Home › AUS › Rest of NSW › Lake Macquarie - East › Macquarie Hills
Rest of NSW / Lake Macquarie - East
$828
Median rent / wk
Period ending Mar 2026
+11.1%
Rent growth / yr
Period ending Mar 2026
3,614
People
17 Jul 2026
+0.2%
Growth since 2021
Census
6
For sale now
indexed listings
Data sourcesABSDFFH Rental ReportACARARefreshed July 2026
ABS QuickStats SAL12443How we calculate this
How figures are calculatedFigures are extracted from the sources listed here at the observation date shown, and displayed unchanged. Rank bars use the profile's score out of 10 where one exists. Missing values are shown as unavailable — never estimated or back-filled.
Suburb (SAL) analysis
This analysis uses Suburb (SAL) boundaries, which can differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when they share the same name. SAL 12443.
3,614
People
est. as @ 17 Jul 2026
2021 Census | 3,605 people
2.34 km²
Land area
1,544.4 /km²
Density
3.5%
Unemployment
0 /yr
Resi approvals
Located 109 kilometers north-northeast of the Sydney CBD, the suburb of Macquarie Hills encompasses Glendale, Cardiff, and Hillsborough. This New South Wales locality is highly regarded for its picturesque environment, warm community atmosphere, recreational facilities, parks, and waterways. The suburb of Macquarie Hills supports a range of local businesses, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, reputable educational institutions, and a strong sporting culture. The population of the suburb of Macquarie Hills is estimated at 3,614 as of May 2026. This population figure is based on aggregated SA2-level Estimated Resident Population (ERP) counts released annually and national address file updates from each quarter, showing minimal change since the 2021 Census when the population was recorded at 3,605 people. Local market factors in the suburb of Macquarie Hills are characterized by a severely limited supply of dwellings, predominantly composed of detached housing, alongside a high proportion of mortgaged homes. Residents in this community generally enjoy strong educational qualifications and above-average median household incomes. Key employment sectors include a notable healthcare workforce. The suburb of Macquarie Hills exhibits strong population expansion patterns and stands out as one of the country's most active areas for planned major infrastructure projects, which are expected to support future demand. The household profile contains a high proportion of children, consisting largely of family households and couples with children.
Estimated residents are up from 3,605 at the 2021 Census — a change of 9 people, or 0.2%.
Districts View
Population growth
Macquarie Hills ranks in the 74th percentile nationally for population growth, with the population up +0.2% since the 2021 Census.
Forecast demand
Official forecasts point to an additional 614 residents by 2041 — growth of 17.0% on the current estimated population.
Infrastructure pipeline
8 major projects are tracked in and around Macquarie Hills, and infrastructure activity ranks in the 96th percentile nationally.
Constrained supply
Development activity ranks in only the 22nd percentile nationally while population growth ranks in the 74th — demand is growing faster than new supply is being approved.
Employment outlook
Industry-weighted employment growth of 6.7% is forecast over the next five years based on the local industry mix.
No standout risks in the ingested evidence — this is coverage, not an all-clear.
Districts' reading of national rankings, Census change and the tracked project pipeline for Macquarie Hills. Each line cites its evidence; this is interpretation, not advice. The Investment Report PDF is the long form of this thesis.
Sales activity
Data to 17 Jul 2026No market glance has been ingested for this suburb yet. Recorded sales below come from Districts property records where indexed.
Residential supply
Data to 17 Jul 2026Districts view
Districts assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Macquarie Hills, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally
Detail
Property development within Macquarie Hills is extremely limited, with fewer than 1 dwelling approvals recorded annually, representing a total of 3 over the past five years. Such low numbers are typical of rural locations where housing requirements are modest and building activity is restricted by local demand and infrastructure limits. It is worth noting that because of this small sample size, single construction projects can disproportionately alter annual growth and relative metrics.
Construction activity in Macquarie Hills is substantially lower than in the Rest of NSW. The rate of property development is also far below national benchmarks.
