Guide to living in Box Hill in Sydney, NSW

Box Hill, in Sydney’s outer north-west is undergoing a major transformation in housing, transport, schools and shops thanks to a huge population boom right across the Hills Shire.

Let's look at what Box Hill currently offers in terms of real estate and lifestyle, as well as significant changes planned for the near future.

Who has their own in Box Hill?

Ten years ago, Box Hill was home to just over 1,000 residents and this figure actually shrank to a low population of 900 or so residents in 2016 before moving back up to around 10,000 in 2023.

Thanks to the popularity of neighbouring suburbs that include Windsor, Riverstone and Rouse Hill as well as the expansion of the Sydney Metro Northwest rail line and plans for a major new mixed-use town centre, Box Hill's population is expected to surge to over 30,000 in the next 10-15 years.

This increase is seeing more families moving to Box Hill, a boost to house prices, and change from the previous predominance of older people (the most common age in 2016 was 60-69 year-olds).

Photo by Trent van der Jagt

What other change is coming to Box Hill?

Box Hill's transformation from agricultural heartland to sought-after suburb has been underway for more than a decade but kicked into high gear in 2019 with the opening of the $7.3 billion Sydney Metro Northwest line, which brought rail services to nearby Rouse Hill for the first time. Further capacity, including for more regular trains, is part of the Stage 2 of this project due for completion in 2024.

Long-promised investment in other infrastructure and facilities is also taking shape with new schools, parks, sporting facilities and shopping precincts in the pipeline. Box Hill's proximity to the more established Rouse Hill also puts residents within a short walk or drive of an already thriving dining and retail centre.

Plans for a state-of-the-art hospital are underway, with a ground-breaking ceremony held in early 2023. And, a $3 billion project to transform the nearby Norwest Business Park into a 'smart city' is also underway, combining housing, retail and workspaces that will be serviced by a fully integrated transport strategy, off-grid energy options and high-speed public Wi-Fi.

Keep reading for more detail on Box Hill.

Photo by Trent van der Jagt

What's the property market like in Box Hill?

Box Hill’s transformation is proving a major drawcard for families looking to upgrade to the home of their dreams with proximity to excellent amenities and a strong community vibe.

The real estate market in Box Hill is strong, with data from March 2023 showing the median property price to be sitting around $1.2 million with an annual capital growth of 20 percent.

Rawson Homes are ideally placed to introduce you to spacious and modern new home designs for the Box Hill area. With display homes situated both in Box Hill itself as well as nearby Marsden Park, you'll be able to experience a range of home designs, each with floorplans that have been cleverly zoned for family life, whether that's an extra living room for the kids or separate accommodation for multigenerational families.

See below for some specific home designs that might just be ideal for your move to Box Hill. Let's first look at schools, shopping, transport and leisure options that await those choosing to make Box Hill home.

Schools in and near Box Hill

Box Hill residents are currently serviced by government, Catholic and independent primary schools in neighbouring Rouse Hill, Riverstone and Schofields. And, there are several more in the pipeline.

Very excitingly, Box Hill is home to Santa Sophia College, a $123 million 'vertical' coeducational K-12 school located in Box Hill North town centre that was opened in 2018.

Other secondary schools in the area include the recently revamped Riverstone High School, Rouse Hill High School and Australian Christian College - Marsden Park.

Transport for Box Hill

Box Hill is located just under 50 kilometres north-west of Sydney's CBD. Motorists are well connected to the city via the Hills M2 motorway.

Thanks to the new Northwest Metro line, trains from Rouse Hill station will have commuters at Chatswood station in less than 35 minutes and in central Sydney in just over an hour. Public transport users are also well-serviced by local bus routes to Riverstone and Rouse Hill.

Cafes, restaurants and shopping in and near Box Hill

Right in Box Hill is Carmel Village, which offers eating options ranging from bakery goods to burgers to sushi. International flavours abound thanks to Lezzette Mediterranean Grill, Product of Italy, Eat Fuh and Hills Palace Chinese Kitchen.

