Hawthorne

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

Based on demographic evaluations from AreaSearch, the resident count of Hawthorne stands at approximately 5,704 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 571 individuals (11.1%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a total of 5,133 residents. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,702 combined with 57 validated new addresses identified after the Census. This population size yields a density of 4,103 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the top 10% of all national territories analyzed by AreaSearch and highlights the high demand for local land. The 11.1% expansion rate of Hawthorne since the 2021 Census outpaced the national baseline (9.3%) as well as the surrounding SA3 region, positioning it as a local growth outlier. The primary engine of this growth was overseas migration, which was responsible for roughly 74.5% of the total population gains in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024, utilizing 2022 as a baseline, are used for SA2 areas. For localities omitted from this dataset or for timeframes beyond 2032, projections published by the Queensland State Government in 2023 (using 2021 data) are substituted. Because these state-level forecasts omit age cohort distributions, AreaSearch distributes growth across age segments using weights derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 numbers. Looking ahead, population growth is projected to track slightly below the median of all locations monitored by AreaSearch, with the suburb expected to add 415 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, representing a cumulative increase of 7.2% over the 16 years.

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

Hawthorne averages roughly 18 residential building approvals per year, with a total of 91 units approved during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 10 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Given that 3.9 new residents have been added for each completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand outstrips new supply, a dynamic that typically fuels price appreciation and heightens buyer competition. Approved residential projects carry an average value of $837,000, signaling that developers are targeting the high-end market with premium housing options. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $813,000 have been logged during the current financial year, reinforcing the primarily residential character of the suburb.

In comparison to Greater Brisbane, per capita residential building approvals in Hawthorne run at approximately 67%, placing the suburb in the 33rd percentile of all locations analyzed nationwide, which translates to fewer options for prospective buyers and bolsters demand for established homes. This activity level is also lower than the national benchmark, reflecting a mature market environment and indicating potential constraints on new development. The composition of new approvals is 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a diversifying product mix that accommodates different budgets, from family residences to smaller, more affordable dwellings. The ratio of roughly 504 people for each dwelling approval highlights a highly established market structure.

According to population projections, Hawthorne is set to add 413 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. Current building volumes suggest that the supply of new housing will be sufficient to satisfy this demand, which should create favorable purchasing conditions for buyers while potentially supporting growth levels that run ahead of current projections.

Hawthorne has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and planning changes are major drivers of local property market performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 8 projects that are likely to influence the local area. Key projects include the Skyring Terrace Road Upgrade, the Bulimba Barracks Urban Renewal Project, VOIR, and the Cross River Rail - Woolloongabba Station, with details of the most relevant developments provided below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Hawthorne performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

The local workforce is highly educated, featuring a strong concentration of professionals, a low unemployment rate of 2.5%, and an estimated job growth rate of 1.7% over the preceding year. As of March 2026, there are 3,712 employed residents, and the unemployment rate sits 1.8% below the Greater Brisbane average of 4.3%. Furthermore, labor force participation is exceptionally high at 81.0%, compared to 70.4% across Greater Brisbane. Census data indicates that 30.3% of workers operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment fields for residents are professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The suburb exhibits a distinct concentration in professional & technical services, with its share of employment running 1.7 times higher than the metropolitan average. Conversely, manufacturing accounts for only 3.7% of the local workforce, which is lower than the Greater Brisbane level of 6.4%. A comparison of the locally employed Census workforce against the resident population indicates that this largely residential area offers few employment opportunities within its own boundaries.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, local employment grew by 1.7% while the labor force expanded by 2.3%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.2% and its labor force expand by 3.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.1 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 provide context for future local demand. These five- and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce composition to estimate growth trajectories. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector growth rates vary. Projecting these industry trends onto the local employment structure suggests that Hawthorne's workforce could grow by 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes that does not account for local population dynamics.

