Hillston
A median house price of $301,250 in a town of 1,547 people spread across 3,985 square kilometres tells most of the story: Hillston is one of western NSW's most affordable and sparsely populated centres, where land is vast and housing costs run well below state and national medians. Agriculture drives 34.8% of employment, making this one of the most farming-dependent labour markets in NSW. Despite the low price point, the vacancy rate sits at 11.6%, higher than typical regional towns, because population density at 0.4 people per square kilometre is among the lowest in the state. Weekly rent of $220 and a rent-to-income ratio of 14.8% mean housing stress is not a factor for most residents.
Population
1,547
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,486/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$301K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $301,250, the median house price sits far below the NSW state median, making Hillston one of the most accessible entry points into home ownership in the state. Monthly mortgage repayments average $901, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 14.0% is well below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers unusual financial headroom. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 92.0%, with apartments at just 4.4%, so buyers are overwhelmingly choosing between standalone properties. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.4% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms make up 33.0%, giving families more space than the price suggests. Outright owners at 37.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.2%, reflecting a mature, settled ownership base rather than high debt levels.
For Buyers
At $301,250, the median house price sits far below the NSW state median, making Hillston one of the most accessible entry points into home ownership in the state. Monthly mortgage repayments average $901, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 14.0% is well below the 30% stress threshold, giving buyers unusual financial headroom. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 92.0%, with apartments at just 4.4%, so buyers are overwhelmingly choosing between standalone properties. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.4% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms make up 33.0%, giving families more space than the price suggests. Outright owners at 37.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 23.2%, reflecting a mature, settled ownership base rather than high debt levels.
For Investors
A 39.1% renter share is above average for a town of this size, providing a consistent tenant pool. Weekly rent of $220 against a $301,250 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, which compares favourably to metro markets. The 11.6% vacancy rate is the key risk: it exceeds comfortable thresholds and signals more rental supply than current demand can absorb, likely due to the small and relatively stable population of 1,547. Development activity is modest at 13 applications in the past 12 months, mostly manufactured homes and structures. Price data shows a decline from $320,000 in 2024 to $262,500 in 2025, an 18.0% fall, so capital growth expectations should be conservative. Investors seeking yield over growth will find the numbers workable if vacancy is managed carefully.
Development Activity
Total DAs
88
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-23.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hillston iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Parish School
K-6 · 23 students
Hillston Central School
K-12 · 212 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, making Hillston younger than most comparable regional towns. Overseas-born residents account for 21.4% of the population, which is roughly in line with the national average and consistent with seasonal and permanent agricultural labour demand. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (511), Irish (136) and Scottish (128), with Punjabi the only non-English language group of note (24 speakers), reflecting some South Asian agricultural worker presence. University qualifications at 21.9% run 8.2 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with an economy dominated by trades and farming. Average household size of 2.4 is slightly below national, and 31.5% of families are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is dominated by detached houses at 92.0%, with apartments making up just 4.4%, typical of rural NSW towns where land is not a constraint. Tenure is split between 37.7% outright owners, 23.2% on mortgages and 39.1% renters, with the renter share higher than the national average, partly reflecting seasonal worker and transient employment patterns. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 45.4%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 33.0%. The median price fell from $320,000 in 2024 to $262,500 in 2025, an 18.0% decline over one year, though the limited transaction volumes in a market this size mean individual sales can move percentages significantly. The overall price level remains well below the NSW median, making mortgages manageable at an average $901 per month.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$901
Rent / wk
$220
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$852
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.6%
Unoccupied
69
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.5%
Couples, no children
958
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture is the structural foundation of Hillston's economy, employing 34.8% of the local workforce (146 people), far above the national share for farming. Healthcare (12.4%) and Education (10.2%) are the next largest sectors, reflecting the service needs of a regional centre. By occupation, Labourers (182) and Managers (174) are roughly equal at the top, with Machinery and Drivers (124) reflecting the farming and logistics base. The unemployment rate of 2.6% is low, and the full-time employment rate reaches 74.3%, both stronger than many regional centres. Household income sits at the 46.4th percentile nationally, near the median, which is respectable given the agricultural wage structure. Participation rate of 60.2% leaves 292 residents not in the labour force, typical for a town with an older farming cohort approaching retirement.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
74.3%
Part-time
23.1%
Participation
60.2%
Employed
738
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.9%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
21.4%
Dwellings
522
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 75.5% of residents commuting by car and only 3.4% using public transport, typical for a remote regional centre where transit infrastructure is limited. Walking and cycling account for 10.2% of trips, reasonable for a compact town centre. No schools appear in the dataset for this suburb boundary, so families depend on facilities within the broader Hillston area. At 5.0%, the share of residents needing daily assistance is modest. Rent-to-income at 14.8% and mortgage-to-income at 14.0% are both well below stress thresholds, giving residents more financial flexibility than many urban centres. The trade-off relative to larger towns is distance to specialist services and limited public transport, both consequences of the town's remote location.
Drive
75.5%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
10.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hillston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hillston a good suburb to live in?
Hillston suits those who value affordability and a farming lifestyle over urban amenity. The median house price of $301,250 is well below the NSW median, and rent-to-income at 14.8% means housing costs are manageable. The town is remote, public transport covers only 3.4% of trips, and specialist services require travel, but the unemployment rate is low at 2.6%.
What is the median house price in Hillston?
The median house price in Hillston is $301,250, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices fell 18.0% from $320,000 in 2024 to $262,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $901, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 14.0%, well below the 30% stress benchmark.
What schools are in Hillston?
No schools are recorded within the Hillston suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area rely on schools serving the broader Hillston locality. University qualifications at 21.9% of residents run 8.2 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the town's agricultural and trades employment base.
Is Hillston safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Hillston in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 14.8% and mortgage-to-income at 14.0%, and the unemployment rate sits at 2.6%, below the national average. These factors are generally associated with lower crime risk in regional towns.
Is Hillston good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $220 against a $301,250 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, higher than most metro markets. However, the 11.6% vacancy rate is elevated and prices fell 18.0% from 2024 to 2025. The renter share of 39.1% provides a tenant base, but the small population of 1,547 limits demand volume, so investors should factor in vacancy and low liquidity.
How is Hillston's population changing?
Hillston's population of 1,547 is characteristic of a stable, slow-moving rural centre. The residential stay rate of 75.6% indicates limited churn. With 13 development applications in the past 12 months and an employment base tied to agriculture at 34.8% of jobs, significant population growth is unlikely without broader agricultural expansion in the region.
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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