The Hill

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

The Hill's population is estimated at around 2,243 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 167 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,076 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 2,181 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2025 and validation of seven new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 4,078 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The Hill's growth rate of 8.0% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the Rest of NSW (4.9%) and its SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods, with interstate migration and natural growth also being positive factors.

AreaSearch's projections for The Hill are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, or NSW State Government SA2-level projections released in 2022 using 2021 as the base year for areas not covered by the former. Considering these projections, a significant population increase is forecast for The Hill, with an expected growth of 875 persons to reach 3,118 by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 36.2% over the 16-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates The Hill has received around 12 dwelling approvals per year on average over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 61 homes. In FY-26 so far, one approval has been recorded. This supply meets or exceeds demand, with approximately 0.7 new residents arriving per new home annually between FY-21 and FY-25. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $678,000, indicating a focus on the premium market.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $974,000. The Hill maintains similar construction rates per person compared to the rest of NSW. Recent developments have been exclusively townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. There are approximately 70 people per dwelling approval in the area.

By 2041, The Hill is expected to grow by 813 residents, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and price increases if current development rates continue.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include East End Newcastle, Dairy Farmers Towers, Pottery Lane Residential Development - Newcastle, and Sovereign Park | The Hill. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

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.

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.9%, The Hill has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

The Hill's workforce is highly educated with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate stands at 3.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,460 residents are employed, mirroring Regional NSW's 3.9% unemployment rate.

Workforce participation is high at 77.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses indicate that 35.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (1.5 times the regional average), education & training, and professional & technical services. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.2% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating ample employment opportunities locally. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.5%, with employment declining by 1.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 1.2% employment decline and a 0.8% labour force decline, with a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, national employment will expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to The Hill's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.6% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows The Hill's median income among taxpayers is $59,574. The average income in the suburb is $92,734. Nationally, this is extremely high compared to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for The Hill would be approximately $65,722 (median) and $102,304 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows individual earnings in The Hill stand out at the 88th percentile nationally ($1,147 weekly), though household income ranks lower at the 55th percentile. The earnings profile indicates that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.6% of residents (686 people). High housing costs consume 17.1% of income. Despite this, strong earnings place disposable income at the 55th percentile and The Hill's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

The Hill features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The Hill's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 13.5% houses and 86.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Hill was at 24.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.3% and rented dwellings at 56.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in The Hill was $390, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, The Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $390 compared to the national figure of $375.

The Hill features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 49.7% of all households, including 15.5% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 5.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 50.3%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households comprising 12.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational achievement in The Hill places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in The Hill is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 55.5% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 35.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.3%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.2% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over, with advanced diplomas comprising 8.4% and certificates making up 13.8%. Educational participation is high, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.7% in tertiary education, 5.9% in primary education, and 4.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows nine active stops operating within The Hill. These stops offer a mix of bus services, with six individual routes providing 169 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode at 78%, with 14% walking and 3% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 35.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 24 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in The Hill is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

The Hill demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low for both young and old age cohorts, with a notably high rate of private health cover at approximately 64% of the total population (1,424 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW and 55.7% nationally. The most common medical conditions were mental health issues affecting 10.5% of residents and asthma impacting 8.8%.

A total of 69.1% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 15.8% of residents aged 65 and over (354 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, The Hill records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The Hill's cultural diversity aligns with the broader regional average, with 82.4% born in Australia, 89.2% being citizens, and 88.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 35.9%. Judaism is overrepresented at 0.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups are English (30.1%), Australian (22.8%), and Irish (10.6%). Notably, Scottish (9.7% vs regional 8.0%), Welsh (0.8% vs 0.5%), and Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.2%) are overrepresented.

The Hill hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

The median age of The Hill is 34, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the regional average, The Hill has a notably higher proportion of people aged 25-34 (24.7%) but a lower proportion of those aged 5-14 (6.5%). This concentration in the 25-34 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and now, the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 3.8% to 5.1%, while those aged 15 to 24 have declined from 17.1% to 15.1%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 11.5% to 9.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that The Hill's age profile will change significantly. The number of people aged 25 to 34 is projected to increase by 266 (a rise of 48%) from 554 to 821.