Blackwater, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Blackwater QLD is 4,702 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Blackwater is $1,268 per week ($65,936 per year). Median rent in Blackwater is $220 per week ($953 per month). Blackwater has a median age of 31 years, younger than the national median of 38. Blackwater has a population density of 7.2 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Blackwater is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (41.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Tagalog. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Blackwater is $1,083.

There were 1,102 recorded offences in Blackwater in 2025-26, a rate of 234 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was break & enter (236 offences).

Population
4,702
Census 2021
Median income
$1,268/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$220/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
31years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au), 2025-26.

Blackwater vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Blackwater is $1,268 a week, 70% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 33rd of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $220 a week, $100 less than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 9.3% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 31, 11 years younger than in the typical QLD suburb (42).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBlackwaterTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,268/wk$747/wk +70%$766/wk
Household income$2,358/wk$1,593/wk +48%$1,637/wk
Rent$220/wk$320/wk −31%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,083/mo$1,625/mo −33%$1,733/mo
Median age3142 −11 yrs42
Rent share of household income9.3%20.4% −11.1 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Blackwater, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Blackwater Population

4,702 residents at the 2021 Census.

Blackwater Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,268/wk
$65,936 per year
Ranked 312 of 14,663
Median Rent
$220/wk
$953 per month
Ranked 7,029 of 14,663
Median Age
31years
7 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,083/mo
Avg household size: 2.6 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Blackwater Rent Prices & Affordability

9% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,358/wk
Median rent $220/wk
Rent to income 9.3%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Blackwater against your income

About $10,218 a month
Median rent $220/wk
Left after rent $2,138/wk
Rent share 9.3%

Blackwater Map

Blackwater, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Blackwater, Queensland: 23.4745°S, 148.7797°E

Blackwater Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents

People in Blackwater

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 53.8% (2,529) Female 46.2% (2,170)

Population Density

7.2
people per km²
4,702 people · 657.3 km²

Households

2.6
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,792
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

New Zealand
4.0%
Philippines
1.5%
England
0.8%
Thailand
0.6%
Papua New Guinea
0.4%
India
0.3%
South Africa
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Tagalog
0.7%
Afrikaans
0.4%
Filipino
0.4%
Korean
0.2%
Southeast Asian Austronesian languages: Other
0.2%
Punjabi
0.2%
Indonesian
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
39.8%
English
32.0%
Irish
8.7%
Australian Aboriginal
8.6%
Scottish
7.9%
German
4.8%
Maori
2.7%
Filipino
1.6%
Italian
1.5%
Chinese
0.8%
New Zealander
0.7%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
41.9%
Catholic
17.5%
Not stated
17.2%
Anglican
10.2%
Uniting Church
4.0%
Christian (other)
2.7%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.3%
Baptist
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

9.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
38.9% 1,403
Separated
4.2% 153
Divorced
9.1% 327
Widowed
1.6% 57
Never married
46.2% 1,664

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
52.1%
Couple: no children
23.2%
One parent: children under 15
11.0%
Couple: no children under 15
9.2%
One parent: no children under 15
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
25.9%
2 persons
32.5%
3 persons
15.2%
4 persons
15.2%
5 persons
7.7%
6+ persons
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Blackwater

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,492 occupied private dwellings in Blackwater at the 2021 Census, 60.8% were rented, 10.6% owned outright and 22.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
3.5% 52 dwellings
Owned outright
10.6% 158 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
22.5% 336 dwellings
Rented
60.8% 907 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.5% 38 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
98.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
1.4%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.7%
2 bedrooms
7.0%
3 bedrooms
58.5%
4 bedrooms
28.0%
5 bedrooms
4.6%
6+ bedrooms
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.0%
$300-$449/mo
6.0%
$450-$599/mo
6.3%
$600-$799/mo
13.2%
$800-$999/mo
14.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
23.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
10.9%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
13.2%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
4.6%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.8%
1 vehicle
32.2%
2 vehicles
39.8%
3 vehicles
16.4%
4+ vehicles
6.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Blackwater

