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 February 2026, is approximately 30,305. This figure represents a growth of 7,464 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 22,841. The increase was inferred from an estimated resident population of 26,669 in June 2024 and an additional 1,451 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 4,323 persons per square kilometer, placing Box Hill among the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's population growth rate of 32.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

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 VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Box Hill is forecasted to experience significant population growth, increasing by 10,068 persons to reach a total of 40,373 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 21.2% over the 17-year period.

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 were approved, with an additional 90 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 1.6 new residents have been added per year per dwelling constructed over these five years. However, recent data shows this figure 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 expected construction cost of $308,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. In terms of commercial development, there have been $233.5 million in approvals this financial year, indicating strong momentum. When compared to Greater Melbourne, Box Hill shows 99.0% higher development activity per person, providing buyers with ample choice. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. This high level of development activity reflects strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction in Box Hill comprises approximately 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% medium to high-density housing. This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns, which currently consist of 37.0% houses.

The location has approximately 310 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Looking ahead, Box Hill is expected to grow by 6,431 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 to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are 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.

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Box Hill has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Box Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.7%.

There were 15,173 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Box Hill was somewhat lower at 67.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 33.8% of residents worked from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and accommodation & food.

Notably, employment levels in accommodation & food are at 1.7 times the regional average, while construction shows lower representation at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. The ratio of workers to residents is 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 3.7%, and labour force grew by 3.3%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0% with an increase in unemployment rate of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth at 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.

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

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023. Box Hill SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $45,002 and an average level of $62,103. Both figures were lower than national averages of $57,688 and $75,164 in Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $48,715 (median) and $67,226 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Box Hill ranked modestly between the 25th and 32nd percentiles. Income analysis showed that 27.8% of the population, equating to 8,424 individuals, fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the regional proportion of 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 78.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th 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). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Box Hill stood at 25.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented dwellings 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 higher at $391 than 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% of all households, including 24.3% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 39.1%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households comprising 8.8%. 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's educational attainment is notably high, with 48.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data point. This figure exceeds both national (30.4%) and state (VIC: 33.4%) averages. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its diverse qualification types: bachelor degrees account for 29.3%, postgraduate qualifications 15.4%, and graduate diplomas 3.5%. Vocational pathways are also prevalent, with advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 9.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 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 lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 36 individual routes, collectively facilitating 13,979 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 153 meters to the nearest stop. Commuter patterns show that most residents travel outward from Box Hill, primarily using cars (64%). Train usage stands at 17%, and walking accounts for 9%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 33.8% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,997 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 95 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to Box Hill's location centrepoint.

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

Analysis of health metrics indicates robust performance throughout Box Hill. AreaSearch's assessment reveals low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~15,091 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, impacting 6.5 and 5.4% of residents respectively. 77.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 15.2% of residents aged 65 and over (4,594 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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's population is culturally diverse, with 55.3% speaking a language other than English at home and 56.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Box Hill, comprising 31.3%. Buddhism is overrepresented, making up 8.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (32.7%), English (16.4%), and Australian (13.0%). Korean (1.2%) and Vietnamese (1.6%) are notably overrepresented in Box Hill, while Sri Lankan is slightly underrepresented at 0.6%.

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

At 34 years, Box Hill's median age is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and considerably younger than Australia's 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Box Hill has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (22.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.0%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the percentage of Box Hill's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 21.4% to 22.3%, while the percentage of residents aged 45 to 54 has declined from 12.1% to 11.1%. By 2041, forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Box Hill. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 22%, adding 1,504 residents to reach a total of 8,259. In contrast, the 5 to 14 age group shows minimal growth of just 3% (73 people).