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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Macquarie Hills is $1.00m. House values have moved 5.7% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Macquarie Hills has an estimated 3,614 residents. That puts 1,544 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch evaluations of updated ABS regional population figures alongside post-Census address validations, the suburb of Macquarie Hills records an estimated 3,614 residents as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 9 people (0.2%) relative to the 3,605 residents enumerated in the 2021 Census. Such movement is determined from the base resident count of 3,605, established via AreaSearch review of the June 2025 ABS ERP release together with subsequent address checks since the Census date. Macquarie Hills maintains a density of 1,544 persons per square kilometer, tracking higher than the benchmark across nationally evaluated areas.
Over the preceding ten years, the suburb of Macquarie Hills has exhibited steady demographic expansion with a 0.7% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the wider SA3 area. Natural increase was the primary contributor to local expansion, generating roughly 52.0% of recent population additions, while interstate migration and overseas migration also registered positive inflows. Projections utilised by AreaSearch draw upon 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia modeling benchmarked to 2022 across individual SA2 areas, supplemented by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 figures benchmarked to 2021 where needed. Age-specific growth trajectories from these datasets are further implemented across all localities covering 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, the suburb of Macquarie Hills is anticipated to outpace the median growth rate of regional Australian areas, with aggregated SA2 modeling indicating an influx of 627 persons through to 2041, representing a cumulative 17.1% gain across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building approvals in Macquarie Hills remain exceptionally constrained, averaging less than 1 approvals per year (minimal approvals over five years). Such muted development numbers illustrate the non-urban character of the locality, wherein construction activity generally answers discrete resident requirements rather than wider market appetite. Because annual approvals are so restricted, proportionate shifts and annual changes can exhibit substantial variation due to single initiatives. Macquarie Hills registers building activity well below that recorded across Rest of NSW. Residential planning volumes similarly trail broader national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Macquarie Hills
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Macquarie Hills, worth an estimated $21 million. A further 33 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.91 billion. 8 are already under construction and 10 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, retail and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Strategic planning initiatives, major projects, and infrastructure upgrades exert a significant effect on regional performance. AreaSearch has outlined 4 specific projects expected to influence the locality. Core developments encompass the Glendale City Centre Expansion, Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program, Garden Suburb, and Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing, which represent the most significant local undertakings.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program
Comprehensive program by Lake Macquarie City Council to replace and upgrade aging timber bridges and culvert structures across the LGA to ensure safe and efficient transport connectivity.
Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing
The NSW Government is delivering five modular homes in Lake Macquarie as part of the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program. Constructed off-site by Moov Modular using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), these homes provide fast-tracked social housing to support vulnerable community members.
Weemala at the Lake
A master-planned residential community spanning 55 hectares in Boolaroo, offering elevated lots near Lake Macquarie with access to shopping, transport, and educational facilities. The multi-staged development by Green Capital Group will deliver approximately 500 new homes to the region.
Glendale City Centre Expansion
Expansion of Glendale City Centre following IP Generation's 2024 acquisition of the centre. The existing 2018 development approval provides for enclosure of the existing colonnade mall, around 7,700 sqm of additional retail floor space and a 1,900 sqm dining and restaurant precinct linking the shopping centre with Event Cinemas. As of 2026 the approval remains in place and the owner continues to identify the asset as having significant future redevelopment and expansion potential, however major construction has not commenced.
Garden Suburb
Landcom is delivering 105 new homes in Garden Suburb, retaining approximately 70% of the site as bushland. The project aims to be a 100% electric community with a minimum of 30% affordable homes.
McCloy Group Brush Creek Estate
200+ lot residential development in Edgeworth area with approval received. Part of McCloy Group's broader residential expansion in the north-west Lake Macquarie region. McCloy Group is one of the Hunter's largest private property developers with over 60 years of experience, founded in 1961 by Don McCloy.
