Hillsdale vs Matraville

Hillsdale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 42 in Matraville. In Hillsdale, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Matraville, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Matraville: a median of $2.74 million, against $1.8 million in Hillsdale, and rent is higher there too. Hillsdale is closer to the city centre: 12.4 km, against 14.1 km. On these figures, Hillsdale tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Matraville suits couples.

Matraville has a notably higher median household income at $107,900 compared to Hillsdale's $85,020, and sits in a higher socio-economic decile (9 versus 6). Property prices are substantially steeper in Matraville—median houses at $2,740,000 versus $2,050,000—though both suburbs command premium valuations. Hillsdale edges ahead on walkability (90 versus 87) and sits closer to the CBD at 12.4 km, while also recording lower crime risk. Matraville suits buyers drawn to a more affluent demographic and established neighbourhood feel, whereas Hillsdale appeals to those prioritising walkability and proximity to the city centre.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Matraville

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (12 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (48% vs 4%)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 3)
  • But Hillsdale carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 62/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Hillsdale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,800,000 vs $2,740,000)
  • has cheaper units ($800,000 vs $883,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hillsdale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 36%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Hillsdale has more units and townhouses to downsize into (96% vs 52%)
  • Matraville has more GPs (4 vs 1)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Hillsdale and Matraville drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Hillsdale Matraville
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Hillsdale Matraville
Walkability 90 / 87
Hillsdale — Walkability: 90/100 Matraville — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 51 / 38
Hillsdale — Safety: 51/100 Matraville — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hillsdale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Matraville — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Matraville has more residents (9,925 vs 5,647); Matraville has higher household incomes ($107,900 vs $85,020).

Hillsdale Matraville
Population 5,647 9,925
+76% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +1.2%
Median age 35 42
Median household income $85,020/yr $107,900/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $480/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hillsdale Matraville
0-4 6.8% / 5.3%
Hillsdale — 0-4: 6.8% Matraville — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 10.1% / 13.0%
Hillsdale — 5-14: 10.1% Matraville — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 4.3% / 6.1%
Hillsdale — 15-19: 4.3% Matraville — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 7.4% / 5.6%
Hillsdale — 20-24: 7.4% Matraville — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 20.0% / 10.6%
Hillsdale — 25-34: 20.0% Matraville — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 17.7% / 13.2%
Hillsdale — 35-44: 17.7% Matraville — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 12.6% / 14.7%
Hillsdale — 45-54: 12.6% Matraville — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 9.7% / 13.0%
Hillsdale — 55-64: 9.7% Matraville — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 7.0% / 10.0%
Hillsdale — 65-74: 7.0% Matraville — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 3.3% / 6.2%
Hillsdale — 75-84: 3.3% Matraville — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 1.0% / 2.3%
Hillsdale — 85+: 1.0% Matraville — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hillsdale 35.9% couple families
Hillsdale — Couple Families: 35.9% Hillsdale — Lone Person: 37.0% Hillsdale — One Parent Families: 18.0% Hillsdale — Group Household: 6.8% Hillsdale — Other Families: 2.3%
Matraville 48.3% couple families
Matraville — Couple Families: 48.3% Matraville — Lone Person: 28.3% Matraville — One Parent Families: 17.8% Matraville — Group Household: 4.0% Matraville — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hillsdale 56.5% renting
Hillsdale — Owned Outright: 19.0% Hillsdale — Mortgage: 24.5% Hillsdale — Renting: 56.5%
Matraville 35.6% renting
Matraville — Owned Outright: 32.5% Matraville — Mortgage: 31.8% Matraville — Renting: 35.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Hillsdale Matraville
Bachelor Degree 16.0% / 14.7%
Hillsdale — Bachelor Degree: 16.0% Matraville — Bachelor Degree: 14.7%
Certificate III & IV 11.5% / 11.3%
Hillsdale — Certificate III & IV: 11.5% Matraville — Certificate III & IV: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 7.7%
Hillsdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Matraville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.4% / 5.7%
Hillsdale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4% Matraville — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.4%
Hillsdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Matraville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Hillsdale Matraville
China 3.4% / 2.5%
Hillsdale — China: 3.4% Matraville — China: 2.5%
Philippines 3.3% / 1.3%
Hillsdale — Philippines: 3.3% Matraville — Philippines: 1.3%
Ireland 3.0% / 1.6%
Hillsdale — Ireland: 3.0% Matraville — Ireland: 1.6%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.0%
Hillsdale — New Zealand: 2.2% Matraville — New Zealand: 2.0%
Bangladesh 3.7% / —
Hillsdale — Bangladesh: 3.7% Matraville — Bangladesh: not among its largest
England — / 3.5%
Hillsdale — England: not among its largest Matraville — England: 3.5%
Brazil 3.2% / —
Hillsdale — Brazil: 3.2% Matraville — Brazil: not among its largest
Indonesia — / 1.8%
Hillsdale — Indonesia: not among its largest Matraville — Indonesia: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hillsdale 87.8% flats / apartments
Hillsdale — Flats / Apartments: 87.8% Hillsdale — Houses: 4.2% Hillsdale — Townhouses: 8.0%
Matraville 21.6% flats / apartments
Matraville — Flats / Apartments: 21.6% Matraville — Houses: 47.6% Matraville — Townhouses: 30.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Hillsdale Matraville
Median house price $1,800,000 $2,740,000
Median unit price $800,000 $883,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 62 days
from 4 sales
 27 days
from 53 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Hillsdale Matraville
1 bed $645K / $695K
Hillsdale — 1 bed: $645K (15 sales) Matraville — 1 bed: $695K (6 sales)

