Box Hill South
With 41.4% of residents born overseas and 58.6% holding university qualifications, Box Hill South has a more internationally connected and highly educated profile than the national average. Its 8,491 residents occupy just 3.49 square kilometres, creating a density of 2,432.7 people per square kilometre. Household income sits at the 72.1 percentile, while the median age of 39 is 1 year below the national comparison. Compared with nearby Box Hill, the suburb has a quieter, more detached-home orientation, while Burwood provides a useful family-housing comparison.
Population
8,491
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,928/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
35
Median House
$1.6M
October to December 2025
The housing mix supports established households, with 66.0% separate houses, 22.6% semi-detached dwellings and 32.6% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms. A typical mortgage is listed at $2,400 per month, equal to 28.7% of household income, while weekly rent is $425 or 22.0% of income. Compared with apartment-led locations, the suburb gives buyers more access to family-sized homes, but the median price makes deposit capacity the central hurdle. Nearby Box Hill may provide more intensive housing choices, whereas Box Hill South suits buyers prioritising space and a settled streetscape.
For Buyers
The housing mix supports established households, with 66.0% separate houses, 22.6% semi-detached dwellings and 32.6% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms. A typical mortgage is listed at $2,400 per month, equal to 28.7% of household income, while weekly rent is $425 or 22.0% of income. Compared with apartment-led locations, the suburb gives buyers more access to family-sized homes, but the median price makes deposit capacity the central hurdle. Nearby Box Hill may provide more intensive housing choices, whereas Box Hill South suits buyers prioritising space and a settled streetscape.
For Investors
The investment case combines a $425 weekly median rent with a 27.6% renter share, although the 9.3% vacancy rate is an important holding-cost and leasing risk. Renter households remain lower than the combined outright and mortgaged ownership share of 68.6%, so tenant demand is balanced by a substantial owner-occupier base. Rent growth of 26.1% supports recent income momentum, while 31 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing change that could increase competition for tenants or add local amenity. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, and the gentrification score of 41 is classified as Active. Compared with a lower-turnover ownership market, the mix can suit investors who accept vacancy variability for premium location exposure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
43
Last 12 Months
35
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+400.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Box Hill South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Roberts McCubbin Primary School
Demographics
A median age of 39 is 1 year below the national comparison, but the age profile is not especially young: the trajectory is labelled Declining young and the young share has fallen 2.6 percentage points. Overseas-born residents account for 41.4%, which is 19.8 percentage points above the national comparison, while university attainment reaches 58.6%, or 28.5 points above national levels. Chinese ancestry is reported for 2,223 people and English ancestry for 2,214; Mandarin is spoken by 653 residents and Cantonese by 197. The average household contains 2.6 people, slightly above the national comparison, and 76.4% stayed at the same address over the relevant period. These patterns support demand for family housing, education and culturally connected services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.0%
Houses
22.6%
Townhouse
11.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is weighted toward ownership, with 32.5% owned outright and 36.1% mortgaged, compared with 27.6% rented. The dwelling stock is more family-oriented than apartment-heavy: 42.6% have 3 bedrooms and 32.6% have 4 or more, versus 11.1% apartments. Compared with nearby Box Hill's denser profile, Box Hill South is more strongly associated with separate homes and long-term ownership.
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$425
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$788
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.3%
Unoccupied
321
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.5%
Couples with children
31.4%
Couples, no children
15.0%
Single parent
2,225
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.0% or 563 workers, followed by Education at 14.0% or 463, Professional and Technical services at 13.2% or 436, Retail at 7.7% or 254, and Construction at 6.8% or 226. Professionals number 1,459 and managers 705, helping explain the suburb's high education and occupation score of decile 9. Labour-force participation is 65.1%, unemployment is 5.7%, and the full-time rate is 57.2%. Household income is at the 72.1 percentile. The contrast between IEO decile 9, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 7 suggests strong skills and professional employment alongside uneven access to economic resources. That gap is important because premium housing costs can sit above the financial capacity of some households.
Unemployment
5.7%
Labour Force
4,589
Unemployed
263
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.2%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
65.1%
Employed
4,326
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.6%
Postgraduate
20.2%
Born Overseas
41.4%
Dwellings
3,133
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented: 48.0% drive as car passengers or drivers, compared with 3.9% using public transport and 2.3% walking or cycling, while 42.0% work from home. That pattern suits households seeking space but makes proximity to frequent transport more important than in higher-transit suburbs. One local government primary school, Roberts McCubbin Primary School, is listed; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address and investigate nearby options across the wider area. Recorded crime totals 456 incidents, including 376 property and deception offences, for a rate of 53.7 per 1,000 residents. The IRSAD score is decile 7, above the midpoint, indicating generally favourable social and economic conditions despite the crime profile. Compared with more apartment-focused areas, the lower public-transport share reinforces the value of a car or flexible work arrangements.
Drive
48.0%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
42.0%
Population Forecast
+2.06%/yr
(+560 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth across the wider area is forecast at 2.06% annually, below Box Hill South's long-run house-price CAGR of 3.8%, indicating that population momentum may be steadier than past price escalation. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is labelled Declining young, with the young share down 2.6 percentage points and the working share up 4.1 points. Population change across the wider area runs at 31.5% over 10 years. Gentrification is classified as Active with a score of 41, following an earlier Early signs score of 38. These signals point to continued upgrading and demand, because migration and professional employment can support services and housing turnover, while the declining young profile may gradually increase demand for established family and downsizer stock.
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
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +49% since 2011, Net internal outflow -252/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1242/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 31%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
456
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
53.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Box Hill South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Box Hill South a good suburb to live in?
Box Hill South can suit households seeking premium family housing, professional employment and a quieter setting near Box Hill. It has 8,491 residents, a 39 median age and an IRSAD decile of 7, but public transport use is only 3.9%, so car access remains important.
What schools are in Box Hill South?
There is 1 listed local school: Roberts McCubbin Primary School, a government primary school. School zones can cross practical boundaries, so families should confirm the enrolment area for the exact address and check nearby schools before committing to a property.
Is Box Hill South safe?
Recorded crime totalled 456 incidents, equal to 53.7 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 376 incidents, while crimes against the person accounted for 29. Review the exact street and recent local trends before making a decision.
Is Box Hill South good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking premium housing exposure, with a $425 weekly median rent and 26.1% rent growth. However, the 9.3% vacancy rate is a watchpoint, while 31 development applications in 12 months could change local supply and tenant competition.
How is Box Hill South's population changing?
The suburb has 8,491 residents today, while population change across the wider area is forecast at 31.5% over 10 years and annual growth at 2.06%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, although the young share has declined by 2.6 percentage points.
What languages are spoken in Box Hill South?
Mandarin is spoken by 653 residents and Cantonese by 197. The overseas-born share is 41.4%, which is 19.8 percentage points above the national comparison. Greek, Hindi and Gujarati are also recorded among the main non-English languages.
What development is occurring in Box Hill South?
There were 31 development applications in the past 12 months, primarily recorded as planning permits. The volume indicates ongoing change, but individual dwelling totals and project details should be confirmed with the relevant council before relying on a specific proposal.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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