Sherwood (Qld)

Population growth drivers in Sherwood are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Analysis of ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation shows the suburb of Sherwood's estimated population is around 6,709 as of May 2026. This reflects a 10.3% increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,082 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,665 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2025 and additional 92 validated new addresses since the Census date. Sherwood's population density is 2,929 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The suburb's 10.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (8.3%) and national average, marking it as a growth leader. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 63.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, demographic trends suggest a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas by 2041, with an expected increase of 648 persons reflecting a total increase of 9.0% over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Sherwood when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data shows Sherwood recorded approximately 25 residential properties approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 126 homes were approved, with a further 14 approved in FY-26. On average, 5.3 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

This high demand outpaces supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing competition among buyers. Developers focus on the premium market, with new homes valued at an average of $683,000. Commercial development is minimal, with $2.2 million in approvals registered this financial year. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Sherwood has 14.0% less new development per person and ranks among the 53rd percentile nationally for assessed areas.

New building activity comprises 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% townhouses or apartments. This balance offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. Sherwood reflects a transitioning market with around 303 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 604 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.

Sherwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified four projects potentially impacting the area: Oxley Creek Transformation, Parklands at Sherwood, Cross River Rail - Graceville Station, and Centenary Motorway Bypass. These are key projects, with details about their relevance provided below.

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

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Sherwood has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Sherwood's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.2% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch data aggregation from statistical areas. In December 2025, 3,665 residents were employed, mirroring Greater Brisbane's 4.1% unemployment rate and 69.6% workforce participation.

Census responses indicated that 31.8% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, construction employs only 4.8% of local workers compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%.

The predominantly residential area offers limited local employment opportunities as shown by the Census working population count versus resident population. Between December 2024 and November 2025, Sherwood saw a labour force decrease of 3.2% and employment decrease of 3.1%, keeping unemployment broadly unchanged. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane's employment growth of 3.2%, labour force increase of 3.0%, and unemployment reduction of 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Sherwood's employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Sherwood is high nationally. The median income is $66,843 while the average income stands at $91,155. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane's figures of a median income of $58,236 and an average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $74,436 (median) and $101,510 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Sherwood stand out at the 83rd percentile nationally ($1,057 weekly). The earnings profile shows that 29.3% of locals (1,965 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, reflecting patterns seen in the metropolitan region where 33.3% similarly occupy this range. A significant 33.3% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Sherwood displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Sherwood's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 51.6% houses and 48.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Brisbane metro's figures of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sherwood stood at 29.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 37.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,197, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Sherwood was $390, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Sherwood's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 64.5% of all households, including 29.3% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.5%, with lone person households at 31.3% and group households making up 4.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Sherwood places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

In Sherwood, educational attainment is notably high, with 50.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the state (QLD) average of 25.7% and the national average of 30.4%. University qualifications include bachelor degrees at 32.1%, postgraduate qualifications at 13.8%, and graduate diplomas at 4.6%. Vocational pathways account for 21.9% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 12.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes tertiary education (9.2%), primary education (8.8%), and secondary education (8.7%).

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

Sherwood has 21 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 89 different routes, offering a total of 2,761 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 207 meters from their nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 74%, while train use stands at 17%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 31.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 394 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 131 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sherwood's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis shows strong health performance across Sherwood based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 63% of the total population (4,248 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues impacting 8.4% of residents and asthma affecting 7.4%. A significant majority, 72.7%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 18.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,254 people), higher than Greater Brisbane's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Sherwood's cultural diversity is above average, with 14.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 26.2% born overseas. Christianity dominates Sherwood's religious landscape at 47.3%. While Judaism's representation is low at 0.3%, it is higher compared to Greater Brisbane's 0.1%.

Ancestry-wise, the top three groups are English (27.6%), Australian (22.1%), and Irish (11.1%). Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented in Sherwood at 9.9% compared to 7.4% regionally, Russian at 0.7% versus 0.3%, and French at 0.7% against 0.5%.

Sherwood's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Sherwood's median age is 38, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's 36 but equal to Australia's 38 years. The 75-84 age group constitutes 7.7%, a strong representation compared to Greater Brisbane, while the 25-34 cohort stands at 13.8%. Between 2021 and present day, the 75-84 age group has increased from 5.2% to 7.7% of Sherwood's population. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 12.6% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Sherwood's age structure. Notably, the 75-84 group is projected to grow by 58%, reaching 817 people from its current 516. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 71% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.