Hillsdale

Hillsdale has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of Hillsdale as of February 2026 is around 5,814. This reflects an increase of 167 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,647. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,589 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and three additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 10,200 persons per square kilometer, placing Hillsdale in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Hillsdale has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 3.3%, outpacing its SA4 region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 for areas not covered by this data, 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, the suburb is expected to expand by 576 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 17.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Hillsdale among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Hillsdale averaged around 28 new dwelling approvals each year. Over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 140 homes were approved, with no approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 7.5 people moved to Hillsdale annually for each dwelling built during these years, indicating significant demand outpacing supply.

The average construction cost value of new homes was $588,000, suggesting developers targeted the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year saw $1.7 million in commercial approvals, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Hillsdale has roughly half the building activity per person, placing it among the 73rd percentile nationally, though building activity has accelerated recently. All recent building activity consists of townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living and creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

The area has approximately 172 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Future projections estimate Hillsdale adding 1,025 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Hillsdale 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 five projects that may impact this region. Key projects include Heffron Park Central Amenities Upgrade, Port Botany Expansion & Rail Duplication, Meriton Pagewood Green, and Bayside Council Local Community & Infrastructure Projects. The following list details those 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Hillsdale recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Hillsdale has a well-educated workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 6.6%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 3,177 residents employed, with the unemployment rate being 2.4% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. The workforce participation rate is relatively standard at 72.3%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%.

According to Census responses, a significant 27.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment in Hillsdale is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction sectors. The area has a particularly strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share that is 1.9 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 6.5% of employment compared to the regional average of 11.5%.

The predominantly residential nature of Hillsdale suggests limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between the Census working population and resident population counts. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.0%, accompanied by a 1.2% decline in employment, resulting in an unemployment rate increase of 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a similar unemployment rate increase of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can provide further insight into potential future demand within Hillsdale. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across different industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Hillsdale's current employment mix suggests that local employment should increase by 6.6% over the next five years and 13.5% over the following five years, assuming no changes in population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Hillsdale had a median income among taxpayers of $56,961 and an average income of $83,917. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $62,008 and average income is around $91,352. Census data shows personal income ranks at the 61st percentile with weekly earnings of $862, while household income sits at the 43rd percentile. Income distribution reveals that 37.3% of residents (2,168 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to regional levels where 30.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 36th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Hillsdale features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Hillsdale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 4.2% houses and 95.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hillsdale was at 19.0%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (24.6%) or rented (56.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Hillsdale was $2,167, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure for Hillsdale was $450, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Hillsdale's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were above the national figure of $375.

Hillsdale features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 65.1% of all households, including 28.4% couples with children, 21.2% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 5.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Hillsdale exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 33.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 55.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 30.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 19.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.8% in primary education, 6.7% in tertiary education, and 6.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Hillsdale has five active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together facilitate 2,689 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents living an average of 231 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 72% of residents, while buses account for 12%, and walking makes up 7%. On average, there are 0.7 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 27.4% of Hillsdale's residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The average service frequency across all routes is 384 trips per day, equating to roughly 537 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hillsdale's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance throughout Hillsdale.

AreaSearch's assessment found low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (3,491 people). The most common medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 6.1 and 5.8% of residents respectively. 77.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents showed low chronic condition prevalence. Hillsdale has 12.7% of residents aged 65 and over (738 people), which is lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Hillsdale has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 50.7 percent speaking a language other than English at home and 54.3 percent born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Hillsdale, comprising 52.5 percent of its population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.7 percent of Hillsdale's population versus 0.8 percent regionally.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is the largest group at 28.6 percent, significantly higher than the regional average of 16.0 percent. Australian ancestry comprises 12.7 percent, notably lower than the regional average of 17.8 percent, and English ancestry makes up 12.4 percent, also lower than the regional average of 19.0 percent. Spanish, Hungarian, and Russian ethnic groups are notably overrepresented in Hillsdale compared to regional averages.

Hillsdale's population is younger than the national pattern

Hillsdale's median age of 35 years is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and somewhat younger than the national average of 38 years. The percentage of people aged 25-34 in Hillsdale is strong at 19.2%, higher than that of Greater Sydney, while the percentage of those aged 5-14 is less prevalent at 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the population share of those aged 75 to 84 has grown from 3.3% to 4.4%. Conversely, the share of those aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 20.0% to 19.2%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate substantial changes in Hillsdale's population structure. The number of people aged 45-54 is projected to increase by 259 individuals (35%), rising from 744 to 1,004. Conversely, population declines are forecast for those aged 25-34 and 0-4 years.