NSW 2765 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Box Hill

A median age of 31, fully 9 years below the national figure, marks Box Hill as one of the younger detached-housing fronts in Sydney's north-west growth corridor. Household income reaches the 96.6th percentile nationally, yet 69.8% of residents carry a mortgage and just 10.1% own outright, the signature of a recently settled, family-buying population. The stock is 99.1% separate houses and 87.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, far above most established suburbs. The population has grown 31.5% over the decade, and 45.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 23.9 points above the national share.

Box Hill urban fabric map

Population

6,450

Median Age

31.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,881/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

686

Median House

$990K

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

9.06 km²· 712.1 people/km²· Family income $2,896/wk

Box Hill suits the family buyer rather than the downsizer. The median house price is $990,000, and prices rose 18.9% across a single year, from $900,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025, faster than most Sydney markets because new estate releases keep drawing demand. The stock is overwhelmingly large: 87.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and only 1.2% are two-bedroom, so smaller or apartment options are scarce, with apartments at just 0.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes sit in the 96.6th percentile. Outright owners are only 10.1% against 69.8% with a mortgage, confirming this is a market of recent purchasers rather than long-held homes.

For Buyers

Box Hill suits the family buyer rather than the downsizer. The median house price is $990,000, and prices rose 18.9% across a single year, from $900,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025, faster than most Sydney markets because new estate releases keep drawing demand. The stock is overwhelmingly large: 87.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and only 1.2% are two-bedroom, so smaller or apartment options are scarce, with apartments at just 0.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.0%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price, because household incomes sit in the 96.6th percentile. Outright owners are only 10.1% against 69.8% with a mortgage, confirming this is a market of recent purchasers rather than long-held homes.

For Investors

Box Hill leans toward owner-occupiers, with only 20.1% of residents renting against a 69.8% mortgage share, so the tenant pool is shallow compared with inner-city suburbs. Weekly rent of $580 against the $990,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.0%, modest but stronger than premium harbourside markets. The vacancy rate of 3.3% sits close to balanced rather than tight. Demand support is genuine: net overseas migration adds about 1,242 residents a year to the wider area while internal migration removes 252, and rent grew 26.1% over the measured period. Development activity is very high at 649 applications in 12 months, mostly new dwelling houses, so investors should weigh continued new supply against rent growth, because fresh estate releases can cap rental escalation.

Development Activity

Total DAs

4,468

Last 12 Months

686

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-20.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
757
Commercial / Industrial
460
Swimming Pool / Spa
76
Subdivision
75
Change of Use
33
Renovation / Extension
29
Demolition
24
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
21

Schools in Box Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Box Hill Public School

ICSEA 1123 Primary Government

K-6 · 271 students

Demographics

The median age of 31 runs 9.0 years below the national figure, and the trajectory is described as declining young, with the young-adult share down 2.6 points while the working-age share rose 4.1 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 45.5%, which is 23.9 points above national, and the ancestry mix leads with English (1,153), Indian (896) and Filipino (544). The top non-English languages are Punjabi (160), Urdu (116) and Hindi (110), and Hinduism (958 residents) is the second religion behind Christianity (2,982). University qualifications reach 55.0%, fully 24.9 points above the national figure, and the average household size of 3.3 is 0.8 above national, consistent with the couples-with-children profile that makes up 3,864 of 6,052 families.

Age Distribution

0-14
28.6%
15-24
8.7%
25-44
43.7%
45-64
14.1%
65+
4.9%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.4%
2 bed
1.2%
3 bed
10.8%
4+ bed
87.6%

Dwelling Structure

99.1%

Houses

0.8%

Townhouse

0.2%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 10.1% Mortgage 69.8% Rent 20.1%

Tenure is heavily skewed to recent buyers: 69.8% carry a mortgage, 20.1% rent and only 10.1% own outright, the inverse of established inner suburbs where outright ownership dominates. The stock is 99.1% separate houses, with apartments at 0.2% and semi-detached at 0.8%, and 87.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms. The median house price climbed from $900,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025, an 18.9% one-year move that outpaces most of Sydney because greenfield estates keep adding premium detached product. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.0% and rent-to-income at 20.1%, both below the 30% stress threshold, which holds even at a $990,000 median because household income reaches the 96.6th percentile nationally.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$3,000

Rent / wk

$580

HH Size

3.3

Personal Income / wk

$1,271

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

3.3%

Unoccupied

66

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.0%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Punjabi
160
Urdu
116
Hindi
110
Nepali
90
Guj
78
Mandarin
65

Ancestry

Other
1,736
English
1,153
Indian
896
Filipino
544
Chinese
352
Irish
332

Household Composition

16.8%

Couples, no children

6,052

Total families

Economy & Employment

The workforce concentrates in Healthcare at 18.2% (496 workers), followed by Construction at 11.4% (311) and Professional/Tech at 11.0% (301), with Education at 9.6% and Finance at 8.4%. The construction share is well above what most suburbs record, a direct reflection of the surrounding building boom. By occupation, Professionals (1,093) and Managers (545) lead, which aligns with the decile 9 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 73.6%, with participation at 70.6%. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, IER and IRSD, the top advantage tier on three of four SEIFA indexes, and real incomes grew 11.1% over the decade, well above stagnant.

