Blackmans Point vs Riverside

Riverside is the younger of the two, with a median age of 53 against 58 in Blackmans Point. In both, most households own their home. In Blackmans Point, about half of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Riverside, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Blackmans Point: a median of $1.2 million, against $980,000 in Riverside, though rent is higher in Riverside. On these figures, Blackmans Point tends to suit people living alone, while Riverside suits couples 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

Riverside

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 40%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 41%)

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

First-home buyers

Riverside

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 65%)
  • has cheaper houses ($980,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Blackmans Point

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $415/wk)
  • But Riverside leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 35%)

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

Commuting to the city

Blackmans Point

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (259 min vs 274 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (386.5 km vs 390.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Blackmans Point

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.7% vs -7.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Blackmans Point Riverside
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.

Blackmans Point Riverside
Walkability 0 / 0
Blackmans Point — Walkability: 0/100 Riverside — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 67 / 64
Blackmans Point — Safety: 67/100 Riverside — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 42 / 11
Blackmans Point — Low fire risk: 42/100 Riverside — Low fire risk: 11/100

Demographics

Riverside has higher household incomes ($75,972 vs $38,324); Riverside has more residents (298 vs 178).

Blackmans Point Riverside
Population 178 298
+67% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.7% -7.5%
Median age 58 53
Median household income $38,324/yr $75,972/yr
+98% vs other
Median weekly rent $260/wk $415/wk
+60% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point Riverside
0-4 — / 4.4%
Blackmans Point — 0-4: not among its largest Riverside — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 7.3% / 11.4%
Blackmans Point — 5-14: 7.3% Riverside — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 2.2% / 3.7%
Blackmans Point — 15-19: 2.2% Riverside — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 5.1% / 3.0%
Blackmans Point — 20-24: 5.1% Riverside — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 9.6% / 7.4%
Blackmans Point — 25-34: 9.6% Riverside — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 3.4% / 10.4%
Blackmans Point — 35-44: 3.4% Riverside — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 13.5% / 9.7%
Blackmans Point — 45-54: 13.5% Riverside — 45-54: 9.7%
55-64 29.2% / 15.4%
Blackmans Point — 55-64: 29.2% Riverside — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 24.2% / 21.8%
Blackmans Point — 65-74: 24.2% Riverside — 65-74: 21.8%
75-84 3.4% / 11.7%
Blackmans Point — 75-84: 3.4% Riverside — 75-84: 11.7%
85+ 5.1% / 1.7%
Blackmans Point — 85+: 5.1% Riverside — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point 58.9% lone person
Blackmans Point — Lone Person: 58.9% Blackmans Point — Couple Families: 25.0% Blackmans Point — One Parent Families: 16.1%
Riverside 29.8% lone person
Riverside — Lone Person: 29.8% Riverside — Couple Families: 57.9% Riverside — One Parent Families: 12.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point 32.0% renting
Blackmans Point — Owned Outright: 50.7% Blackmans Point — Mortgage: 17.3% Blackmans Point — Renting: 32.0%
Riverside 7.8% renting
Riverside — Owned Outright: 57.3% Riverside — Mortgage: 35.0% Riverside — Renting: 7.8%
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.

Blackmans Point Riverside
England 1.7% / 3.4%
Blackmans Point — England: 1.7% Riverside — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.3%
Blackmans Point — New Zealand: 2.2% Riverside — New Zealand: 2.3%
South Africa — / 2.0%
Blackmans Point — South Africa: not among its largest Riverside — South Africa: 2.0%
Taiwan — / 1.3%
Blackmans Point — Taiwan: not among its largest Riverside — Taiwan: 1.3%
Netherlands — / 1.3%
Blackmans Point — Netherlands: not among its largest Riverside — Netherlands: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

Qualifications

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

Blackmans Point Riverside
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 19.1%
Blackmans Point — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Riverside — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 12.8%
Blackmans Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Riverside — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.6% / 8.7%
Blackmans Point — Bachelor Degree: 9.6% Riverside — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.4%
Blackmans Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Riverside — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 1.7%
Blackmans Point — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Riverside — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blackmans Point 40.5% houses
Blackmans Point — Houses: 40.5% Blackmans Point — Flats / Apartments: 53.2% Blackmans Point — Townhouses: 6.3%
Riverside 100.0% houses
Riverside — Houses: 100.0% Riverside — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Riverside — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Blackmans Point Riverside
Median house price $1,200,000 $980,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Riverside has more land zoned for conservation (56% vs 20%); Blackmans Point has more rural and farming land (79% vs 44%).

Blackmans Point Riverside
Rural and farming 79% 44%
Environmental 20% 56%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 0%
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

Blackmans Point Riverside
New dwellings approved 546
across Port Macquarie-Hastings
same for both
Approvals change year on year +33%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Blackmans Point Riverside
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Income Higher than 3% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW

Liveability

Blackmans Point Riverside
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Riverside carries more bushfire risk (89 vs 58).

Blackmans Point Riverside
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 High
89/100
Crime Low
33/100
 Low
36/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
62/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Blackmans Point Riverside
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Blackmans Point Riverside
Cafes & restaurants 1 0

Mobility

Riverside sits further from the CBD (390.1 km vs 386.5 km).

Blackmans Point Riverside
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 386.5 km 390.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 259 min 274 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2444
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 2444
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.

Blackmans Point Riverside
Car (driver) 53.1% / 68.6%
Blackmans Point — Car (driver): 53.1% Riverside — Car (driver): 68.6%
Worked from Home 30.6% / 31.4%
Blackmans Point — Worked from Home: 30.6% Riverside — Worked from Home: 31.4%
Car (passenger) 8.2% / —
Blackmans Point — Car (passenger): 8.2% Riverside — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 8.2% / —
Blackmans Point — Walked Only: 8.2% Riverside — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.6%).

Setting

Blackmans Point Riverside
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.8 km 1.7 km

NBN connectivity

Blackmans Point Riverside
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
88 premises
 0%
143 premises

Air quality (annual mean)

Blackmans Point Riverside
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.92 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Blackmans Point Riverside
Average residential rate $1,325/yr
same for both
Council Port Macquarie-Hastings
same for both

Federal electorate

Blackmans Point Riverside
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Blackmans Point Riverside
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Blackmans Point

Quiet Retirees Rural

Riverside

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blackmans Point

Blackmans Point vs Sancrox Blackmans Point vs Fernbank Creek Blackmans Point vs Pembrooke

Other comparisons with Riverside

Riverside vs Port Macquarie Riverside vs North Shore Riverside vs Fernbank Creek
Full data on Blackmans Point Full data on Riverside
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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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