Living in Milson: rents, schools, census and property titles
The 2,750 live property titles in Milson, Palmerston North City are almost all freehold (87%), as recorded by LINZ on 30 September 2026. Cross-lease titles number 167 (6.1%), below the national share of 8.7%.
- Cross-lease titles
- 167
- Share of live titles
- 6.1%
- Live titles in total
- 2,750
- Palmerston North City share
- 5.7%
- New Zealand share
- 8.7%
- Rank by share in Palmerston North City
- 6 of 11
- Rank by share in New Zealand
- joint 441 of 644
Milson at a glance
Where Milson differs most from suburbs across New Zealand: typical distance to the coast (higher than 90% of NZ suburbs).
Higher or lower is not better or worse. Sources and limits
Start here
What the data tells you
Recorded facts
- Milson is listed under Palmerston North City.
- 2,750 live titles are recorded here, including 167 cross-lease titles (6.1%).
- 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 6.1% of the recorded title mix. That describes the suburb, not any particular home.
- Unit titles account for 5.5% 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 Milson
| Title type | Live titles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 2,403 | 87.4% |
| Cross lease | 167 | 6.1% |
| Unit title | 152 | 5.5% |
| Leasehold | 2 | 0.1% |
| Other record types | 26 | 0.9% |
| Total | 2,750 | 100% |
Counts are titles, not homes; the register can lag conversions, so check the certificate of title. Sources and limits
How Milson compares
Nationally, 8.7% of live titles are cross-lease; Milson is lower than the national share (8.7%).
Across Palmerston North City as a whole, the share is 5.7%; Milson is slightly higher than the overall Palmerston North City share (5.7%).
How cross-leases in Milson are set up
Separate exclusive-use areas are less common (1% of schemes, against 5% nationally).
Fewer leases include a garage (11% of schemes, against 28% nationally).
Three-flat schemes are less common here (6%, against 12% nationally).
| Scheme structure | Milson | Palmerston North City | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-lease schemes (shared sections) | 73 | 734 | 87,651 |
| Two-flat schemes | 84.9% | 65.7% | 76.2% |
| Three-flat schemes | 5.5% | 13.8% | 12.2% |
| Four or more flats | 8.2% | 20.2% | 11.4% |
| Typical section size (from the titles, not a survey) | 782 m² | 809 m² | 908 m² |
| Typical land per flat | 375 m² | 348 m² | 408 m² |
| Schemes with a garage written into a lease | 11.0% | 16.8% | 28.4% |
| Schemes with a carport in a lease | 21.9% | 12.8% | 13.3% |
| Schemes with a separate exclusive-use area | 1.4% | 1.2% | 4.5% |
| Schemes referring to more than one flats plan (usually redrawn; not by itself a problem) | 23.3% | 23.7% | 35.6% |
| Median year of earliest current title | 1984 | 1985 | 1988 |
| Two-flat schemes on 700 m² or more | 39 | 292 | 54,978 |
Unit titles and leasehold in Milson
Unit titles are 6% of Milson's titles, well above Palmerston North City (3%) and below New Zealand (8%). They belong to 6 developments, each run by a body corporate; 1 has 50 or more units.
The unit-title share is 3rd highest of 11 in Palmerston North City.
New titles in Milson since 2020
225 of Milson's current titles (8%) were first issued since 2020, close to Palmerston North City's suburbs with new-title figures taken together (8%) and well below New Zealand (12%).
20% are unit titles, in 2 developments; most of the rest are freehold.
| Title type | Since 2020 | Since 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 181 | 96 |
| Unit title | 44 | 22 |
| Cross-lease | 0 | 0 |
| Leasehold | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
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 Milson
The typical building in Milson stands on ground sloping 0.7° (read on an 8 m grid, so short steep banks may be understated).
Nearly all of its 3,870 measured buildings (100%) stand on ground under 5°.
Slope is not a measure of ground stability. Sources and limits
Distance to the coast from Milson
Milson is inland: the typical title is 32 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 Milson: 2023 Census
Milson's titles fall in 6 census areas (Stats NZ statistical areas). The 2 shown below hold 89% of its titles; their figures are shown side by side and are not added together.
Fewer workers walk or cycle to work in Milson South than across Palmerston North City: 3.9% against 7.7%.
Fewer adults hold a degree in Milson South than across Palmerston North City: 20.0% against 25.8%.
Fewer workers work from home in Milson South than across Palmerston North City: 10.2% against 12.6%.
