Black Hill vs Tarro

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Black Hill, most households are couple families. In Tarro, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Black Hill: a median of $1.73 million, against $730,000 in Tarro, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Black Hill tends to suit couples, while Tarro suits people living alone 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)
  • Tarro has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Black Hill leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 30%)
  • Tarro has cheaper houses ($730,000 vs $1,730,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tarro

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $586/wk)
  • But Black Hill leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Tarro

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (28/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Tarro

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (28/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 92/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 19%)

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

Investors

Tarro

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.5% vs -7.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Black Hill and Tarro 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 Tarro
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 Tarro
Walkability 0 / 28
Black Hill — Walkability: 0/100 Tarro — Walkability: 28/100
Safety 8 / 46
Black Hill — Safety: 8/100 Tarro — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 59 / 100
Black Hill — Low fire risk: 59/100 Tarro — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Tarro has more residents (1,703 vs 516); Black Hill has higher household incomes ($154,960 vs $60,684).

Black Hill Tarro
Population 516 1,703
+230% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -7.9% +3.5%
Median age 47 45
Median household income $154,960/yr
+61% vs other
 $60,684/yr
Median weekly rent $586/wk
+42% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Black Hill Tarro
0-4 2.7% / 5.2%
Black Hill — 0-4: 2.7% Tarro — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 13.8% / 10.6%
Black Hill — 5-14: 13.8% Tarro — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 7.9% / 4.2%
Black Hill — 15-19: 7.9% Tarro — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 7.6% / 5.9%
Black Hill — 20-24: 7.6% Tarro — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 6.2% / 12.9%
Black Hill — 25-34: 6.2% Tarro — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 9.3% / 10.5%
Black Hill — 35-44: 9.3% Tarro — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 17.8% / 11.2%
Black Hill — 45-54: 17.8% Tarro — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 14.3% / 12.7%
Black Hill — 55-64: 14.3% Tarro — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 14.1% / 14.9%
Black Hill — 65-74: 14.1% Tarro — 65-74: 14.9%
75-84 4.5% / 9.6%
Black Hill — 75-84: 4.5% Tarro — 75-84: 9.6%
85+ 0.6% / 2.5%
Black Hill — 85+: 0.6% Tarro — 85+: 2.5%

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%
Tarro 30.3% couple families
Tarro — Couple Families: 30.3% Tarro — Lone Person: 47.0% Tarro — One Parent Families: 16.6% Tarro — Group Household: 4.8% Tarro — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
Tarro 22.1% renting
Tarro — Owned Outright: 46.5% Tarro — Mortgage: 31.3% Tarro — Renting: 22.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Black Hill Tarro
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 19.3%
Black Hill — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Tarro — Certificate III & IV: 19.3%
Bachelor Degree 13.4% / 5.2%
Black Hill — Bachelor Degree: 13.4% Tarro — Bachelor Degree: 5.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.8% / 4.9%
Black Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.8% Tarro — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 0.9%
Black Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Tarro — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 0.5%
Black Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Tarro — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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 Tarro
England 3.1% / 2.4%
Black Hill — England: 3.1% Tarro — England: 2.4%
New Zealand 0.6% / 0.7%
Black Hill — New Zealand: 0.6% Tarro — New Zealand: 0.7%
China — / 0.8%
Black Hill — China: not among its largest Tarro — China: 0.8%
Egypt 0.6% / —
Black Hill — Egypt: 0.6% Tarro — Egypt: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.6%
Black Hill — Netherlands: not among its largest Tarro — Netherlands: 0.6%
Scotland — / 0.5%
Black Hill — Scotland: not among its largest Tarro — Scotland: 0.5%

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%
Tarro 93.3% houses
Tarro — Houses: 93.3% Tarro — Townhouses: 6.5% Tarro — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Black Hill Tarro
Median house price $1,730,000 $730,000
Median unit price — $380,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 29 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Black Hill has more rural and farming land (59% vs 0%); Tarro has more land zoned for conservation (84% vs 32%).

Black Hill Tarro
Environmental 32% 84%
Rural and farming 59% 0%
Residential 0% 10%
Industrial 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 5%
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 Tarro
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
 912
across Newcastle
Approvals change year on year -31% +77%

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 Tarro
Houses — 4.7%
$665/wk on $729K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Black Hill Tarro
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW —
Schools — Higher than 30% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Tarro is more walkable (28 vs 0).

Black Hill Tarro
Grade C
same for both
Score 36/100 33/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Black Hill carries more bushfire risk (41 vs 0); Black Hill carries more crime risk (92 vs 54).

Black Hill Tarro
Bushfire Moderate
41/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
92/100
 Moderate
54/100
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
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Black Hill Tarro
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km None 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 9.6 km

Schools in Black Hill

  • Black Hill Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Tarro

  • Tarro Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Aspect Hunter School, Tarro Satellite Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Black Hill Tarro
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 22 0

Mobility

Black Hill Tarro
Walkability score 0/100 28/100
Distance to Sydney 160.1 km 159.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 113 min 116 min
Public transport score 31/100
Bus
 63/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 14.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2322
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 2322
same for both

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 Tarro
Car (driver) 63.6% / 81.6%
Black Hill — Car (driver): 63.6% Tarro — Car (driver): 81.6%
Worked from Home 29.9% / 10.4%
Black Hill — Worked from Home: 29.9% Tarro — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 4.9%
Black Hill — Car (passenger): 2.8% Tarro — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Walked Only 3.7% / 1.2%
Black Hill — Walked Only: 3.7% Tarro — Walked Only: 1.2%
Train — / 1.9%
Black Hill — Train: not among its largest Tarro — Train: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.6%).

Setting

Black Hill Tarro
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.0 km 9.9 km

NBN connectivity

Black Hill Tarro
Connectivity score 30/100 62/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
173 premises
 32%
790 premises

Climate

Black Hill Tarro
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm 1,181 mm
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C 28.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C 7.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Black Hill Tarro
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 Tarro
Average residential rate $1,405/yr $1,783/yr
Council Cessnock Newcastle

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Black Hill

Rural

Tarro

Acreage Retirees Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Black Hill

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

Other comparisons with Tarro

Tarro vs Beresfield Tarro vs Woodberry Tarro vs Tomago Tarro vs Hexham
Full data on Black Hill Full data on Tarro
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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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