Hillarys
Wealth and space define Hillarys more than rapid change: household income sits in the 91.9 percentile, 89.6% of dwellings are separate houses, and 45.4% are owned outright. Compared with nearby Sorrento and Kallaroo, it reads as a mature coastal family market rather than a turnover suburb because larger homes and long ownership keep supply tight. The median age is 44, 4.0 years above the national figure, while 42.5% university attainment is 12.4 percentage points above the national rate.
Population
11,200
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,465/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$614K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Hillarys suits buyers seeking established detached housing, with 89.6% separate houses and 68.2% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms. Housing costs sit below stress settings for many households because mortgages absorb 22.5% of income and rent is 19.9%, both supported by household income in the 91.9 percentile. The monthly mortgage figure is $2400, while 45.4% owned outright and 41.0% mortgaged indicate a stable owner base. Apartments are only 2.1%, lower than inner urban averages, so downsizer choice is limited.
For Buyers
Hillarys suits buyers seeking established detached housing, with 89.6% separate houses and 68.2% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms. Housing costs sit below stress settings for many households because mortgages absorb 22.5% of income and rent is 19.9%, both supported by household income in the 91.9 percentile. The monthly mortgage figure is $2400, while 45.4% owned outright and 41.0% mortgaged indicate a stable owner base. Apartments are only 2.1%, lower than inner urban averages, so downsizer choice is limited.
For Investors
Hillarys is more owner occupied than rental led: only 13.6% of homes are rented, with weekly rent at $490 and vacancy at 5.8%. That vacancy rate is higher than a tight market, so investors need to price carefully because tenant depth is thinner than in larger apartment or university precincts. Development activity is light, with 3 recent applications, which limits new competition but also caps rapid stock growth. Rent growth of 16.7% in the shift indicators suggests demand has improved from a low base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hillarys iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mark's Anglican Community School
PP-12 · 1856 students
Hillarys Primary School
K-6 · 522 students
Demographics
Hillarys skews older, educated and internationally connected. The median age is 44, 4.0 years above the national benchmark, and 42.5% of residents hold a university qualification, 12.4 percentage points higher than nationally. Overseas born residents make up 35.4%, which is 13.8 points above the national rate, while average household size is 2.8, 0.3 higher than national. English ancestry leads at 4945 people, followed by Irish at 1262 and Scottish at 1203, reflecting an established coastal household profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.6%
Houses
8.2%
Townhouse
2.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Hillarys is detached and owner heavy, with 89.6% separate houses, 8.2% semi detached homes and just 2.1% apartments. The ownership mix is stronger than many metropolitan suburbs because 45.4% own outright and 41.0% are paying a mortgage, leaving renters at 13.6%. Larger homes dominate: 68.2% have 4 or more bedrooms and 28.0% have 3 bedrooms. A current median house price is not available, so affordability is better read through the $2400 monthly mortgage and 22.5% mortgage to income ratio.
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wk
$490
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$983
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
241
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.1%
Couples, no children
9,771
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hillarys has a high skill, high income workforce compared with average suburban WA patterns. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.5% and 686 workers, followed by Education at 13.8%, Professional/Tech at 11.8%, Construction at 10.3% and Mining at 7.8%. Professionals number 1673 and Managers 1090, which helps explain household income in the 91.9 percentile. Unemployment is 4.4% with 63.6% participation. SEIFA is strong: IRSAD decile 9, IRSD decile 10, IER decile 10 and IEO decile 8.
Unemployment
1.5%
Labour Force
7,117
Unemployed
105
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.4%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
63.6%
Employed
5,590
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.5%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
35.4%
Dwellings
3,934
Transport to Work
Daily life in Hillarys is car oriented because 88.4% drive to work, compared with only 4.8% using public transport and 1.7% walking or cycling. School choice is compact but strong: 2 local schools span ICSEA 1088 to 1112, led by St Mark's Anglican Community School with 1856 enrolments and Hillarys Primary School with 522. Socioeconomic conditions rank high, with IRSAD in decile 9 and IRSD in decile 10, supporting local amenity. Crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked against current WA Police figures.
Drive
88.4%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.54%/yr
(+66 people/yr)
EstablishedHillarys is on a slow growth path rather than a redevelopment surge. The trend forecast adds 66 people a year, equal to 0.54% annual growth, with the medium scenario rising from 12032 in 2026 to 12362 in 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging 182 net overseas arrivals a year, while internal migration averages -72, suggesting some locals move out as housing needs or budgets change. The suburb is classified as Not gentrifying with a gentrification score of 0, and the aging trajectory is reinforced by a 9.6 point rise in senior share.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+182
Net Internal / yr
-72
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hillarys compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hillarys a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Hillarys suits households wanting a mature coastal suburb with large homes and high incomes. About 89.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 68.2% have 4 or more bedrooms, and household income sits in the 91.9 percentile, above most suburbs.
What is the median house price in Hillarys?
A current median house price is not available in this set. The housing picture is still clear: mortgages average $2400 a month, rent is $490 a week, 45.4% of homes are owned outright, and 89.6% are separate houses.
What schools are in Hillarys?
Hillarys has 2 listed local schools. St Mark's Anglican Community School is an Independent combined school with ICSEA 1112 and 1856 enrolments, while Hillarys Primary School is a Government primary with ICSEA 1088 and 522 enrolments.
Is Hillarys safe?
A current crime rate per 1000 residents is not available here, so safety should be checked against current WA Police releases. Indirect indicators are strong: IRSD is decile 10 and IRSAD is decile 9, both higher than average socioeconomic rankings.
Is Hillarys good for property investment?
Hillarys is better suited to selective, long term investors than high turnover rental plays. Only 13.6% of homes are rented, rent is $490 a week and vacancy is 5.8%, which is higher than a very tight market. Limited development, with 3 applications, helps protect supply.
How is Hillarys's population changing?
Hillarys is growing slowly. The trend forecast adds 66 people a year, or 0.54% annually, with the medium scenario moving from 12032 people in 2026 to 12362 in 2031. Overseas migration adds 182 a year on average, offset by -72 internal migration.
What languages are spoken in Hillarys?
English is dominant, but the suburb has a meaningful overseas born share at 35.4%, above the national rate by 13.8 percentage points. Listed non English languages include Italian with 55 speakers, Afrikaans with 41, Mandarin with 41, Canton with 27 and German with 27.
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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