Darawank vs Black Head

Darawank is the younger of the two, with a median age of 52 against 65 in Black Head. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Darawank, about half of households are couple families. In Black Head, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Darawank: a median of $1.15 million, against $1.05 million in Black Head, though rent is higher in Black Head. On these figures, Darawank tends to suit couples, while Black Head suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Darawank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 33%)

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

First-home buyers

Black Head

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($465,000 vs $1,469,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (36% vs 43%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Darawank

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 36%)
  • has cheaper rent ($335/wk vs $375/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Black Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (36/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Black Head

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (36/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (52% vs 28%)

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

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

Darawank Black Head
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.

Darawank Black Head
Walkability 0 / 36
Darawank — Walkability: 0/100 Black Head — Walkability: 36/100
Safety 57 / 58
Darawank — Safety: 57/100 Black Head — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 16 / 6
Darawank — Low fire risk: 16/100 Black Head — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Black Head has more residents (972 vs 451); Black Head skews older (65 vs 52).

Darawank Black Head
Population 451 972
+116% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.2%
same for both
Median age 52 65
Median household income $66,820/yr
+18% vs other
 $54,756/yr
Median weekly rent $335/wk $375/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darawank Black Head
0-4 2.9% / 2.4%
Darawank — 0-4: 2.9% Black Head — 0-4: 2.4%
5-14 11.3% / 6.5%
Darawank — 5-14: 11.3% Black Head — 5-14: 6.5%
15-19 5.3% / 3.9%
Darawank — 15-19: 5.3% Black Head — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 4.4% / 1.9%
Darawank — 20-24: 4.4% Black Head — 20-24: 1.9%
25-34 4.4% / 4.7%
Darawank — 25-34: 4.4% Black Head — 25-34: 4.7%
35-44 10.4% / 5.3%
Darawank — 35-44: 10.4% Black Head — 35-44: 5.3%
45-54 13.7% / 8.5%
Darawank — 45-54: 13.7% Black Head — 45-54: 8.5%
55-64 20.0% / 15.6%
Darawank — 55-64: 20.0% Black Head — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 15.7% / 26.7%
Darawank — 65-74: 15.7% Black Head — 65-74: 26.7%
75-84 10.0% / 20.8%
Darawank — 75-84: 10.0% Black Head — 75-84: 20.8%
85+ 1.8% / 4.7%
Darawank — 85+: 1.8% Black Head — 85+: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darawank 36.2% lone person
Darawank — Lone Person: 36.2% Darawank — Couple Families: 46.7% Darawank — One Parent Families: 9.5% Darawank — Group Household: 7.6%
Black Head 63.2% lone person
Black Head — Lone Person: 63.2% Black Head — Couple Families: 23.1% Black Head — One Parent Families: 10.1% Black Head — Group Household: 3.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Darawank 13.5% renting
Darawank — Owned Outright: 54.1% Darawank — Mortgage: 32.4% Darawank — Renting: 13.5%
Black Head 20.9% renting
Black Head — Owned Outright: 58.5% Black Head — Mortgage: 20.6% Black Head — Renting: 20.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darawank Black Head
Certificate III & IV 20.4% / 17.6%
Darawank — Certificate III & IV: 20.4% Black Head — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 8.4% / 11.3%
Darawank — Bachelor Degree: 8.4% Black Head — Bachelor Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 9.6%
Darawank — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Black Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 3.4%
Darawank — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Black Head — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 2.6%
Darawank — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Black Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

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.

Darawank Black Head
England 2.9% / 8.1%
Darawank — England: 2.9% Black Head — England: 8.1%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.9%
Darawank — New Zealand: 1.1% Black Head — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.0%
Darawank — South Africa: 1.1% Black Head — South Africa: 1.0%
Fiji 1.1% / —
Darawank — Fiji: 1.1% Black Head — Fiji: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.9%
Darawank — Philippines: not among its largest Black Head — Philippines: 0.9%
Germany — / 0.9%
Darawank — Germany: not among its largest Black Head — Germany: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Darawank 79.7% houses
Darawank — Houses: 79.7% Darawank — Flats / Apartments: 20.3% Darawank — Townhouses: 0.0%
Black Head 87.6% houses
Black Head — Houses: 87.6% Black Head — Flats / Apartments: 5.6% Black Head — Townhouses: 6.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Darawank Black Head
Median house price $1,150,000 $1,050,000
Median unit price — $597,500
Median land price $1,469,000 $465,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 4 sales
 25 days
from 6 sales

Zoning mix

Darawank has more land zoned for conservation (60% vs 31%); Black Head has more rural and farming land (42% vs 25%).

Darawank Black Head
Environmental 60% 31%
Rural and farming 25% 42%
Residential 7% 23%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 0%
Parks and recreation 0% 4%
Commercial 0% 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

Darawank Black Head
New dwellings approved 743
across Mid-Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +327%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Darawank Black Head
House price Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW

Liveability

Black Head is more walkable (36 vs 0).

Darawank Black Head
Grade — D
Score — 30/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Black Head carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 84).

Darawank Black Head
Bushfire High
84/100
 High
94/100
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
18/100
 Low
21/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Darawank Black Head
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

Darawank Black Head
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 2 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 7 0

Mobility

Darawank Black Head
Walkability score 0/100 36/100
Distance to Sydney 302.2 km 302.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 214 min 213 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 19/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 9.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2428
 0.4%
postcode 2430
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2428
 54
postcode 2430

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.

Darawank Black Head
Car (driver) 74.8% / 79.3%
Darawank — Car (driver): 74.8% Black Head — Car (driver): 79.3%
Worked from Home 17.9% / 13.4%
Darawank — Worked from Home: 17.9% Black Head — Worked from Home: 13.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.7%
Darawank — Car (passenger): 5.3% Black Head — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Walked Only 2.0% / 1.6%
Darawank — Walked Only: 2.0% Black Head — Walked Only: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.3%).

Setting

Darawank Black Head
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.0 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 852 m
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Darawank Black Head
Connectivity score 33/100 73/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
178 premises
 51%
668 premises

Climate

Darawank Black Head
Annual rainfall 1,331 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Darawank Black Head
Average residential rate $1,560/yr
same for both
Council Mid-Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Darawank Black Head
Division Lyne
same for both
Member Alison Penfold
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Darawank

Coastal Retirees Rural

Black Head

Acreage Beach Coastal Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darawank

Darawank vs Tuncurry Darawank vs Nabiac Darawank vs Failford Darawank vs Rainbow Flat Darawank vs Hallidays Point

Other comparisons with Black Head

Black Head vs Red Head Black Head vs Hallidays Point
Full data on Darawank Full data on Black Head
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or