Districts' assessment of the Lake Macquarie LGA register has identified 18 substantial development applications lodged in Macquarie Hills over the past 5 years (13 in the last 12 months). Minor and ancillary works — single dwellings, outbuildings, signage and smaller residential developments — are excluded. Of these, 4 were approved, 3 were withdrawn, while 1 is under assessment. The most common application types are industrial and retail.
18 applications in the profile extract.
Census Housing Stock by Type
ABS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Latest FY Approvals | 0 | 185,138 | 461 |
| Current FY-to-Date Approvals | 0 | 184,871 | 364 |
| –Detached House Approvals | 0/50.0% | 89,436/61.9% | 264/64.0% |
| –Attached/Other Approvals | 0/50.0% | 55,043/38.1% | 148/36.0% |
| Average Annual Approvals | 0 | 188,882 | 529 |
| Total 5-Year Approvals | 3 | 944,410 | 2,645 |
| Approvals per 1,000 People (2yr) | 0 | 6.5 | 3.4 |
| Approvals per 1,000 People (5yr) | 0.2 | 7.2 | 4.2 |
| Pop Growth per Approval (2yr) | 0 | 2.8 | 2.1 |
| Pop Growth per Approval (5yr) | 4.3 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Persons per Approval | 0 | 158 | 294 |
| Residential Value per Unit | 0 | 342 | 367 |
| Commercial Development Value | 0 | 105,080,908 | 244,394 |
| Development Drivers Ranking | 22 | 100 | 73 |
Project pipeline
Data to 17 Jul 2026Districts view
Macquarie Hills has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, planning initiatives, and major developments are key drivers of regional performance. Districts has identified 4 projects expected to influence the local area. The most relevant projects include the Glendale City Centre Expansion, the Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program, Garden Suburb, and the Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing project.
Transport & Logistics
ConstructionComprehensive program by Lake Macquarie City Council to replace and upgrade aging timber bridges and culvert structures across the LGA to ensure safe and efficient transport connectivity.
Source 1 for Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program (opens in new tab)Source 2 for Lake Macquarie Bridge Replacement Program (opens in new tab)
Residential Development
ConstructionThe NSW Government is delivering five modular homes in Lake Macquarie as part of the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program. Constructed off-site by Moov Modular using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), these homes provide fast-tracked social housing to support vulnerable community members.
Source 1 for Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing (opens in new tab)Source 2 for Lake Macquarie Modular Social Housing (opens in new tab)
Residential Development
ConstructionA master-planned residential community spanning 55 hectares in Boolaroo, offering elevated lots near Lake Macquarie with access to shopping, transport, and educational facilities. The multi-staged development by Green Capital Group will deliver approximately 500 new homes to the region.
Source 1 for Weemala at the Lake (opens in new tab)Source 2 for Weemala at the Lake (opens in new tab)
Retail
Dev. ApprovalExpansion of Glendale City Centre following IP Generation's 2024 acquisition of the centre. The existing 2018 development approval provides for enclosure of the existing colonnade mall, around 7,700 sqm of additional retail floor space and a 1,900 sqm dining and restaurant precinct linking the shopping centre with Event Cinemas. As of 2026 the approval remains in place and the owner continues to identify the asset as having significant future redevelopment and expansion potential, however major construction has not commenced.
Residential Development
ConstructionLandcom is delivering 105 new homes in Garden Suburb, retaining approximately 70% of the site as bushland. The project aims to be a 100% electric community with a minimum of 30% affordable homes.
8 projects tracked around Macquarie Hills (NSW), in the source's significance order. Stages and reference links are as published by the source.
