Chester Hill

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

Chester Hill's population, as of November 2025, is estimated at approximately 15,687 people. This figure represents an increase of 1,680 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,007. The Chester Hill statistical area's resident population was estimated at 14,614 by AreaSearch in June 2024, following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS and validation of an additional 94 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,941 persons per square kilometer, placing Chester Hill within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 12.0% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the state average (7.6%) and metropolitan area, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains in recent periods for Chester Hill.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 uses the 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 years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Chester Hill is expected to grow by approximately 1,778 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 4.6% over the 17-year period. This anticipated growth places the area just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Chester Hill among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis indicates Chester Hill recorded approximately 77 residential properties approved annually, with around 385 homes granted approval between FY21-FY25 and another 62 in FY26. Each dwelling supported an average of 2 new residents over the past five financial years, suggesting healthy demand that could bolster property values. New homes were built at an average expected construction cost value of $399,000.

This year saw $41.4 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting robust local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Chester Hill had about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranked among the 68th percentile nationally. Recent construction comprised 38% standalone homes and 62% medium-high density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This shift contrasts with the area's existing housing composition (74% houses), suggesting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles preferences. There were approximately 199 people per dwelling approval in Chester Hill.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the location is projected to grow by 728 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, presenting favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Chester Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Villawood Town Centre Redevelopment (Kinara Place), Chester Square Redevelopment, Condell Park High School Upgrade, and Chester Hill Station Upgrade. The following list details those likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Chester Hill face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Chester Hill has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 12.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7%.

As of September 2025, 5,347 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 8.2%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation lags at 40.0% compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing, with notable concentration in manufacturing at 1.8 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 5.3%, below the regional average of 11.5%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 0.7% alongside labour force increasing by 3.1%, resulting in unemployment rising by 2.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1%, labour force expand by 2.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chester Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The suburb of Chester Hill had an income level below the national average according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $38,442 and the average income stood at $47,793. For Greater Sydney, these figures were $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $41,848 (median) and $52,027 (average). The 2021 Census showed individual incomes at the 3rd percentile ($495 weekly), while household income was at the 24th percentile. Most residents (29.8%, or 4,674 individuals) earned between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to regional levels where 30.9% fell into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 77.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 17th percentile.

Chester Hill is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Chester Hill, as per the latest Census evaluation, 73.8% of dwellings were houses while 26.2% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Sydney metropolitan area's 62.1% houses and 37.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chester Hill stood at 27.5%, similar to Sydney metro's level. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 30.5% and rented ones for 41.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, aligning with the Sydney metro average, while median weekly rent was $380 compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Chester Hill's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375 at $380.

Chester Hill has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.8% of all households, including 41.1% couples with children, 15.4% couples without children, and 17.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.2%, with lone person households at 21.8% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 3.2 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 3.1.

Educational outcomes in Chester Hill fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 20.8%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 39.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 28.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (18.0%). Educational participation is high at 36.6%, comprising primary education (12.5%), secondary education (10.5%), and tertiary education (6.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.5% in primary education, 10.5% in secondary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Chester Hill has 115 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus stations. There are 27 individual routes serving these stops.

Together, they provide 2,588 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 122 meters to the nearest stop. Across all routes, there are 369 daily trips, which equates to about 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

Chester Hill's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population and nearer the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Chester Hill. Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population and nearer the nation's average across older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low, approximately 46% of the total population (~7,201 people), compared to 48.2% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and diabetes, impacting 6.3 and 5.9% of residents respectively, while 76.3% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 77.0% across Greater Sydney. As of 2021, the area has 15.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,353 people), which is higher than the 13.9% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are above average but require more attention than the broader population.

Chester Hill is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chester Hill, one of the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, has a population where 46.6% were born overseas and 68.8% speak a language other than English at home. Islam is the predominant religion in Chester Hill, with 39.2% adherents compared to 29.1% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestry groups are Other (22.4%), Lebanese (17.5%), and Australian (12.4%).

Notably, Vietnamese (10.0%) and Chinese (11.5%) communities are overrepresented in Chester Hill compared to regional averages of 4.0% and 8.0%, respectively. Korean ancestry is also slightly higher at 0.8%.

Chester Hill hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Chester Hill's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and considerably younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Chester Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (16.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.7%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 14.5% to 16.1%, while the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 13.4% to 12.7%. By 2041, Chester Hill's population is projected to experience significant demographic changes. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 77%, adding 508 residents to reach a total of 1,167. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 71% of the population growth, highlighting trends towards an aging demographic. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25-34 age group and the 0-4 age group.