Riverhills
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Riverhills' population is approximately 4,265 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 144 people, a rise of 3.5% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 4,121. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures: 4,265 as of June 2024 and one validated new address since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,956 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Riverhills' growth rate of 3.5% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area at 3.2%, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Natural population growth contributed approximately 67.7% of overall gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections lack age category splits; thus, proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied when utilised. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth nationally; Riverhills is expected to expand by 106 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 2.5% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Riverhills is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Riverhills has averaged approximately two new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, there were 12 homes approved annually.

In FY26 up until now, one new dwelling approval has been recorded. This averages out to around 0.3 people moving to the area per year for each dwelling built over these five financial years. New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new properties is $336,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers.

When compared to Greater Brisbane, Riverhills has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. It places among the 10th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties. This activity is lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent development in Riverhills has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 1768 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Looking ahead, Riverhills is expected to grow by 106 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Riverhills has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely to affect the region: Centenary Motorway Upgrade Planning, Middle Park Intersection Upgrade (Eumong Street/Riverhills Road), Metro Middle Park Mixed-Use Redevelopment, and McLeod Country Golf Club Retirement Village. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Riverhills shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Riverhills has an educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%.

Employment stability has been consistent over the past year. As of June 2025, 2449 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.2%, lower than Greater Brisbane's 4.1%. Workforce participation in Riverhills is high at 72.2%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Notably, education & training employs 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, accommodation & food services employ only 5.2% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 6.7%. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 0.1%, while labour force decreased by 1.5%, leading to a 1.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 4.4% and unemployment fall by 0.4%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, slightly lower than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts indicate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Riverhills' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simplified extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

Riverhills has a median taxpayer income of $61,478 and an average income of $77,205 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This is among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $68,677 (median) and $86,246 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Riverhills cluster around the 72nd percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 39.8% of residents (1,697 people), which is slightly higher than the regional level of 33.3%. Housing expenses account for 15.1% of income. Riverhills residents rank within the 71st percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Riverhills is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Riverhills' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.1% houses and 12.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 91.4% houses and 8.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Riverhills stood at 25.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 49.4% and rented ones at 25.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, lower than Brisbane metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in the area was $410, compared to Brisbane metro's $450. Nationally, Riverhills' mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Riverhills features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 77.2% of all households, with couples having children making up 37.5%, couples without children at 25.7%, and single parent families at 12.6%. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.8%, comprising lone person households at 19.7% and group households at 3.2%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.8.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 34.3%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 47.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 23.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 35.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 22.9%. Educational participation is high, with 31.0% currently enrolled in formal education: 11.0% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 6.0% in tertiary education.

Schools appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access them in neighboring areas.

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

Riverhills has nine active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that together facilitate 596 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is considered good, with residents being located an average of 235 meters from their nearest stop.

On a daily basis, there are approximately 85 trips across all routes, which translates to about 66 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Riverhills showed strong health metrics across all age groups.

Both young and elderly residents had low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 58%, covering 2,465 people. Mental health issues were the most common condition, affecting 8.3% of residents, followed by asthma at 7.4%. Overall, 72.5% declared themselves free from medical ailments, compared to 71.2% in Greater Brisbane. Riverhills had 15.7% of residents aged 65 and over (668 people), lower than the 20.4% in Greater Brisbane. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors were strong and aligned with the general population's health profile.

Riverhills 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

Riverhills was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 19.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 31.0% born overseas. The predominant religion in Riverhills is Christianity, comprising 45.5% of the population. Buddhism, however, is overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, making up 2.6% versus 3.4%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English at 26.4%, Australian at 21.5%, and Other at 11.2%. Notably, South African (1.1%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average (0.9%), as are New Zealanders (1.2% vs 1.0%) and Samoans (0.9% vs 0.4%).

Riverhills's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Riverhills' median age is 36 years, equal to Greater Brisbane's but younger than the national average of 38 years. The 35-44 age group makes up 17.4% of Riverhills' population compared to Greater Brisbane, while the 25-34 cohort comprises 11.3%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group grew from 3.7% to 5.5%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.1% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort declined from 13.9% to 11.3%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 15.0% to 13.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Riverhills. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to rise by 150 people (64%), from 236 to 387. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 63% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both 65-74 and 15-24 age groups are expected to decrease in number.