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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Ferny Hills has an estimated 9,053 residents, up from 8,726 at the 2021 Census — a change of 327 people, or 3.7%. That puts 883 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS regional updates and address records validated since the Census, the suburb of Ferny Hills has an estimated population of approximately 9,053 as of Aug 2026. This indicates an expansion of 327 people (3.7%) from the 8,726 people recorded at the 2021 Census. AreaSearch established this shift from an estimated resident count of 9,032 following review of the ABS June 2025 ERP release alongside post-Census address validations. The resulting population density stands at 883 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with typical benchmarks across AreaSearch study locations.
Natural increase served as the primary growth driver, accounting for roughly 51.0% of recent population additions. Projections for each SA2 area released by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as the base year) are adopted by AreaSearch. For years beyond 2032 or areas omitted from that dataset, Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 (utilising 2021 data) are incorporated. Because these state figures omit age cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings sourced from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 figures). Looking at demographic trajectories for the suburb of Ferny Hills, aggregated SA2 projections indicate an increase of 587 persons to 2041, which sits slightly underneath the median across AreaSearch locations and represents an overall expansion of 6.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Data from ABS building approvals compiled by AreaSearch indicates that Ferny Hills averages roughly 1 dwellings approved annually for development, amounting to around 5 homes over the last 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 14 approvals have been registered. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 5 people arrived in the locality per newly built dwelling across those 5 financial years, highlighting a distinct shortfall of supply relative to demand that typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pricing pressure. Furthermore, with an average construction cost of $620,000 per newly built dwelling, developers appear focused on the higher-end, premium tier.
Residential building volume in Ferny Hills is substantially muted relative to Greater Brisbane, sitting 92.0% below the per-capita regional benchmark. Such limited additions of fresh housing stock often reinforce demand and asset values for established dwellings, even with recent increases in planning activity. Output also trails national norms, pointing toward local planning constraints within an established suburb. Detached houses constitute 33.0% of recent approvals while medium and high-density housing makes up 67.0%. This emphasis on higher-density configurations offers accessible price thresholds tailored to first-home buyers, downsizers, and investors. Contrasting with existing housing stock (where detached houses comprise 95.0%), this shift underscores dwindling greenfield sites alongside demand for varied, cost-effective residential options. The quiet development tempo is underlined by a ratio of 955 people per approved dwelling. Projections indicate that Ferny Hills will gain 566 residents through to 2041 based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly figure. Should building activity stay at its present clip, housing creation could fail to match population expansion, reinforcing market competition and bolstering price appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Ferny Hills
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Ferny Hills, worth an estimated $293 million. A further 58 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.07 billion. 15 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and retail. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local capital investments, planning strategies, and infrastructure initiatives play a pivotal role in shaping district development. AreaSearch has pinpointed 17 projects anticipated to influence the immediate surroundings, led by prominent schemes such as Hills Quarter Everton Hills, Arana Hills Plaza Ambience Upgrade, Everton Rise, and Everton Hills Central.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Keperra Country Golf Club Residential Precinct
Master-planned residential community within Keperra Country Golf Club incorporating up to 450 new dwellings, including townhouses and low-rise apartments, while retaining the 27-hole golf course. Progressing with significant golf course and clubhouse redevelopment works.
Arana Hills Plaza Ambience Upgrade
The Arana Hills Plaza Ambience Upgrade by Charter Hall involves extensive external and internal refurbishments to modernize the convenience-based shopping centre. The works focus on a refreshed branding identity, improved shopper amenities, and architectural elements that reflect the surrounding hills and bushland. Key features include upgraded entry statements and enhanced common area aesthetics to improve the overall community experience.
Ferny Grove to Samford Road Cycleway (Stage 2)
Construction of a 2.5km off road shared path connecting Ferny Hills and Arana Hills and linking into the broader North Brisbane cycle network as part of the wider Samford to Ferny Grove active transport corridor.
Everton Hills Central
A proposed neighbourhood shopping centre anchored by a full-line Woolworths supermarket, with specialty retail, medical centre, gym, and childcare facility. The centre will have direct frontage to South Pine Road in Everton Hills, serving the surrounding Hills District community in the City of Moreton Bay.
