Box Hill

Box Hill lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Box Hill's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 28,036. This figure represents a 5,195 person increase (22.7%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 22,841. The growth is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 27,211 in June 2025 and an additional 1,477 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,999 persons per square kilometer, placing Box Hill in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Between the 2021 Census and May 2026, Box Hill's growth rate exceeded both its SA4 region (8.9%) and the state level, positioning it as a growth leader within the region. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 98.7% of overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Box Hill is forecasted to experience significant population increase in the top quartile of national areas. By 2041, the area's population is expected to grow by 8,843 persons, reflecting a total gain of 28.6% over the 16-year period, using the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Box Hill among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Box Hill has recorded approximately 401 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 2,005 homes have been approved, with an additional 103 approved so far in FY26. On average, over these five years, 1.6 new residents were expected per year per dwelling constructed. However, recent data shows this has increased to 15.5 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, reflecting Box Hill's growing popularity and potential supply constraints.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $308,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. This year alone, there have been $233.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. When compared to Greater Melbourne, Box Hill shows 96.0% higher development activity per person, providing buyers with ample choice. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. Recent construction comprises 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 37.0% houses). This trend suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The location has approximately 310 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth.

Looking ahead, Box Hill is expected to grow by 8,013 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Box Hill has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects potentially impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Wembley Hill Townhomes, Box Hill City Oval Redevelopment, Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre - Public Realm, and Suburban Rail Loop East - Box Hill Station. The following list details 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.

Employment performance in Box Hill has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Box Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.6% as of an unspecified past year. As of December 2025, the employment figure stood at 15,160 residents with an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is 0.9% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

The workforce participation rate was 66.6%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A significant portion, 33.8%, of residents worked from home based on Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and accommodation & food sectors. Notably, employment in accommodation & food is at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.9 as per Census data, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in an unspecified date, employment increased by 2.0%, while labour force grew by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4% and labour force expansion of 2.8%, with a smaller increase in unemployment rate of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Box Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data shows Box Hill SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $45,002 and an average income of $62,103 in financial year 2023. These figures are lower than the national averages of $57,688 and $75,164 for Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth since March 2023, current estimates suggest median income is approximately $49,331 and average income is around $68,077 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Box Hill rank modestly, between the 25th and 32nd percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 27.8% of Box Hill's population (7,794 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to the regional average of 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Box Hill, with only 78.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Box Hill displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Box Hill's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 37.2% houses and 62.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Box Hill was at 25.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 49.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,088, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Box Hill was $391, slightly above Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Box Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,088 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $391 versus the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 60.9 percent of all households, including 24.3 percent couples with children, 24.9 percent couples without children, and 9.6 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 39.1 percent, with lone person households at 30.4 percent and group households comprising 8.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Box Hill has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 48.2% holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. This educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: Bachelor degrees are most common at 29.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways also contribute significantly to educational attainment, with advanced diplomas accounting for 11.7% and certificates for 9.4%. Educational participation is high in Box Hill, with 35.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.7% in tertiary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing primary education.

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

Box Hill has 146 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 36 different routes, facilitating a total of 13,979 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 153 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 64% of residents, followed by train at 17% and walking at 9%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.8, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 33.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 1,997 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 95 weekly trips per individual stop. The provided map illustrates the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Box Hill's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Box Hill shows robust health metrics based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low across both young and elderly age groups. Private health cover was relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~13,961 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues impacted 6.5% of residents, while asthma affected 5.4%. 77.5% declared no medical ailments, higher than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. The area has 14.4% of residents aged 65 and over (4,051 people), with strong health outcomes among seniors, broadly in line with national rankings.

Box Hill is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Box Hill has a high level of cultural diversity, with 55.3% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 56.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Box Hill, comprising 31.3% of the population. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 8.1% of Box Hill's population versus 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (32.7%), English (16.4%), and Australian (13.0%). Chinese ancestry is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%, while Australian ancestry is notably lower than the average of 18.4%. Korean, Sri Lankan, and Vietnamese ethnicities show notable divergences in representation compared to regional averages.

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

Box Hill has a median age of 33, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Box Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.0%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 21.4% to 23.4%, while the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 16.4% to 17.4%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 12.1% to 10.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Box Hill, with the 25 to 34 cohort projected to grow by 30%, adding 1,966 residents to reach a total of 8,521.