Hill Top - Colo Vale
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Hill Top - Colo Vale are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Hill Top - Colo Vale's population was approximately 6,594 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 201 people, a rise of 3.1% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6,393. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,566 in June 2024 and an additional 231 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 37 persons per square kilometer. Hill Top - Colo Vale's growth rate of 3.1% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.9%, indicating it as a region with notable growth. Natural growth contributed approximately 81.4% of overall population gains during recent periods in this area.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, based on the latest population numbers, Hill Top - Colo Vale is projected to increase by 1,936 persons, reflecting a total increase of 28.8% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Hill Top - Colo Vale according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Hill Top - Colo Vale has seen approximately 19 dwellings receive development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025, around 95 homes were approved, with another six approved so far in FY2026. Each dwelling has added an average of 2.4 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $400,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. This financial year has seen $550,000 in commercial approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus for the area's development. Compared to the rest of NSW, Hill Top - Colo Vale shows significantly reduced construction activity, with 55.0% fewer new properties being built per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction has comprised 93.0% detached dwellings and 7.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population count of 491 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment. Looking ahead to 2041, Hill Top - Colo Vale is expected to grow by approximately 1,900 residents. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Hill Top - Colo Vale has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Tahmoor South Coal Project. Other key projects include Maldon to Dombarton Freight Rail Line, Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan 2041, and South Pacific Offshore Wind Project. The following details those most relevant.

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Employment conditions in Hill Top - Colo Vale rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Hill Top - Colo Vale has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is particularly prominent, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% as of June 2025.

Employment in the area grew by 2.7% over the past year. As of June 2025, 3480 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.5%, lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is high at 68.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Major employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Construction stands out with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance has limited presence at 12.1% compared to the regional average of 16.9%. Employment opportunities may be limited locally, indicated by Census data showing fewer working residents than expected based on population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.7%, labour force grew by 2.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1% during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hill Top - Colo Vale's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Hill Top - Colo Vale's median income among taxpayers was $51,888 and average income stood at $112,224 in the financial year 2022. These figures are higher than those for Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $58,431 and average income is around $126,375 as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Hill Top - Colo Vale cluster around the 57th percentile nationally. In terms of income distribution, 38.0% of residents (2,505 people) fall into the $1,500-$2,999 bracket, which is slightly higher than the broader area's 29.9%. High housing costs consume 16.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 61st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Hill Top - Colo Vale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Hill Top - Colo Vale dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.0% houses and 1.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 90.6% houses and 9.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hill Top - Colo Vale was at 30.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (55.2%) or rented (14.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,167. Median weekly rent in Hill Top - Colo Vale was $430, matching Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national average of $375.

Hill Top - Colo Vale features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 79.7% of all households, including 39.4% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 20.3%, with lone person households at 18.2% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Hill Top - Colo Vale fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 15.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 10.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 45.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 35.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education. The area has two public schools - Hill Top Public School and Colo Vale Public School, serving a total of 277 students. Both schools cater exclusively to primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited, with only 4.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.3, leading many families to travel for schooling.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Transport analysis shows 125 active transport stops in Hill Top - Colo Vale, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 26 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,870 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 200 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 267 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 14 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Hill Top - Colo Vale are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Hill Top - Colo Vale shows below-average health outcomes, with common conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 76% (5,024 people), compared to 66.3% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.3%) and asthma (8.6%), with 67.3% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 64.8% in Rest of NSW.

The area has 15.1% residents aged 65 and over (992 people), lower than the 27.7% in Rest of NSW.

Hill Top - Colo Vale is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Hill Top-Colo Vale, surveyed in June 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 87.9% of its residents born in Australia, 93.1% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English at home only. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.2% of the population, slightly below the Rest of NSW average of 57.0%. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.9%), Australian (30.6%), and Scottish (8.2%).

Notably, Maltese (1.1%) Hungarian (0.4%), and Macedonian (0.3%) ethnicities had higher representations compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.3%, and 0.2% respectively.

Hill Top - Colo Vale's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Hill Top - Colo Vale is 36 years, significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 and somewhat younger than Australia's average of 38 years. The 35-44 age group comprises 14.5%, compared to Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort stands at 8.7%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 12.2% to 14.5%, whereas the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.1% to 11.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Hill Top - Colo Vale. Notably, the 35 to 44 group is projected to grow by 53%, adding 505 people and reaching a total of 1,462 from its current figure of 956. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 6%, with an increase of 50 people.