Sherwood

Population growth drivers in Sherwood are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Sherwood's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 7,124 people. This figure represents a growth of 672 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,452. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,985 in June 2024 and an additional 96 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,124 persons per square kilometer, placing Sherwood in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. Sherwood's growth rate of 10.4% since the 2021 Census exceeded both its SA4 region (8.5%) and national averages, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends indicate an expected increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation, with Sherwood projected to grow by 764 persons to reach a total population of approximately 7,888 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 8.8% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Sherwood when compared nationally

Sherwood has received approximately 25 dwelling approvals annually. From FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 127 homes were approved, with an additional 8 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling constructed over the past five financial years brought in about 5.5 new residents.

This demand exceeds supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing buyer competition. The average construction cost for new dwellings is $415,000, which is higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. In FY-26, there have been $2.2 million in commercial approvals, indicating a primarily residential focus. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Sherwood has 17.0% lower construction activity per person and ranks at the 51st percentile nationally.

New developments consist of equal parts detached houses and townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living which can be more affordable for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 450 people per dwelling approval, Sherwood indicates a developed market. By 2041, AreaSearch projects an increase of 625 residents in Sherwood. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, presenting favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

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

Four projects, identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area, are underway. These key projects are: Oxley Creek Transformation, Parklands At Sherwood, Cross River Rail - Graceville Station, and Centenary Motorway Bypass. Details regarding these projects can be found below.

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

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Employment performance in Sherwood has been broadly consistent with national averages

Sherwood has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%. As of September 2025, 3,914 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% lower than Greater Brisbane's 4.0%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. Census data shows 32.1% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Sherwood specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Construction employs only 4.8% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by the ratio of working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Sherwood's labour force decreased by 3.6%, with employment declining by 2.8%, leading to a 0.8 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.8% and labour force by 3.3%, with unemployment falling by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth varies significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Sherwood's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.1% in five years and 14.5% in ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

The Sherwood SA2's median income among taxpayers was $69,501 and average income stood at $93,213 in the financial year 2023. These figures were significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. By September 2025, estimates based on a 9.91% Wage Price Index growth suggest median income would be approximately $76,389 and average income around $102,450. Sherwood's incomes rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes all between the 70th and 83rd percentiles. The predominant income cohort spans 28.8% of locals (2,051 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. Higher earners, those exceeding $3,000 weekly, make up a substantial 34.3%. High housing costs consume 15.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 72nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Sherwood displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

As per the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures in Sherwood comprised 53.9% houses and 46.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sherwood stood at 29.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.8% and rented dwellings at 36.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,210, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure for Sherwood was recorded at $395, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Sherwood's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 65.6% of all households, including 30.6% couples with children, 25.1% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households comprising 4.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Sherwood places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Sherwood's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 50.8% hold university qualifications, compared to QLD's 25.7% and Australia's 30.4%. This is attributed to Bachelor degrees (32.3%), postgraduate qualifications (13.9%), and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 21.5%, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 11.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.8% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (9.0%), tertiary (9.0%), secondary (8.9%).

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

Public transport analysis indicates 22 active transport stops operating within Sherwood. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 89 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 2,761 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 213 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 73%, while train accounts for 17%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high 32.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 394 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 125 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sherwood'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 Sherwood. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 68% of the total population (4,808 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were mental health issues (8.3%) and asthma (7.4%). 72.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. As of 19/05/2021, the area had 19.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,362 people), higher than Greater Brisbane's 15.2%. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Sherwood's cultural diversity exceeds most local markets, with 14.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 26.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sherwood, comprising 47.5%. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 0.1%.

The top three ancestral groups are English (27.5%), Australian (22.1%), and Irish (11.1%). Significant differences exist for Scottish (9.9% vs regional 7.4%), Russian (0.6% vs 0.3%), and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.5%) groups.

Sherwood's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Sherwood is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and close to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Sherwood has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (8.2%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.2%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the percentage of Sherwood's population aged 75 to 84 increased from 5.2% to 8.2%, while the percentage of those aged 25 to 34 decreased from 13.8% to 12.2%. By 2041, Sherwood is projected to experience significant changes in its age composition. The number of residents aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 60%, reaching 932 from 584. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 72% of the population growth, indicating a clear aging trend. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 15-24 and 0-4 years.