Unemployment

5.6%

Labour Force

16,063

Unemployed

903

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
10
Disadvantage
10
Economic resources
10
Education & occupation
9

Full-time

73.6%

Part-time

22.4%

Participation

70.6%

Employed

3,117

Occupations

Professionals 1,093
Managers 545
Clerical/Admin 526
Community/Personal 310
Sales 221
Machinery/Drivers 179
Labourers 152

Top Industries

Healthcare 18.2%
Construction 11.4%
Professional/Tech 11.0%
Education 9.6%
Finance 8.4%

University

55.0%

Postgraduate

17.1%

Born Overseas

45.5%

Dwellings

1,942

Transport to Work

Box Hill is car-dependent by design: 90.3% drive to work, only 4.1% use public transport and 0.7% walk or cycle, well below national active-transport rates, a function of its greenfield layout. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning very few residents face deprivation, with only 2.1% (129 people) needing daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the 9.06 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring estates, a common trade-off in newly developed corridors. Volunteering runs at 8.4%, and the low density of 712 residents per km2 reflects the large detached lots that define the area.

Drive

90.3%

Public Transport

4.1%

Walk / Cycle

0.7%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+2.06%/yr

(+560 people/yr)

Established

Box Hill is a fast-growth front: annual population growth runs 2.06%, well above the rate of established suburbs, adding roughly 560 residents a year and expanding the area 31.5% over the decade. The gentrification stage reads active with a score of 41, driven by population up 49% since 2011 and an accelerating pace, from 14% to 31% growth across recent periods. Overseas migration is the primary driver at about 1,242 net arrivals a year, higher than the net internal outflow of 252. Affordability improved from 62.1% in 2011 to 57.3% in 2021 because incomes rose alongside prices. Medium forecasts continue the upward trend through 2031, so demand for new detached housing should stay firm.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+1,242

Net Internal / yr

-252

41

Gentrification Signal

Active

Population +49% since 2011, Net internal outflow -252/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1242/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 31%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Box Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 9%
Household Income
Top 3%
Rent Level
Top 3%
Apartments
Bottom 1%
Renters
Bottom 50%
Uni Educated
Top 6%
Public Transport
Top 42%
Born Overseas
Top 4%
Density
Top 18%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Box Hill a good suburb to live in?

Box Hill scores decile 10 on IRSAD, IER and IRSD, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 96.6th percentile. University qualifications reach 55.0%, which is 24.9 points above national. It suits families wanting large new homes, with 87.6% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, though it is highly car-dependent at 90.3% driving.

What is the median house price in Box Hill?

The median house price is $990,000. Prices rose 18.9% in a single year, from $900,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $580 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $3,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.0%, below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Box Hill?

No schools are recorded inside the 9.06 km2 Box Hill boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring estates. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 55.0%, which is 24.9 points above the national figure.

Is Box Hill safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Box Hill in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 2.1% of its 6,450 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.

Is Box Hill good for property investment?

Rent of $580 a week against a $990,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.0%, stronger than premium Sydney suburbs. The vacancy rate is 3.3% and rent grew 26.1% over the measured period. With 649 development applications in 12 months, new supply may cap rental escalation, so returns lean on growth.

How is Box Hill's population changing?

Population growth runs 2.06% annually, adding about 560 residents a year, and the area has expanded 31.5% over the decade. The gentrification stage is active at a score of 41, with population up 49% since 2011. Overseas migration of about 1,242 a year is the primary driver.

What languages are spoken in Box Hill?

About 45.5% of residents were born overseas, 23.9 points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Punjabi (160 speakers), Urdu (116), Hindi (110) and Nepali (90) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a strong South Asian resident mix.

How much development is happening in Box Hill?

There were 649 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, very high and reflecting an active greenfield growth corridor. Most are new dwelling houses rather than alterations, consistent with population growth of 2.06% a year and a 31.5% rise over the decade.

How to read these comparisons

Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.

Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.

Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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