Urban Centre · Area profile
Blackwater
13 km²
Daily life in Blackwater is shaped by a young, working population and a strong connection to the mining industry. The town is noticeably younger than the national average, with the typical resident aged 31 and a high proportion of children. This creates a community of growing families who earn well above the national figure. It is a place where high incomes from industry contrast with a predominantly rental housing market.
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Blackwater is a young community where the typical resident is 31, and children under 15 make up 23.7% of the population. This is well above the national figure of 18.2%. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 10.0%, which is much higher than most areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born residents (10.3%) than the national figure of 27.7%. Australian, English, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the main language for 80.7% of residents. While 4.4% of people use another language at home, this is far below the national figure of 22.3%. Very few people—just 0.4%—speak little or no English.
About 43.3% of people report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. This group has grown by 15 percentage points since 2011.
The workforce is heavily skilled in practical trades, with 42.0% of people holding a Certificate III or IV. However, only 8.5% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Household incomes are very high, with 33.0% of homes earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical weekly personal income of $1,273 is far above the national figure of $805.
Residents are generally healthy, with only 20.6% having a long-term health condition—much lower than most areas. Only 2.3% of people need help with daily activities, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
Unpaid care for children is common here, with 29.9% of people providing this support, which is well above the national figure. Conversely, only 7.4% of people provide other types of unpaid care.
Families with children are common, making up 60.5% of households. This is consistent with the high number of children in the area, though the proportion of people living alone has risen to 26.1% since 2011.
The rental market is dominant, with 61.5% of homes rented—far above the national figure of 30.6%. Most homes are large, separate houses, and 89.9% have three or more bedrooms.
Cars are the primary way to get around, but 6.7% of people use public transport to commute, which is well above the national figure. Very few people work from home (2.5%).
The community is quite mobile, with 50.0% of residents having moved in the last five years. This is well above the national figure of 40.7%.
Mining is the primary employer, accounting for 43.9% of jobs. This helps explain the high incomes and the fact that 71.1% of the workforce is employed full-time, far above the national figure.
The town is quite walkable for basic needs, with 78.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and 99.5% near a park. However, no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.