Hills Quarter Everton Hills
Masterplanned residential community delivering 120 premium townhomes in a hillside setting with resort-style amenities including pool, gym, and landscaped parklands.
Ferny Grove Central
Ferny Grove Central is a transport oriented mixed use precinct adjoining Ferny Grove railway station. The project includes a retail and entertainment centre anchored by Woolworths, Dan Murphy's, Goodlife, Goodstart Early Learning and Cinebar, The Fernery with 82 apartments, upgraded station access, bus, taxi and kiss and ride facilities, and more than 1,400 integrated commuter and retail parking spaces. As of the latest official updates, Stage 1 park and ride works are complete and Stage 2 retail, residential, access road and public transport interface works remain under construction, with practical completion targeted for 2026.
Ferny Grove Station Car Park Upgrade
Joint Australian and Queensland Government upgrade of the Ferny Grove station park and ride precinct. Stage 1, including the 905-space multi-storey commuter car park, is complete. Stage 2 remains under construction and includes additional commuter parking, new internal roads, upgraded bus interchange, Kiss 'n' Ride, taxi facilities, retail and residential integration as part of the Ferny Grove Transit Oriented Development.
Arana Central
Arana Central is a proposed mixed-use town centre redevelopment by Pellicano on the former Kmart site. The proposal includes around 300 apartments across multiple buildings, retail and commercial uses, dining, public spaces and a new plaza. The project is progressing alongside the City of Moreton Bay's Arana Hills Precinct Planning process, with the precinct planning framework currently being finalised before future planning scheme amendments and development outcomes are considered.
5,176 residents of Ferny Hills are employed, from a labour force of 5,329. Unemployment sits at 2.9%, with participation at 72.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 7,153, about 79% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Compiled statistical area figures from AreaSearch reveal that Ferny Hills possesses an educated labour force with a prominent professional services footprint, an unemployment rate standing at 2.9%, and steady employment conditions over the preceding year. As of March 2026, employed residents total 5,176, while unemployment sits 1.5% beneath Greater Brisbane's 4.3%. Labour force participation remains standard at 72.9% relative to 70.1% across Greater Brisbane. Census records indicated that 27.2% of workers performed their duties from home, a figure influenced in part by Covid-19 restrictions. Resident employment centers primarily around health care & social assistance, education & training, along with professional & technical services.
Concentration in education & training is pronounced, standing at 1.3 times regional averages. Conversely, manufacturing represents just 3.6% of local employment against 6.4% across the broader region. The comparison between local working population and resident counts at the Census suggests the suburb functions largely as a residential hub with modest on-site commercial employment. ABS and SALM figures aggregated across broader statistical areas show that during the 12 months to March 2026, the local labour force contracted by 0.5% while employment dropped by 0.3%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage points decrease in the unemployment rate. Over that identical period, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.2%, the labour force expand by 3.4%, and unemployment edge up by 0.1 percentage points. National forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia from Mar-26 project employment growth across Australia of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Mapping these industry sector trajectories onto the local workforce distribution implies potential employment gains for Ferny Hills of 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years (representing an illustrative weighted baseline without local demographic adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Ferny Hills is $2,271 a week (about $118,000 a year), with median personal income at $957 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $58,693 a year against an average of $69,509. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch postcode ATO figures for financial year 2023, median income in the suburb of Ferny Hills stands at $58,693 alongside a mean of $69,509, sitting slightly above national benchmarks. Across Greater Brisbane, corresponding figures were $58,236 (median) and $72,799 (average). Factoring in 11.36% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of roughly $65,361 for the median and $77,405 for the average as of March 2026. Across personal, family, and household levels in Census 2021 data, local earnings occupy the 74th to 81st percentiles nationally.
