Blackheath - Megalong Valley is still affordable — but the population is ageing
Blackheath - Megalong Valley 2785 · Blue Mountains, Greater Sydney, NSW
Blackheath - Megalong Valley is still relatively affordable to rent, with a median of $580 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1) — about $200 below the Greater Sydney median; well served for the everyday — 5 schools and 2 supermarkets. The trade-offs: an older population (median age 52), with fewer young families; the nearest train station is a fair way off (Medlow Bath, about 3.3 km).
Mostly free-standing houses, with a median age of 52 and households on a median $1,317 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, NSW DCJ median rents, NSW DCJ median sale prices, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported offences, OpenStreetMap and ACARA Schools NSW / NSW Dept of Education · figures current to September 2026.
What it costs to buy
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2025-Q4Median sale price from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's recorded property sales. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2025-Q4 quarter
| Type | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| House | $955,000n=46 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Blackheath - Megalong Valley was $955,000, based on sales in postcode 2785, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $245,000 below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a house $955,000.
This is the median price of properties recorded as sold this quarter — settlement can lag a purchase decision by weeks, so the most recent quarter can revise slightly as more sales are recorded.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median price | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | $955,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2785, December 2025 release. Figures are the median for properties sold in the quarter. DCJ suppresses a median where too few properties sold.
What it costs to rent
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2026-Q1Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2026-Q1 quarter
| Type | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | — | $540low sample | $600low sample | — |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure marked low sample as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Blackheath - Megalong Valley was $580, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2785, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $200 a week below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $600.
This is the median rent on new leases signed this quarter, not what existing tenants pay. It usually runs higher than the Census figure.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $580 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2785, March 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. DCJ suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
Blackheath - Megalong Valley on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Blackheath - Megalong Valley, NSW.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Blackheath - Megalong Valley against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Blackheath - Megalong Valley population grew from 5,745 in 2016 to 5,872 in 2025, a change of 2.2% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Blackheath - Megalong Valley | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,745 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 5,755 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 5,770 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 5,782 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 5,790 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 5,761 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 5,812 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 5,797 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 5,836 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 5,872 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Blackheath - Megalong Valley gained 381 residents from internal migration and 57 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 403 people moved away — a net addition of 35 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+381
- Internal migration out+382
- Overseas migration in+57
- Natural increase+1
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,560 | 5,764 | +3.7% |
| Median age | 50 | 52 | +2 yrs |
| Median household income | $1,074/wk | $1,317/wk | +23% |
| Median weekly rent | $320/wk | $380/wk | +19% |
| Born overseas | 20.5% | 22.5% | +2.0 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 46.8%
- Mortgaged 30.1%
- Rented 20.1%
- Other / not stated 3.0%
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 6score 1,016
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 6score 1,010
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 5score 988
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 8score 1,069
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Blackheath - Megalong Valley, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Blackheath - Megalong Valley, last 12 months
- Theft341 /100k+785% vs Greater Sydney↑ 25%
- Assault324 /100k+513% vs Greater Sydney↓ 10%
- Malicious damage to property272 /100k−5% vs Greater Sydney↓ 11%
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment221 /100k−29% vs Greater Sydney↓ 24%
- Drug offences68 /100k+316% vs Greater Sydney↑ 33%
Rate per 100,000 people in Blackheath - Megalong Valley; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, theft is reported most in Blackheath - Megalong Valley over the last 12 months, running 785% above the Greater Sydney rate and up on the year before.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theft | 341 per 100k | 38 per 100k | ↑ 25% vs prior year |
| Assault | 324 per 100k | 53 per 100k | ↓ 10% vs prior year |
| Malicious damage to property | 272 per 100k | 287 per 100k | ↓ 11% vs prior year |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 221 per 100k | 312 per 100k | ↓ 24% vs prior year |
| Drug offences | 68 per 100k | 16 per 100k | ↑ 33% vs prior year |
Crime statistics © State of New South Wales (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research), used under CC BY 4.0, updated June 2026. Matched to this suburb from BOCSAR’s own locality-level data — see the safest/highest-crime rankings’ methodology for the locality-to-suburb matching used. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Blackheath - Megalong Valley SA2, OpenStreetMap records 5 schools, 2 childcare and kindergarten centres, 2 supermarkets and 14 green spaces. For families: 1 library and 10 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 13 cafés, 11 restaurants and 4 pubs and bars. Staying active: 1 gym, 2 public pools and 53 sports fields. Also 1 cinema. The nearest train station, Medlow Bath, is about 3,250 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 86 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Megalong Public School
- Blackheath Public School
- Mountains Christian College
- Mount Victoria Public School
- OneSchool Global NSW Mount Victoria
Childcare & kindergartens
- Blue Gum Montessori Preschool
- Kookaburra Kindergarten
Libraries
- Blackheath Library
Gyms & fitness
- Blue Mountains Lyengar Yoga Studio
Cinemas
- Mount Vic Flicks
Supermarkets
- IGA
- Friendly Grocer
Green spaces
- Megalong Reserve
- Sutton Park Rest Area
- Crown Reserve 85664
- Whitley Park
- Neate Park
- Jubilee Park
- The Gardens
- Memorial Park
Train stations
- Blackheath
- Mount Victoria
- Bell
Schools
Every open NSW school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Blackheath - Megalong Valley SA2 contains 5 schools — 3 primary schools and 2 combined schools, of which 3 are government and 2 non-government. Its schools with a published ICSEA average 1030 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Blackheath - Megalong Valley sits in decile 8 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 67% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Katoomba High School (secondary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Katoomba Public School (primary), Blackheath Public School (primary), Bilpin Public School (primary), Mount Victoria Public School (primary), Colo High School (secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Blackheath Public School · State
- Megalong Public School · State
- Mount Victoria Public School · State
- Mountains Christian College · Non-Government
- OneSchool Global, Mount Victoria campus · Non-Government
School list: NSW Government open data — ACARA Schools NSW, via the NSW data portal, CC BY 4.0. Catchments: NSW Department of Education “School intake zones” dataset, CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Blue Mountains
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereBlackheath - Megalong Valley+0.6%
- 01Springwood - Winmalee+0.9%
- 02Wentworth Falls+0.8%
- 03Katoomba - Leura+0.7%
- 04Blaxland - Warrimoo - Lapstone+0.1%
- 05Lawson - Hazelbrook - Linden+0.0%
- 06Blue Mountains - North+0.0%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Blackheath - Megalong Valley: common questions
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