Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Chapel Hill's population is around 11,175 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 444 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,731 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,170 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,069 persons per square kilometer. Chapel Hill's growth rate of 4.1% since the census positions it within 2.0 percentage points of the SA3 area (6.1%). Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting 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, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Looking ahead, projections indicate a decline in overall population by 282 persons by 2041. However, growth is anticipated within specific age cohorts, notably the 85 and over age group, projected to increase by 344 people.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Chapel Hill recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Chapel Hill has seen approximately 20 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 102 homes. As of FY-26, 8 approvals have been recorded. On average, around 3 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests supply is lagging demand, potentially leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $641,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, $10.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing moderate levels of commercial development compared to Greater Brisbane. Chapel Hill exhibits approximately 60% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 41st percentile nationally, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. Recent construction comprises 71.0% standalone homes and 29.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space, marking a significant departure from the current housing pattern of 97.0% houses. With around 588 people per approval, Chapel Hill shows characteristics of a mature, established area.

Population projections indicating stability or decline suggest reduced housing demand pressures in the future, benefiting potential buyers.

Chapel Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Woodlands Residences, Mount Coot-tha Precinct Upgrades, Centa Property Group Lambert Road Development, and 2172 Moggill Road Townhouses. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

Chapel Hill ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Chapel Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.1%. In comparison to Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%, Chapel Hill's rate is 1.9% lower.

However, workforce participation lags behind Greater Brisbane at 65.0% compared to 70.7%. According to Census responses, 38.6% of residents work from home. The key industries for employment among residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Chapel Hill has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction is under-represented at 5.3% compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Chapel Hill's labour force decreased by 3.8% while employment declined by 2.8%, leading to a fall in unemployment of 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.8%, the labour force grow by 3.3%, and unemployment fall by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% and by 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chapel Hill's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 7.4% over five years and 15.0% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The Chapel Hill SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $70,140 and an average income of $109,157 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is notably high compared to Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $77,091 (median) and $119,974 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Chapel Hill's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 85th and 96th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 33.9% of locals (3,788 people) earn over $4000 weekly, differing from the regional norm where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 33.3%. A significant 49.4% earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating prosperity and robust local economic activity. After housing costs, residents retain 89.3% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Chapel Hill's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.3% houses and 2.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chapel Hill stood at 43.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.9% and rented ones at 14.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,407, exceeding Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Chapel Hill was $555, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Chapel Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Chapel Hill features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 84.5% of all households, including 47.0% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 15.5%, with lone person households at 12.7% and group households at 2.7%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Chapel Hill demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Chapel Hill is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 57.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland and 30.4% nationally. This educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.5%).

Vocational pathways account for 18.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 9.0% and certificates 9.5%. Educational participation is notably high in Chapel Hill, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest figures. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 7.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Chapel Hill has 47 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 18 different routes that collectively facilitate 1,842 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 197 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 81% of residents, followed by buses at 8% and cycling at 3%. The average number of vehicles per dwelling is 1.7, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 38.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 263 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop.

Chapel Hill's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Chapel Hill. AreaSearch's assessment indicates low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 75% of the total population (8,414 people), compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 6.5% and 6.4% of residents respectively. Notably, 74.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. The area has 20.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,302 people), higher than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Chapel Hill was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chapel Hill's cultural diversity was notable, with 23.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 36.5% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Chapel Hill, comprising 48.0% of the population. However, Judaism was significantly overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, making up 0.6% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (25.7%), Australian (20.2%), and Other (10.5%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation: South African at 1.6% (regional average 0.6%), Korean at 1.0% (0.5%), and Sri Lankan at 0.6% (0.2%).

Chapel Hill's median age exceeds the national pattern

Chapel Hill's median age is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and Australia's median of 38. The 45-54 cohort is notably over-represented at 15.8% locally compared to the Greater Brisbane average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 6.3%. Post the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group grew from 11.7% to 14.5%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 5.8% to 7.9%. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort declined from 14.2% to 12.4%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 7.4% to 6.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Chapel Hill's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 120%, adding 312 residents to reach 574. Residents aged 65 and older represent 84% of anticipated growth, while population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 0-4 cohorts.