Hilltop is a suburb of Taupō in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

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Hilltop
Suburb
Hilltop Shopping Centre
Coordinates: 38.700310°S 176.093236°E / -38.700310; 176.093236
Country	New Zealand
City	Taupō
Local authority	Taupō District Council
Electoral ward	Taupō Ward
Area [1]
• Land	250 ha (620 acres)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Total	2,830

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Taupō Central		Tauhara
(Lake Taupō)	Hilltop
Two Mile Bay	Waipahihi	Maunganamu

The suburb is close to Lake Taupō, Taupō Central and several schools.^[3] It includes high-value homes with lake views.^[3][4]

Part of the suburb suffered a major power surge in January 2018.^[5]

Hilltop covers 2.50 km² (0.97 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 2,830 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 1,132 people per km².

Hilltop had a population of 2,721 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 201 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 168 people (6.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,017 households, comprising 1,302 males and 1,419 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female. The median age was 42.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 594 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 399 (14.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,125 (41.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 603 (22.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.1% European/Pākehā, 23.7% Māori, 3.4% Pacific peoples, 3.9% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.6% had no religion, 37.0% were Christian, 2.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 324 (15.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 417 (19.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 309 people (14.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 978 (46.0%) people were employed full-time, 342 (16.1%) were part-time, and 48 (2.3%) were unemployed.^[6]

Hilltop School is a state primary school,^[7] with a roll of 561.^[8] The school opened in 1964.^[9]

Taupo Intermediate is a state intermediate school,^[10][11] with a roll of 524.^[12] The school opened in 1969.^[13]

Both these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of February 2024.^[14]