Huntly

Huntly lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Huntly's population is estimated at around 5,214 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,629 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,585 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,965 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 616 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 119 persons per square kilometer. The suburb of Huntly's 45.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (8.0%) and the Rest of Vic., marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 44.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and overseas migration were positive factors.

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, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth, placing the suburb of Huntly in the top 10 percent of non-metropolitan areas nationally, is predicted over the period with the area expected to expand by 4,182 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 75.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Huntly among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Huntly recorded around 156 residential properties granted approval per year. Approximately 781 homes were approved over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, and 63 have been approved so far in FY26. On average, 0.6 new residents arrive per new home each year over these five years.

This pace of new construction matches or exceeds demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current expectations. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $315,000. In FY26, $17.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Huntly has 493.0% more new home approvals per person, offering buyers greater choice and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New development consists of 99.0% detached dwellings and 1.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

There are approximately 25 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Huntly is forecasted to gain 3,933 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.

Huntly has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that could affect this region. Notable ones are Huntly Structure Plan, Goornong Railway Station, Huntly Railway Station, and Epsom Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Huntly ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Huntly has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.0%. As of December 2025, 2,018 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.3% below Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation was 55.8%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%. According to Census responses, 13.2% of residents worked from home. The key industries were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Huntly showed strong specialization in mining with an employment share 6.6 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 3.7%.

There was a ratio of 0.7 workers per resident at the Census, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.0% and labour force by 2.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Vic. experienced employment decline of 0.6% and labour force decline of 0.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest an expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Huntly's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming constant population growth for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

The suburb of Huntly has a median taxpayer income of $57,744 and an average income of $70,771 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national average, which contrasts with Regional Vic.'s median income of $50,954 and average income of $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Huntly would be approximately $62,508 (median) and $76,610 (average) as of September 2025. Census data from 2021 shows that incomes in Huntly cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. Income distribution data indicates that 43.8% of locals (2,283 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, which is similar to the broader area where 30.3% occupy this range. After housing expenses, 85.8% of income remains for other expenses. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Huntly is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The latest Census evaluated Huntly's dwelling structures as 100.0% houses and 0.0% other dwellings, compared to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Huntly was 24.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 54.4% and rented ones at 21.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Huntly was $360, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Huntly's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $360 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 81.5% of all households, including 39.4% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.5%, with lone person households at 16.2% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Huntly shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 18.7%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 13.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (3.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 43.6% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 33.2%. Educational participation is high, with 32.6% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 13.4% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education.

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

Huntly has 21 active public transport stops served by three routes offering 427 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 393 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 96% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, higher than the regional norm. Only 13.2% of residents work from home (as per the 2021 Census).

Service frequency across all routes is 61 trips per day, translating to about 20 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Huntly is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Huntly faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is fairly high at approximately 55% of the total population (~2,856 people), compared to 50.5% across Regional Vic.. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 11.4 and 9.5% of residents respectively. 67.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 11.0% of residents aged 65 and over (573 people), which is lower than the 23.9% in Regional Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Huntly is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Huntly's population, as per the 2016 Census, was predominantly Australian-born with 92.6%, and English speakers at home were 93.9%. Christianity was the major religion, practiced by 40.7%. Huntly had a lower percentage of 'Other' religious groups compared to Regional Vic., at 0.7% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups in Huntly were Australian (36.4%), English (30.0%), and Irish (8.4%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher than the regional average, at 8.1% versus 8.8%, while Welsh was 0.5% compared to 0.4%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry was also higher in Huntly, at 2.1% versus 1.4%.

Huntly hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Huntly is 32 years, which is notably lower than Regional Vic.'s average of 43 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Regional Vic., Huntly has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34, at 17.3%, but fewer residents aged 75-84, at 2.1%. According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 35 to 44 has grown from 14.6% to 16.0% of Huntly's population, while the age group of 45 to 54 has declined from 10.4% to 9.3%. By the year 2041, Huntly is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 103%, reaching a total of 1,835 people from the current figure of 902.