The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket encompasses 3,005 individuals (33.2% of the population), mirroring the 33.3% regional benchmark. Furthermore, 33.9% of households record weekly incomes above $3,000. After servicing housing obligations, households preserve 86.8% of income, placing the locality in the 8th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Ferny Hills had 3,068 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 0% apartments. 53% are owned with a mortgage, 14% rented and 34% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $448 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,972 a month. Rent absorbs 19.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, separate houses made up 95.1% of dwellings in Ferny Hills, with 4.9% consisting of other formats (such as apartments and semi-detached units), compared to 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings throughout the Brisbane metro area. Outright home ownership reached 33.8%, substantially exceeding metropolitan levels, while mortgaged properties accounted for 52.5% and rentals constituted 13.7%. Median monthly mortgage costs sat at $1,972 and median weekly rent was $448, both tracking above Brisbane metro averages of $1,863 and $380 respectively. When benchmarked nationally, local mortgage repayments surpass the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents track considerably higher than the $375 nationwide average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Ferny Hills counted 3,068 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.8 people each. 41% are couples with children, more than in 81% of areas nationally, against 29% couples without children. 16% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 81.4% of local households, comprising couples with children at 40.7%, childless couples at 28.6%, and single parent arrangements at 11.1%. Non-family households represent the remaining 18.6%, split between single-occupant dwellings at 16.4% and group households at 2.0%. The typical household size is 2.8 people, exceeding the 2.6 Greater Brisbane standard.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
33.7% of adults in Ferny Hills hold a university qualification, including 22.8% with a bachelor degree and 6.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 83% of areas nationally. A further 22.2% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,208 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,084 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment in the area exceeds broader benchmarks, with 33.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a tertiary qualification compared to 24.9% across the SA4 region and 25.7% across QLD. Attainment is led by bachelor degrees at 22.8%, postgraduate credentials at 6.6%, and graduate diplomas at 4.3%. Furthermore, 33.9% of residents aged 15+ possess vocational qualifications, divided between certificates (22.2%) and advanced diplomas (11.7%). Formal study engagement is substantial, with 29.9% of the local populace actively participating in education. Primary schooling accounts for 11.3%, secondary education encompasses 8.4%, and 5.3% are enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Ferny Hills means driving: households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.3% of residents in Ferny Hills report no long-term health condition. 5.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Ferny Hills generally align with nationwide benchmarks according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and chronic illnesses. Typical illness rates are observable overall, though older age groups exhibit higher rates than national standards. Approximately 55% of all residents (~4,956 people) maintain private health insurance coverage. Mental health conditions and asthma are the most prevalent ailments locally, diagnosed in 9.8 and 7.7% of the populace respectively. Meanwhile, 67.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, relative to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents demonstrate typical health profiles. Those aged 65 and over comprise 17.4% of the community (1,575 people), higher than the 15.0% proportion across Greater Brisbane, with senior health indicators presenting certain challenges despite ranking below broader national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Ferny Hills is largely Australian-born, at 83.8% of residents, with 6.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (29.7%) and Australian (27.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Ferny Hills sit beneath broader averages, with Australian-born residents making up 83.8% of the population, Australian citizens accounting for 92.7%, and 93.8% using English exclusively at home. Christianity forms the largest religious affiliation at 48.4%. Judaism represents 0.1% of the community, aligning with the 0.1% Greater Brisbane proportion. Parental ancestry records indicate that English (29.7%), Australian (27.6%), and Irish (10.3%) form the three largest backgrounds in Ferny Hills. Other ancestries show varying local representation, including Scottish at 9.6% (compared to 7.4% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (relative to 0.5%), and New Zealand at 1.0% (matching the 1.0% regional rate).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Ferny Hills is 40. 22.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic structure of Ferny Hills aligns closely with Greater Brisbane, exhibiting a maximum divergence of 4.8 percentage points across the four main age segments. As at August 2026, the estimated median age remains at 40, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 4 years above Greater Brisbane's median of 36 from that Census. By 2041, senior cohorts aged 65+ are projected to drive local growth, increasing by 496 residents (31%) to reach 2,071, whereas young to middle-aged adult brackets and child/young adult segments are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Ferny Hills
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 3 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (8,726 at the 2021 Census → 9,053 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL31033). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.