Winten Cameron Park Stage 5 Development
A massive 858-lot residential subdivision valued at $116 million, approved by the Regional Planning Panel in December 2023. Part of Winten Property Group's larger 3,300-home masterplan across 520 hectares spanning Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs. The development includes two new commercial centres, a primary school, and is supported by a $22.6 million Voluntary Planning Agreement providing new parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and shared pathways. Total concept covers 2000 hectares on former coal mining land.
Edgeworth Town Centre Redevelopment
Council-led planning program to refresh and improve the Edgeworth town centre, focusing on streetscape upgrades, mixed-use activation and improved connectivity with nearby community facilities. Edgeworth is classified as a local centre under Lake Macquarie's Local Strategic Planning Statement 2025-2045, with a medium-density housing target of 50 dwellings per hectare. The adopted Edgeworth Area 2 Precinct Plan within LMDCP 2014 Revision 27 guides future residential and commercial development, conservation of riparian corridors, and road and active transport connectivity improvements.
2,030 residents of Macquarie Hills are employed, from a labour force of 2,103. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, with participation at 74.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,833, about 78% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
An analysis of aggregated district statistics indicates Macquarie Hills possesses a qualified labour pool, prominent representation across community service fields, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. As of March 2026, employed locals tally 2,030, with local unemployment sitting 0.6% beneath the 4.1% seen in Regional NSW, alongside a participation rate of 74.3% that comfortably outstrips the regional standard of 60.6%. Census figures showed 26.2% working remotely from home, a metric subject to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time. The primary employment sectors among working residents comprise health care & social assistance, construction, as well as education & training.
In addition, finance & insurance exhibits a notable local presence, generating jobs at 2.5 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.3% of the resident workforce, trailing the 5.3% observed throughout Regional NSW. Given the balance between Census working and resident counts, this predominantly residential community provides relatively few jobs internally. AreaSearch assessment of regional ABS and SALM metrics demonstrates that across the 12 months to March 2026, the area saw a 1.4% reduction in its workforce alongside a 2.6% contraction in filled positions, lifting local unemployment by 1.2 percentage points. Over the same period throughout Regional NSW, job counts contracted by 0.9%, the overall workforce trimmed by 0.4%, and unemployment expanded by 0.5 percentage points. Broader employment expectations are informed by Mar-26 industry projections from Jobs and Skills Australia over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, job markets are modeled to grow 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, though sector-specific trajectories diverge considerably. Applying these industry weightings to the occupational profile of Macquarie Hills points to an indicative local workforce increase of 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (representing an unadjusted weighted projection for demonstration without localized demographic modeling).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Macquarie Hills is $2,241 a week (about $117,000 a year), with median personal income at $968 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $65,121 a year against an average of $77,469. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Aggregated postcode data from the ATO for financial year 2023 indicates that taxpayers in the suburb of Macquarie Hills achieved a median income of $65,121 and an average income of $77,469. These figures compare favourably against national benchmarks as well as respective Regional NSW levels of $52,390 and $65,215. Incorporating a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, modeled figures reach roughly $71,841 for median earnings and $85,464 for average earnings as of March 2026. The 2021 Census places personal, family, and household earnings within the 75th to 80th percentiles nationwide.
