Living in Hillcrest, Hamilton City: rents, schools, census and property titles
The 2,820 live property titles in Hillcrest (it lies across Hamilton City, Waikato District; its titles are counted under Hamilton City) are mostly freehold (75%), as recorded by LINZ on 30 September 2026. Cross-lease titles number 345 (12.2%), above the national share of 8.7%.
Hillcrest, Hamilton City cross-lease titles
- Cross-lease titles
- 345
- Share of live titles
- 12.2%
- Live titles in total
- 2,820
- Hamilton City share
- 11.2%
- New Zealand share
- 8.7%
- Rank by share in Hamilton City
- 15 of 28
- Rank by share in New Zealand
- joint 270 of 644
Hillcrest at a glance
Where Hillcrest differs most from suburbs across New Zealand: median age (lower than 96% of NZ suburbs); median weekly rent, new tenancies (lower than 92% of NZ suburbs).
Higher or lower is not better or worse. Sources and limits
Start here
What the data tells you
Recorded facts
- Hillcrest is listed under Hamilton City.
- 2,820 live titles are recorded here, including 345 cross-lease titles (12.2%).
- The page includes 2023 Census context for the statistical area that represents this suburb.
- The page includes MBIE new-tenancy rent figures for April–June 2026.
Contextual observations
- Cross-lease titles make up 12.2% of the recorded title mix. That describes the suburb, not any particular home.
- Unit titles account for 9.8% of recorded titles, so title structure can vary within the suburb.
- Coast distance is a suburb-level map measure, not a flood or hazard assessment.
Questions worth investigating
- For any cross-lease property you consider, do the current title, flats plan and lease match what is built today?
- What do the LIM, council property file and a suitable inspection add for the specific address?
No data held for this suburb
- Mapped public-transport context is not available for this suburb.
Title mix in Hillcrest
| Title type | Live titles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 2,102 | 74.5% |
| Cross lease | 345 | 12.2% |
| Unit title | 275 | 9.8% |
| Leasehold | 53 | 1.9% |
| Other record types | 45 | 1.6% |
| Total | 2,820 | 100% |
Counts are titles, not homes; the register can lag conversions, so check the certificate of title. Sources and limits
How Hillcrest compares
Nationally, 8.7% of live titles are cross-lease; Hillcrest is higher than the national share (8.7%).
Across Hamilton City as a whole, the share is 11.2%; Hillcrest is slightly higher than the overall Hamilton City share (11.2%).
How cross-leases in Hillcrest are set up
Three-flat schemes are less common here (6%, against 12% nationally).
Fewer schemes have four or more flats on one section (6%, against 11% nationally), up to 8.
Separate exclusive-use areas are less common (3% of schemes, against 5% nationally).
| Scheme structure | Hillcrest | Hamilton City | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-lease schemes (shared sections) | 163 | 3,528 | 87,651 |
| Two-flat schemes | 87.1% | 81.5% | 76.2% |
| Three-flat schemes | 6.1% | 9.5% | 12.2% |
| Four or more flats | 6.1% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| Typical section size (from the titles, not a survey) | 1,012 m² | 1,006 m² | 908 m² |
| Typical land per flat | 506 m² | 465 m² | 408 m² |
| Schemes with a garage written into a lease | 38.7% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| Schemes with a carport in a lease | 12.9% | 11.9% | 13.3% |
| Schemes with a separate exclusive-use area | 2.5% | 2.9% | 4.5% |
| Schemes referring to more than one flats plan (usually redrawn; not by itself a problem) | 36.2% | 39.0% | 35.6% |
| Median year of earliest current title | 1988 | 1987 | 1988 |
| Two-flat schemes on 700 m² or more | 139 | 2,831 | 54,978 |
Unit titles and leasehold in Hillcrest
Unit titles are 10% of Hillcrest's titles, slightly below Hamilton City (12%) and above New Zealand (8%). They belong to 45 developments, each run by a body corporate; half have 5 units or fewer.
53 titles (1.9%) are leasehold.
1 of them have a stated term that has ended or has under 10 years to run, which is worth reading closely in the lease.
Stated lease terms, as at 30 September 2026:
| Stated lease term | Titles |
|---|---|
| Stated term has ended | 1 |
| Under 10 years left | 0 |
| 10 to 50 years left | 1 |
| More than 50 years left | 44 |
| Term mentions renewal (including perpetually renewable) | 7 |
| Term not stated or not readable | 0 |
New titles in Hillcrest since 2020
349 of Hillcrest's current titles (12%) were first issued since 2020, slightly below Hamilton City's suburbs with new-title figures taken together (13%) and close to New Zealand (12%).
26% are unit titles, in 13 developments; most of the rest are freehold.
| Title type | Since 2020 | Since 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 236 | 135 |
| Unit title | 92 | 46 |
| Cross-lease | 0 | 0 |
| Leasehold | 8 | 8 |
| Other | 13 | 6 |
New titles include cross-leases converted to freehold and titles re-issued; they are not a count of new homes. Sources and limits
The lie of the land in Hillcrest
The typical building in Hillcrest stands on ground sloping 1.4° (read on an 8 m grid, so short steep banks may be understated).