On the market now
Data to 17 Jul 2026Price not recorded
House · 5 bed · 620m² land
Listed 20 May 2026
Price not recorded
House For Sale · 5 bed · 927m² land
Listed 22 May 2026
Price not recorded
House For Sale · 5 bed · 734m² land
Listed 8 July 2026
$950,000–$995,000
House For Sale · 3 bed · 393m² land
Listed 6 Aug 2026
$945,000–$985,000
House For Sale · 4 bed · 613m² land
Listed 19 Aug 2026
$945,000–$995,000
House · 5 bed · 2,023m² land
Listed 19 Mar 2026
From indexed listing events. Districts records what the listing publishes — asks and attributes are the agent's, not a valuation.
Properties
Data to 17 Jul 2026Source: Districts property records · 14 in 2026 · 222 recorded sales in total
Other indexed properties in Macquarie Hills with no sale record in Districts yet.
Nearby
Data to 17 Jul 2026| Suburb | Distance | People | Median | Growth | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Hills | — | 3,614 | — | — | — |
| Lakelands (NSW) | 1.4 km | 1,635 | — | — | — |
| Cardiff South | 1.6 km | 3,139 | — | — | — |
| Cardiff (NSW) | 1.7 km | 6,685 | — | — | — |
| Argenton | 2.0 km | 1,525 | — | — | — |
| Boolaroo | 2.2 km | 1,733 | — | — | — |
| Speers Point | 2.4 km | 3,936 | — | — | — |
| Glendale (NSW) | 2.5 km | 3,432 | — | — | — |
| Warners Bay | 2.5 km | 8,875 | — | — | — |
| Garden Suburb | 3.1 km | 2,000 | — | — | — |
| Edgeworth | 3.9 km | 8,100 | — | — | — |
| Teralba | 3.9 km | 2,940 | — | — | — |
| Elermore Vale | 4.2 km | 6,343 | — | — | — |
| New Lambton Heights | 4.2 km | 2,465 | — | — | — |
| Rankin Park | 4.3 km | 2,780 | — | — | — |
| Mount Hutton (NSW) | 4.3 km | 3,837 | — | — | — |
| Booragul | 4.4 km | 1,664 | — | — | — |
| Kotara | 4.8 km | 4,235 | — | — | — |
| Charlestown (NSW) | 4.8 km | 14,301 | — | — | — |
| Eleebana | 4.9 km | 6,471 | — | — | — |
| Gateshead | 5.2 km | 3,262 | — | — | — |
| Tingira Heights | 5.5 km | 2,070 | — | — | — |
| Barnsley | 5.6 km | 1,819 | — | — | — |
| Windale | 5.6 km | 3,666 | — | — | — |
| Cameron Park | 5.7 km | 11,591 | — | — | — |
Market columns show — where a nearby suburb has not been ingested yet.
Severely limited dwelling supply
Strong educational qualifications across the community
Above-average median household income
High levels of mortgaged homes
Detached housing led
Notable healthcare employment base
Population Growth
7.4
Density
6.1
Development Activity
2.2
Employment Drivers
5.3
Infrastructure Drivers
9.6
Education
9.7
Amenities
9.2
Transport & Access
Demographics
Data to 17 Jul 2026Districts view
Population growth drivers in Macquarie Hills are strong compared to national averages based on Districts' ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Detail
Based on statistical assessments of regional population records and new residential locations verified by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Macquarie Hills is estimated to have a population of 3,614 in May 2026. This represents an addition of 9 people (0.2%) compared to the 2021 Census, which documented 3,605 people. The adjustment is determined from a resident count of 3,606, calculated by Districts using the ABS June 2025 release of Estimated Resident Population data combined with post-Census address confirmations. This headcount translates to a density of 1,544 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical ratio observed in national locations assessed by Districts. Over the ten years prior, the suburb of Macquarie Hills has shown steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%, outpacing the SA3 region. Population gains were mostly driven by natural increase, which accounted for approximately 52.0% of the growth during recent timeframes, though overseas, interstate, and other migration flows all remained positive.
