Sunnybank Hills
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Sunnybank Hills' population was approximately 19,538 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,453 people (8.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,085. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,514 in June 2024 and an additional 95 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,033 persons per square kilometer, placing Sunnybank Hills in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 8.0% growth since census is within 0.9 percentage points of the national average (8.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 92.0% of overall population gains during 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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected by 2041, with an increase of 2,121 persons and a total growth of 10.7% over the 17 years.

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

Sunnybank Hills averaged approximately 54 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 274 homes. As of FY-26, 13 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.4 people moved to the area per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand. However, this figure increased to 7.7 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $519,000, reflecting a focus on premium market developments.

In FY-26, $8.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating limited commercial development activity compared to residential. When compared with Greater Brisbane, Sunnybank Hills shows similar development activity per person, maintaining market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. However, this is lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. Current new developments consist of 60% detached dwellings and 40% medium and high-density housing, offering a range of price points from family homes to compact options. This represents a shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 85% houses.

At around 335 people per approval, Sunnybank Hills reflects a transitioning market. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by approximately 2,097 residents. If current development rates continue, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Sunnybank Hills has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects likely impacting the region. Notable projects include Pavilion The Residences, Gardner Road Townhouses Stage 3, Solaris Rochedale, and Gowan Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment. Below is a list detailing 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.

Employment performance in Sunnybank Hills has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Sunnybank Hills has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 5.2% as of June 2025, and a 1.9% employment growth in the past year. It has 9,529 residents employed while its unemployment rate is 1.1% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation lags at 57.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Dominant sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with the latter showing notable concentration at 1.3 times the regional average. Construction is under-represented at 6.8% compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by Census data.

Over June 2024 to June 2025, employment increased by 1.9%, while labour force grew by the same percentage, keeping unemployment flat. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 4.4% and a fall in unemployment by 0.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunnybank Hills' employment mix suggests local growth could be around 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not consider localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sunnybank Hills had a median taxpayer income of $42,371 and an average income of $55,848 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is below Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520 during the same period. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest a median income of approximately $48,299 and an average income of $63,661. The 2021 Census figures rank household income at the 49th percentile ($1,725 weekly) and personal income at the 23rd percentile. In Sunnybank Hills, 34.9% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 per week (6,818 individuals). High housing costs consume 15.3% of income, but disposable income ranks at the 50th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Sunnybank Hills' dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 84.7% houses and 15.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Brisbane metro had 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunnybank Hills was higher at 36.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.8% and rented at 31.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,853, above Brisbane metro's average of $1,800. Median weekly rent in Sunnybank Hills was $410, compared to Brisbane metro's $400. Nationally, Sunnybank Hills' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 77.9% of all households, including 39.0% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 17.0% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which aligns with the Greater Brisbane average.

Sunnybank Hills shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Sunnybank Hills has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above. 37.2% hold university qualifications, which is higher than the Queensland average of 25.7% and the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.9% and graduate diplomas at 2.3%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.0% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (15.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in primary education, 7.4% in tertiary education, and 7.1% pursuing secondary education. The area is served by Sunnybank Hills State School and Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre, collectively accommodating 1,929 students. The Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) for the area is 1088, indicating above-average socio-educational conditions. Educational provision includes one primary school and one K-12 school. There are 9.9 school places per 100 residents in Sunnybank Hills, which is below the regional average of 13.1. Some students may attend schools in neighbouring areas due to this difference.

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

Sunnybank Hills has 62 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 23 different routes that together facilitate 3000 weekly passenger trips. The overall accessibility to these transport services is rated as good, with residents on average being located just 222 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, there are an average of 428 trips per day, which equates to approximately 48 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Sunnybank Hills is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Sunnybank Hills shows better health outcomes with lower prevalence of common conditions among its general population compared to national averages. However, older cohorts at risk have a higher prevalence.

Private health cover stands at approximately 48%, lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (5.7%) and mental health issues (5.5%). About 75.7% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly below Greater Brisbane's 77.0%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 18.3%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.5%.

Sunnybank Hills 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 Hills has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, with 57.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 54.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sunnybank Hills, accounting for 39.0% of the population. Buddhism is notably more prevalent here than in Greater Brisbane, with 7.2% compared to 6.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (27.1%), Other (15.0%), and English (14.1%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Korean is overrepresented at 1.9%, Samoan at 1.1%, and Serbian at 0.7% compared to regional figures of 2.9%, 0.8%, and 0.6% respectively.

Sunnybank Hills's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Sunnybank Hills's median age is nearly 37 years, close to Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Sunnybank Hills has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (9.8%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (10.9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 11.9% to 13.3%, while the 0-4 age group has declined from 5.8% to 4.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Sunnybank Hills's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 61%, adding 738 residents to reach 1,946. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 65% of population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are projected to experience population declines.