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

The latest ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that taxpayer incomes in the Hawthorne SA2 are exceptionally high by national standards. The median taxpayer income in the area is $79,088 and the average income is $125,731, compared to Greater Brisbane averages of $58,236 and $72,799 respectively. Adjusting these figures for a Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of approximately $88,072 (median) and $140,014 (average) as of March 2026. According to Census data, household, family, and individual incomes in Hawthorne all rank within the 95th to 97th percentiles nationally. The largest income group comprises 38.6% of residents (2,201 people) who earn $4000+ weekly, which contrasts with the metropolitan trend where 33.3% of households earn between $1,500 - 2,999. High-income earners are prominent, with 50.0% of households receiving more than $3,000 per week, indicating substantial local purchasing power. Residents retain 86.7% of their income after meeting housing expenses, and the suburb's SEIFA economic index ranking is in the 9th decile.

Hawthorne displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

At the time of the latest Census, the housing stock in Hawthorne consisted of 63.1% separate houses and 36.9% other dwelling types like townhouses and apartments, compared to 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings across metro Brisbane. Home ownership rates in Hawthorne matched the metropolitan average of 25.4%, with the remaining properties being held with a mortgage (37.6%) or rented (37.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,800 was significantly higher than the Brisbane metro average of $1,863, and the median weekly rent of $430 also exceeded the metropolitan median of $380. Locally, mortgage obligations are well above the national average of $1,863, while rental costs are significantly higher than the Australian median of $375.

Hawthorne features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Families make up the majority of local households at 70.6%, consisting of couples with children (37.1%), couples without children (23.3%), and single-parent households (8.9%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 29.4%, with single-person households representing 23.8% and group households making up 5.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 residents is identical to the Greater Brisbane average.

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

Academic credentials in Hawthorne are significantly higher than average, with 50.0% of residents aged 15 and older holding a university degree, compared to 25.7% across QLD and 30.4% nationwide. This high educational level positions the suburb well for knowledge-intensive employment. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 33.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees (11.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational qualifications are held by 23.9% of residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (12.7%).

Participation in education is high, with 33.5% of the population enrolled in an educational program. This total comprises 9.9% in primary school, 9.4% in high school, and 8.5% attending tertiary institutions.

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

Public transport options in Hawthorne include 29 active transit stops offering a combination of ferry and bus services. These stops accommodate 9 distinct routes that generate 1,511 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is highly rated, with residents living an average of 137 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area. Private vehicles are the main transport mode at 77%, while buses account for 6%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.4 cars per dwelling. Census data from 2021 shows that 30.3% of residents worked from home, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Transit services average 215 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 52 weekly trips for each transit stop.

Hawthorne's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health indicators compiled by AreaSearch reveal excellent outcomes for Hawthorne, characterized by low mortality rates and a low prevalence of chronic illnesses across all age brackets. Additionally, private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with approximately 80% of the population (4,557 people) covered, compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues in the suburb are mental health concerns and asthma, which affect 7.1% and 6.7% of residents respectively. Conversely, 77.9% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The working-age population is particularly healthy, showing low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older make up 9.5% of the population (540 people), which is lower than the Greater Brisbane share of 15.1%. The health status of local seniors is very strong, with national rankings aligning with the overall population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Hawthorne records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity in Hawthorne is similar to the metropolitan average, with 77.4% of residents born in Australia, 89.4% holding citizenship, and 90.7% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, practiced by 55.2% of the population. The most distinct religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of residents compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane.

In terms of family ancestry, the three most common backgrounds reported in Hawthorne are English (28.5%), Australian (23.0%), and Irish (11.0%). There are also variations in other backgrounds, with Scottish heritage overrepresented at 9.8% of the population (compared to 7.4% regionally), French at 0.8% (compared to 0.5% regionally), and New Zealand ancestry at 0.9% (compared to 1.0% regionally).

Hawthorne's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Hawthorne is 37 years, which is close to the Greater Brisbane median of 36 and the national median of 38. Compared to the wider Brisbane metropolitan area, Hawthorne has a larger proportion of residents aged 45 - 54 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (12.1%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket has increased from 13.7% to 16.3% of the population, and the 55 to 64 group has grown from 12.0% to 13.6%. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 14.4% to 12.6% and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 17.3% to 15.8%. Demographic projections suggest the age structure will change by 2041, with the 45 to 54 group expected to see the largest growth at 17%, adding 150 people to reach 1,054, while the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are projected to shrink.