises
 98%
1,704 premises

Climate

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm 996 mm
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C 30.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C 7.1°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Black Hill Ashtonfield
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Average residential rate $1,405/yr $1,908/yr
Council Cessnock Maitland

Federal electorate

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Black Hill Ashtonfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Black Hill

Rural

Ashtonfield

Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Black Hill

Black Hill vs East Maitland Black Hill vs Thornton Black Hill vs Beresfield Black Hill vs Tarro Black Hill vs Buchanan Black Hill vs Hexham

Other comparisons with Ashtonfield

Ashtonfield vs East Maitland Ashtonfield vs Thornton Ashtonfield vs Metford
Full data on Black Hill Full data on Ashtonfield
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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