In terms of earnings brackets, 41.9% of local residents (1,514 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 band, matching the wider territory proportion of 29.9%. Accommodative shelter costs take up 14.6% of income, positioning residents in the 81st percentile for disposable earnings, while the community occupies the 6th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Macquarie Hills had 1,247 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 98% detached houses and 0% apartments. 57% are owned with a mortgage, 14% rented and 29% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $473 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month, a total housing cost higher than 75% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 21.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that separate houses constitute 98.0% of the housing landscape in Macquarie Hills, with remaining dwellings (including semi-detached properties and apartments) making up 2.0%, compared with 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% other formats in Regional NSW. Fully owned properties accounted for 29.2% of tenure, trailing regional figures, while mortgaged residences represented 57.3% and rental properties comprised 13.5%. The typical monthly mortgage repayment stood at $2,000 against $1,733 regionally, and median weekly rent reached $473 compared to $330 in Regional NSW. These local costs also sit above broader Australian figures, which stand at $1,863 for monthly mortgages and $375 for weekly rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Macquarie Hills counted 1,247 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.9 people each. 43% are couples with children, more than in 86% of areas nationally, against 29% couples without children. 13% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 84.7% of all local domestic units, consisting of couples with children at 43.2%, couples without children at 28.8%, and single parent families at 11.9%. Non-family dwellings comprise the remaining 15.3%, split between single-occupant homes at 13.4% and group households at 1.9%. Average household occupancy sits at 2.9 people, surpassing the Regional NSW benchmark of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.0% of adults in Macquarie Hills hold a university qualification, including 16.3% with a bachelor degree and 4.5% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 97% of areas nationally. A further 30.9% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment measures in Macquarie Hills trail state averages, with 23.0% of residents aged 15+ possessing higher education qualifications versus 32.2% across NSW, pointing to scope for further learning growth. Bachelor degrees represent 16.3% of attainment, with postgraduate qualifications at 4.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational training is well established, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, comprising certificates (30.9%) and advanced diplomas (11.7%). Community educational engagement is robust, with 29.8% of locals currently participating in formal study. This cohort comprises 10.7% attending primary schools, 7.9% enrolled in secondary education, and 3.6% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Macquarie Hills reaches 34 stops on 11 routes, timetabled for about 300 services a week. The typical home sits about 120 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Transport networks within Macquarie Hills comprise 34 active transport stops accommodating various bus services. These facilities are connected by 11 individual routes that together deliver 304 weekly passenger trips. Network proximity is strong, with typical access requiring a 117 meters journey to the nearest boarding point. As an established residential community, out-commuting is widespread, with private vehicles accounting for 97% of travel. Motor vehicle ownership registers at 1.8 per dwelling, higher than regional figures, while 26.2% of residents worked remotely during the 2021 Census under prevailing pandemic settings. Public transit timetables provide an average of 43 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 8 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.2% of residents in Macquarie Hills report no long-term health condition. 4.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Macquarie Hills align closely with national baselines based on mortality and chronic illness assessments, with standard conditions showing slightly elevated prevalence among both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance participation is substantial, covering roughly 58% of residents (~2,079 people), compared to 51.9% throughout Regional NSW. Asthma and mental health issues represent the primary reported health conditions locally, impacting 9.3% and 10.5% of the population respectively, while 67.2% of locals reported no medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health measures for the working-age population remain typical overall.
Senior residents aged 65 and over account for 12.5% of the population (451 people), remaining well below the 23.3% share observed across Regional NSW, with general health rankings matching wider standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Macquarie Hills is largely Australian-born, at 90.9% of residents, with 5.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (32.0%) and English (29.5%). 3.6% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Macquarie Hills register below broader averages, with 90.9% of residents born in Australia, 94.7% holding Australian citizenship, and 94.2% communicating only in English at home. Christianity constitutes the primary religious denomination, practiced by 53.2% of residents, in comparison to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Regarding ancestral background, the most prevalent heritages declared locally are Australian (32.0%), English (29.5%), and Scottish (8.3%). In addition, specific community representations show divergence from regional levels, including Polish residents at 0.9% (vs 0.5%), Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0.5%), and Macedonian at 0.4% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Macquarie Hills is 34, younger than 76% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 28.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Demographics in the suburb of Macquarie Hills centre around family-oriented households. August 2026 projections indicate that 32.5% of the community consists of young to middle aged adults (25 - 44), compared to 23.5% regionally, whereas older cohorts (65+) comprise 12.5% against 23.3% in Regional NSW. AreaSearch projects the median age at 34 as at August 2026, slightly lower than the 35 recorded at the 2021 Census and 9 years below the Regional NSW Census median of 43. Since the Census, the 25 - 44 cohort has expanded from 30.5% to 32.5%.
Looking ahead to 2041, young to middle aged adults are anticipated to drive the majority of growth, increasing by 345 residents (29%) to reach 1,520.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Macquarie Hills
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,605 at the 2021 Census → 3,614 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL12443). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.