15 vs 6 sales

2 bed $768K / $905K
Hillsdale — 2 bed: $768K (72 sales) Matraville — 2 bed: $905K (26 sales)

72 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Hillsdale Matraville
Residential 65% 45%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 26%
Industrial 18% 21%
Commercial 5% 2%
Parks and recreation 2% 5%
Rural and farming 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Hillsdale Matraville
New dwellings approved 857
across Bayside (NSW)
 455
across Randwick
Approvals change year on year +98% -26%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Hillsdale Matraville
Houses — 3.8%
$1,600/wk on $2.2M
Units 4.9%
$800/wk on $850K
 4.9%
$770/wk on $812K

Ranking within NSW

Hillsdale Matraville
House price Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 62% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW

Liveability

Hillsdale Matraville
Grade A
same for both
Score 72/100 75/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Matraville carries more crime risk (62 vs 49).

Hillsdale Matraville
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 25
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Hillsdale Matraville
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of New South Wales, 4.4 km
 3
The University of New South Wales, 5.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 2.7%

Schools in Hillsdale

  • Matraville Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Matraville

  • Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Matraville Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Hillsdale Matraville
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 5
Parks & reserves 3 12
Childcare 1 12
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 0 3

Mobility

Hillsdale Matraville
Walkability score 90/100 87/100
Distance to Sydney 12.4 km 14.1 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 21 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 52.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 356.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2036
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2036
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Hillsdale Matraville
Car (driver) 50.7% / 47.8%
Hillsdale — Car (driver): 50.7% Matraville — Car (driver): 47.8%
Worked from Home 28.6% / 40.2%
Hillsdale — Worked from Home: 28.6% Matraville — Worked from Home: 40.2%
Bus 7.2% / 4.3%
Hillsdale — Bus: 7.2% Matraville — Bus: 4.3%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 4.4%
Hillsdale — Car (passenger): 5.5% Matraville — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 5.4% / 2.4%
Hillsdale — Walked Only: 5.4% Matraville — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.7%).

Setting

Hillsdale Matraville
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.0 km
2.7 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Hillsdale Matraville
Connectivity score 83/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
2,789 premises
 38%
4,526 premises

Climate

Hillsdale Matraville
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Hillsdale Matraville
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.64 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Hillsdale Matraville
Average residential rate $1,217/yr $1,641/yr
Council Bayside (NSW) Randwick

Federal electorate

Hillsdale Matraville
Division Kingsford Smith
same for both
Member Matt Thistlethwaite
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hillsdale Matraville
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hillsdale

Apartments Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Urban

Matraville

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hillsdale

Hillsdale vs Maroubra Hillsdale vs Eastgardens Hillsdale vs Banksmeadow

Other comparisons with Matraville

Matraville vs Maroubra Matraville vs Little Bay Matraville vs Malabar Matraville vs Chifley Matraville vs Phillip Bay Matraville vs Banksmeadow
Full data on Hillsdale Full data on Matraville
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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