Hilton (WA)

Population growth drivers in Hilton are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Analyzing ABS demographic updates for the wider region alongside newly verified addresses from AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Hilton (WA) has an estimated population of 4,667 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 344 people (8.0%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 4,323 residents. This shift is calculated from a resident population of 4,661, which AreaSearch estimated using the June 2025 ABS ERP release and 10 validated new addresses added after the Census date. This population size corresponds to a density of 2,713 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb in the top quartile of all Australian locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The 8.0% post-census growth rate for the suburb of Hilton (WA) is within 1.3 percentage points of the national average (9.3%), indicating solid growth performance. Expansion in the area was chiefly underpinned by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 75.0% of the total population gains in recent times, though natural growth and interstate migration also made positive contributions.

AreaSearch incorporates ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For SA2 regions lacking this data, and for projecting growth beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies cohort-specific growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections released by the ABS in 2023, which utilize 2022 data. Looking at upcoming demographic shifts, the suburb of Hilton (WA) is projected to experience population growth above the national median, with aggregated SA2 projections indicating a rise of 648 persons to 2041, representing a total increase of 13.8% over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch assessments of ABS building approvals mapped from statistical divisions, Hilton averages approximately 12 new residential approvals annually. This totals roughly 60 approved dwellings over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 16 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Because an average of 5 new residents per year arrived per finished home during the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, housing supply is falling well behind demand. This imbalance typically intensifies buyer rivalry and exerts upward pressure on prices. Additionally, newly approved homes carry a mean value of $557,000, indicating that developers are focusing on upmarket, premium properties. Commercial approvals for this financial year stand at $1.8 million, showing that development remains overwhelmingly focused on residential builds.

Compared to Greater Perth, construction activity per capita in Hilton is about half as high, placing the area in the 33rd percentile nationwide. This results in a tighter selection of properties for buyers, which maintains interest in pre-existing homes. This rate of building is also lower than the national benchmark, suggesting a mature market and potential development limits. Detached houses account for 80.0% of new construction activity, while townhouses and apartments make up 20.0%, preserving the classic suburban feel and focusing on family-oriented spaces. There are approximately 488 residents for every approved dwelling, pointing to a well-established community.

Future projections indicate that Hilton will gain 642 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, the supply of new housing may fail to keep pace with population expansion, which could increase competition among buyers and support rising property values.

Hilton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure, planning decisions, and major projects have a significant impact on how an area performs. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to influence the area. Key regional projects include the Stock Road Pedestrian Bridge, the Hamilton Hill Revitalisation Strategy, the Kardinya District Centre Precinct Structure Plan, and the Future of Fremantle Waterfront, with the main details of the most relevant initiatives listed below.

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

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Employment conditions in Hilton remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Hilton features a highly educated labor force with strong representation in critical services, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.4% according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area data. In March 2026, there were 2,565 employed residents. The unemployment rate is 0.2% higher than the Greater Perth average of 4.2%, while the participation rate matches the regional benchmark of 70.2%. Census data indicates that a modest 11.0% of employed locals worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic lockdowns.

Resident employment is heavily concentrated in health care and social assistance, education and training, and professional and technical services. The suburb displays a strong specialization in education and training, with an employment share that is 1.7 times the metropolitan average. Conversely, mining accounts for only 5.1% of the local workforce, compared to 7.0% across Greater Perth. The comparison between the Census working population and the resident population suggests that this highly residential suburb offers few local employment opportunities.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the year ending March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 1.9% and total employment fell by 2.0%, while the unemployment rate remained stable. In comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.0% and labor force growth of 2.5%, alongside an increase of 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 provide additional context for future labor demand in Hilton. These five and ten-year forecasts have been mapped against the local industry profile to estimate future growth. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the local workforce mix suggests that employment for Hilton residents will rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, using a simple weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population dynamics.

