Mcgraths Hill
With 92.2% of dwellings being separate houses and household income in the 82.9th percentile nationally, McGraths Hill sits firmly in the Hawkesbury's mortgage-belt owner-occupier tier. Population has grown 26.6% over the decade, driven by internal migration averaging 170 net arrivals per year, yet the suburb remains compact at 3.09 square kilometres with just 2,537 residents. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, and the dominant industry is Construction at 21%, which explains the family-focused, working-age character. Mortgage holders account for 50.5% of households, a proportion well above outright owners at 28.7%, signalling a suburb mid-cycle in its ownership maturity.
Population
2,537
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,177/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price stands at $1,055,000, with price data showing a rise from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,095,000 in 2025, a 9.5% move in one year. Separate houses dominate at 92.2% of dwellings, so stock is predictable: 52.5% have three bedrooms and 42.6% have four or more, giving buyers genuine family-sized options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,392, and mortgage-to-income sits at 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the suburb is more serviceable than many outer-Sydney markets at this price level. Mortgage holders outnumber outright owners by nearly 2 to 1, at 50.5% versus 28.7%, which is typical for a suburb still absorbing the growth it saw through the 2010s. Renters are a smaller cohort at 20.8%, keeping competition among owner-occupier buyers dominant.
For Buyers
The median house price stands at $1,055,000, with price data showing a rise from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,095,000 in 2025, a 9.5% move in one year. Separate houses dominate at 92.2% of dwellings, so stock is predictable: 52.5% have three bedrooms and 42.6% have four or more, giving buyers genuine family-sized options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,392, and mortgage-to-income sits at 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the suburb is more serviceable than many outer-Sydney markets at this price level. Mortgage holders outnumber outright owners by nearly 2 to 1, at 50.5% versus 28.7%, which is typical for a suburb still absorbing the growth it saw through the 2010s. Renters are a smaller cohort at 20.8%, keeping competition among owner-occupier buyers dominant.
For Investors
Renters make up 20.8% of the suburb, and the weekly rent is $450, producing a gross yield near 2.2% against the $1,055,000 median, which is low but consistent with mortgage-belt ownership markets. The vacancy rate of 3.4% is slightly elevated, suggesting the rental pool is not tight. Net internal migration of 170 residents per year is the primary demand driver, compared to just 43 from overseas arrivals, so population growth is domestically sourced. Development activity is modest at 7 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations to existing houses, which limits new supply pressure. Rent growth of 50.2% over the past decade signals strong rental demand in the broader region, and the medium population forecast projects growth to approximately 13,392 by 2031, supporting steady rather than speculative demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+40.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mcgraths Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Windsor High School
7-12 · 642 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, making this a younger-skewing suburb than most of NSW. Overseas-born residents account for just 12.1% of the population, which is 9.5 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the Anglo-Celtic heritage pattern typical of the Hawkesbury region. English ancestry leads at 1,009 residents, followed by Scottish (276) and Irish (270). University qualifications reach 21.3%, which is 8.8 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the trade and construction-heavy employment base. Average household size is 2.9, which is 0.4 above the national figure, and couples with children account for 1,032 of 2,218 total families. The aging trajectory is beginning: the senior share has increased 4.1 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.2 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.2%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
4.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses represent 92.2% of the dwelling stock, well above national norms for suburban areas, with apartments at just 4.2% and semi-detached at 3.5%. Bedroom distribution confirms the family orientation: 52.5% three-bedroom and 42.6% four-or-more-bedroom homes leave very little small-household stock. Prices moved from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,095,000 in 2025, a one-year CAGR of 9.5%. Tenure splits show 50.5% carrying a mortgage, 28.7% owning outright and 20.8% renting, a profile that mirrors a suburb roughly 15 to 20 years into its growth cycle. Mortgage-to-income at 25.4% is below the 30% stress threshold despite the seven-figure price point, because household incomes sit in the 82.9th percentile nationally at $2,177 per week.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,392
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$942
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.4%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.8%
Couples, no children
2,218
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the dominant industry at 21.0% of employed residents (182 workers), a share that is high compared to the national average and reflects both Hawkesbury's physical geography and ongoing regional development. Healthcare follows at 13.6% (118 workers) and Education at 11.7% (101 workers), giving the top three a practical, service-sector mix. By occupation, Clerical and Administrative workers lead at 217, with Managers and Professionals each at 176. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, below typical regional NSW benchmarks, and the full-time employment rate stands at 64.6%. SEIFA scores show a divergence: the suburb ranks decile 8 on IRSD and IRSAD, indicating relative advantage, but the IEO (education and occupation) score sits at decile 5, the national median, consistent with the trade-heavy, lower-university-rate workforce.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
6,981
Unemployed
375
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
32.4%
Participation
62.8%
Employed
1,180
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.3%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
12.1%
Dwellings
849
Transport to Work
Transport reliance on cars is high at 92.4% of workers commuting by vehicle, with public transport at just 1.2%, reflecting the suburb's position within the Hawkesbury car-dependent region. No schools are recorded within the McGraths Hill boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Windsor and Richmond. The IRSAD decile of 8 places the suburb in the upper-advantage tier nationally, and housing stress is limited: rent-to-income is 20.7% and mortgage-to-income is 25.4%, both below stress thresholds. Only 3.9% of residents (96 people) need daily assistance. The vacancy rate of 3.4% and turnover rate of 19.2% suggest moderate churn, typical for a working-age, family suburb still absorbing migration-driven growth.
Drive
92.4%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.45%/yr
(+183 people/yr)
EstablishedMcGraths Hill has grown 26.6% over the past decade, well above the rate for most established NSW suburbs, with internal migration providing 170 net arrivals per year compared to 43 from overseas. Annual population growth is projected at 1.45%, adding roughly 183 people per year, with the medium forecast reaching approximately 13,392 by 2031 across the broader SA2. The gentrification stage is rated Early Signs: population has risen 36% since 2011 and net internal migration is sustained, but the gentrification score of 33 out of 100 indicates the suburb is not yet experiencing the credential or price uplift of a more advanced stage. Rent has grown 50.2% over the decade and real income 15.1%, suggesting affordability pressure is building gradually. The affordability ratio worsened from 51.2% in 2011 to 54.3% in 2021, tracking the broader outer-Sydney trend.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+43
Net Internal / yr
+170
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +36% since 2011, Net internal migration +170/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mcgraths Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McGraths Hill a good suburb to live in?
McGraths Hill scores decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it in the upper-advantage tier nationally. Household income sits in the 82.9th percentile, housing stress ratios are below stress thresholds (mortgage-to-income 25.4%), and the suburb has a young median age of 34, six years below the national figure. The main trade-off is heavy car dependence, with public transport used by only 1.2% of commuters.
What is the median house price in McGraths Hill?
The median house price is $1,055,000. Prices rose 9.5% from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,095,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,392, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4% is below the 30% stress threshold, making the suburb more serviceable than many similarly priced outer-Sydney markets.
What schools are in McGraths Hill?
No schools are recorded inside the McGraths Hill boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs including Windsor and Richmond. Despite the lower local university qualification rate of 21.3%, the suburb has a strong family orientation with 1,032 couples-with-children households and a median age of 34.
Is McGraths Hill safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for McGraths Hill in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb ranks decile 8 on the IRSAD index of relative advantage nationally, and only 3.9% of residents (96 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable residential area.
Is McGraths Hill good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $450 against a $1,055,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.2%, which is low, and the vacancy rate of 3.4% is slightly elevated. However, net internal migration of 170 residents per year sustains demand, rent grew 50.2% over the past decade, and the medium population forecast adds roughly 800 residents by 2031, supporting steady long-term capital growth rather than immediate yield returns.
How is McGraths Hill's population changing?
The suburb's SA2 grew 26.6% over the past decade, driven by internal migration averaging 170 net arrivals per year. Annual growth is projected at 1.45%, adding approximately 183 people per year, with medium forecasts reaching around 13,392 by 2031. The age trajectory is gradually aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points over the decade, but the current median age of 34 remains 6 years below the national figure.
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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