Hillcrest
With 41.4% of households renting and household incomes at just the 21.3rd percentile nationally, Hillcrest is one of the more affordable residential pockets in north-west Tasmania. The suburb sits on 0.7 square kilometres with a density of 1,546 residents per km2, making it compact and walkable by regional standards. Three-bedroom separate houses dominate at 65.6% of all dwellings, while weekly rent averages $230, well below state and national medians. The SEIFA IEO score of 939 places the suburb at decile 3 for education and occupational advantage, reflecting a workforce concentrated in healthcare, retail and trades rather than professional services.
Population
1,088
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,142/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No median house price data is currently recorded for Hillcrest, which is common for lower-turnover suburbs where sales volumes are thin. The structural picture is clear: 87.6% of dwellings are separate houses, nearly all with 3 bedrooms (65.6%), and the average monthly mortgage repayment sits at $953, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 26.4% of residents owning outright and 32.2% carrying a mortgage, ownership is broadly spread. The IRSD decile 4 ranking is lower than the national median, meaning buyers are entering a below-average socioeconomic area compared to most Australian suburbs, which historically correlates with accessible entry prices.
For Buyers
No median house price data is currently recorded for Hillcrest, which is common for lower-turnover suburbs where sales volumes are thin. The structural picture is clear: 87.6% of dwellings are separate houses, nearly all with 3 bedrooms (65.6%), and the average monthly mortgage repayment sits at $953, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 26.4% of residents owning outright and 32.2% carrying a mortgage, ownership is broadly spread. The IRSD decile 4 ranking is lower than the national median, meaning buyers are entering a below-average socioeconomic area compared to most Australian suburbs, which historically correlates with accessible entry prices.
For Investors
A 41.4% renter share is above the national average and points to sustained rental demand in Hillcrest. Weekly rent of $230 is affordable relative to regional Tasmania, keeping vacancy risk lower than in higher-priced markets, though the current vacancy rate of 7.2% is elevated and warrants monitoring. Rent-to-income at 20.1% shows tenants are not under stress, which supports tenancy stability. Net internal migration averages 123 residents per year and net overseas migration 80, with population projected to reach 10,461 by 2030 at 1.34% annual growth. The gentrification score of 39 signals early signs of change, with population up 25% since 2011 and the internal migration rate accelerating from 5% to 19%.
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, giving Hillcrest a younger age profile than most Australian suburbs. Overseas-born residents account for 10.5% of the population, which is 11.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic heritage: English (455 residents), Scottish (103) and Irish (90) are the top ancestries. University qualifications reach only 16.3%, which is 13.8 points below national, consistent with the trades-and-services employment base. The average household size of 2.2 is slightly below the national figure, and 25.0% of families are couples without children, while 47.4% are couples with children, pointing to a family-oriented community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.6%
Houses
6.9%
Townhouse
5.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Hillcrest's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: 87.6% separate houses, 6.9% semi-detached and only 5.4% apartments, a composition more typical of regional towns than urban suburbs. The 3-bedroom category dominates at 65.6%, followed by 2-bedroom at 20.1% and 4-plus at 8.8%. Tenure splits into 26.4% owned outright, 32.2% mortgaged and 41.4% renting, a higher renter proportion than the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments average $953 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3% is comfortably below the stress threshold. The vacancy rate of 7.2% is above typical investment benchmarks of 3%, suggesting some softness in the rental market that buyers and landlords should factor in.
Mortgage / mo
$953
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$588
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.2%
Unoccupied
36
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.0%
Couples, no children
791
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.4% of workers (57 people), followed by Retail at 11.8% and Mining at 7.5%, the last reflecting proximity to north-west Tasmania's resource sector. By occupation, Labourers lead with 75 workers, ahead of Community and Personal Services (69) and Sales (66), indicating a predominantly blue-collar workforce. The unemployment rate is 9.8%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 55.2% is low, partly because 333 residents are not in the labour force. The SEIFA IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 4 both sit below the national median, while the IER decile 6 is closer to average, suggesting modest physical economic resources. Real income growth of negative 1.8% over the decade points to stagnating wages in real terms.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
5,557
Unemployed
171
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.5%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
55.2%
Employed
435
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.3%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
10.5%
Dwellings
461
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 84.8% of residents driving to work, compared to 3.2% using public transport, which is typical for regional Tasmanian suburbs with limited bus frequency. Walking and cycling account for 2.7% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions outside Hillcrest. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The volunteering rate of 13.5% is a sign of community participation, and housing stress indicators are low, with rent-to-income at 20.1% and mortgage-to-income at 19.3%, both below the 30% stress threshold. At 9.5%, the share of residents needing daily assistance is above the average, consistent with an aging and lower-income profile at IRSAD decile 4.
Drive
84.8%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.34%/yr
(+135 people/yr)
EstablishedHillcrest's population grew 14.0% over the past decade, above the trend for many small Tasmanian suburbs, and current projections show annual growth of 1.34%, adding roughly 135 residents per year. Medium forecasts place the population at 10,461 by 2030 and 10,596 by 2031, up from 10,043 in 2025. Net internal migration of 123 people per year and overseas migration of 80 provide balanced demand. The gentrification score of 39 sits in the early signs stage, with population up 25% since 2011 and an accelerating internal migration rate. The population trajectory is classified as aging, with the senior share rising 5.0 points and the young-adult share declining 1.5 points, shifting demand toward lower-maintenance housing over time.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
+123
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +25% since 2011, Net internal migration +123/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 19%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hillcrest compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hillcrest a good suburb to live in?
Hillcrest suits buyers and renters seeking affordable, low-stress housing costs. Rent-to-income is 20.1% and mortgage-to-income 19.3%, both well below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 4, below the national median, and the unemployment rate of 9.8% is above average, so it suits those already employed locally or working remotely.
What is the median house price in Hillcrest?
Median house price data is not currently available for Hillcrest, reflecting low transaction volumes in the suburb. The best proxies are monthly mortgage repayments averaging $953 and weekly rent of $230, both low by national standards. Household incomes sit at the 21.3rd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Hillcrest?
No schools are recorded within the Hillcrest suburb boundary. Families use schools in surrounding north-west Tasmania suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 16.3%, which is 13.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the blue-collar employment base rather than school proximity.
Is Hillcrest safe?
Specific crime rate data is not available for Hillcrest. The suburb scores IRSD decile 4, below the national median for relative disadvantage. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 20.1% and mortgage-to-income at 19.3%, which can reduce financial pressures linked to property crime.
Is Hillcrest good for property investment?
The 41.4% renter share is above the national average, supporting rental demand. Weekly rent averages $230 and population is projected to grow 1.34% annually to 10,461 by 2030. The vacancy rate of 7.2% is elevated compared to the 3% benchmark, so investors should assess current stock levels before committing.
How is Hillcrest's population changing?
Population grew 14.0% over the past decade and sits at 1,088 in the 0.7 km2 suburb. Annual growth projects at 1.34%, adding about 135 residents per year. The gentrification score of 39 signals early change, with net internal migration of 123 per year and population up 25% since 2011.
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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