Blackheath vs Megalong Valley

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Blackheath, about half of households are people living alone. In Megalong Valley, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Megalong Valley: a median of $1.3 million, against $920,000 in Blackheath, though rent is higher in Blackheath. On these figures, Blackheath tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Megalong Valley suits couples.

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

Blackheath

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 7)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Megalong Valley is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 43%)

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

  • Blackheath has cheaper houses ($920,000 vs $1,300,000)
  • Megalong Valley leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Megalong Valley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $380/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Blackheath

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (99 min vs 137 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (112.7 km vs 132.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Blackheath

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 20%)

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

Investors

Blackheath

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.3% vs -0.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Blackheath Megalong Valley
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.

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Walkability 77 / 0
Blackheath — Walkability: 77/100 Megalong Valley — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 53 / 47
Blackheath — Safety: 53/100 Megalong Valley — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 10 / 11
Blackheath — Low fire risk: 10/100 Megalong Valley — Low fire risk: 11/100

Demographics

Blackheath has more residents (4,672 vs 148); Megalong Valley has higher household incomes ($106,184 vs $69,264).

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Population 4,672
+97% vs other
 148
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.3% -0.7%
Median age 53 52
Median household income $69,264/yr $106,184/yr
+53% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+26% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blackheath Megalong Valley
0-4 3.1% / —
Blackheath — 0-4: 3.1% Megalong Valley — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 10.5% / 13.5%
Blackheath — 5-14: 10.5% Megalong Valley — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 4.2% / 6.8%
Blackheath — 15-19: 4.2% Megalong Valley — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 2.1% / 4.1%
Blackheath — 20-24: 2.1% Megalong Valley — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 7.9% / 4.1%
Blackheath — 25-34: 7.9% Megalong Valley — 25-34: 4.1%
35-44 10.8% / 6.8%
Blackheath — 35-44: 10.8% Megalong Valley — 35-44: 6.8%
45-54 13.7% / 20.9%
Blackheath — 45-54: 13.7% Megalong Valley — 45-54: 20.9%
55-64 18.2% / 24.3%
Blackheath — 55-64: 18.2% Megalong Valley — 55-64: 24.3%
65-74 17.4% / 12.8%
Blackheath — 65-74: 17.4% Megalong Valley — 65-74: 12.8%
75-84 9.7% / 6.8%
Blackheath — 75-84: 9.7% Megalong Valley — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 2.3% / —
Blackheath — 85+: 2.3% Megalong Valley — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blackheath 26.1% couple families
Blackheath — Couple Families: 26.1% Blackheath — Lone Person: 51.8% Blackheath — One Parent Families: 17.0% Blackheath — Group Household: 4.1% Blackheath — Other Families: 1.0%
Megalong Valley 60.0% couple families
Megalong Valley — Couple Families: 60.0% Megalong Valley — Lone Person: 20.0% Megalong Valley — One Parent Families: 20.0% Megalong Valley — Group Household: 0.0% Megalong Valley — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Blackheath 21.3% renting
Blackheath — Owned Outright: 48.5% Blackheath — Mortgage: 30.3% Blackheath — Renting: 21.3%
Megalong Valley 12.5% renting
Megalong Valley — Owned Outright: 62.5% Megalong Valley — Mortgage: 25.0% Megalong Valley — Renting: 12.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Blackheath Megalong Valley
England 6.8% / 5.4%
Blackheath — England: 6.8% Megalong Valley — England: 5.4%
Germany 1.2% / 2.0%
Blackheath — Germany: 1.2% Megalong Valley — Germany: 2.0%
New Zealand 2.2% / —
Blackheath — New Zealand: 2.2% Megalong Valley — New Zealand: not among its largest
South Africa 0.6% / —
Blackheath — South Africa: 0.6% Megalong Valley — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.6% / —
Blackheath — Scotland: 0.6% Megalong Valley — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

Qualifications

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

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Bachelor Degree 18.9% / 18.9%
Blackheath — Bachelor Degree: 18.9% Megalong Valley — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Certificate III & IV 12.0% / 10.8%
Blackheath — Certificate III & IV: 12.0% Megalong Valley — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 7.4%
Blackheath — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Megalong Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 9.6% / 6.1%
Blackheath — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6% Megalong Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 4.1%
Blackheath — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Megalong Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blackheath 95.8% houses
Blackheath — Houses: 95.8% Blackheath — Flats / Apartments: 2.2% Blackheath — Townhouses: 2.0%
Megalong Valley 100.0% houses
Megalong Valley — Houses: 100.0% Megalong Valley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Megalong Valley — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Median house price $920,000 $1,300,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $547,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 98 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Megalong Valley has more rural and farming land (84% vs 5%); Blackheath has more land zoned for conservation (84% vs 15%).

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Rural and farming 5% 84%
Environmental 84% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 0%
Other and special use 3% 0%
Residential 3% 0%
Parks and recreation 3% 1%
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

Blackheath Megalong Valley
New dwellings approved 123
across Blue Mountains
same for both
Approvals change year on year +14%
same for both

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.

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Houses 3.4%
$625/wk on $944K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Blackheath Megalong Valley
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Income Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 90% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of NSW —

Liveability

Blackheath is more walkable (77 vs 0).

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Grade C —
Score 42/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
89/100
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
53/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Blackheath

  • Mountains Christian College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Blackheath Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Megalong Valley

  • Megalong Public School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 20 1
Parks & reserves 28 7
Childcare 3 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 11 26

Mobility

Megalong Valley sits further from the CBD (132.1 km vs 112.7 km).

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Walkability score 77/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 112.7 km 132.1 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 99 min 137 min
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2785
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 2785
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.

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Worked from Home 45.0% / 50.9%
Blackheath — Worked from Home: 45.0% Megalong Valley — Worked from Home: 50.9%
Car (driver) 47.4% / 41.8%
Blackheath — Car (driver): 47.4% Megalong Valley — Car (driver): 41.8%
Walked Only 3.0% / 7.3%
Blackheath — Walked Only: 3.0% Megalong Valley — Walked Only: 7.3%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / —
Blackheath — Car (passenger): 2.0% Megalong Valley — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Train 1.8% / —
Blackheath — Train: 1.8% Megalong Valley — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.9%).

Setting

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Elevation 1,045 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 774 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Connectivity score 66/100 18/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
3,149 premises
 0%
57 premises

Climate

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Annual rainfall 1,147 mm 1,496 mm
Summer max (Jan) 23.8°C 23.6°C
Winter min (Jul) 3.2°C 3.7°C

Council rates

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Average residential rate $2,080/yr
same for both
Council Blue Mountains
same for both

Federal electorate

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Division Macquarie
same for both
Member Susan Templeman
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Blackheath Megalong Valley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Blackheath

Acreage Parks Professionals Retirees River

Megalong Valley

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blackheath

Blackheath vs Mount Victoria Blackheath vs Medlow Bath Blackheath vs Kanimbla

Other comparisons with Megalong Valley

Megalong Valley vs Katoomba Megalong Valley vs Medlow Bath Megalong Valley vs Kanimbla Megalong Valley vs Ganbenang
Full data on Blackheath Full data on Megalong Valley
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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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