Economy, jobs and prices in Lower Hutt, New Zealand: official figures
The median personal income of adults in Lower Hutt was NZ$47,800 a year at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: NZ$41,500). That is 2nd highest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
What is the median household income in Lower Hutt?
The median household income in Lower Hutt was NZ$110,100 a year in 2023, up from NZ$82,200 at the 2018 Census (New Zealand in 2023: NZ$97,000). That is 3rd highest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Lower Hutt?
At the 2023 Census, 67.4% of people aged 15 and over in Lower Hutt were employed (full-time or part-time) and the unemployment rate was 4.4% of the labour force (New Zealand: 64.6% employed and 4.4% unemployed). That is 5th highest unemployment of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many jobs are there in Lower Hutt?
Stats NZ counted 46,400 employees working in Lower Hutt in February 2025, which is 41 for every 100 residents. That is 2nd fewest jobs per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Lower Hutt?
There were 11,529 businesses (geographic units) in Lower Hutt in February 2025, or 101 per 1,000 residents. That is 3rd lowest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Lower Hutt?
The biggest industries for employed residents of Lower Hutt at the 2023 Census were public administration and safety (14.4%), professional, scientific and technical services (10.9%), construction (10.2%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Lower Hutt work from home?
At the 2023 Census, 17.5% of employed residents of Lower Hutt mainly worked at home on census day. That is 3rd highest share of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many new homes are being built in Lower Hutt?
Councils consented 404 new dwellings in Lower Hutt in the year ended March 2026, compared with 486 the year before (3.5 per 1,000 residents). That is 2nd fewest consents per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Lower Hutt?
The median weekly rent paid by households in Lower Hutt was NZ$450 at the 2023 Census, up from NZ$300 in 2018 (New Zealand: NZ$450). That is 4th lowest rent of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people own their home in Lower Hutt?
66.8% of households in Lower Hutt owned their home or held it in a family trust at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 66.0%). That is 5th highest home ownership of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many households in Lower Hutt have no car?
8.0% of households in Lower Hutt had no motor vehicle at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 6.3%). That is 3rd highest share without a vehicle of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Lower Hutt have internet access?
91.5% of people in Lower Hutt had access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 90.5%). That is 4th highest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Lower Hutt compares with other cities in New Zealand
Median personal income of adults (2023 Census)
Lower Hutt ranks 2 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)
Lower Hutt ranks 5 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | Wellington | 4.0% |
Employees working in the area per 100 residents (February 2025)
Lower Hutt ranks 8 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employees working in the area per 100 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hamilton | 55 |
| 4 | Napier-Hastings | 50 |
| 5 | Auckland | 48 |
| 6 | Tauranga | 46 |
| 7 | Dunedin | 46 |
| 8 | Lower Hutt | 41 |
| 9 | Whangarei District | 38 |
Median weekly rent (2023 Census)
Lower Hutt ranks 5 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities with separate medians.
| Rank | City | Median weekly rent |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 8 | Dunedin | NZ$400 |
More on Lower Hutt: 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: Lower Hutt City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 612b4ecf5365…)
- 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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