East Hills

An assessment of population growth drivers in East Hills reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of East Hills is around 3,453. This reflects a growth of 83 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,370. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,436 in June 2025, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 16 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,520 persons per square kilometer, placing East Hills in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 2.5% growth since the census is competitive with its SA3 area's growth rate of 5.4%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Based on these aggregations, East Hills is expected to increase by 289 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 7.9% over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within East Hills when compared nationally

East Hills has seen approximately 30 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling about 152 homes. In FY-26 so far, there have been 31 recorded approvals. The average population increase per dwelling built in East Hills between FY-21 and FY-25 has been around 1.3 people per year, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions.

The average construction cost of new homes is approximately $455,000, which is higher than regional norms but reflects quality-focused development. Compared to Greater Sydney, East Hills shows 61.0% higher construction activity per person. Recent construction comprises 29.0% standalone homes and 71.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 63.0% houses. This change may be due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. East Hills has a low density population with around 112 people per approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, East Hills is projected to gain 272 residents by 2041.

Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth.

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

Six projects identified by AreaSearch may impact the area, notably including Canterbury-Bankstown Walking City Project, Weston Street Affordable Housing, Panania Library and Knowledge Centre, and Construction of a three-storey mixed-use development comprising two commercial tenancies.

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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals East Hills significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

East Hills has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.1% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.1%.

Residents' participation in the labour force is similar to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. A significant portion, 44.6%, work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area shows notable concentration in transport, postal & warehousing with levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 8.2% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Local employment opportunities appear limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 5.1%, while labour force increased by 5.1%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 2.1%. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% with a marginal rise in labour force growth of 2.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, suggest East Hills' employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in East Hills is below the national average. The median income is $53,665 and the average income is $66,140. In Greater Sydney, the median income is $60,817 and the average income is $83,003. Based on a 10.32% growth in wages since financial year 2023, current estimates for East Hills would be approximately $59,203 (median) and $72,966 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in East Hills cluster around the median nationally. Specifically, 25.6% of the population earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to the regional average of 30.9%. The area's housing costs consume 18.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 52nd percentile nationally. East Hills' SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

East Hills displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

East Hills' dwellings, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 63.4% houses and 36.5% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Hills stood at 29.1%, similar to Sydney metro's figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (35.8%) or rented (35.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in East Hills was $375, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, East Hills' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were comparable at $375.

East Hills has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.3% of all households, including 35.3% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for 28.7%, with lone person households at 25.9% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational attainment in East Hills aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 26.8%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 18.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 33.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (22.6%). Educational participation is high at 27.2%, comprising 8.4% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

East Hills has 41 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 26 different routes, collectively facilitating 3862 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 127 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential with most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 80%, while train usage stands at 13%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling, surpassing the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 44.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 551 trips daily, equating to approximately 94 weekly trips per individual stop.

East Hills's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data shows East Hills residents have positive health outcomes overall. Mortality rates and health conditions are similar to national averages.

Common health conditions like arthritis (7.8%) and asthma (7.0%) are less prevalent than expected but higher in older adults at risk. Private health cover is present in 53% of the population, slightly above the average SA2 area's rate of 49%. This compares to Greater Sydney's 59.9%. Most residents (70.8%) report no medical ailments, lower than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Under-65s have better health outcomes. East Hills has more seniors aged 65 and over (19.4%, or 669 people) compared to Greater Sydney's 15.5%. Senior health outcomes present challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

East Hills was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

East Hills has a high level of cultural diversity, with 32.1% of its population born overseas and 34.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in East Hills is Christianity, making up 57.3% of the population. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 9.7% versus 6.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (20.5%), English (20.4%), and Other (13.4%). Notably, Lebanese (4.4%) and Vietnamese (3.9%) communities are overrepresented in East Hills compared to the regional averages of 2.6% and 1.8%, respectively. Additionally, the Macedonian community is also overrepresented at 1.3%.

East Hills's median age exceeds the national pattern

East Hills's median age is 41 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and slightly above Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, East Hills has a notably higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (14.0% locally) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.0%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 75 to 84 grew from 5.5% to 6.7%, while the 15 to 24 age group increased from 13.4% to 14.6%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group decreased from 11.9% to 11.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests East Hills's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 38%, adding 87 residents to reach 319. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 55% of the population growth, while the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to decline in population.