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

According to the latest ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, Hilton ranks very high nationally in terms of income levels. Taxpayers in the suburb have a median income of $55,768 and an average income of $77,651, compared to $60,748 and $80,248 respectively for Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would be approximately $61,863 for the median and $86,138 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed household, family, and personal incomes in Hilton around the 52nd percentile nationally. The most common income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, which contains 30.0% of residents (1,400 people), close to the wider region where 32.0% fall into this bracket. Affordability pressures are significant, with residents retaining only 82.1% of their income, which ranks in the 46th percentile, and the area sits in the 6th decile of the SEIFA income index.

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

At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Hilton consisted of 86.7% separate houses and 13.3% other dwelling types, such as townhouses and apartments, compared to 77.8% separate houses and 22.1% other dwellings across the Perth metropolitan area. Home ownership in Hilton was lower than the metropolitan average at 21.5%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgagors (47.1%) or tenants (31.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment was higher than the Perth metropolitan average at $1,950, while the median weekly rent was $300, compared to regional figures of $1,907 and $350. Nationally, Hilton's mortgage payments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, whereas weekly rents are much lower than the national median of $375.

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

Family households make up 65.5% of all homes in the suburb, consisting of couples with children at 27.4%, couples without children at 22.3%, and single-parent households at 14.4%. The remaining 34.5% are non-family households, which include single-person households at 29.2% and group households at 5.6%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is slightly smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

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

Educational qualifications in Hilton are considerably higher than broader averages, as 39.0% of residents aged 15 and over hold a university degree, compared to 27.9% across WA and 28.6% in the local SA4 region. This education profile positions the community well for professional services and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 9.5% and graduate diplomas at 5.1%. Vocational and technical training is also highly represented, with 30.3% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational qualifications, comprising advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (19.5%).

Participation in study is high in the suburb, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in an educational institution. This group includes 9.7% in primary school, 8.0% in high school, and 7.9% attending tertiary institutions.

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

Public transport options in Hilton include 34 active transit stops served by bus networks. These stops accommodate 11 distinct routes, which together provide 1,765 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is excellent, with residents living an average of 153 meters from the nearest stop. Because Hilton is predominantly residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 78%, followed by trains at 9% and buses at 7%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.2 per household, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 11.0% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

The average service frequency across all routes is 252 trips per day, which translates to approximately 51 weekly services at each individual transit stop.

Health performance in Hilton is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Hilton exhibits notable health challenges based on AreaSearch evaluations of mortality data and the prevalence of long-term conditions, which are somewhat common in both younger and older demographics. However, private health insurance coverage is very high, encompassing roughly 58% of the population, which is about 2,708 people.

Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most frequently reported diagnoses in the area, affecting 10.9% and 7.0% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 69.3% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Health outcomes for working-age residents are generally typical. The suburb has 18.0% of its population aged 65 and over (840 people), which exceeds the Greater Perth proportion of 16.1%, with national health comparisons for this cohort ranking even higher than the general population.

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

Hilton shows higher than average levels of cultural diversity, with 13.3% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 27.4% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 30.6% of the local population. The most pronounced religious overrepresentation is among those practicing Judaism, who account for 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

In terms of parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Hilton are English at 29.0%, Australian at 21.8%, and Irish at 9.6%. There are also notable differences in other ethnic backgrounds, with Welsh ancestry overrepresented at 0.9% of the population compared to 0.7% regionally, French ancestry at 1.0% compared to 0.5%, and Dutch ancestry at 2.0% compared to 1.5%.

Hilton's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Hilton is 38 years, which is close to the Greater Perth median of 37 and matches the national median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, Hilton has a higher proportion of residents aged 85 and over (4.5%) but a lower share of young people aged 15 - 24 (11.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 5.0% to 6.0%, while the group aged 0 to 4 has shrunk from 7.6% to 6.2%. By 2041, the age structure of Hilton is projected to change significantly. The cohort aged 85 and over is expected to grow by 90% (an increase of 187 people), rising from 210 to 398. The trend toward an older population is clear, with residents aged 65 and over accounting for 56% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are forecast for children aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14.