Highgate Hill

Highgate Hill has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Highgate Hill's population was approximately 7,230 as of February 2026. This figure showed an increase of 858 people from the 2021 Census total of 6,372, indicating a growth rate of 13.5%. The change was inferred using the estimated resident population of 7,207 reported by ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 43 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 5,975 persons per square kilometer, placing Highgate Hill within the top 10% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate exceeded both national (9.9%) and state averages, marking it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration was identified as the primary driver for population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data were used. However, these state projections lack age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applied proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population projections indicate an above median growth trend, with Highgate Hill expected to grow by 1,870 persons to reach a total of approximately 9,100 inhabitants by 2041, reflecting a 25.6% increase over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Highgate Hill when compared nationally

Highgate Hill has averaged approximately 19 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY2021 to FY2025, 96 homes were approved, with an additional 14 approved so far in FY2026. On average, each year sees about 5.2 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed during these five years.

This indicates a significant demand exceeding supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new dwellings is $580,000, suggesting that developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In comparison to Greater Brisbane, Highgate Hill shows substantially reduced construction activity, at 81.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction often reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. When measured nationally, this reflects market maturity and possible development constraints. The current building activity consists of 24.0% detached dwellings and 76.0% medium to high-density housing. This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 39.0% houses. The location has approximately 511 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Highgate Hill is projected to add 1,847 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Highgate Hill has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely impacting the region. Notable ones are Hampstead & Jones, Highgate Hill Terraces, University of Queensland Paralympic Centre of Excellence, and Queen's Wharf Brisbane. 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.

Highgate Hill shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Highgate Hill has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation, an unemployment rate of 7.1% as of September 2025, and stable employment over the past year. The unemployment rate is 3.1% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation is at 74.2%, similar to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%.

According to Census responses, 27.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (35.7%), professional & technical services (24.8%), and education & training (12.5%). Highgate Hill has a high specialization in professional & technical jobs, at 1.8 times the regional level, but lower representation in construction, at 4.9% compared to the regional average of 9.0%. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 0.1%, while labour force grew by 1.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points.

In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Highgate Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Highgate Hill SA2 is above the national average. The median income is $49,801 while the average income stands at $72,071. In comparison, Greater Brisbane has a median income of $58,236 and an average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023 until September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $54,736 for the median income and $79,213 for the average income. Census 2021 data reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Highgate Hill cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 28.8% of locals (2,082 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, mirroring the surrounding region where 33.3% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 31.2% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 60th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Highgate Hill features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Highgate Hill's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 39.0% houses and 61.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Highgate Hill was at 25.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.8% and rented ones at 51.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,383, above Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Highgate Hill was recorded at $380, matching Brisbane metro's figure but exceeding the national average of $375. Nationally, Highgate Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863.

Highgate Hill features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 57.2% of all households, including 22.6% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 42.8%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 11.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

Highgate Hill's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks: 55.1% hold university qualifications compared to Queensland's 25.7% and Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (32.8%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%). Vocational pathways account for 19.3%, with advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 10.6%. Educational participation is high, with 35.9% currently enrolled in formal education: 14.5% in tertiary, 9.4% in secondary, and 6.6% in primary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 35.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.5% in tertiary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing primary education.

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

Highgate Hill has 21 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by three routes that together offer 821 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically 122 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound due to Highgate Hill's residential nature. Cars remain dominant at 59%, followed by walking (13%) and buses (12%). Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 27.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 117 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 39 weekly trips per stop.

Highgate Hill's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Highgate Hill.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be very low across all age groups. Approximately 55% (~3969 people) of the total population had private health cover. The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues, impacting 10.3% of residents, and asthma, affecting 7.2%. 73.2% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. The under-65 population demonstrated better than average health outcomes. As of 2021, the area had 12.2% (882 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which was lower than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Highgate 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

Highgate Hill, surveyed in the year 2016, showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets. It had 26.8% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 35.1% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 33.4%.

Buddhism, however, was more prevalent here at 4.8%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 2.0%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (21.5%), Australian (17.5%), and Other (11.5%). Notably, Greek, French, and Vietnamese ethnicities were overrepresented in Highgate Hill compared to regional averages.

Highgate Hill's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Highgate Hill's median age is nearly 37 years, closely matching Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and nearing Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Highgate Hill has a higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 at 18.8%, but fewer residents aged 5-14 at 8.3%. This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 12.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 15.8% to 18.8%, while those aged 5 to 14 have decreased from 10.0% to 8.3%, and the 35-44 age group has fallen from 14.5% to 12.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant shifts in Highgate Hill's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is expected to grow by 41%, adding 430 residents to reach a total of 1,485. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort is projected to grow by a modest 7%, an increase of just 10 people.