Mount Hutton (NSW)

Population growth drivers in Mount Hutton are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Mount Hutton's population is estimated at 3,871 as of May 2026. This reflects a growth of 159 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,712. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 3,866 following examination of ABS ERP data (June 2025) and an additional 75 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,131 persons per square kilometer. Mount Hutton's growth rate of 4.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area average of 3.2%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 64.0% of 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 for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Considering these projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 434 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 11.1% over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Mount Hutton shows approximately 16 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 84 homes. In FY26 so far, 16 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of two people moving to the area per dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions. However, this has decreased to one person per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting more balanced supply conditions. The average construction value for development projects is $435,000, slightly above the regional average.

In FY26, $43,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Mount Hutton's construction rates per person are similar to the rest of NSW, supporting market stability. However, development activity has moderated recently. New development consists of 56% detached houses and 44% medium and high-density housing, expanding medium-density options.

This is a change from the current housing mix of 74% houses, reflecting reduced development site availability and shifting lifestyle demands. Mount Hutton has around 340 people per dwelling approval, characteristic of a low density area. Population forecasts indicate an addition of 429 residents by 2041, aligning with existing development levels to maintain stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Mount Hutton 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 17 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include The Summit, Ryhope Street Subdivision, Mount Hutton Precinct Area Plan, and Lake Macquarie Square. Below is a list of those likely to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Mount Hutton lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Mount Hutton has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 6.3% as of December 2025. Employment stability in the area remained relatively consistent over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of December 2025, 1,827 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.4% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Mount Hutton was broadly similar to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses indicated that a moderate 21.2% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction sectors.

The area has a particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.2% of Mount Hutton's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on the count of Census working population to local population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 2.2%, while employment declined by 0.2%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 2.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Mount Hutton. These projections suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Mount Hutton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Mount Hutton's income level is higher than average nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended June 2023. Median income among taxpayers in Mount Hutton was $55,663 and average income stood at $72,248, compared to Regional NSW's figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for Mount Hutton would be approximately $61,407 (median) and $79,704 (average) as of March 2026. From the Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes ranked at the 30th percentile, family incomes at the 35th percentile, and personal incomes at the 36th percentile in Mount Hutton. Income data shows that 33.8% of Mount Hutton's population (1,308 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring the regional figure of 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Mount Hutton, with only 82.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 35th percentile nationally.

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

Mount Hutton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Hutton stood at 33.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.3% and rented ones at 28.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,798, higher than Regional NSW's $1,733. The median weekly rent in Mount Hutton was $395, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Mount Hutton's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.5% of all households, including 23.4% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 15.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 29.6% and group households comprising 3.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This difference presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (29.4%).

A substantial 24.7% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.9% in primary education, 6.3% in secondary education, and 3.4% in tertiary education.

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

Mount Hutton has 40 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 23 different routes that together facilitate 503 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically living within 130 meters of the nearest stop. Most residents commute outside the area, with cars being the predominant mode of transport at 96%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 21.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 71 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Mount Hutton is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Mount Hutton faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% (~2147 people) compared to Regional NSW's 51.9%. Mental health issues impact 11.4%, while arthritis affects 10.9% of residents, with 58.2% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 24.4% (944 people) aged 65 and over, higher than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Mount Hutton ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Hutton had a low cultural diversity, with 88.3% born in Australia, 93.3% being citizens, and 92.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 53.2%, compared to 55.9% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (31.9%), English (31.1%), and Scottish (8.7%).

Notably, Welsh (1.1%) and Samoan (0.4%) had higher representations than regional averages of 0.5% and 0.1%, respectively. Macedonian representation was similar at 0.4%.

Mount Hutton hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Mount Hutton's median age is 42 years, similar to Regional NSW's average of 43, but older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are prominent at 16.4%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 9.6% compared to Regional NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group grew from 14.4% to 16.4%, and the 35-44 cohort increased from 10.4% to 11.6%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 11.4% to 10.1%, and the 85+ group dropped from 6.9% to 5.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Mount Hutton. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 61%, adding 131 residents to reach 348. In contrast, populations aged 5-14 and 55-64 are forecasted to decline.