Employment
Data to 17 Jul 2026Districts view
The labour market in Macquarie Hills demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia
Detail
The local workforce is highly skilled with a strong presence in essential services, showing an unemployment rate of only 3.5% based on aggregated regional statistics. In March 2026, there were 2,031 employed residents, resulting in an unemployment rate 0.6% lower than the Regional NSW figure of 4.1%, while workforce participation is exceptionally high at 74.3% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that 26.2% of working residents performed their duties from home, though this figure may have been affected by pandemic lockdown conditions.
The primary employment fields for residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The local area displays a notable specialization in finance & insurance, which has a workforce share times higher than the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, employing only of the local workforce compared to across Regional NSW. Because of the difference between the Census working population and resident population, this residential area seems to have few local jobs.
Income
Data to 17 Jul 20262021 CensusDistricts view
Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by Districts
Detail
ATO records for the 2023 financial year show that taxpayers in the suburb of Macquarie Hills had a median income of $65,121 and an average income of $77,469. These figures are exceptionally high on a national scale, comparing to $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would be approximately $71,841 for the median and $85,464 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all rank in the upper brackets, placing between the 75th and 80th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that the largest group comprises 41.9% of residents (1,514 people) earning between $1,500 - compared to the broader region where fall into this bracket. Housing costs consume of income, while strong earnings place residents in the st percentile for disposable income, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the th decile.
Housing stock
Data to 17 Jul 20262021 CensusDistricts view
Macquarie Hills is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
Detail
Residential patterns at the time of the latest Census showed that housing stock consisted of 98.0% standalone houses and 2.0% other dwellings including townhouses and apartments, compared to Regional NSW which recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership rates in Macquarie Hills lag the regional average at 29.2%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (57.3%) or rented (13.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment was higher than the regional average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent stood at $473, compared to Regional NSW averages of $1,733 and $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also notably higher than the national figure of $375.
Households
Data to 17 Jul 20262021 CensusDistricts view
Macquarie Hills features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Detail
Families make up 84.7% of all households, consisting of 43.2% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 11.9% single parents. Non-family households account for the remaining 15.3%, with single occupant households at 13.4% and shared group houses at 1.9%. The median household occupancy is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Household Types (Census)
ABS / Districts
Education
Data to 17 Jul 20262021 CensusDistricts view
Macquarie Hills demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on Districts' comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in Macquarie Hills is lower than regional averages, with 23.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% across NSW. This highlights opportunities for expanding qualifications and skills. Among degree holders, bachelor qualifications are most common at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational training is highly represented, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (30.9%).
Amenities
Data to 17 Jul 2026Districts view
Amenity provision was found to be above the typical area assessed nationally by Districts, based on counts and proximity analysis
Supermarket
1.5km · score 66
Child Care
983m · score 56
GP
1.4km · score 70
Government Services
6.4km · score 94
Post Office
0km · score 0
Getting around
Data to 17 Jul 2026Districts view
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Detail
Public transport services include 34 active stops within Macquarie Hills, which are serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 11 individual routes, providing 316 passenger trips each week. Transport access is highly rated, with the average distance to a stop being 117 meters. As a residential suburb, most workers commute out of the area, and cars are the primary method of transport for 97% of commuters. Households average 1.8 motor vehicles, which is above the regional average. A high 26.2% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data which may reflect pandemic conditions.
Public transport routes average 45 trips per day across all services, which represents approximately 9 weekly trips per bus stop.
Healthcare
Data to 17 Jul 2026Data to 2024Districts view
Macquarie Hills's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts
Detail
Health outcomes are close to national averages based on mortality and chronic illness rates, with common conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both young and old cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~2,079 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW.
The most frequent health issues reported by residents are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 10.5 and 9.3% of the population, respectively. Conversely, 67.2% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health status for the working-age cohort is typical. The demographic aged and over represents of the population ( people), which is lower than the Regional NSW proportion of , with national health rankings aligning closely with general population trends.
Ancestry & language
Data to 17 Jul 20262021 CensusDistricts view
Macquarie Hills is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside Districts' national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics are below average, with 90.9% of residents born in Australia, 94.7% holding citizenship, and 94.2% speaking only English at home. The predominant religious affiliation is Christianity, followed by 53.2% of the population, compared to 55.9% in Regional NSW.
