Higgins

An assessment of population growth drivers in Higgins reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Higgins' population, as of November 2025, is approximately 3,278, a decrease of 43 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,321. This change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 3,278 in June 2024 and three validated new addresses recorded after the Census date. The population density stands at 1,962 persons per square kilometer, surpassing the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.0% to overall population gains recently. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, also based on 2022. Projections indicate an overall population decline over this period, with Higgins' population expected to decrease by 386 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are projected to grow, with an increase of 64 people anticipated.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Higgins, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Higgins averaged approximately 14 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 74 homes. As of FY26, 78 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 1.3 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. However, this figure has eased to 0.2 people per dwelling over the past two financial years. The average construction cost value of new properties is $274,000.

This year, there have been $1.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Higgins has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 18th percentile nationally, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. New development consists of 21.0% detached dwellings and 79.0% medium and high-density housing, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands. Higgins has around 818 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area with stable or declining population expected in the future, potentially reducing pressure on housing and creating opportunities for buyers.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Higgins should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Higgins has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to influence the region: Kippax Fair Expansion & Upgrade, The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages, Ginninderry Estate - Stages 4-7 (Strathnairn & future Macnamara), and New Northside Hospital are key projects. Relevant details are listed below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Higgins has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Higgins has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.3% as of September 2025, with estimated employment growth of 2.7% over the past year. In comparison to Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) unemployment rate of 3.6%, Higgins' rate is 1.7% higher.

Workforce participation in Higgins stands at 67.8%, below ACT's 72.5%. According to Census responses, only 12.3% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. Construction is particularly strong, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented at 27.4%, compared to ACT's 30.4%. The residential area offers limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.7% while labour force grew by 1.1%, leading to a 1.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, ACT saw employment rise by 1.4%, labour force grow by 1.2%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Higgins' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 shows income in Higgins SA2 is above national average. Median income is $65,107 and average income is $71,849. This contrasts with Australian Capital Territory's median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $71,136 (median) and $78,502 (average). Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Higgins rank between 80th and 82nd percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 33.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, mirroring surrounding region at 34.3%. Notably, 32.9% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 13.4% of income and strong earnings place residents in the 82nd percentile for disposable income. Area's SEIFA income ranking is in the 7th decile.

Higgins is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Higgins' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.7% houses and 4.3% other dwellings. This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Higgins was at 31.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.5% and rented ones at 23.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure in Higgins was $400, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Higgins' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Rents in Higgins exceeded the national figure of $375 by $25.

Higgins has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.0% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 28.5% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.0%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Higgins exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 34.2%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 31.8% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (21.2%). Educational participation is high, with 29.4% currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.5% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 4.9% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Higgins has 29 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 71 different routes, offering a total of 5,086 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 138 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 89%, with buses used by 6%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, an average of 726 trips is made daily, equating to about 175 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Higgins is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Higgins faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high for common health conditions overall, but especially so among older age cohorts.

Approximately 55% of Higgins' total population (~1,799 people) has private health cover, compared to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (9.5%) and mental health issues (9.4%), while 65.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. Higgins has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (595 people), higher than the 14.1% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges, though they rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Higgins was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Higgins' cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 23.8% of its population born overseas and 17.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the main religion in Higgins, making up 45.3% of people. Hinduism's representation was notably higher in Higgins at 2.4%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (26.1%), English (24.4%), and Other (10.7%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Spanish was overrepresented at 0.7% in Higgins (compared to 0.5% regionally), Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.3%), and Vietnamese at 1.5% (vs 1.0%).

Higgins's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Higgins's median age is 38 years, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 but equivalent to the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Higgins has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (8.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 7.2% to 8.6%, while the percentage of residents aged 85+ has risen from 1.4% to 2.6%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 55-64 has declined from 9.7% to 8.3%, and the percentage of residents aged 65-74 has dropped from 8.3% to 6.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that Higgins's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 65%, adding 56 residents to reach a total of 143. Senior residents aged 65+ will drive all population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 65-74 and 55-64 age groups are expected to experience population declines.