Macquarie Hills

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

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Macquarie Hills is estimated at around 3,664 people. This reflects an increase of 59 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,605 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 3,610, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,565 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Macquarie Hills has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.6%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for non-metropolitan areas nationally. The suburb is expected to increase by 687 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 20.6% over the 17 years.

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

Macquarie Hills had six dwelling approvals over five years ending in 2019. This minimal residential development activity reflects the rural nature of the area, with housing needs driving development rather than broad market demand. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics.

Compared to Rest of NSW and national averages, Macquarie Hills has much lower development activity. Recent development consisted entirely of detached dwellings, focusing on family homes suited for rural living. With approximately 1852 people per dwelling approval, Macquarie Hills indicates a highly mature market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Macquarie Hills to gain 755 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Macquarie Hills has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects expected to impact the region: Glendale City Centre Expansion, Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program, Garden Suburb, and Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing. The following details these key initiatives.

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

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Employment conditions in Macquarie Hills demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Macquarie Hills has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.6% as of September 2025, lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%.

Residents' participation in the workforce is high at 79.5%, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 61.5%. According to Census responses, 26.2% of residents work from home. The majority of employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training sectors. Finance & insurance has a significant presence with an employment share 2.5 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited representation at 0.3%.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.2% while the labour force rose by 3.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a contraction in employment (-0.5%), a fall in labour force (-0.1%), and an increase in unemployment (0.4 percentage points). Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Macquarie Hills' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Macquarie Hills' suburb has a high national income level according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers is $65,121 and the average income stands at $77,469. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on an 8.86% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $70,891 (median) and $84,333 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Macquarie Hills' household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 75th and 80th percentiles. The data reveals 41.9% of residents (1,535 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader regional trends at 29.9%. Housing accounts for 14.6% of income. Residents rank in the 81st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Macquarie Hills is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Macquarie Hills' dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 98.0% houses and 2.0% other dwellings. Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Macquarie Hills was 29.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 57.3% and rented at 13.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Macquarie Hills was $473, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Macquarie Hills' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $473 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 84.7% of all households, including 43.2% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 15.3%, with lone person households at 13.4% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Macquarie Hills demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

In Macquarie Hills, educational qualifications lag behind regional averages. Among residents aged 15 and over, 23.0% possess university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. University graduates comprise the largest group at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate degree holders (4.5%) and those with graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.6% of residents holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.7%, while certificates make up 30.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.7% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 3.6% in tertiary education.

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

Macquarie Hills has 34 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by 11 different routes, offering a total of 316 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living 117 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 97%. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 26.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 45 trips per day, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per stop.

Macquarie Hills's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Macquarie Hills' health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average among both younger and older age cohorts, with approximately 58% (~2,107 people) having private health cover, compared to 51.9% across the Rest of NSW.

Mental health issues affect 10.5% of residents, while asthma impacts 9.3%. About 67.2% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are generally typical. The area has 11.5% (421 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.4% in the Rest of NSW. National rankings for health outcomes are broadly in line with those of the general population.

Macquarie Hills is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Macquarie Hills showed lower cultural diversity, with 90.9% born in Australia, 94.7% being citizens, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated at 53.2%, compared to 55.9% regionally. Top ancestral groups were Australian (32.0%), English (29.5%), and Scottish (8.3%).

Notably, Welsh (0.8%) was overrepresented versus the regional average of 0.5%. Similarly, Polish (0.9%) exceeded its regional counterpart of 0.5%, while Macedonian matched regionally at 0.4%.

Macquarie Hills's population is younger than the national pattern

Macquarie Hills has a median age of 34, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, the 25-34 cohort is over-represented at 17.0% locally, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 7.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 15.1% to 16.9%, and the 25-34 cohort has increased from 15.4% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 9.7% to 7.9%, and the 65-74 group has dropped from 8.9% to 7.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Macquarie Hills' age profile will evolve significantly. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to expand by 236 people (38%), from 622 to 859, while the 65-74 group is projected to contract by 1 resident.