Slope is not a measure of ground stability. Sources and limits
Distance to the coast from Hillcrest
Hillcrest is inland: the typical title is 30 km from the sea or harbour edge, and fewer than 1 in 2,000 titles are within 1 km of it.
Measured in a straight line from the centre of each title's land to the coastline on LINZ's 1:50k topographic map, which follows harbours and estuaries as well as the open coast; lakes and rivers are not included. Distance says nothing about beach access, views or exposure to coastal hazards; council hazard maps and the LIM describe those.
Who lives around Hillcrest: 2023 Census
Hillcrest's titles fall in 6 census areas (Stats NZ statistical areas). The 3 shown below hold 91% of its titles; their figures are shown side by side and are not added together.
More workers commute by bus, train or ferry in Hillcrest East (Hamilton City) than across Hamilton City: 5.1% against 2.9%.
Fewer residents are 65 or over in Hillcrest East (Hamilton City) than across Hamilton City: 7.6% against 12.5%.
Fewer households have no car in Hillcrest East (Hamilton City) than across Hamilton City: 4.3% against 6.8%.
| Measure | Hillcrest East (Hamilton City) 37% of titles | Hillcrest West (Hamilton City) 34% of titles | Riverlea 21% of titles | Hamilton City whole council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residents | 3,225 | 2,973 | 2,679 | 174,741 |
| Change since 2018 | +4.3% | +5.7% | −3.5% | +8.6% |
| Change since 2013 | +11.4% | +16.2% | +3.7% | +23.4% |
| Median age | 29.1 | 28.4 | 39.5 | 33.2 |
| Households | 993 | 939 | 957 | 60,435 |
| Own or part-own their home (including family trusts) | 38.7% | 44.4% | 67.4% | 53.5% |
| Not owned and not in a family trust (mostly renting) | 61.0% | 55.6% | 32.3% | 46.4% |
| Median household income | $95,800 | $101,200 | $102,200 | $96,500 |
| Median weekly rent, renting households | $505 | $500 | $500 | $465 |
| Dwellings unoccupied on census night | 7.9% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 6.5% |
| Ages | ||||
| Under 15 | 21.0% | 17.0% | 20.6% | 20.9% |
| 15 to 29 | 30.3% | 35.3% | 18.4% | 23.4% |
| 30 to 64 | 41.0% | 40.2% | 45.5% | 43.2% |
| 65 and over | 7.6% | 7.5% | 15.6% | 12.5% |
| Where people came from | ||||
| Born overseas | 42.2% | 38.5% | 32.6% | 30.4% |
| Of those born overseas, arrived in the last 5 years | 39.1% | 38.4% | 21.5% | 26.6% |
| Lived elsewhere in New Zealand 5 years ago (of all residents, including children born since) | 55.4% | 53.2% | 43.9% | 50.7% |
| Lived overseas 5 years ago (of all residents) | 7.9% | 7.0% | 5.2% | 5.0% |
| Moved here in the last year (of all residents) | 31.6% | 30.9% | 18.2% | 23.9% |
| Work and study (people 15 and over) | ||||
| Bachelor degree or higher | 35.5% | 35.5% | 40.1% | 29.0% |
| Employed full-time | 49.3% | 50.8% | 50.6% | 52.6% |
| Unemployed (share of everyone 15 and over, not the unemployment rate) | 5.2% | 5.2% | 3.0% | 3.9% |
| Managers and professionals (of those employed) | 44.1% | 44.2% | 49.5% | 42.7% |
| Median personal income | $37,100 | $35,600 | $46,700 | $42,200 |
| Getting to work (of those employed) | ||||
| Work from home | 12.8% | 11.1% | 17.6% | 12.5% |
| Car, truck or van | 72.9% | 73.5% | 70.3% | 77.4% |
| Bus, train or ferry | 5.1% | 4.6% | 2.1% | 2.9% |
| Walk or cycle | 8.2% | 9.1% | 8.9% | 6.0% |
| Households and families | ||||
| One-person households | 14.3% | 15.9% | 22.2% | 21.8% |
| Average people per household | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.8 |
| Households with no motor vehicle | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 6.8% |
| Crowded households (need one or more extra bedrooms) | 8.5% | 8.6% | 4.2% | 7.5% |
| Couples with children (of families) | 46.7% | 44.6% | 45.6% | 43.3% |
| Couples without children | 30.3% | 32.0% | 35.9% | 35.8% |
| One-parent families | 23.4% | 23.0% | 19.0% | 21.0% |
| Homes | ||||
| Separate (stand-alone) houses | 77.7% | 75.2% | 83.1% | 73.5% |
| Average bedrooms | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3 |
| Heated with a heat pump | 70.4% | 70.1% | 68.3% | 77.6% |
| Damp, always or sometimes | 29.3% | 24.6% | 21.2% | 18.8% |
| Mould over A4 size, always or sometimes | 23.5% | 21.6% | 16.7% | 15.3% |
Rents around Hillcrest
New tenancies in Hillcrest East (Hamilton City) in the April–June 2026 quarter had a median rent of $470 a week (up 6.8% on a year earlier). That is slightly below the typical suburb in Hamilton City ($580), and below the national median ($600); in the lowest quarter of 24 in Hamilton City.