Looking at parental birthplaces, the three most common ancestries are Australian at 32.0%, English at 29.5%, and Scottish at 8.3%. There are also specific ethnic groups with higher representation than average, such as Welsh at 0.8% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Polish at (compared to ), and Macedonian at (compared to ).
Age structure
Data to 17 Jul 20262021 CensusDistricts view
Macquarie Hills's population is younger than the national pattern
Detail
Macquarie Hills has a median age of 34, which is significantly lower than the Regional NSW median of 43 and the national average of 38 years. The 25 - 34 cohort is highly represented at 16.6% compared to the regional average, while the 65 - 74 bracket is under-represented at 7.7%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age group increased from 15.1% to 16.7% of the population, and the 25 to 34 group rose from 15.4% to 16.6%. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 group decreased from 9.7% to 8.2% and the 65 to group fell from to . Demographic forecasts suggest the age profile will change by with the to age group projected to grow by people () from to while the to and to age groups will decrease in numbers.
Child care
Data to 17 Jul 2026Districts view
No child care provision was observed in Macquarie Hills for any age group.
Detail
Macquarie Hills currently has an estimated 292 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 134 children aged 0-2 and 89 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 1% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 27% by 2041 (to approximately 370 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 354. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 11.4 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.
4.8
Income
8.1
Age
2.4
Household Composition
8.5
Housing
5.5
Cultural Diversity
1.8
Health
4.8
Housing Cost
6.7
Rate Sensitivity
0.0
Sales Activity
4.2
Projections for each SA2 region are drawn from ABS and Geoscience Australia figures published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, with NSW State Government projections from 2022 using 2021 as a base year applied to any uncovered areas. Age group growth rates from these combined sources are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic outlooks indicate that non-metropolitan regions will experience above-median growth nationally, with the suburb of Macquarie Hills expected to expand by 622 persons by 2041 according to SA2-level data, which represents an increase of 17.0% overall across the 16 years.
Annual Population Growth Rates (CAGR) by Period
ABS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Latest Population Est. | 3,614 | 2,969,324 | 27,798,796 |
| Growth Since Census | 0.2% | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| Population 2021 Census | 3,605 | 2,829,637 | 25,422,788 |
| Natural Increase | 52.0% | 14.0% | 20.0% |
| Overseas Migration | 41.0% | 58.0% | 80.0% |
| Interstate Migration | 8.0% | 28.0% | 0.0% |
| Population Forecast Growth (2041) | 17.0% | 7.6% | 19.8% |
| Persons per Square Kilometer | 1,544 | 3 | 3 |
An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader regions shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 1.3% while total employment fell by 2.5%, which pushed the unemployment rate up by 1.2 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% decline in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future demand patterns can be analyzed using the May-25 national employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia. These five and ten-year forecasts have been mapped against the local industry profile to project local trends. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sectors will grow at very different rates. Applying these industry projections to the local workforce mix suggests employment for residents will increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.