Carmel Village also offers two major supermarkets as well as the full range of pharmacies, beauty salons, smaller grocers and a gym and swim school.

The opening of Box Hill City Centre, planned for 2025, will introduce more dining and shopping options as well as a medical precinct.

As Box Hill is also close to Rouse Hill and Kellyville, nearby food options include brunch at The Leaf Cafe & Co and family-friendly pub meals at the Ettamogah Hotel, The Fiddler and the Australian Brewery.

Rouse Hill Town Centre is well equipped with supermarkets and specialty retailers, as well as a good selection of restaurants and a cinema. Nearby, Castle Towers Shopping Centre has a wide variety of fashion and home retailers, while Marsden Park's shopping precinct puts retailers such as Ikea and Costco within a 20-minute drive.

Photo by Trent van der Jagt

Leisure near Box Hill

The Hills shire boasts a network of bushwalking tracks that range in difficulty and are a picturesque way to explore the local area.

Families will be pleased to find new parks, playgrounds and sports fields popping up as Box Hill's new estates begin to take shape. And, a multi-million dollar sporting complex at Water Lane Reserve will provide facilities for AFL, athletics and a variety of community sport and recreation activities.

Golfers are also spoilt for choice with Castle Hill Country Club, Windsor Golf Club and the historic Richmond Golf Club within close proximity.

Let's get down to floorplans for a Box Hill new home

With the Box Hill area of Sydney offering a family-friendly lifestyle as well as seeing strong home prices and population growth, this is a great place to build a new home or undertake a knockdown rebuild.

Here are two ideal floorplans to consider:

1. The Marbella home has a private lounge set apart from the main living and dining area at ground level. And, a second storey rumpus room is positioned next to the master suite so parents can keep an eye on the kids from their own retreat. The kitchen features a much sought-after butler's pantry.

The Marbella with Regal façade.

2. The Keough has also been designed with large households in mind, with three separate entertaining zones and a fifth bedroom on the ground floor with its own retreat, making it perfect for guest accommodation or a spacious office for those who work or study from home.

The Keough with Regal façade.

Remember also that Rawson offers options for personalising existing floorplans (we call this 'Adapt') and even fully tailoring your ideal home design (we call this option 'Tailored').

Whichever floorplan is best for you, we are excited about the growth and development of Box Hill and consider it an ideal place for you to call home.

Why not visit our Box Hill and Marsden Park display homes to both check out homes and the developments taking place in Box Hill?

Photo by Trent van der Jagt

FAQs

What is the population of Box Hill?

It's estimated that the population of Box Hill, a north-western suburb of Sydney, in 2023 is around 10,000 people. This figure is a significant increase on the figures of around 1,000 people back in 2016. This figure is a significant increase on the figures of around 1,000 people back in 2016. The population is predicted to grow to over 30,000 during the next decade or so.

What is the median age in Box Hill?

Prior to a recent increase in population, data showed that the average age of Box Hill residents was between 60-69 years. Though newer data is not yet available, it's predicted that this average will be significantly lower due to more families moving to Box hill and the entire Hill Shire Council area.

How far is Box Hill from the Sydney city centre?

Box Hill is just under 50 kilometres from the Sydney Tower Eye (previously known as Centrepoint Tower). Motorists are well connected to the city via the Hills M2 Motorway and, thanks to the new Northwest Metro line, trains from Rouse Hill station will have commuters at Chatswood station in just over an hour. 

What education facilities are available in Box Hill?

Families living in Box Hill have access to a range of government, private and Catholic primary, secondary and early learning educational facilities. Box Hill is home to the new Santa Sophia K-12 college. In the area are Rouse Hill, Riverstone and Schofields primary schools and, in terms of high schools, there are the recently revamped Riverstone High School, Rouse Hill High School and Australian Christian College - Marsden Park.