Hillarys

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

Analysis of ABS demographic updates and recently confirmed addresses by AreaSearch suggests the population of the suburb of Hillarys stands at approximately 12,146 in May 2026. This represents a rise of 946 residents (8.4%) from the 11,200 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This growth is calculated from the June 2025 ABS Estimated Resident Population release showing 12,127 people, combined with an additional 52 validated new addresses. The resulting population density is 1,924 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical benchmark across locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The suburb of Hillarys's growth rate of 8.4% since the census is within 0.9 percentage points of the 9.3% national benchmark, indicating healthy local demand. Most of this growth was driven by overseas arrivals, who accounted for roughly 82.0% of the net population increase over recent times.

Projections for the suburb of Hillarys incorporate ABS and Geoscience Australia data published in 2024 using 2022 as a base, supplemented by age cohort growth rates from the 2023 Greater Capital Region projections for outer years and areas without direct coverage. Future projections suggest the suburb of Hillarys will experience population expansion slightly below the national median. The population is projected to grow by 796 residents to 2041, representing a total increase of 6.4% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Hillarys recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Analysis of ABS building approvals indicates that the suburb of Hillarys averages approximately 27 residential approvals annually, with 139 dwellings approved over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 27 approved during FY-26 so far. With an average of 4 additional residents for every new home built between FY-21 and FY-25, demand remains ahead of new supply, which tends to elevate prices and intensify competition among buyers. The average value of these new builds is $557,000, indicating a focus by developers on upscale projects. Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $23.0 million this financial year, showing moderate commercial investment activity.

Per capita construction activity in the suburb of Hillarys is approximately 75% of the rate seen across Greater Perth, placing it in the 24th percentile of all national locations. This suggests limited choices for buyers and stronger demand for existing properties. This level of activity is also below the national benchmark, reflecting the established character of the area and potential planning constraints. Single-family homes comprise 91.0% of new residential activity, with multi-unit developments representing 9.0%, which preserves the traditional low-density suburban landscape favored by families. There are roughly 650 residents for every approved dwelling, illustrating the mature state of the local market.

The local population is projected to expand by 777 residents to 2041 based on the latest quarterly modeling. Planned development seems well aligned with this projected growth, supporting stable market conditions without causing extreme price hikes.

Hillarys has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and planning changes have a significant influence on property market trends. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects of relevance to this locality. Key developments include The Harbour Hillarys, the Hillarys Cycle Network Expansion, the Westfield Whitford City Expansion, and the Hillarys Boat Harbour Activation Master Plan.

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 Hillarys rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

The suburb of Hillarys is characterized by a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services, an unemployment rate of 1.6%, and estimated annual employment growth of 3.8%. As of March 2026, there are 7,056 employed residents. The local unemployment rate is 2.6% lower than the Greater Perth average of 4.2%, while the participation rate matches the regional figure of 70.2%. Census figures show that 14.6% of the workforce worked from home, though this may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

The largest employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The suburb of Hillarys has a notable concentration in education & training, which employs 1.3 times the regional average share. In contrast, transport, postal & warehousing represents a relatively small share at 2.6% compared to 4.7% across the region. A comparison of resident workers to local jobs suggests that a significant portion of the population commutes outside the area for work.

Over the 12 months to March 2026, both total employment and the labor force grew by 3.8%, which kept the unemployment rate stable. Over the same period, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 2.0% and the labor force expand by 2.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.4 percentage points. The May-25 Jobs and Skills Australia projections provide a framework for future labor demand. Nationally, employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Applying these industry projections to the local employment mix suggests employment for the suburb of Hillarys could rise by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Taxpayer data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year indicates a median income of $62,871 and an average income of $84,058 for the suburb of Hillarys. This represents a high-income profile compared to the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $69,743 for the median and $93,246 for the average. Census data from 2021 places local household, family, and individual incomes in the 77th to 90th national percentiles. The single largest income band consists of the 27.8% of taxpayers earning more than $4000 weekly (3,376 residents), differing from the wider metropolitan area where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the largest at 32.0%. High earners making more than $3,000 weekly account for 41.5% of the total, indicating substantial financial capacity. Residents retain 88.1% of their income after housing costs, and the area is situated in the 9th decile of the SEIFA economic index.

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

At the time of the last Census, the housing stock in the suburb of Hillarys consisted of 89.6% separate houses and 10.5% semi-detached dwellings, apartments, or other formats, compared to the wider Perth metropolitan distribution of 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings. Home ownership is high, with 45.4% of homes owned outright, while 41.0% are mortgaged and 13.5% are rented. The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,400 and median weekly rent of $490 are both higher than the respective metropolitan averages of $1,907 and $350. These housing costs also exceed national figures, where the median mortgage is $1,863 and the median rent is $375.

Hillarys features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families comprise 83.3% of all households in the suburb of Hillarys, consisting of couples with children at 40.9%, couples without children at 32.9%, and single parents at 8.7%. Single-person households account for 15.3% of the total, while group housing makes up 1.5%. The average household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Hillarys shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in the suburb of Hillarys is high, with 35.1% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to the Western Australian average of 27.9% and the SA4 regional average of 29.0%. Within this group, bachelor degrees are held by 24.4%, postgraduate degrees by 6.9%, and graduate diplomas by 3.8%. Vocational education is also common, with 32.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualification certificates, including advanced diplomas at 12.6% and vocational certificates at 19.8%.

Formal education enrollment stands at 29.3% of the resident population. This group consists of 9.6% attending primary school, 9.5% in secondary school, and 6.0% in higher education.

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

Public transport infrastructure includes 53 active bus stops within the suburb of Hillarys. These stops are served by 5 distinct routes, which accommodate 1,075 weekly passenger journeys. Transport links are good, with dwellings situated an average of 239 meters from a transit point. Given the residential profile, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary mode of travel at 82%, and train travel accounting for 13%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.9 cars per household, which is higher than the metropolitan average. At the time of the 2021 Census, 14.6% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by public health restrictions.

Service frequency across all local routes averages 153 trips daily, which equates to roughly 20 weekly services per stop.

Hillarys's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions shows excellent wellness outcomes in the suburb of Hillarys, with very low rates of common illnesses across all age cohorts. Additionally, private health insurance uptake is exceptionally high, covering approximately 61% of residents (7,356 people).

The most prevalent health conditions reported by residents are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.3% and 6.2% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 72.9% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. The working-age population exhibits good health with low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older represent 23.0% of the population (2,793 people), which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 16.1%. The health status of these older residents remains strong, with national rankings matching those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Hillarys was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The suburb of Hillarys exhibits higher cultural diversity than most benchmark areas, with 10.7% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 35.4% born outside Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 56.0% of the population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of residents compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

The three most common ancestral backgrounds are English at 31.8%, Australian at 22.6%, and Irish at 8.1%. Specific ethnic concentrations show that South Australian ancestry accounts for 1.8% of the population (compared to 1.0% regionally), Welsh represents 1.0% (compared to 0.7% regionally), and Polish ancestry represents 1.1% (compared to 0.7% regionally).

Hillarys hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of residents in the suburb of Hillarys is 44, which is older than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is well represented at 12.7%, while the 25 - 34 bracket is relatively small at 7.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 grew from 4.9% to 8.3%, and the 15 to 24 cohort rose from 12.7% to 14.1%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 group declined from 15.8% to 13.6%, and the 5 to 14 cohort fell from 13.6% to 12.5%. Projections to 2041 suggest a major demographic shift, with the 75 to 84 age cohort growing by 66% (669 people) to reach 1,678 from 1,008. Older residents aged 65 and over are expected to account for 88% of net population growth, while the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 groups are projected to shrink.