Whitfield - Edge Hill
Statistical Area - sa2

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 8,609 as of Aug 2025. This is an increase of 256 people (3.1%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,353 people. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 8,603 in June 2024 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,242 persons per square kilometer, above the national average 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, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts. Future population dynamics project an above median growth for non-metropolitan areas nationally. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 1,534 persons, a total gain of 17.8% over the 17 years.

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. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports a total of 66 approvals over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with two approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 0.5 people moved to the area per dwelling built annually over these years, indicating that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand and providing ample buyer options while creating capacity for population growth beyond current projections. The average construction cost of new homes is $669,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments.

This financial year has seen $469,000 in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to residential. Relative to the rest of Queensland, Whitfield - Edge Hill records significantly lower building activity, with 57.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. The area's recent building activity consists entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining its traditional suburban character and appealing to those seeking family homes. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (75.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes.

As of now, there are approximately 617 people per dwelling approval in the area, demonstrating an established market. Looking ahead, Whitfield - Edge Hill is projected to grow by 1,528 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Whitfield - Edge Hill 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 15 projects that may impact this area. Notable projects include Cairns Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre, Whitfield State School Performing Arts Centre, Kanimbla Heights Estate, and Izatt Close Residential Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Whitfield - Edge Hill demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Whitfield - Edge Hill has an educated workforce with key sectors well represented. As of June 2025, unemployment stands at 1.9%.

In June 2025, 4,975 residents are employed, with a rate 2.1% below Rest of Qld's 3.9%. Workforce participation is high at 65.2%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Major employment areas include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area specialises in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.9% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 4.5%. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 1.6%, while employment declined by 1.9%, raising unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%. As of Sep-25, QLD's employment contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National unemployment is 4.5%, with national employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Whitfield - Edge Hill's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.2% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Whitfield - Edge Hill's median income among taxpayers was $57,064 during the financial year 2022. The average income stood at $70,971. These figures are higher than those for Rest of Qld, which were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated median income as of March 2025 would be approximately $63,746, while the average is projected to reach around $79,282. According to the 2021 Census data, personal income ranks at the 69th percentile ($915 weekly), and household income sits at the 46th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 is dominant with 30.0% of residents (2,582 people). After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. Whitfield - Edge Hill's SEIFA income ranking places 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 with 25.3% being other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 68.4% houses and 31.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whitfield - Edge Hill stood at 33.3%, with mortgaged properties at 33.0% and rented ones at 33.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in the area was $325 compared to Non-Metro Qld's $315. Nationally, Whitfield - Edge Hill's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 against Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were significantly lower at $325 versus 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 35.6%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 4.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, 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

Educational attainment in Whitfield - Edge Hill is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 34.6% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 21.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage is evident in several areas: bachelor degrees are held by 22.2%, postgraduate qualifications by 8.1%, and graduate diplomas by 4.3%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (23.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.1% currently enrolled in formal education, broken down into primary education at 10.3%, secondary education at 9.9%, and tertiary education at 4.3%. The area's educational provision includes Edge Hill State School and Whitfield State School, serving a total of 1,633 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. As for school conditions, Whitfield - Edge Hill demonstrates typical Australian standards (ICSEA: 1000) and offers balanced educational opportunities.

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

Transport analysis shows 31 active stops operating within Whitfield - Edge Hill. These are mixed bus routes. There are 3 individual routes serving these stops, providing a total of 231 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated good with residents typically located 255 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 33 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 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 has better-than-average health outcomes for both younger and older age groups, with low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 55% (~4,734 people) have private health cover, higher than the Rest of Qld's 50.1%.

The most prevalent conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.2% each of residents. Around 71.6% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of Qld's 71.7%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.4% (1,671 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 15.7%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, mirroring the general population's health profile.

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

Whitfield-Edge Hill exhibited above average cultural diversity, with 12.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 24.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 44.8%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

Ancestry-wise, English (27.6%), Australian (21.6%), and Other (10.7%) were the top groups. Notable divergences included Irish (9.8% vs regional 7.4%), German (4.4% vs 3.6%), and Russian (0.4% vs 0.2%).

Whitfield - Edge Hill hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

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's figure. The 5-14 age group, however, is less prevalent at 10.3%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 15-24 age group has grown from 9.4% to 11.2%, while the 75-84 cohort has increased from 5.6% to 6.9%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 13.7% to 10.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Whitfield-Edge Hill's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow strongly at a rate of 34%, adding 376 residents to reach a total of 1,467. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 15-24 age cohorts.