Medlow Bath vs Blackheath

Comparing Medlow Bath and Blackheath, NSW: Blackheath is more walkable (77 vs 4); Blackheath has more residents (4,672 vs 569); and Medlow Bath carries more crime risk (64 vs 47).

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Medlow Bath

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($380,000 vs $547,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Blackheath

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 4/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Blackheath

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 4/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Blackheath

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.3% vs -6.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Medlow Bath Blackheath
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.

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Walkability 4 / 77
Medlow Bath — Walkability: 4/100 Blackheath — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 36 / 53
Medlow Bath — Safety: 36/100 Blackheath — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 4 / 10
Medlow Bath — Low fire risk: 4/100 Blackheath — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Blackheath has more residents (4,672 vs 569).

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Population 569 4,672
+721% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.9% +6.3%
Median age 52 53
Median household income $68,224/yr $69,264/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $398/wk
+5% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath Blackheath
0-4 1.9% / 3.1%
Medlow Bath — 0-4: 1.9% Blackheath — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 6.5% / 10.5%
Medlow Bath — 5-14: 6.5% Blackheath — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 4.7% / 4.2%
Medlow Bath — 15-19: 4.7% Blackheath — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 3.9% / 2.1%
Medlow Bath — 20-24: 3.9% Blackheath — 20-24: 2.1%
25-34 10.5% / 7.9%
Medlow Bath — 25-34: 10.5% Blackheath — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 10.9% / 10.8%
Medlow Bath — 35-44: 10.9% Blackheath — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 12.8% / 13.7%
Medlow Bath — 45-54: 12.8% Blackheath — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 18.6% / 18.2%
Medlow Bath — 55-64: 18.6% Blackheath — 55-64: 18.2%
65-74 16.3% / 17.4%
Medlow Bath — 65-74: 16.3% Blackheath — 65-74: 17.4%
75-84 8.6% / 9.7%
Medlow Bath — 75-84: 8.6% Blackheath — 75-84: 9.7%
85+ 2.6% / 2.3%
Medlow Bath — 85+: 2.6% Blackheath — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath 53.7% lone person
Medlow Bath — Lone Person: 53.7% Medlow Bath — Couple Families: 22.3% Medlow Bath — One Parent Families: 14.3% Medlow Bath — Group Household: 5.7% Medlow Bath — Other Families: 4.0%
Blackheath 51.8% lone person
Blackheath — Lone Person: 51.8% Blackheath — Couple Families: 26.1% Blackheath — One Parent Families: 17.0% Blackheath — Group Household: 4.1% Blackheath — Other Families: 1.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath 15.2% renting
Medlow Bath — Owned Outright: 48.0% Medlow Bath — Mortgage: 36.8% Medlow Bath — Renting: 15.2%
Blackheath 21.3% renting
Blackheath — Owned Outright: 48.5% Blackheath — Mortgage: 30.3% Blackheath — Renting: 21.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 18.9%
Medlow Bath — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Blackheath — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 12.0%
Medlow Bath — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% Blackheath — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.7% / 10.0%
Medlow Bath — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.7% Blackheath — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 7.9% / 9.6%
Medlow Bath — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9% Blackheath — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 3.1%
Medlow Bath — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Blackheath — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

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.

Medlow Bath Blackheath
England 4.7% / 6.8%
Medlow Bath — England: 4.7% Blackheath — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.2%
Medlow Bath — New Zealand: 1.6% Blackheath — New Zealand: 2.2%
Philippines 2.3% / 0.5%
Medlow Bath — Philippines: 2.3% Blackheath — Philippines: 0.5%
Vietnam 2.3% / —
Medlow Bath — Vietnam: 2.3% Blackheath — Vietnam: not among its largest
Germany 0.9% / 1.2%
Medlow Bath — Germany: 0.9% Blackheath — Germany: 1.2%
South Africa 1.1% / 0.6%
Medlow Bath — South Africa: 1.1% Blackheath — South Africa: 0.6%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.6%
Medlow Bath — Scotland: 0.9% Blackheath — Scotland: 0.6%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath 99.2% houses
Medlow Bath — Houses: 99.2% Medlow Bath — Flats / Apartments: 0.8% Medlow Bath — Townhouses: 0.0%
Blackheath 95.8% houses
Blackheath — Houses: 95.8% Blackheath — Flats / Apartments: 2.2% Blackheath — Townhouses: 2.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Median house price $857,500 $920,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $380,000 $547,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 5 sales
 24 days
from 98 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Medlow Bath Blackheath
2 bed $795K / $828K
Medlow Bath — 2 bed: $795K (5 sales) Blackheath — 2 bed: $828K (26 sales)

5 vs 26 sales

3 bed $835K / $884K
Medlow Bath — 3 bed: $835K (9 sales) Blackheath — 3 bed: $884K (80 sales)

9 vs 80 sales

Zoning mix

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Environmental 93% 84%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 3%
Rural and farming 1% 5%
Other and special use 0% 3%
Residential 0% 3%
Parks and recreation 1% 3%
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

Medlow Bath Blackheath
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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Medlow Bath Blackheath
House price Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Income Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Blackheath is more walkable (77 vs 4); Blackheath scores higher overall (42 vs 28).

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Grade D C
Score 28/100 42/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Medlow Bath carries more crime risk (64 vs 47).

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Bushfire High
96/100
 High
90/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
47/100
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 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Medlow Bath

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

Schools in Blackheath

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

Amenities in the suburb

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 6 20
Parks & reserves 1 28
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 3 11

Mobility

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Walkability score 4/100 77/100
Distance to Sydney 111.1 km 112.7 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 100 min 99 min
Public transport score 41/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 6.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 76.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 7 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2780
 1.5%
postcode 2785
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 32
postcode 2780
 39
postcode 2785

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.

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Car (driver) 42.0% / 47.4%
Medlow Bath — Car (driver): 42.0% Blackheath — Car (driver): 47.4%
Worked from Home 43.4% / 45.0%
Medlow Bath — Worked from Home: 43.4% Blackheath — Worked from Home: 45.0%
Train 5.9% / 1.8%
Medlow Bath — Train: 5.9% Blackheath — Train: 1.8%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 2.0%
Medlow Bath — Car (passenger): 5.4% Blackheath — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 3.4% / 3.0%
Medlow Bath — Walked Only: 3.4% Blackheath — Walked Only: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.4%).

Setting

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Elevation 938 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1,045 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Connectivity score 53/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
347 premises
 38%
3,149 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Medlow Bath Blackheath
Division Macquarie
same for both
Member Susan Templeman
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Medlow Bath

Acreage Retirees Trains

Blackheath

Acreage Parks Professionals Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Medlow Bath

Medlow Bath vs Katoomba Medlow Bath vs Megalong Valley

Other comparisons with Blackheath

Blackheath vs Mount Victoria Blackheath vs Kanimbla Blackheath vs Megalong Valley
Full data on Medlow Bath Full data on Blackheath
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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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