| Measure | Milson South 47% of titles | Milson North 42% of titles | Palmerston North City whole council |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residents | 3,240 | 2,688 | 87,090 |
| Change since 2018 | +9.0% | +1.5% | +2.9% |
| Change since 2013 | +14.6% | +2.2% | +8.8% |
| Median age | 33.4 | 42.6 | 35.7 |
| Households | 1,161 | 1,011 | 31,497 |
| Own or part-own their home (including family trusts) | 69.0% | 78.6% | 64.1% |
| Not owned and not in a family trust (mostly renting) | 31.0% | 21.1% | 35.9% |
| Median household income | $90,100 | $82,600 | $90,600 |
| Median weekly rent, renting households | $450 | $450 | $400 |
| Dwellings unoccupied on census night | 4.4% | 5.6% | 6.6% |
| Ages | |||
| Under 15 | 21.9% | 16.7% | 19.4% |
| 15 to 29 | 22.3% | 17.4% | 22.3% |
| 30 to 64 | 42.2% | 39.1% | 42.6% |
| 65 and over | 13.7% | 26.6% | 15.7% |
| Where people came from | |||
| Born overseas | 22.3% | 17.8% | 22.0% |
| Of those born overseas, arrived in the last 5 years | 28.2% | 12.7% | 23.8% |
| Lived elsewhere in New Zealand 5 years ago (of all residents, including children born since) | 45.3% | 44.7% | 45.7% |
| Lived overseas 5 years ago (of all residents) | 3.2% | 2.0% | 3.7% |
| Moved here in the last year (of all residents) | 19.3% | 15.8% | 20.2% |
| Work and study (people 15 and over) | |||
| Bachelor degree or higher | 20.0% | 19.5% | 25.8% |
| Employed full-time | 54.7% | 45.8% | 51.1% |
| Unemployed (share of everyone 15 and over, not the unemployment rate) | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.1% |
| Managers and professionals (of those employed) | 37.0% | 38.9% | 41.2% |
| Median personal income | $42,700 | $37,400 | $40,800 |
| Getting to work (of those employed) | |||
| Work from home | 10.2% | 11.1% | 12.6% |
| Car, truck or van | 82.3% | 82.6% | 76.9% |
| Bus, train or ferry | 1.6% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Walk or cycle | 3.9% | 3.5% | 7.7% |
| Households and families | |||
| One-person households | 24.0% | 25.5% | 24.3% |
| Average people per household | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Households with no motor vehicle | 5.0% | 4.7% | 6.8% |
| Crowded households (need one or more extra bedrooms) | 5.9% | 2.7% | 4.9% |
| Couples with children (of families) | 44.2% | 37.3% | 41.5% |
| Couples without children | 35.4% | 46.1% | 40.3% |
| One-parent families | 20.0% | 16.2% | 18.2% |
| Homes | |||
| Separate (stand-alone) houses | 88.4% | 82.8% | 82.6% |
| Average bedrooms | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Heated with a heat pump | 68.7% | 68.5% | 64.9% |
| Damp, always or sometimes | 17.4% | 11.8% | 17.6% |
| Mould over A4 size, always or sometimes | 13.9% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
Rents around Milson
New tenancies in Milson South in the April–June 2026 quarter had a median rent of $588 a week (down 1.2% on a year earlier). That is close to the typical suburb in Palmerston North City ($568), and close to the national median ($600).
| April–June 2026 | Milson South 47% of titles | Milson North 42% of titles | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent, new tenancies | $588 | $600 | $600 |
| Middle half of rents | $530–$633 | $500–$630 | $490–$700 |
| Change in median on a year earlier | −1.2% | +2.6% | +0.2% |
| Bonds lodged in the quarter | 18 | 15 | 40,827 |
Schools and hospitals near Milson
LINZ maps 2 school sites inside Milson, among them Milson School (Contributing) and St Peter's College (Palmerston North) (Secondary (Year 7-15)).
- Milson School (Contributing)
- St Peter's College (Palmerston North) (Secondary (Year 7-15))
- Nearest school: St Peter's College (Palmerston North) (1.1 km)
- Nearest secondary school: St Peter's College (Palmerston North) (1.1 km)
- Nearest public general hospital: Palmerston North Hospital (2.2 km)
School enrolment zones in Milson: a guide
Two secondary schools have a home zone covering most of Milson's titles: Freyberg High School and Palmerston North Boys' High School.
- Milson School (primary, Years 1–6): about 95% of titles
- Ross Intermediate (intermediate, Years 7–8): all or nearly all titles
- Cornerstone Christian School (composite): all or nearly all titles
- Freyberg High School (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Palmerston North Boys' High School (secondary): about 60% 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 Milson
OpenStreetMap maps 2 places of worship inside Milson (1 Christian, 1 Muslim).
Nearest mapped place of each tradition within 10 km:
- Christian: Milson Combined Church, 1.2 km away
- Muslim: Al Qadiri Islamic Centre Manawatu, under 1 km away
- Sikh: Gurudwara Sri Guru Harkishan Sahib Ji, 3.2 km away
Listed as facilities for access; not an indicator of who lives here. Sources and limits
Other suburbs in Palmerston North City with many cross-leases
- Palmerston North: 448 cross-lease titles (10.0%)
- Roslyn: 194 cross-lease titles (7.1%)
- West End: 194 cross-lease titles (9.4%)
- Hokowhitu: 184 cross-lease titles (4.6%)
- Kelvin Grove: 167 cross-lease titles (4.7%)
- Awapuni: 134 cross-lease titles (4.1%)
- Terrace End: 131 cross-lease titles (6.7%)
- Takaro: 122 cross-lease titles (5.3%)
All suburbs in Palmerston North City
Suburbs like Milson
The closest match on the measures on this site is Terrace End in Palmerston North City, nearest on commuting by public transport, slope, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrace End | Palmerston North City | 6.7% | $600 | 35.5 | commuting by public transport, slope, distance to a hospital |
| Awapuni, Palmerston North City | Palmerston North City | 4.1% | $600 | 37.4 | stand-alone houses, slope, schools |
| Cloverlea | Palmerston North City | 13.8% | $565 | 35.7 | home ownership, working from home, commuting on foot or by bike |
| Kuripuni | Masterton District | 6.3% | $530 | 37.2 | slope, cross-lease share, home ownership |
| Fairview Downs | Hamilton City | 5.9% | $575 | 31.2 | slope, cross-lease share, elevation |
Questions
What is the rent in Milson?
New tenancies in Milson South (the rent area for part of Milson) had a median rent of $588 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 $530 to $633.
What schools are in Milson?
LINZ maps 2 school sites inside Milson: Milson School and St Peter's College (Palmerston North). The nearest secondary school to its centre is St Peter's College (Palmerston North) (1.1 km in a straight line). Secondary-school home zones covering most of its titles are Freyberg High School and Palmerston North Boys' High School; check the school's own zone map for any address.