Blacksmiths vs Pelican

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Blacksmiths: a median of $1.25 million, against $1 million in Pelican, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Pelican tends to suit 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

Pelican

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 70/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 53%)
  • But Blacksmiths has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Pelican

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,000,000 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Pelican

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Pelican

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 70/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Blacksmiths Pelican
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.

Blacksmiths Pelican
Walkability 56 / 56
Blacksmiths — Walkability: 56/100 Pelican — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 30 / 43
Blacksmiths — Safety: 30/100 Pelican — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 69 / 57
Blacksmiths — Low fire risk: 69/100 Pelican — Low fire risk: 57/100

Demographics

Blacksmiths has more residents (1,881 vs 874); Pelican has higher household incomes ($75,296 vs $65,104).

Blacksmiths Pelican
Population 1,881
+54% vs other
 874
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% -0.8%
Median age 50 48
Median household income $65,104/yr $75,296/yr
+16% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+5% vs other
 $370/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blacksmiths Pelican
0-4 4.2% / 5.9%
Blacksmiths — 0-4: 4.2% Pelican — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 9.2% / 11.3%
Blacksmiths — 5-14: 9.2% Pelican — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 6.5% / 3.4%
Blacksmiths — 15-19: 6.5% Pelican — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 5.5% / 4.3%
Blacksmiths — 20-24: 5.5% Pelican — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 7.5% / 7.4%
Blacksmiths — 25-34: 7.5% Pelican — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 9.4% / 13.5%
Blacksmiths — 35-44: 9.4% Pelican — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 13.6% / 12.7%
Blacksmiths — 45-54: 13.6% Pelican — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 16.4% / 16.0%
Blacksmiths — 55-64: 16.4% Pelican — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 15.5% / 16.2%
Blacksmiths — 65-74: 15.5% Pelican — 65-74: 16.2%
75-84 9.1% / 8.7%
Blacksmiths — 75-84: 9.1% Pelican — 75-84: 8.7%
85+ 3.3% / 1.8%
Blacksmiths — 85+: 3.3% Pelican — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blacksmiths 32.8% couple families
Blacksmiths — Couple Families: 32.8% Blacksmiths — Lone Person: 41.4% Blacksmiths — One Parent Families: 19.8% Blacksmiths — Group Household: 4.1% Blacksmiths — Other Families: 1.8%
Pelican 44.6% couple families
Pelican — Couple Families: 44.6% Pelican — Lone Person: 33.8% Pelican — One Parent Families: 16.9% Pelican — Group Household: 2.6% Pelican — Other Families: 2.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Blacksmiths 22.8% renting
Blacksmiths — Owned Outright: 49.3% Blacksmiths — Mortgage: 28.0% Blacksmiths — Renting: 22.8%
Pelican 18.9% renting
Pelican — Owned Outright: 51.7% Pelican — Mortgage: 29.4% Pelican — Renting: 18.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Blacksmiths Pelican
Certificate III & IV 19.4% / 23.5%
Blacksmiths — Certificate III & IV: 19.4% Pelican — Certificate III & IV: 23.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 8.4%
Blacksmiths — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Pelican — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 6.8%
Blacksmiths — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Pelican — Bachelor Degree: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 0.9%
Blacksmiths — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Pelican — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 0.3%
Blacksmiths — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Pelican — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

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.

Blacksmiths Pelican
England 1.5% / 1.9%
Blacksmiths — England: 1.5% Pelican — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.1%
Blacksmiths — New Zealand: 0.9% Pelican — New Zealand: 1.1%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Blacksmiths — South Africa: 0.6% Pelican — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Blacksmiths — Philippines: 0.5% Pelican — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 0.4% / —
Blacksmiths — Germany: 0.4% Pelican — Germany: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.3%
Blacksmiths — Ireland: not among its largest Pelican — Ireland: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blacksmiths 87.8% houses
Blacksmiths — Houses: 87.8% Blacksmiths — Townhouses: 6.9% Blacksmiths — Flats / Apartments: 5.3%
Pelican 94.2% houses
Pelican — Houses: 94.2% Pelican — Townhouses: 4.3% Pelican — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Blacksmiths Pelican
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price $390,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 12 sales
 40 days
from 9 sales

Zoning mix

Blacksmiths Pelican
Environmental 39% 36%
Residential 34% 37%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 17%
Parks and recreation 16% 10%
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

Blacksmiths Pelican
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Blacksmiths Pelican
Houses 3.4%
$850/wk on $1.32M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Blacksmiths Pelican
House price Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of NSW —

Liveability

Blacksmiths Pelican
Grade C
same for both
Score 38/100 41/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Pelican carries more bushfire risk (43 vs 31); Blacksmiths carries more crime risk (70 vs 57).

Blacksmiths Pelican
Bushfire Low
31/100
 Moderate
43/100
Crime High
70/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
68/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Blacksmiths Pelican
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Blacksmiths

  • Blacksmiths Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Pelican

  • Pelican Flat Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Blacksmiths Pelican
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 0 1
GPs 1 0
Beaches 1 0

Mobility

Blacksmiths Pelican
Walkability score 56/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 131.1 km 131.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min 105 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 72/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 27.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2281
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 2281
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.

Blacksmiths Pelican
Car (driver) 71.9% / 75.6%
Blacksmiths — Car (driver): 71.9% Pelican — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 21.2% / 22.4%
Blacksmiths — Worked from Home: 21.2% Pelican — Worked from Home: 22.4%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 2.0%
Blacksmiths — Car (passenger): 3.9% Pelican — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 2.1% / —
Blacksmiths — Walked Only: 2.1% Pelican — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 0.9% / —
Blacksmiths — Bicycle: 0.9% Pelican — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.6%).

Setting

Blacksmiths Pelican
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 295 m
723 m to a named beach
 1.2 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Blacksmiths Pelican
Connectivity score 58/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
961 premises
 29%
406 premises

Climate

Blacksmiths Pelican
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Blacksmiths Pelican
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.27 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Blacksmiths Pelican
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Blacksmiths Pelican
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Blacksmiths Pelican
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Blacksmiths

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Quiet Retirees

Pelican

Coastal Large Blocks Parks Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blacksmiths

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Other comparisons with Pelican

Pelican vs Swansea Pelican vs Marks Point
Full data on Blacksmiths Full data on Pelican
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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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