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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, The Hills District's population is around 25,989 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,676 people (6.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,313 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 25,967 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 259 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 821 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. The Hills District's 6.9% growth since the census positions it within 0.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (7.4%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 51.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of national statistical areas is expected, with the area expected to grow by 1,642 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 6.2% in total over the 17 years.

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

The Hills District has averaged around 68 new dwelling approvals each year, totalling 341 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 44 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of 3.9 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand significantly exceeds new supply, which usually results in price growth and increased buyer competition, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $334,000. Additionally, $12.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, The Hills District has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it among the 29th percentile of areas assessed nationally. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing dwellings. This rate is likewise lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints. New development consists of 47.0% detached dwellings and 53.0% townhouses or apartments. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a considerable change from the current housing mix (currently 89.0% houses), reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The estimated count of 549 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment.

Future projections show The Hills District adding 1,620 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 47 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Hills Quarter Everton Hills, Arana Hills Plaza Ambience Upgrade, Everton Rise, and Everton Hills Central, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 a well-educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of just 3.0%, and 1.7% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 15,806 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.2% below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (78.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 71.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 25.2% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in public administration & safety, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Meanwhile, manufacturing has a limited presence with 3.8% employment compared to 6.4% regionally. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 1.7% alongside the labour force increasing by 1.8%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane, where employment rose by 3.2%, the labour force grew by 3.0%, and unemployment fell 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within The Hills District. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific 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 (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the The Hills District SA2's median income among taxpayers is $66,157, with an average of $78,595. This is very high nationally, and compares to Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $72,713 (median) and $86,384 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in The Hills District, between the 80th and 85th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows 34.6% of the population (8,992 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen in the broader area where 33.3% similarly occupy this range. Economic strength emerges through 35.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 86th percentile for disposable income and 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

Dwelling structure within The Hills District, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 89.0% houses and 10.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within The Hills District was well beyond that of Brisbane metro, at 31.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (49.8%) or rented (19.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Brisbane metro average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $455, compared to Brisbane metro's $1,863 and $380. Nationally, The Hills District's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 80.9% of all households, comprising 39.8% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 19.1%, with lone person households at 16.4% and group households comprising 2.7% of the total. The median household size of 2.8 people is 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 educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (33.7% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the SA4 region average of 24.9% and that of QLD (25.7%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 34.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (22.5%).

Educational participation is notably 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

Public transport analysis reveals 93 active transport stops operating within The Hills District, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 6 individual routes, collectively providing 475 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 386 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 85%, with 10% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. A high 25.2% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 67 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

The Hills District's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for The Hills District residents, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions showing results broadly in line with national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population, though higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~15,177 people), compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.8% and 7.9% of residents, respectively, while 68.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 15.3% of residents aged 65 and over (3,971 people), though ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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 is below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 83.1% of its population born in Australia, 92.4% being citizens, and 93.0% speaking English only at home. The main religion in The Hills District is Christianity, which makes up 49.9% of people in the area. This compares to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in The Hills District are English, comprising 29.6% of the population, Australian, comprising 27.0% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.2% of The Hills District (vs 7.4% regionally), New Zealand at 1.0% (vs 1.0%) and German at 4.8% (vs 4.2%).

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

With a median age of 38, The Hills District is slightly older than the Greater Brisbane figure of 36, though equal to Australia's 38 years. The 45 - 54 age group shows strong representation at 14.7% compared to Greater Brisbane, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 11.3%. In the period since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.6% to 6.3% of the population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 8.7% to 7.3% and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 12.4% to 11.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in The Hills District's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 172% (734 people), reaching 1,161 from 426. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 53% of projected growth. On the other hand, the 5 to 14 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.