Young Australians Stay in Family Home Longer, Hilda Survey Snapshot Shows

The survey, commonly known as Hilda, asks thousands of Australians a series of questions each year. It began in 2001 and has followed the same households over time. As those families have expanded over the past two decades, the survey has grown to include about 17,000 people a year in 9,000 households. The Melbourne Institute manages the project and this week published its annual snapshot of the social and economic trends shaping Australia.

The Guardian said the annual snapshot contained six things learned. The headline finding was that young Australians are staying in the family home for longer. The Guardian said it is not hard to see why. The survey is described as offering a unique insight into Australian life in the 21st century and how it has changed.

The Hilda survey's scale and duration allow it to track income, labour dynamics and household arrangements across the same families. Its annual snapshot is intended to capture major social and economic trends. The latest snapshot was published on Sept. 23, 2026, according to The Guardian.