Hillside (Melton - Vic.)

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

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Hillside (Melton - Vic.) is around 17,274. This figure reflects a decrease of 57 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,331. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and analysis of resident population data from June 2024 ABS ERP release, along with two additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,106 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average according to AreaSearch assessments. Overseas migration contributed approximately 52.0% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch projections for Hillside are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia figures released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used with adjustments made through weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is expected to have a population increase of 4,341 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall gain of 25.1% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Hillside is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Hillside has averaged approximately 34 new dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals an estimated 174 homes. As of April 2026, seven approvals have been recorded in this financial year.

During this period, population has fallen, but development activity has been adequate relative to the decline, which could be positive for buyers. The average construction cost value of new properties is around $742,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

All recent developments have comprised detached dwellings, preserving Hillside's suburban nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With approximately 4941 people per approval, Hillside shows characteristics of a mature, established area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Hillside is projected to add around 4336 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Hillside has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones include Woodlea Master-Planned Community, Plumpton Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Calder Park Drive Interchange, and Shared User Paths Upgrade - Taylors Lakes/Sydenham/Hillside. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The employment environment in Hillside shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Hillside's workforce is skilled with notable representation in construction. Its unemployment rate was 3.7% as of December 2025, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.7%.

Residents' participation in the workforce was higher than Greater Melbourne's average (77.4% vs 71.3%). According to Census responses, 23.5% of residents worked from home by December 2025. Employment is concentrated in construction, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Construction has a strong presence with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 5.6%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 3.7% while labour force grew by 4.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest total employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hillside's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Hillside had a median taxpayer income of $58,079 and an average of $68,402. These figures align with national averages and compare to Greater Melbourne's levels of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Hillside are approximately $62,871 (median) and $74,045 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 77th percentile ($2,190 weekly), while personal income is at the 50th percentile. The predominant income cohort in Hillside spans 37.4% (6,460 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader regional trends of 32.8% in the same category. After housing costs, residents retain 86.7% of income, indicating strong purchasing power, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Hillside, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hillside was at 31.6%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (53.4%) or rented (14.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Hillside was $1,900, lower than the Melbourne metro average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Hillside was recorded at $380, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Hillside's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 86.0% of all households, consisting of 52.2% couples with children, 19.6% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 14.0%, with lone person households at 12.9% and group households comprising 1.1% of the total. The median household size is 3.2 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 23.2%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 33.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (22.2%). Educational participation is high at 32.2%, with 10.3% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Hillside has 51 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by five different routes, collectively facilitating 1,623 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically situated 276 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most residents travel outward daily, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 92%. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 23.5% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 231 trips daily, translating to about 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hillside'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 positive outcomes for Hillside residents. Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly in line with national benchmarks.

Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover rate is approximately 54% of the total population (~9,305 people), slightly leading the average SA2 area. This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 7.7 and 6.0% of residents respectively. 74.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 12.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,107 people), lower than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Hillside 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

Hillside's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 31.2% born overseas and 36.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in Hillside, comprising 65.9%, compared to 43.0% across Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups were Other (16.0%), Australian (15.8%), and English (12.7%), which was lower than the regional average of 20.1%.

Notably, Maltese, Croatian, and Macedonian ethnicities had higher representations in Hillside compared to the region: Maltese at 8.8% vs 1.1%, Croatian at 2.8% vs 0.7%, and Macedonian at 3.5% vs 0.7%.

Hillside's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Hillside's median age is 37, matching Greater Melbourne and closely resembling Australia's figure of 38 years. The 55-64 age group comprises 14.1%, notably higher than Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort stands at 12.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 55 to 64 age group has risen from 11.6% to 14.1%, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 2.6% to 3.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 14.2% to 11.3%, and the 45 to 54 group fell from 16.9% to 15.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Hillside's age structure. Notably, the 55 to 64 group is projected to grow by 50%, adding 1,214 people to reach 3,650 from the current 2,435. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 9%, adding 79 people.