Employment

Employed full-time
59.0% 1,643 people
Employed part-time
17.2% 478 people
Unemployed
4.4% 123 people
Not in labour force
19.4% 541 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
28.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
23.5%
Professionals
14.5%
Clerical & Administrative
8.9%
Community & Personal Service
7.8%
Managers
7.1%
Labourers
6.9%
Sales Workers
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.4%
$1-$149/wk
0.2%
$150-$299/wk
1.1%
$300-$399/wk
1.5%
$400-$499/wk
2.3%
$500-$649/wk
2.6%
$650-$799/wk
3.3%
$800-$999/wk
3.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
5.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
4.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
17.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
10.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
7.5%
$4,000+/wk
19.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
11.1%
$1-$149/wk
3.4%
$150-$299/wk
4.9%
$300-$399/wk
1.9%
$400-$499/wk
1.6%
$500-$649/wk
1.1%
$650-$799/wk
5.6%
$800-$999/wk
6.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
21.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.8%
$3,500+/wk
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
61.4%
Did not go to work
15.2%
Car (passenger)
9.4%
Bus
7.2%
Walked only
4.4%
Other
0.6%
Bicycle
0.6%
Truck
0.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.4%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
56.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
27.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
10.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
5.1%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
61.9%
Bachelor Degree
16.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
12.1%
Certificate I/II
4.7%
Postgraduate Degree
2.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
41.9%
Management & Commerce
13.1%
Education
12.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.0%
Society & Culture
7.9%
Health
5.9%
Architecture & Building
4.2%
Agriculture & Environment
3.7%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.5%
Creative Arts
1.1%
Information Technology
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
47.8%
Secondary: Government
26.9%
Vocational Education
8.7%
Pre-school
8.5%
Secondary: Catholic
5.5%
Primary: Catholic
1.3%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
0.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
80.9%
Has need for assistance
2.3%
Need for assistance not stated
16.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
349
Asthma
163
Diabetes
86
Arthritis
81
Lung condition
64
Heart disease
57
Cancer
37
Stroke
31
Kidney disease
16

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
9.0% 265
Did not provide
91.0% 2,665

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.3% 508
Not a volunteer
82.7% 2,423

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 3
Previously served
2.7% 80
Never served
97.2% 2,869

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
32.9%
1 child
14.0%
2 children
25.5%
3 children
17.3%
4 children
8.0%
5+ children
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
11
1961: 1970
21
1971: 1980
27
1981: 1990
37
1991: 2000
53
2001: 2010
129
2011: 2015
104
2016
5
2017
5
2018
22
2019
14
2020
7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

23.3%
moved in the last year
59.5%
moved in the last 5 years
5.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
67.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,979
Moved: same area (SA2)
469
Moved from QLD
382
Moved from NSW
20
Moved from overseas
11
Moved from VIC
7
Moved from SA
4
Moved from NT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
22.0%
5: 14 hours
30.3%
15: 29 hours
12.4%
30+ hours
10.4%
Did not do domestic work
24.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
82.4%
Step family: no other children
9.7%
Blended family: no other children
6.3%
Intact family: other children present
0.8%
Other couple: children only
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Blackwater Crime Statistics

1,102 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Break & Enter
236
Theft
214
Sexual Offences
148
Assault
144
Domestic Violence
114
Drug Offences
96
Traffic
64
Property Damage
44
Weapons
20
Fraud
18
Robbery
4

Total offences by year

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Dysart (Qld)
Income: $1,406/wk Rent: $100/wk $120/wk less rent
Murray
Income: $1,302/wk Rent: $107/wk $113/wk less rent

Compare Blackwater

Frequently Asked Questions About Blackwater

What is the population of Blackwater QLD?

The population of Blackwater QLD is 4,702 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 7.2 people per km². Blackwater is ranked #1,662 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Blackwater?

The median personal income in Blackwater QLD is $1,268 per week, or $65,936 per year. The median household income is $2,358 per week. Family income is $2,792 per week. Blackwater is ranked #312 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Blackwater?

Median rent in Blackwater QLD is $220 per week ($953 per month). Rent represents 9.3% of household income, which is considered affordable. Blackwater ranks #7,029 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Blackwater?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Blackwater QLD is $1,083. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Blackwater?

The median age in Blackwater QLD is 31 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Blackwater a good suburb to live in?

Blackwater is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 4,702. The median income is $1,268/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (9.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Brisbane Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30281. All dollar figures in AUD.