Employment Change (Persons)
DEWR / ABS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 2,031 | 14,651,372 | 65,170 |
| –Health Care & Social Assistance | 19.7% | 15.2% | 20.2% |
| –Construction | 9.9% | 9.3% | 11.3% |
| –Education & Training | 9.8% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| Labour Force | 2,105 | 15,298,546 | 68,016 |
| Participation Rate | 74.3% | 67.2% | 63.3% |
| Working from Home | 26.2% | 23.9% | 25.8% |
| Unemployment | 3.5% | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| 1Yr Emp. Growth | -2.5% | 1.5% | -2.0% |
| 5Yr Emp. Growth Forecast | 6.7% | 6.5% | 6.9% |
| Employment Drivers Ranking | 53 | 100 | 32 |
Latest Annual Income Estimate
ATO / ABS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Income Est. | 71,841 | 63,034 | 62,828 |
| Average Annual Income Est. | 85,464 | 81,013 | 78,495 |
| ATO Median Taxable Income | 65,121 | 57,137 | 56,951 |
| ATO Average Taxable Income | 77,469 | 73,435 | 71,152 |
| Median Household Income | 2,241 | 1,746 | 1,655 |
| –$0 to 399 | 41 (3.3%) | 638,312 (6.3%) | 3,003 (6.0%) |
| –$400 to 799 | 114 (9.1%) | 1,671,771 (16.5%) | 9,511 (19.0%) |
| –$800 to 1,499 | 222 (17.8%) | 2,158,104 (21.3%) | 10,812 (21.6%) |
| –$1,500 to 2,999 | 523 (41.8%) | 3,201,695 (31.6%) | 15,117 (30.2%) |
| –$3,000 to 3,999 | 206 (16.5%) | 1,114,514 (11.0%) | 5,907 (11.8%) |
| –$4,000+ | 144 (11.5%) | 1,357,681 (13.4%) | 5,707 (11.4%) |
| Median Family Income | 2,392 | 2,120 | 2,122 |
| –$0 to 399 | 16 (1.5%) | 236,192 (3.3%) | 935 (2.6%) |
| –$400 to 799 | 61 (5.8%) | 758,676 (10.6%) | 3,885 (10.8%) |
| –$800 to 1,499 | 175 (16.5%) | 1,474,408 (20.6%) | 7,807 (21.7%) |
| –$1,500 to 2,999 | 474 (44.8%) | 2,562,321 (35.8%) | 12,844 (35.7%) |
| –$3,000 to 3,999 | 194 (18.3%) | 973,396 (13.6%) | 5,433 (15.1%) |
| –$4,000+ | 139 (13.1%) | 1,145,171 (16.0%) | 5,037 (14.0%) |
| Median Personal Income | 968 | 805 | 781 |
| –$0 to 399 | 777 (21.5%) | 7,303,780 (26.3%) | 31,948 (24.5%) |
| –$400 to 799 | 748 (20.7%) | 6,526,191 (23.5%) | 34,556 (26.5%) |
| –$800 to 1,499 | 1,106 (30.6%) | 7,137,153 (25.7%) | 33,252 (25.5%) |
| –$1,500 to 2,999 | 867 (24.0%) | 5,359,808 (19.3%) | 25,167 (19.3%) |
| –$3,000 to 3,499 | 54 (1.5%) | 527,649 (1.9%) | 2,217 (1.7%) |
| –$3,500+ | 62 (1.7%) | 944,215 (3.4%) | 3,390 (2.6%) |
| –Low Income (<$800/wk) | 12.4% | 22.8% | 25.0% |
| –High Income (>$3,000/wk) | 28.0% | 24.4% | 23.2% |
| Largest Income Group | $1,500 - 2,999 | $1,500 - 2,999 | $1,500 - 2,999 |
| Household Disposable Income | 8,289 | 6,376 | 6,050 |
| SEIFA Score | 6.3 | 5.6 | 5.2 |
Macquarie Hills at a glance
Source: ABS 2021 Census
Rents today
$828/wk
DFFH median rent
Period ending Mar 2026
+11.1%
DFFH rent movement, 1 yr
Rents are rising
The DFFH median weekly rent rose 11.1% year on year to $828/wk (Period ending Mar 2026).
The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $473/wk — an older point-in-time figure, kept separate from current medians.
RTBA rental bond lodgements are not in this extract. Rents above are report medians, not bond data.
