Blacksmiths vs Swansea Heads

Swansea Heads is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 50 in Blacksmiths. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Swansea Heads, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Blacksmiths tends to suit people living alone, while Swansea Heads 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

Swansea Heads

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 70/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% 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

Swansea Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Swansea Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Blacksmiths

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Blacksmiths

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 28/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 23%)
  • But Swansea Heads carries lower crime risk (48/100 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 Swansea Heads 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 Swansea Heads
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 Swansea Heads
Walkability 56 / 28
Blacksmiths — Walkability: 56/100 Swansea Heads — Walkability: 28/100
Safety 30 / 52
Blacksmiths — Safety: 30/100 Swansea Heads — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 69 / 100
Blacksmiths — Low fire risk: 69/100 Swansea Heads — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Blacksmiths has more residents (1,881 vs 609); Swansea Heads has higher household incomes ($108,316 vs $65,104).

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Population 1,881
+68% vs other
 609
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% -0.8%
Median age 50 46
Median household income $65,104/yr $108,316/yr
+66% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+3% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
0-4 4.2% / 4.3%
Blacksmiths — 0-4: 4.2% Swansea Heads — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 9.2% / 12.5%
Blacksmiths — 5-14: 9.2% Swansea Heads — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 6.5% / 5.7%
Blacksmiths — 15-19: 6.5% Swansea Heads — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 5.5% / 5.6%
Blacksmiths — 20-24: 5.5% Swansea Heads — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 7.5% / 7.2%
Blacksmiths — 25-34: 7.5% Swansea Heads — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 9.4% / 14.0%
Blacksmiths — 35-44: 9.4% Swansea Heads — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 13.6% / 11.7%
Blacksmiths — 45-54: 13.6% Swansea Heads — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 16.4% / 17.4%
Blacksmiths — 55-64: 16.4% Swansea Heads — 55-64: 17.4%
65-74 15.5% / 14.1%
Blacksmiths — 65-74: 15.5% Swansea Heads — 65-74: 14.1%
75-84 9.1% / 6.2%
Blacksmiths — 75-84: 9.1% Swansea Heads — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 3.3% / 2.5%
Blacksmiths — 85+: 3.3% Swansea Heads — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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 — Other Families: 1.8% Blacksmiths — Group Household: 4.1%
Swansea Heads 48.2% couple families
Swansea Heads — Couple Families: 48.2% Swansea Heads — Lone Person: 24.1% Swansea Heads — One Parent Families: 21.7% Swansea Heads — Other Families: 4.2% Swansea Heads — Group Household: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

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%
Swansea Heads 14.9% renting
Swansea Heads — Owned Outright: 50.0% Swansea Heads — Mortgage: 35.1% Swansea Heads — Renting: 14.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Certificate III & IV 19.4% / 21.2%
Blacksmiths — Certificate III & IV: 19.4% Swansea Heads — Certificate III & IV: 21.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 12.6%
Blacksmiths — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Swansea Heads — Bachelor Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 8.7%
Blacksmiths — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Swansea Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 3.4%
Blacksmiths — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Swansea Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 2.3%
Blacksmiths — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Swansea Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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 Swansea Heads
England 1.5% / 2.8%
Blacksmiths — England: 1.5% Swansea Heads — England: 2.8%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.7%
Blacksmiths — New Zealand: 0.9% Swansea Heads — New Zealand: 0.7%
Germany 0.4% / 1.1%
Blacksmiths — Germany: 0.4% Swansea Heads — Germany: 1.1%
Thailand — / 1.1%
Blacksmiths — Thailand: not among its largest Swansea Heads — Thailand: 1.1%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Blacksmiths — South Africa: 0.6% Swansea Heads — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Blacksmiths — Philippines: 0.5% Swansea Heads — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

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%
Swansea Heads 90.2% houses
Swansea Heads — Houses: 90.2% Swansea Heads — Townhouses: 6.1% Swansea Heads — Flats / Apartments: 3.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,345,000
Median unit price $390,000 —
Median land price — $1,950,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 12 sales
 38 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Swansea Heads has more land zoned for conservation (58% vs 39%).

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Environmental 39% 58%
Residential 34% 31%
Parks and recreation 16% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Blacksmiths and 94% of Swansea Heads. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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 Swansea Heads
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 Swansea Heads
Houses 3.4%
$850/wk on $1.32M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
House price Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of NSW —

Liveability

Blacksmiths is more walkable (56 vs 28); Swansea Heads scores higher overall (61 vs 38).

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Grade C B
Score 38/100 61/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Blacksmiths carries more bushfire risk (31 vs 0); Blacksmiths carries more crime risk (70 vs 48).

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Bushfire Low
31/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
70/100
 Moderate
48/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
43/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Blacksmiths

  • Blacksmiths Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Swansea Heads

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
GPs 1 0
Beaches 1 3

Mobility

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Walkability score 56/100 28/100
Distance to Sydney 131.1 km 130.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min
same for both
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 50/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 27.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 14.0
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 Swansea Heads
Car (driver) 71.9% / 64.2%
Blacksmiths — Car (driver): 71.9% Swansea Heads — Car (driver): 64.2%
Worked from Home 21.2% / 29.7%
Blacksmiths — Worked from Home: 21.2% Swansea Heads — Worked from Home: 29.7%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.9%
Blacksmiths — Car (passenger): 3.9% Swansea Heads — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Bicycle 0.9% / 2.2%
Blacksmiths — Bicycle: 0.9% Swansea Heads — Bicycle: 2.2%
Walked Only 2.1% / —
Blacksmiths — Walked Only: 2.1% Swansea Heads — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.9%).

Setting

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 295 m
723 m to a named beach
 154 m
187 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Connectivity score 58/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
961 premises
 53%
259 premises

Climate

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm 1,272 mm
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C 26.4°C
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C 10.6°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Blacksmiths Swansea Heads
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

Swansea Heads

Beach Beachfront Coastal Large Blocks

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Full data on Blacksmiths Full data on Swansea Heads
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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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