Sunnybank Hills

An assessment of population growth drivers in Sunnybank Hills reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The population of Sunnybank Hills is estimated at around 19,805 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,720 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,085 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 19,742 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 121 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,061 persons per square kilometer, placing Sunnybank Hills in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 9.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%). Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 92.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts as per ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, Sunnybank Hills is expected to grow by just below the median of national areas, increasing by 1,641 persons to 2041 and reflecting an increase of 8.0% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Sunnybank Hills recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Sunnybank Hills averaged approximately 54 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 274 homes. As of FY-26, 33 approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, on average, 1.4 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. However, this figure intensified to 7.8 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $619,000, indicating a focus on the premium market by developers.

In FY-26, $8.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing limited commercial development focus. Recent construction comprises 61.0% detached dwellings and 39.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options and creating diverse housing opportunities. This shift reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles.

With around 311 people per dwelling approval, Sunnybank Hills exhibits a developing market. By 2041, the area is projected to gain approximately 1,578 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

The performance of a region can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 23 such projects that may impact this area. Notable projects include Gowan Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Pavilion The Residences, Gardner Road Townhouses Stage 3, and Solaris Rochedale. Below is a list of those expected 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 Sunnybank Hills remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Sunnybank Hills has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 5.1% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.8%. As of December 2025, 9,803 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.9% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was at 62.0%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. 15.5% of residents worked from home, according to Census responses. Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area showed strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction had lower representation at 6.8% versus the regional average of 9.0%. Limited local employment opportunities were indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 1.8%, and labour force grew by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.2% and unemployment fall by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunnybank Hills' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch aggregated latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023. Sunnybank Hills' median taxpayer income was $42,371, with an average of $55,848. Nationally, the averages were $58,236 and $72,799 in Greater Brisbane respectively. By March 2026, estimates suggest a median of approximately $47,184 and an average of $62,192, based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year ending June 2023. According to the 2021 Census, Sunnybank Hills' household income ranked at the 48th percentile ($1,725 weekly), with personal income at the 22nd percentile. The $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket dominated, with 34.9% of residents (6,911 people). Housing costs consumed 15.3% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 50th percentile. Sunnybank Hills' SEIFA income ranking was in the 5th decile.

Sunnybank Hills is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Sunnybank Hills' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.7% houses and 15.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunnybank Hills was at 36.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.8% and rented ones at 31.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,853, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Sunnybank Hills was $410, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Sunnybank Hills' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Sunnybank Hills features high concentrations of group households and family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.9% of all households, including 39.0% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 17.0% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Sunnybank Hills shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Sunnybank Hills, the educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 37.2% have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.9% and graduate diplomas at 2.3%.

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 26.0% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 15.3%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.8% in primary education, 7.4% in tertiary education, and 7.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Sunnybank Hills has 60 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 17 different routes that together facilitate 3,043 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average situated 223 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most inhabitants commute outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of travel at 83%, while buses account for 9%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 15.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 434 trips daily, equating to roughly 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Sunnybank Hills is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Sunnybank Hills shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 49% of Sunnybank Hills' total population (~9,769 people) has private health cover, lower than Greater Brisbane's 55.8% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 5.7% of residents) and mental health issues (5.5%), while 75.7% report being completely clear of medical ailments, higher than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Sunnybank Hills has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (3,584 people), which is higher than Greater Brisbane's 15.1%, but ranks lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Sunnybank Hills is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Sunnybank Hills has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, with 57.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 54.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sunnybank Hills, comprising 39.0% of the population. However, Buddhism is significantly overrepresented, making up 7.2% compared to the Greater Brisbane average of 2.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (27.1%), Other (15.0%), and English (14.1%). Notably, Chinese ancestry is substantially higher than the regional average of 3.4%, while English ancestry is lower at 14.1% compared to the regional average of 26.8%. There are also notable divergences in Korean (1.9% vs 0.5%), Samoan (1.1% vs 0.9%), and Serbian (0.7% vs 0.2%) ancestry groups.

Sunnybank Hills's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Sunnybank Hills's median age is nearly 37 years, close to Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Sunnybank Hills has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (9.7%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (10.7%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 11.9% to 13.7%, while the 5-14 cohort has declined from 12.4% to 11.2% and the 0-4 group has dropped from 5.8% to 4.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Sunnybank Hills's age profile will change significantly. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 53%, adding 649 residents to reach 1,877. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 66% of population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.