Housing Tenure (Census)
ABS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Dwellings (Census) | 1,244 | 9,275,218 | 48,505 |
| –Owned Outright | 29.2% | 32.1% | 39.1% |
| –Owned with Mortgage | 57.3% | 36.2% | 36.5% |
| –Rented | 13.5% | 31.7% | 24.4% |
| –Detached Houses | 98.0% | 72.5% | 82.4% |
| –Semi-Detached | 2.0% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| –Apartments | 0.0% | 14.3% | 5.7% |
| –Other Dwellings | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| –Median Monthly Mortgage | 2,000 | 1,863 | 2,000 |
| –Median Weekly Rent | 473 | 375 | 370 |
| –$0-149/wk | 0.0% | 7.3% | 9.5% |
| –$150-349/wk | 14.5% | 33.4% | 30.4% |
| –$350-649/wk | 78.9% | 50.9% | 56.1% |
| –$650-949/wk | 6.6% | 6.6% | 3.6% |
| –>$950/wk | 0.0% | 1.8% | 0.3% |
| –Aggregate Housing Cost | 1,422 | 1,189 | 1,121 |
| –Mortgage / Income | 20.6% | 24.6% | 27.9% |
| –Rent / Income | 21.1% | 21.5% | 22.4% |
| –Persons per Bedroom | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Household Est. | 1,250 | 10,142,077 | 50,057 |
| Median Household Size | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Total Households (Census) | 1,247 | 9,275,217 | 48,510 |
| –Lone Person Households | 13.4% | 25.6% | 25.7% |
| –Group Households | 1.9% | 3.9% | 2.5% |
| –Other Households | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| –Family Households | 84.7% | 70.5% | 71.8% |
| –Couple with Children | 43.2% | 31.4% | 30.1% |
| –Couple No Children | 28.8% | 26.8% | 28.1% |
| –One Parent Family | 11.9% | 11.1% | 12.6% |
| –Avg Children per Family | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| Currently Married | 51.9% | 46.5% | 47.5% |
| Never Married | 34.0% | 36.5% | 32.9% |
Student representation is high in the area, with 29.8% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This includes 10.7% attending primary schools, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.6% studying at the tertiary level.
Qualification Attainment by Type - Residents Aged 15+ (Census)
ABS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| University Qualifications | 23.0% | 30.4% | 23.5% |
| –Bachelor Degree | 16.3% | 20.0% | 16.6% |
| –Postgraduate Degree | 4.5% | 7.6% | 4.6% |
| –Advanced Diploma | 11.7% | 10.8% | 10.9% |
| –Certificate | 30.9% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| No Tertiary Qualifications | 34.4% | 36.8% | 37.1% |
| Number of Schools | 0 | 11,054 | 57 |
| Total School Attendance | 0 | 4,176,099 | 18,975 |
| ICSEA Score | 0 | 1,001 | 1,009 |
| Education Drivers Ranking | 97 | 100 | 48 |
Parcel Locker
0km · score 0
Dentist
1.7km · score 70
Hospital
7.5km · score 92
Shopping Centre
1.9km · score 87
Banks
1.6km · score 81
Pharmacy
1.9km · score 61
Fitness Centre
1.9km · score 77
Schools
1.4km · score 53
Transport Servicing
GTFS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport Stops | 34 | 171,981 | 1,513 |
| Routes | 11 | 12,966 | 221 |
| Weekly Trips | 316 | 1,140,068 | 7,252 |
| Avg Dist. Between Stops (m) | 89 | 235 | 57 |
| Avg Dist. to Local Pop. (m) | 117 | 7,586 | 157 |
| Population per Stop | 107 | 161 | 86 |
| Population per Trip | 11.5 | 24.3 | 18 |
| Population per Route | 330 | 2,136 | 589 |
| Public Transport Access Ranking | 48 | 100 | 56 |
| Vehicles per Dwelling | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| Work from Home | 26.2% | 23.9% | 25.8% |
| Single Mode Commute | 73.3% | 73.8% | 73.4% |
| Two Mode | 0.5% | 1.9% | 0.7% |
| Three+ Mode | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| –Car | 97.3% | 84.1% | 94.7% |
| –Train | 0.0% | 4.9% | 0.4% |
| –Bus | 0.6% | 3.6% | 1.4% |
| –Walk | 0.9% | 3.7% | 1.8% |
| –Cycle | 0.3% | 1.0% | 0.4% |
| –Ferry | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| –Tram/Light Rail | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| –Other | 0.3% | 1.1% | 0.5% |
