Thalgarrah vs Black Mountain

Thalgarrah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 47 in Black Mountain. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Thalgarrah, most households are couple families. In Black Mountain, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Thalgarrah: a median of $1.08 million, against $335,000 in Black Mountain, though rent is higher in Black Mountain. On these figures, Thalgarrah tends to suit families with children, while Black Mountain suits older residents 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Thalgarrah carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 69/100)
  • Black Mountain 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

Black Mountain

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($335,000 vs $1,077,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Thalgarrah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (26% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($150/wk vs $225/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Black Mountain

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (383 min vs 402 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Thalgarrah carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 69/100)
  • Black Mountain has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 12%)

Weighs 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

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

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
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.

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Walkability 0 / 0
Thalgarrah — Walkability: 0/100 Black Mountain — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 87 / 31
Thalgarrah — Safety: 87/100 Black Mountain — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 76 / 88
Thalgarrah — Low fire risk: 76/100 Black Mountain — Low fire risk: 88/100

Demographics

Black Mountain has more residents (291 vs 166); Black Mountain rents higher ($225/wk vs $150/wk).

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Population 166 291
+75% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.7% -6.1%
Median age 38 47
Median household income $72,540/yr $91,936/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $150/wk $225/wk
+50% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
0-4 10.8% / 2.4%
Thalgarrah — 0-4: 10.8% Black Mountain — 0-4: 2.4%
5-14 14.5% / 13.4%
Thalgarrah — 5-14: 14.5% Black Mountain — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 7.2% / 6.2%
Thalgarrah — 15-19: 7.2% Black Mountain — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 4.2% / 5.2%
Thalgarrah — 20-24: 4.2% Black Mountain — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 7.2% / 10.3%
Thalgarrah — 25-34: 7.2% Black Mountain — 25-34: 10.3%
35-44 12.0% / 12.0%
Thalgarrah — 35-44: 12.0% Black Mountain — 35-44: 12.0%
45-54 10.2% / 18.9%
Thalgarrah — 45-54: 10.2% Black Mountain — 45-54: 18.9%
55-64 18.1% / 15.8%
Thalgarrah — 55-64: 18.1% Black Mountain — 55-64: 15.8%
65-74 9.6% / 12.4%
Thalgarrah — 65-74: 9.6% Black Mountain — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 2.4% / 5.8%
Thalgarrah — 75-84: 2.4% Black Mountain — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ — / 2.4%
Thalgarrah — 85+: not among its largest Black Mountain — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Thalgarrah 57.9% couple families
Thalgarrah — Couple Families: 57.9% Thalgarrah — Lone Person: 34.2% Thalgarrah — One Parent Families: 7.9%
Black Mountain 53.7% couple families
Black Mountain — Couple Families: 53.7% Black Mountain — Lone Person: 34.3% Black Mountain — One Parent Families: 11.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Thalgarrah 25.9% renting
Thalgarrah — Owned Outright: 51.9% Thalgarrah — Mortgage: 22.2% Thalgarrah — Renting: 25.9%
Black Mountain 15.2% renting
Black Mountain — Owned Outright: 51.5% Black Mountain — Mortgage: 33.3% Black Mountain — Renting: 15.2%
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.

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
New Zealand — / 2.7%
Thalgarrah — New Zealand: not among its largest Black Mountain — New Zealand: 2.7%
Germany 2.4% / —
Thalgarrah — Germany: 2.4% Black Mountain — Germany: not among its largest
England — / 1.4%
Thalgarrah — England: not among its largest Black Mountain — England: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

Qualifications

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

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 13.1%
Thalgarrah — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% Black Mountain — Certificate III & IV: 13.1%
Bachelor Degree 11.4% / 15.1%
Thalgarrah — Bachelor Degree: 11.4% Black Mountain — Bachelor Degree: 15.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 6.5%
Thalgarrah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Black Mountain — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 6.5%
Thalgarrah — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Black Mountain — Postgraduate Degree: 6.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.7%
Thalgarrah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Black Mountain — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Thalgarrah 96.7% houses
Thalgarrah — Houses: 96.7% Thalgarrah — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Black Mountain 100.0% houses
Black Mountain — Houses: 100.0% Black Mountain — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Median house price $1,077,500 $335,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $205,000

Zoning mix

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Rural and farming 100% 99%
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

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
New dwellings approved 77
across Armidale
same for both
Approvals change year on year -76%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
House price Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 2% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW

Liveability

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Black Mountain carries more crime risk (69 vs 13); Thalgarrah carries more bushfire risk (24 vs 12).

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Bushfire Low
24/100
 Low
12/100
Crime Low
13/100
 Moderate
69/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Thalgarrah

  • Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Schools in Black Mountain

  • Black Mountain Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Parks & reserves 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 31 26

Mobility

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 502.8 km 501.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 402 min 383 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2350
 0.1%
postcode 2365
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2350
 49
postcode 2365

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.

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Worked from Home 58.7% / 32.8%
Thalgarrah — Worked from Home: 58.7% Black Mountain — Worked from Home: 32.8%
Car (driver) 34.7% / 52.3%
Thalgarrah — Car (driver): 34.7% Black Mountain — Car (driver): 52.3%
Walked Only 6.7% / 7.0%
Thalgarrah — Walked Only: 6.7% Black Mountain — Walked Only: 7.0%
Car (passenger) — / 7.8%
Thalgarrah — Car (passenger): not among its largest Black Mountain — Car (passenger): 7.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.7%).

Setting

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Elevation 1,120 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1,283 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Connectivity score 15/100 24/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
54 premises
 0%
77 premises

Climate

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Annual rainfall 836 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
PM2.5 6.7 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 9.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Average residential rate $1,477/yr
same for both
Council Armidale
same for both

Federal electorate

Thalgarrah Black Mountain
Division New England
same for both
Member Barnaby Joyce
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Thalgarrah

Family River Rural Young Families

Black Mountain

Affordable Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Thalgarrah

Thalgarrah vs Armidale Thalgarrah vs Hillgrove Thalgarrah vs Aberfoyle Thalgarrah vs Wollomombi Thalgarrah vs Metz Thalgarrah vs Brockley

Other comparisons with Black Mountain

Black Mountain vs Guyra Black Mountain vs Dumaresq Black Mountain vs Boorolong
Full data on Thalgarrah Full data on Black Mountain
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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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