Box Hill
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is approximately 27,174 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 4,333 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,841. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 26,708 in June 2024 and an additional 1,262 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,876 persons per square kilometer, placing Box Hill in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 19.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA4 region (8.3%) and the national average, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted 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 projected demographic shifts, Box Hill is forecast to experience significant population increase in the top quartile of national areas. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 10,068 persons, marking a total gain of 35.2% 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. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 2,005 homes were approved, with an additional 30 approved so far in FY-26. Over these past five financial years, the average new residents per year per dwelling constructed was 1.6. However, recent data shows this has increased to 15.5 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating the area's growing popularity and potential supply constraints.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $308,000, in line with broader regional development trends. This year, there have been $233.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. 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. 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 may be due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. The location has approximately 310 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth.

Looking ahead, Box Hill is expected to grow by 9,562 residents through to 2041. 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 impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include SKY SQR, Wembley Hill Townhomes, Box Hill City Oval Redevelopment, and Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre - Public Realm. The following list details projects of particular relevance.

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 5.2% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.0%. There were 14,743 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 0.6% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was lower at 60.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and accommodation & food.

The area has a notably high concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels 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 is 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the past year, ending June 2025, employment increased by 4.0% while labour force grew by 3.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.8 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.5%, labour force expanded by 4.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May 2025, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Box Hill's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 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 2022. Box Hill had a median income among taxpayers of $41,895 and an average level of $59,399. This was lower than the national average and compared to levels of $54,892 and $73,761 across Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Box Hill would be approximately $46,989 (median) and $66,622 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census showed household, family and personal incomes in Box Hill ranked modestly, between the 25th and 32nd percentiles. Income analysis revealed that 27.8% of the population (7,554 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 32.8% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Box Hill, with only 78.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 24th 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 structure, 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 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Box Hill stood at 25.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 49.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,088, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,300. The median weekly rent in Box Hill was $391, compared to Melbourne metro's $412. Nationally, Box Hill's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,088 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $391 compared to 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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 39.1%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households making up 8.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

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+ holding university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways account for 21.1% of qualifications among those aged 15+, 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, 7.0% in secondary, and 6.7% in primary education.

Box Hill has a robust network of six schools educating approximately 3,604 students, with an academic achievement score of 1126 (ICSEA). The educational mix includes two primary, three secondary, and one K-12 school.

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

Analysis of public transport in Box Hill shows 146 active transport stops operating within the area. These include train, light rail, and bus stops serviced by 36 individual routes. Collectively, these routes provide 18,184 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 153 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 2,597 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 124 weekly trips per individual stop.

Box Hill's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Box Hill's health outcomes show excellent results, notably for younger age groups with low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately half (50%) of Box Hill's total population (~13,451 people) have private health cover, compared to 56.0% in Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 6.5% and 5.4% of residents respectively.

Around three-quarters (77.5%) of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 73.9% in Greater Melbourne. Box Hill has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 14.7% (3,986 people), compared to 17.7% in Greater Melbourne. While health outcomes among seniors are strong, they require more attention than the broader 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, one of the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, has 55.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 56.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Box Hill, comprising 31.3% of its population. However, Buddhism is overrepresented in Box Hill compared to Greater Melbourne, with 8.1% versus 6.0%.

The top three ancestry groups in Box Hill are Chinese (32.7%), English (16.4%), and Australian (13.0%). Notably, Korean (1.2%) Vietnamese (1.6%) and Sri Lankan (0.6%) ethnicities are also overrepresented 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 younger 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 (22.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the proportion of Box Hill's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 21.4% to 22.5%, while the proportion of those aged 15 to 24 has risen from 16.4% to 17.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 12.1% to 11.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Box Hill, with the strongest projected growth in the 25 to 34 age group (35%), adding 2,142 residents and reaching a total of 8,259.