Hilton
At 2,514 residents per square kilometre across just 1.72 km2, Hilton is one of Perth's more compact inner suburbs, yet 86.7% of its 4,323 residents live in separate houses, a density-housing paradox that helps keep the median price at $431,000, below the national capital-city median. Household income sits at the 60th percentile nationally, framing Hilton as solidly middle-Australia rather than either end of the wealth spectrum. University qualifications reach 40.6% of residents, which is 10.5 percentage points above the national average, signalling a workforce that skews toward professional roles despite the affordable price point.
Population
4,323
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,714/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$431K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $431,000 median house price positions Hilton as an accessible entry point compared to most Perth inner-ring suburbs, and mortgage-to-income at 26.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, leaving buyers with practical headroom. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 86.7%, with semi-detached dwellings accounting for 12.0% and apartments a marginal 0.9%, so buyers are largely shopping a single product type rather than a mixed market. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.8%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 20.6% and two-bedroom at 22.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950 and rent is $300 per week, so the decision between buying and renting is mathematically close. Outright owners are 21.9%, mortgage holders 46.9%, and renters 31.2%, a tenure mix typical of an affordable mortgage-belt suburb where most residents are still actively paying off their first home.
For Buyers
The $431,000 median house price positions Hilton as an accessible entry point compared to most Perth inner-ring suburbs, and mortgage-to-income at 26.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, leaving buyers with practical headroom. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 86.7%, with semi-detached dwellings accounting for 12.0% and apartments a marginal 0.9%, so buyers are largely shopping a single product type rather than a mixed market. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.8%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 20.6% and two-bedroom at 22.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950 and rent is $300 per week, so the decision between buying and renting is mathematically close. Outright owners are 21.9%, mortgage holders 46.9%, and renters 31.2%, a tenure mix typical of an affordable mortgage-belt suburb where most residents are still actively paying off their first home.
For Investors
A 31.2% renter share gives landlords a consistent tenant base, and at $300 per week rent against a $431,000 median, the gross yield is near 3.6%, materially higher than most inner-Perth alternatives. Rent-to-income at 17.5% means tenants are not under financial stress, which supports low vacancy risk over time. The current vacancy rate of 8.0% is elevated and warrants attention before committing. Development applications in the last 12 months number just 4, including a subdivision application lodged in April 2026, suggesting the suburb is early in a densification cycle rather than at peak supply pressure. The 27.4% overseas-born share, which is 5.8 percentage points above national, adds a tenant cohort that typically has higher renter rates, providing ongoing rental demand.
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 Hilton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hilton Primary School
K-6 · 386 students
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
PP-6 · 190 students
Demographics
Hilton's median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, reflecting a relatively young adult population rather than a retiree-heavy profile. Overseas-born residents reach 27.4%, which is 5.8 percentage points above the national average, with English (1,750), Irish (578) and Scottish (532) ancestries dominating, indicating strong Anglo-Celtic heritage alongside a meaningful international presence. University qualifications stand at 40.6%, running 10.5 points above national, which is notable given the suburb's affordable house prices. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below national at 0.1 less. Among households, 45.5% are couples with children (1,386 of 3,045 families) and 24.0% are couples without children, painting a family-oriented picture. Volunteering participation is 18.4% and 6.6% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.7%
Houses
12.0%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is heavily skewed toward detached dwellings at 86.7%, with semi-detached at 12.0% and apartments at just 0.9%, making apartment or unit purchases rare. Tenure splits to 46.9% on mortgages, 31.2% renting and 21.9% owned outright, a distribution consistent with a suburb where most home-owners bought in the last 10-20 years rather than decades ago. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.8% of stock and four-plus bedrooms for 20.6%, indicating family-sized housing predominates. At $431,000 median with $1,950 monthly mortgage repayments, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% sits comfortably below the 30% stress line, unlike higher-priced Perth submarkets. Rent-to-income at 17.5% also remains well below stress levels for tenants paying $300 per week.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$842
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
144
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.0%
Couples, no children
3,045
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education and Healthcare are the two dominant employment sectors, accounting for 18.2% (277 workers) and 17.6% (267 workers) respectively, together employing more than a third of Hilton's workforce. Professional/Tech follows at 10.3% (157 workers), Construction at 8.2% (124) and Public Admin at 7.7% (117). By occupation, Professionals make up the largest group at 687 workers, ahead of Managers at 256 and Community/Personal at 242. Full-time employment runs at 57.7% and the unemployment rate is 5.2%, slightly above national, with a participation rate of 58.0%. Weekly personal income of $842 and weekly household income of $1,714 place the suburb at the 60th percentile nationally. This education-health concentration is consistent with proximity to Fremantle Hospital and the Murdoch university precinct.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
37.1%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
1,926
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.6%
Postgraduate
11.4%
Born Overseas
27.4%
Dwellings
1,645
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high at 82.4% of commuters, compared to 5.2% who walk or cycle and 6.6% who use public transport, reflecting Perth's broader infrastructure pattern where most suburbs rely on road networks. No schools are recorded inside Hilton's boundaries in the dataset, so families access schools in adjacent suburbs. Crime data is not available in the brief. At the 60th percentile for household income nationally, the suburb is broadly mid-tier in terms of material advantage. Mortgage stress at 26.3% of income and rent stress at 17.5% are both below stress thresholds, meaning residents carry manageable housing costs by national comparison. The volunteering rate of 18.4% is a reasonable proxy for community engagement, and only 6.6% (261 residents) need daily assistance.
Drive
82.4%
Public Transport
6.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hilton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hilton a good suburb to live in?
Hilton suits buyers and renters seeking affordability close to Fremantle. The median house price of $431,000 is accessible, mortgage-to-income sits at 26.3% (below the 30% stress threshold), and household income at the 60th percentile nationally indicates a stable middle-income community. University qualifications at 40.6% are 10.5 points above national, and 78.8% of residents stayed put in the previous year, indicating stability rather than high churn.
What is the median house price in Hilton?
The median house price is $431,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3%. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 86.7%, with 50.8% being 3-bedroom homes.
What schools are in Hilton?
No schools are recorded inside Hilton's 1.72 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. However, the suburb has a highly educated population with 40.6% holding university qualifications, which is 10.5 percentage points above the national average.
Is Hilton safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Hilton in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb's household income sits at the 60th percentile nationally and housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 26.3% and rent-to-income at 17.5%, both below stress thresholds. Only 6.6% of the 4,323 residents require daily assistance.
Is Hilton good for property investment?
At $300 per week rent against a $431,000 median, the gross yield is approximately 3.6%, which is reasonable compared to higher-priced Perth suburbs. The 31.2% renter share provides a broad tenant pool. The main watch point is the 8.0% vacancy rate, which is elevated and should be tracked. Just 4 development approvals in the past 12 months, including 1 subdivision, indicates limited new supply pressure in the near term.
How is Hilton's population changing?
Hilton's current population is 4,323, spread across just 1.72 km2 at a density of 2,514 per km2. Turnover is moderate at 21.2%, with 78.8% of residents staying year to year. The 27.4% overseas-born share, 5.8 points above national, suggests ongoing migration inflows support steady demand, though no formal population forecast data is available.
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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