| April–June 2026 | Hillcrest East (Hamilton City) 37% of titles | Hillcrest West (Hamilton City) 34% of titles | Riverlea 21% of titles | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent, new tenancies | $470 | $600 | $630 | $600 |
| Middle half of rents | $270–$620 | $280–$640 | $580–$680 | $490–$700 |
| Change in median on a year earlier | +6.8% | +9.1% | — | +0.2% |
| Bonds lodged in the quarter | 42 | 39 | 21 | 40,827 |
Schools and hospitals near Hillcrest
LINZ maps 5 school sites inside Hillcrest, among them Berkley Normal Middle School (Restricted Composite (Year 7-10)) and Hillcrest Normal School (Contributing).
- Berkley Normal Middle School (Restricted Composite (Year 7-10))
- Hillcrest Normal School (Contributing)
- Knighton Normal School (Contributing)
- St John's College (Hillcrest) (Secondary (Year 9-15))
- Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Toku Mapihi Maurea (Full Primary)
- Nearest school: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Toku Mapihi Maurea (0.4 km)
- Nearest secondary school: St John's College (Hillcrest) (0.5 km)
- Nearest public general hospital: Waikato Hospital (3.8 km)
School enrolment zones in Hillcrest: a guide
One secondary school has a home zone covering most of Hillcrest's titles: Hillcrest High School.
- Hillcrest Normal School (primary, Years 1–6): about 70% of titles
- Knighton Normal School (primary, Years 1–6): about 45% of titles
- Silverdale Normal School (primary, Years 1–6): about 40% of titles
- Marian Catholic School (Hamilton) (primary, Years 1–8): all or nearly all titles
- Peachgrove Intermediate (intermediate, Years 7–8): about 80% of titles
- Berkley Normal Middle School (restricted composite): all or nearly all titles
- Hillcrest High School (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Hamilton Boys' High School (secondary): about 10% of titles
- Hamilton Girls' High School (secondary): about 10% of titles
- Fairfield College (secondary): about 5% of titles
A guide only: check the school's own zone map for any address. Zones as at 14 July 2026. Sources and limits
Places of worship near Hillcrest
OpenStreetMap maps 5 places of worship inside Hillcrest (4 Christian, 1 other or not recorded).
Nearest mapped place of each tradition within 10 km:
- Christian: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under 1 km away
- Muslim: Jamia Masjid, 3.4 km away
Listed as facilities for access; not an indicator of who lives here. Sources and limits
Other suburbs in Hamilton City with many cross-leases
- Nawton: 1,058 cross-lease titles (26.3%)
- Hamilton East: 1,027 cross-lease titles (15.9%)
- Frankton: 675 cross-lease titles (13.7%)
- Dinsdale: 643 cross-lease titles (17.9%)
- Fairfield: 473 cross-lease titles (17.8%)
- St Andrews: 411 cross-lease titles (17.4%)
- Claudelands: 333 cross-lease titles (25.2%)
- Melville: 326 cross-lease titles (13.3%)
Suburbs like Hillcrest
The closest match on the measures on this site is Silverdale, Hamilton City in Hamilton City, nearest on land per flat, elevation, distance to a hospital. Closeness is arithmetic, not a rating. Sources and limits
| Suburb | Council | Cross-lease share of titles | Median weekly rent, new tenancies | Median age | Closest on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverdale, Hamilton City | Hamilton City | 8.5% | $463 | 30.3 | land per flat, elevation, distance to a hospital |
| Enderley | Hamilton City | 17.0% | $540 | 30.8 | distance to a hospital, elevation, land per flat |
| Fairfield, Hamilton City | Hamilton City | 17.8% | $580 | 29.8 | stand-alone houses, distance to a hospital, new titles |
| Maeroa | Hamilton City | 24.9% | $590 | 32.2 | distance to a hospital, land per flat, slope |
| Melville | Hamilton City | 13.3% | No data | 32.4 | elevation, born overseas, older residents |
Questions
What is the rent in Hillcrest, Hamilton City?
New tenancies in Hillcrest East (Hamilton City) (the rent area for part of Hillcrest) had a median rent of $470 a week in the April–June 2026 quarter (MBIE bond data, all dwelling types). These are rents agreed for new tenancies, not asking rents. The middle half of those rents ran from $270 to $620.
What schools are in Hillcrest, Hamilton City?
LINZ maps 5 school sites inside Hillcrest, including Berkley Normal Middle School, Hillcrest Normal School and Knighton Normal School. The nearest secondary school to its centre is St John's College (Hillcrest) (0.5 km in a straight line). The secondary-school home zone covering most of its titles is Hillcrest High School; check the school's own zone map for any address.