Economy, jobs and prices in Hamilton, New Zealand: official figures
The median personal income of adults in Hamilton was NZ$42,200 a year at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: NZ$41,500). That is 4th highest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
What is the median household income in Hamilton?
The median household income in Hamilton was NZ$96,500 a year in 2023, up from NZ$73,000 at the 2018 Census (New Zealand in 2023: NZ$97,000). That is 4th highest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Hamilton?
At the 2023 Census, 64.9% of people aged 15 and over in Hamilton were employed (full-time or part-time) and the unemployment rate was 5.6% of the labour force (New Zealand: 64.6% employed and 4.4% unemployed). That is the highest unemployment of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many jobs are there in Hamilton?
Stats NZ counted 105,100 employees working in Hamilton in February 2025, which is 55 for every 100 residents. That is 3rd most jobs per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Hamilton?
There were 17,949 businesses (geographic units) in Hamilton in February 2025, or 93 per 1,000 residents. That is the lowest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Hamilton?
The biggest industries for employed residents of Hamilton at the 2023 Census were health care and social assistance (12.7%), manufacturing (10.7%), professional, scientific and technical services (10.4%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Hamilton work from home?
At the 2023 Census, 12.5% of employed residents of Hamilton mainly worked at home on census day. That is the lowest share of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many new homes are being built in Hamilton?
Councils consented 810 new dwellings in Hamilton in the year ended March 2026, compared with 914 the year before (4.2 per 1,000 residents). That is 4th most consents per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Hamilton?
The median weekly rent paid by households in Hamilton was NZ$465 at the 2023 Census, up from NZ$350 in 2018 (New Zealand: NZ$450). That is 4th highest rent of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people own their home in Hamilton?
53.5% of households in Hamilton owned their home or held it in a family trust at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 66.0%). That is the lowest home ownership of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many households in Hamilton have no car?
6.8% of households in Hamilton had no motor vehicle at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 6.3%). That is 5th highest share without a vehicle of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Hamilton have internet access?
91.2% of people in Hamilton had access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 90.5%). That is 5th highest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Hamilton compares with other cities in New Zealand
Median personal income of adults (2023 Census)
Hamilton ranks 4 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities with separate medians.
| Rank | City | Median personal income of adults |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | NZ$55,500 |
| 2 | Lower Hutt | NZ$47,800 |
| 3 | Auckland | NZ$44,700 |
| 4 | Hamilton | NZ$42,200 |
| 5 | Tauranga | NZ$42,100 |
| 6 | Christchurch | NZ$40,400 |
| 7 | Whangarei District | NZ$36,500 |
Unemployment rate (2023 Census)
Hamilton ranks 1 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton | 5.6% |
| 2 | Dunedin | 5.0% |
| 3 | Auckland | 4.8% |
| 4 | Whangarei District | 4.6% |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | 4.4% |
| 6 | Napier-Hastings | 4.2% |
| 7 | Christchurch | 4.1% |
Employees working in the area per 100 residents (February 2025)
Hamilton ranks 3 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employees working in the area per 100 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | 80 |
| 2 | Christchurch | 57 |
| 3 | Hamilton | 55 |
| 4 | Napier-Hastings | 50 |
| 5 | Auckland | 48 |
| 6 | Tauranga | 46 |
| 7 | Dunedin | 46 |
Median weekly rent (2023 Census)
Hamilton ranks 4 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities with separate medians.
| Rank | City | Median weekly rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | NZ$560 |
| 2 | Tauranga | NZ$550 |
| 3 | Auckland | NZ$540 |
| 4 | Hamilton | NZ$465 |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | NZ$450 |
| 6 | Whangarei District | NZ$420 |
| 7 | Christchurch | NZ$415 |
More on Hamilton: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Hamilton City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6a430eff0640…)
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Wellington City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c078d1c26a…)
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