Private Health Insurance Coverage
ATO / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Health Cover Rate | 57.5% | 55.7% | 54.4% |
| Need for Assistance | 4.5% | 5.8% | 6.8% |
| Zero L/T Health Conditions | 67.2% | 69.8% | 62.6% |
| One Long Term Condition | 23.7% | 20.5% | 24.5% |
| Two Long Term Conditions | 6.9% | 6.4% | 8.3% |
| 3+ Long Term Conditions | 2.3% | 3.3% | 4.6% |
| –Arthritis | 6.6% | 7.7% | 9.9% |
| –Asthma | 9.3% | 7.4% | 8.6% |
| –Cancer | 2.4% | 2.6% | 3.2% |
| –Dementia / Alzheimers | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.9% |
| –Diabetes | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.6% |
| –Heart Disease | 2.9% | 3.6% | 4.5% |
| –Kidney Disease | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| –Lung Condition | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.0% |
| –Mental Health Issue | 10.5% | 8.0% | 10.0% |
| –Stroke | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| –Other Condition | 7.6% | 7.3% | 7.7% |
Place of Birth (Census)
ABS / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born Overseas | 9.1% | 29.3% | 10.9% |
| Born in Australia | 90.9% | 70.7% | 89.1% |
| Australian Citizens | 94.7% | 83.8% | 93.1% |
| Speak English Only | 94.2% | 76.4% | 94.5% |
| Speak Other Language | 5.8% | 23.6% | 5.5% |
| Indigenous Population | 3.6% | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Largest Ethnic Group | Australian | English | English |
| Main Religion | Christianity | Christianity | Christianity |
| –Buddhism | 1.1% | 2.6% | 0.8% |
| –Christianity | 53.2% | 47.5% | 52.5% |
| –Hinduism | 0.3% | 2.9% | 0.5% |
| –Islam | 0.4% | 3.5% | 0.4% |
| –Judaism | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| –Other | 0.4% | 1.4% | 0.4% |
| –No Religion | 44.6% | 41.6% | 45.4% |
Age Distribution
ABS / Geoscience Australia / State Govts / Districts
| Metrici | Macquarie Hills | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Age | 34 | 38 | 42 |
| Largest Age Group | 35 to 44 | 25 to 34 | 35 to 44 |
| Children (0-14) | 22.0% | 17.5% | 17.6% |
| Working Age (15-64) | 66.5% | 64.7% | 60.7% |
| Seniors (65+) | 12.1% | 17.8% | 21.7% |
| Age Distribution Variance | 28.0% | 16.0% | 11.0% |
| Dependency Ratio | 51.0% | 55.0% | 65.0% |
| Fastest Growing Age Group | 85+ | 85+ | 85+ |
Macquarie Hills currently has no childcare facilities operating within its bounds. With projected population growth of 17.0% between now and 2041, and 26.7% in the under 5 age group in particular. As well as this projected growth, other drivers of note in the area are high female labour force participation of 70.6%, as well as strong income performance.
Proximity analysis saw distances of local residents to their nearest child care centre being longer than typical nationally. Another finding worth noting is the low level of commercial activity in the area and assessment of local working populations which suggest many of the local population commute elsewhere for work with nearby services potentially taking some pressure off local child care centres.
8 school catchments intersect Macquarie Hills (note; school catchment data provided for public schools only), in which a combined 3,952 children aged under 5 reside, served by 2,603 LDC and preschool places. The overall demand-to-supply ratio across these catchments is 1.5 children per place, with moderate variance in this ratio. Meanwhile, the discrepancy in this ratio between Macquarie Hills and the intersecting school catchments highlights the need for a catchment based approach for specific site assessments.
Children per LDC Place by Geographic Level
ACECQA / ABS / GNAF / Geoscience Australia / State Govts / Districts