NSW · The Hills Shire Council
Castle Hill, 2154
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
55% humidity · 16.4 km/h wind · 21.1° / 13.5° today · 2.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Café precinct
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- Dog friendly
Suburb profile
In The Hills Shire, Castle Hill is a settled larger suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix. Food, coffee and entertainment are never far away, whether locally or in the suburbs next door. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Getting around the metro area is straightforward, with transport tying neighbouring communities together. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates excellent overall, led by parks and green space and schools and education, while transport and access and housing affordability sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 40,874
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $2,551
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 835 of 14,059
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,000
- Employment rate
- 58.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 665 / 1,436 / 2,026
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $780
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $950
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $850
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 287
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 1,399
- Against the person
- 293
- Against property
- 701
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 34.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 140 residents
- State safety percentile
- 10.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -21.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions208
- Fraud140
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment95
- Malicious Damage To Property90
- Steal From Retail Store256
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 10
- Median school ICSEA (10 schools)
- 1,127
- Castle Hill High SchoolSecondary
- Castle Hill Public SchoolPrimary
- Excelsior Public SchoolPrimary
- Gilroy Catholic CollegeSecondary
- Oakhill CollegeSecondary
- Oakhill Drive Public SchoolPrimary
- Samuel Gilbert Public SchoolPrimary
- St Angela's Primary SchoolPrimary
- St Bernadette's Primary SchoolPrimary
- St Gabriel's School for students with special needsSpecial
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
497 public transport stops in this suburb
- Old Northern Rd After Cecil Av
- Windsor Rd After Gladstone Rd
- Windsor Rd Before Victoria Av
- Windsor Rd Opp 89
- Windsor Rd Opp Norwest Bvd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksOld Northern Road, Oxley Avenue30 Jun 2026 – 03 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
1,291 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)49 MIDDLETON AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Shop top housing; Hotel or motel accommodation; Erection of a new structure4 GARTHOWEN CRESCENT CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure7 CADMAN CRESCENT CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation6 OXLEY AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Hours of operation and trading501 11 FISHBURN CRESCENT CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 WASHINGTON PLACE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Industrial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia141 SHOWGROUND ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Boarding house; Erection of a new structure57 MIDDLETON AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 CARINYAH CRESCENT CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure87 SHOWGROUND ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)17 DAN CRESCENT CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 PATRICK AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Subdivision30 WALSH AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure54 MIDDLETON AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Rejected
- Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)71 SHOWGROUND ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation29A DAVID ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; SchoolMARIE STREET CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
- Attached dwelling; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure33 FISHBURN CRESCENT CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
- Pub; Hours of operation and trading273-275 OLD NORTHERN ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Subdivision57 - 59 Darcey Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation150 OLD CASTLE HILL ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Advertising and signage; Building identification sign10 SEXTON AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
- Demolition; Centre-based child care5 ORANGE GROVE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure6 WARWICK PARADE CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Warehouse or distribution centre; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14-18 HUDSON AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Demolition36 Carrington Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154Determined
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation33 LAROOL CRESCENT CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool34 EXCELSIOR AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool8 STIRLING COURT CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation5 MERRILONG STREET CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 BALINTORE DRIVE CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage1 27 VICTORIA AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Rejected
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure79 George Mobbs Drive Castle Hill 2154Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Subdivision2 RIDGECROP DRIVE CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation150 OLD CASTLE HILL ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Rejected
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 GLEN ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading6-14 CASTLE STREET CASTLE HILL 2154Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool4 TASMAN COURT CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Health services facility121 WRIGHTS ROAD CASTLE HILL 2154Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 SEXTON AVENUE CASTLE HILL 2154Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
413 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Dan Murphy'sAlcohol
250 Old Northern Road
- ATM (2)
- BreadtopBakery
- Bbq
- Nails HutBeauty salon
- Bench
- Bicycle Parking (2)
- Bike Shed - Hills Showground Station, Doran DrBicycle Parking
- Transport for NSWBicycle Parking
- DymocksBooks
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
28 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apex ParkPark
- Arthur Whitling ParkPark
- Bert Parkinson ReservePark
- Bounty Avenue ReservePark
- Castle Hill Heritage ParkPark
- Castle Hill Lions ParkPark
- Castlewood Community ReservePark
- Centenary of Anzac ReservePark
- Cockayne ReservePark
- Coolong ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 18
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Active BodyVictoria Avenuephysiotherapist
- Australian Skin Clinics - Castle HillCastle Streetclinic
- Carefirst Pharmacypharmacy
- Castle Hill Medical Centredoctor
- Chemist Warehousepharmacy
- Chemist Warehousepharmacy
- Crane Road Medical Centrepharmacy
- Dental ExcellenceOld Northern Roaddentist
- DoctorCrane Roaddoctor
- First Aidclinic
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
3 state heritage places
- Mirrabooka and garden379 Old Northern Road, Castle HillSHR
- St Paul's Anglican Church221 Old Northern Road Castle HillSHR
- Third Government Farm (former)Gilbert Road, Castle HillSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
8 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Appletree Preschoolkindergarten
- Castle Glen Child Care Centrechildcare
- Excelsior Avenue Long Day CareExcelsior Avenuekindergarten
- Heritage HouseOld Northern Roadkindergarten
- Keen Kiddies Early Learning CentreExcelsior Avenuekindergarten
- childcarechildcare
- childcarechildcare
- childcarechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 77
- Parks (OSM)
- 51
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 85.2/100 — Exceptional
- State standing
- Top 1% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2nd in Australia
- State rank
- 2nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #2 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #2 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 1829 Solingenamenitiesdoityourself
- 7-Elevenamenitiesfuel
- 76 Parsonage Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 89 Parsonage Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- ATMamenitiesatm
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Al Aseelamenitiesrestaurant
- Aldiamenities6-14 Castle Streetsupermarket
- Allan Drewamenitiesfuneral_directors
- Anytime Fitnessamenitiesfitness_centre
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in The Hills Shire Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.