Sunnybank
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Sunnybank's population, as of Aug 2025, is around 10,304. This reflects a growth of 1,271 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,033. The change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 10,292 in June 2024 and an additional 41 validated new addresses since then. This results in a density ratio of 2,347 persons per square kilometer, placing Sunnybank in the upper quartile nationally. Sunnybank's growth rate of 14.1% since the 2021 Census exceeds the national average of 8.6%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.5% of recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses 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 adopted, released in 2023 using 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so proportional growth weightings are applied based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Looking ahead, above median population growth is projected nationally, with Sunnybank expected to grow by 2,056 persons to 2041, an increase of 19.8% over the 17 years.

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

Sunnybank has recorded approximately 36 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 182 homes approved over the past five financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), and 8 so far in FY-26. On average, 4.7 new residents arrive per dwelling constructed each year over these five years. This indicates that supply is substantially lagging demand, typically leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $748,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Commercial approvals this financial year totaled $17.0 million, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Sunnybank has slightly more development, being 23.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period.

This balances buyer choice while supporting current property values, although development activity has moderated recently. New development consists of 96.0% detached dwellings and 4.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 345 people per dwelling approval, Sunnybank shows a developed market. Looking ahead, Sunnybank is expected to grow by 2,044 residents through to 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that may affect the region. Notable initiatives include the 12-20 Bothwell Street Apartments project, Brisbane Metro Project, $9.5 million Sunnybank Community & Rugby Sports Precinct Renovation, and Pavilion The Residences. Below is a list of those most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Sunnybank's workforce is highly educated with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 6.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.0%.

As of June 2025, 5,036 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.9% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation lagged at 57.7%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. The dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. Accommodation & food had particularly high representation, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

However, public administration & safety was under-represented, with only 4.4% of Sunnybank's workforce compared to Greater Brisbane's 7.0%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.0% while labour force increased by 1.9%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 6.0%. In contrast, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 4.4% and a decrease in unemployment to 3.7%. State-level data from Sep-25 showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, with employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunnybank's employment mix suggested local growth rates of approximately 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this was a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sunnybank had a median taxpayer income of $41,878 and an average income of $55,095 according to AreaSearch's aggregated postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This was below Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520. As of March 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $46,782 (median) and $61,547 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed individual incomes at the 16th percentile ($630 weekly) and household incomes at the 41st percentile. Income brackets indicated that 31.4% of Sunnybank residents earned between $1,500 - 2,999 per week (3,235 individuals), which was consistent with broader regional trends. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 83.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 41st percentile. Sunnybank's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

Sunnybank's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.3% houses and 13.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Brisbane metro had 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunnybank was at 36.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.7% and rented ones at 40.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sunnybank was $1,961, higher than Brisbane metro's $1,800 but close to the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Sunnybank was $400, matching Brisbane metro and exceeding the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.4 percent of all households, including 30.3 percent couples with children, 25.2 percent couples without children, and 12.5 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.6 percent, with lone person households at 20.0 percent and group households comprising 9.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, matching the Greater Brisbane average.

Sunnybank performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Sunnybank's educational attainment exceeds broader standards, with 37.8% of residents aged 15+ possessing university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland and 30.4% nationally as of the latest available data (2020). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (14.6%). Educational participation is high, with 32.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2020 census data.

This includes 8.9% in tertiary education, 7.9% in primary education, and 6.9% pursuing secondary education. Seven schools operate within Sunnybank, educating approximately 3,383 students as of the latest available figures (2021). The area has balanced educational opportunities, with an ICSEA score of 1018, typical for Australian schools. The educational mix includes three primary, three secondary, and one K-12 school. Sunnybank functions as an education hub, offering 32.8 school places per 100 residents – significantly higher than the regional average of 13.1 – attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Sunnybank has 58 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 57 unique routes, facilitating 4,706 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest transport stop for residents is 186 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 672 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 81 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Sunnybank has impressive health outcomes, with a low prevalence of common health conditions across all ages. The private health cover rate is around 48% (~4,904 people), lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Asthma and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 5.4 and 5.3% respectively. A majority, 77.8%, report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's 77.0%. Sunnybank has a senior population (aged 65+) of 15.5% (~1,601 people), with seniors showing strong health outcomes aligned with the general population.

Sunnybank is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Sunnybank's population is predominantly culturally diverse; 59.6% speak a language other than English at home, and 58.5% were born overseas. Christianity is the primary religion in Sunnybank, with 35.8%. Buddhism is overrepresented here compared to Greater Brisbane (7.9% vs 6.4%).

Chinese ancestry is most prevalent at 29.3%, higher than the regional average of 23.1%. English and Other ancestries follow at 15.4% and 14.1% respectively. Korean, Vietnamese, and Filipino ethnic groups are notably overrepresented in Sunnybank compared to regional averages (Korean: 2.8% vs 2.9%, Vietnamese: 2.5% vs 2.1%, Filipino: 2.7% vs 1.8%).

Sunnybank's population is younger than the national pattern

Sunnybank's median age is 34, which is younger than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Sunnybank has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (20.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (10.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 13.9% to 16.2%, while the proportion of those aged 65 to 74 has decreased from 9.0% to 7.8%. By 2041, Sunnybank's population is projected to see significant demographic shifts. The 45-54 age group is forecasted to grow by 33%, adding 374 residents to reach a total of 1,500. Conversely, the 0-4 age group is expected to decrease by 2 residents.