The Hills District

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

The Hills District's population was approximately 26,230 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,917 people from the 2021 Census count of 24,313. The change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 26,166 in June 2025 and an additional 273 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 829 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. The Hills District's growth rate of 7.9% since the census is within 1.4 percentage points of the national average (9.3%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth in the area.

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. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied for each age cohort when utilised. Examining future population trends, a population increase just below the median of national statistical areas is expected. The area is projected to grow by 1,337 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 4.8% in total over the 16-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Recent residential development output has been above average within The Hills District when compared nationally

The Hills District averaged approximately 68 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totaling 341 homes. As of FY26, 56 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 3.9 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed. This significant demand exceeds supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $334,000. In FY26, $12.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Brisbane, The Hills District has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 29th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. New development consists of 47% detached dwellings and 53% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend towards denser development to provide accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This is a considerable shift from the current housing mix, which is 89% houses. The area has an estimated 549 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment.

Future projections suggest The Hills District will add 1,273 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

The Hills District has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 45 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Hills Quarter Everton Hills, Arana Hills Plaza Ambience Upgrade, Everton Rise, and Everton Hills Central. 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.

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

The Hills District has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 3.0%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.7%.

The district's unemployment rate is 1.2% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation is higher at 77.2% compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. According to Census responses, 25.2% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety, with the latter showing notable concentration at 1.5 times the regional average. Manufacturing has limited presence in The Hills District, with only 3.8% employment compared to the regional average of 6.4%.

Over a 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 1.7%, while labour force grew by 1.8%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 3.0%. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.2% and unemployment fall to 4.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to The Hills District's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows The Hills District SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $66,157 and an average of $78,595. This is notably higher than the national figures and compares to Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $73,672 (median) and $87,523 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks The Hills District's household, family, and personal incomes highly nationally, between the 80th and 85th percentiles. Income distribution shows 34.6% of residents fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, reflecting broader area patterns where 33.3% occupy this range. Economic strength is evident with 35.4% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income, while strong earnings place residents in the 86th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

The Hills District's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Hills District was at 31.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 49.8% and rented ones at 19.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Brisbane metro's $1,863 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was $455, substantially above the national figure of $375 but lower than Brisbane metro's $380.

The Hills District features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 80.9% of all households, including 39.8% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for 19.1%, comprising 16.4% lone person households and 2.7% group households. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 33.7%, higher than the SA4 region average of 24.9% and Queensland's state average of 25.7%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.4% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 22.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The Hills District has 93 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are served by a mix of buses along six different routes, offering a total of 475 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility in the area is rated as good, with residents typically living an average of 386 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential region, most residents commute outward for work or other purposes. The car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 85% of residents, while 10% opt for the train. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in the district, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 25.2% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 67 trips per day, resulting in approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in The Hills District 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

The Hills District shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are less prevalent among the general population but higher in older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages.

Approximately 58% (~15,318 people) have private health cover, higher than Greater Brisbane's 55.8%. Mental health issues affect 9.8% and asthma impacts 7.9% of residents, with 68.7% reporting no medical ailments, similar to Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age population health outcomes are typical. The area has 14.9% (3,900 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the national average for this age group.

The Hills District ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The Hills District had cultural diversity below average, with 83.1% born in Australia, 92.4% being citizens, and 93.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, at 49.9%, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups were English (29.6%), Australian (27.0%), and Irish (10.2%).

Notably, Scottish representation was higher at 9.2%, New Zealand was similar at 1.0%, and German was slightly higher at 4.8%.

The Hills District's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The Hills District has a median age of 38, which is slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 but equal to Australia's median age of 38 years. The age group of 45-54 shows strong representation in the district at 14.6%, compared to Greater Brisbane, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 11.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 4.6% to 6.2% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 12.1% to 13.3%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 8.7% to 7.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in The Hills District's age structure. Notably, the 85+ group is projected to grow by 169%, reaching 1,094 people from 406. This growth reflects an aging population trend, with those aged 65 and above comprising 54% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.