Hillston

Population growth drivers in Hillston are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Hillston is around 1,604, reflecting a growth of 57 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a percentage change of 3.7%. The latest available data from AreaSearch, based on an examination of ERP data released by the ABS in June 2025 and validated new addresses, supports this estimation. The population density ratio is 0.40 persons per square kilometer. Hillston's growth rate since the last census exceeded that of its SA3 area (1.8%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.0% to 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, with a base year of 2021. Based on these aggregations, the suburb is projected to increase by approximately 7.7% by 2041, adding around 124 persons over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Hillston according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Hillston has averaged one development approval per year over the past five years, totalling seven. This low level of activity reflects the rural nature of the area, where development is typically driven by local housing needs rather than broader market demand. Yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably due to the low approval numbers.

Hillston's development activity is much lower compared to the Rest of NSW and below national patterns. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, with a focus on family homes suited for those seeking rural lifestyle and space. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Hillston is 631 people. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Hillston is projected to add 124 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Hillston has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

No infrastructure changes have significantly impacted this area. AreaSearch has identified zero projects anticipated to influence it. Notable initiatives include the NSW Heavy Vehicle Rest Stops Program by TfNSW, NSW Zero Emissions Buses, NSW Inland Rail Interface Improvements, and NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program.

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AreaSearch analysis places Hillston well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Hillston's workforce is skilled with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 2.4% as of AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. In December 2025863 residents were employed at an unemployment rate of 1.6% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Hillston was 67.4%, exceeding Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 8.1% of residents worked from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Dominant employment sectors included agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had notably high concentration with employment levels at 7.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance was under-represented at 9.0% compared to Regional NSW's 16.9%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated above-normal local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.8%, with a 3.4% employment decline, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, and unemployment increase of 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hillston's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 4.8% over five years and 10.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Hillston had a median taxpayer income of $51,291 and an average income of $57,670. These figures are lower than national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively in Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $56,584 and $63,622 respectively. Census data shows personal income ranks at the 59th percentile ($852 weekly) and household income at the 34th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 32.9% of residents (527 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket. Housing costs are manageable with 90.9% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 42nd percentile.

Hillston is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Hillston, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hillston was at 37.4%, with the rest being mortgaged (23.7%) or rented (38.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $901, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $220, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Hillston's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Hillston features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 64.7% of all households, including 24.6% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 35.3%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households making up 5.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning with the Regional NSW average.

Hillston faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 17.2%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (0.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (26.5%). Educational participation is high at 30.8%, comprising primary education (13.5%), secondary education (7.4%), and tertiary education (3.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.5% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Hillston has 75 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by seven different routes that collectively facilitate 100 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing 196 meters away from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 86%, while 9% of residents walk. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 14 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Hillston is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Hillston. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantially higher than average, particularly among older age cohorts. Approximately 50% of Hillston's total population (~798 people) has private health cover, compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (7.8%) and arthritis (6.6%), while 72.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Under-65s in Hillston have better health outcomes than average. However, 18.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (293 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

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

Hillston's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 21.4% born overseas and 16.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Hillston, accounting for 59.2%. However, 'Other' religions were overrepresented compared to Regional NSW, making up 2.8% of Hillston's population versus 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (29.5%), English (27.0%), and Other (9.0%) were the top groups represented in Hillston. Notably, Australian Aboriginal (8.3%), Korean (1.2%), and Spanish (0.6%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Hillston's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Hillston is 36 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 19.6% of the population in Hillston, compared to Regional NSW. The 65-74 age cohort is less prevalent in Hillston at 9.7%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 65-74 age group has increased from 8.2% to 9.7%, while the 0-4 age group has risen from 6.5% to 7.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 age cohort has declined from 12.2% to 9.1%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 11.9% to 10.8%. Population forecasts for Hillston in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 15 people, reaching 361 from 314. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 52% of total population growth, reflecting Hillston's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 45-54 and 55-64 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.