Whitfield - Edge Hill

An assessment of population growth drivers in Whitfield - Edge Hill reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Whitfield - Edge Hill's population is approximately 8,621 as of November 2025. This figure shows an increase of 268 people from the 2021 Census total of 8,353, reflecting a growth rate of 3.2%. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 8,603 in June 2024 and an additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,244 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections lack age category splits; therefore, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth rate for non-metropolitan areas nationally. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 1,534 persons from the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 17.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Whitfield - Edge Hill, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Whitfield - Edge Hill has received approximately 13 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 66 homes. In FY26 so far, there have been 7 recorded approvals. The average new resident arrival per new home in the area was 0.5 per year between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand. The average construction value of these homes was $501,000, slightly above the regional average.

This financial year, $469,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the residential nature of the area. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Whitfield - Edge Hill has a notably lower building activity level, at 57.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. The area's building activity is also under the national average, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent building activity consists solely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes.

Interestingly, developers are constructing more traditional houses than the current mix suggests, indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The location has approximately 617 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Whitfield - Edge Hill is projected to gain 1,516 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Whitfield - Edge Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

AreaSearch has identified a total of 15 infrastructure projects that could impact the area's performance. Key projects include Kanimbla Heights Estate, Cairns Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre, Whitfield State School Performing Arts Centre, and Early Learning Centre - 15-17 Marino St. The following list details those likely to be 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 conditions in Whitfield - Edge Hill demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Whitfield - Edge Hill has an educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 2.2%.

There are 4,889 residents in work, with the unemployment rate at 1.8% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%, and a workforce participation rate of 65.2% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (1.5 times regional level), education & training, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.9% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 4.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities.

In the year to September 2025, labour force decreased by 1.9%, employment declined by 2.5%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. State-level data shows QLD employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs) as of 25-Nov with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National employment forecasts suggest Whitfield - Edge Hill's employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.9% over ten years based on industry-specific projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The median income among taxpayers in The Whitfield - Edge Hill SA2 was $57,064 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $70,971 during the same period. These figures compare to national averages of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively for Rest of Qld's. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $65,047 (median) and $80,900 (average) as of September 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, personal income ranked at the 69th percentile ($915 weekly), while household income was at the 46th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated with 30.0% of residents (2,586 people). After housing costs, 85.6% of income remained for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

In Whitfield - Edge Hill, as per the latest Census evaluation, 74.7% of dwellings were houses while 25.3% consisted of other types such as semi-detached properties and apartments. This differs from Non-Metro Qld's figures which stood at 68.4% for houses and 31.6% for other dwellings. Home ownership in Whitfield - Edge Hill was high at 33.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.0% and rented ones at 33.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, surpassing Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $325 compared to Non-Metro Qld's $315. Nationally, Whitfield - Edge Hill's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.4% of all households, including 23.8% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.6%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 4.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Whitfield - Edge Hill performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Whitfield - Edge Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications compared to broader benchmarks. Specifically, 34.6% of its residents have such qualifications, surpassing the Rest of Qld's 20.6% and the SA4 region's 21.1%. The area's educational advantage is notable for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.3%).

Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding them. Advanced diplomas account for 11.7% and certificates for 23.1%. Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 31 operational stops in Whitfield - Edge Hill, offering bus services. These are covered by three routes, facilitating 231 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is deemed good, with residents typically situated 255 meters from the nearest stop.

Services average 33 daily trips across all routes, equating to around seven weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Whitfield - Edge Hill is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Whitfield-Edge Hill shows better-than-average health outcomes for both younger and older residents. Common health conditions have low prevalence in these age cohorts.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 4,741 people), compared to 50.1% across the rest of Queensland. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.2% and 7.2% of residents respectively. About 71.6% of residents report having no medical ailments, similar to the 71.7% figure for the rest of Queensland. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.4% (1,674 people), compared to 15.7% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Whitfield-Edge Hill was found to have above average cultural diversity, with 12.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 24.3% born overseas. The predominant religion in Whitfield-Edge Hill is Christianity, comprising 44.8% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented, making up 0.2% compared to the regional average of 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (27.6%), Australian (21.6%), and Other (10.7%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Irish is overrepresented at 9.8% compared to the regional average of 7.4%, German at 4.4% versus 3.6%, and Russian at 0.4% compared to 0.2%.

Whitfield - Edge Hill's median age exceeds the national pattern

Whitfield-Edge Hill's median age is 43 years, which is higher than the Rest of Queensland average of 41 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 45-54 age group comprises 15.3% of the population in Whitfield-Edge Hill compared to the Rest of Queensland, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 10.3%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15 to 24 age group grew from 9.4% to 11.2%, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 5.6% to 6.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 13.7% to 10.3%. Demographic modeling indicates that Whitfield-Edge Hill's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort is projected to grow by 34%, adding 374 residents to reach a total of 1,467. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts.