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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the population of Sunnybank Hills is estimated at around 19,547 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,462 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,085. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of resident population at 19,514 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of 98 new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,021 persons per square kilometer, placing Sunnybank Hills in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sunnybank Hills's 8.1% growth since census positions it within 1.8 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. 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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Proportional growth weightings are applied for age cohorts as state projections do not provide age category splits. Future population dynamics anticipate a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, with an expected increase of 2,121 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 10.7% in total over the 17 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

Between FY21-FY25, Sunnybank Hills averaged 54 new dwelling approvals per year, with 274 homes approved. In FY26 up to present, 18 homes have been approved. Over the past five financial years, an average of 1.4 new residents arrived per new home, indicating balanced supply and demand. However, this ratio has intensified to 7.7 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $619,000, reflecting developers' focus on the premium market. In FY26, $8.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered. New development consists of 61% detached houses and 39% medium to high-density housing, offering a mix of opportunities across price brackets.

This marks a shift from the current 85% houses pattern, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. Sunnybank Hills has approximately 311 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 2,088 residents, with current development rates comfortably meeting demand.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Gowan Village Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Pavilion The Residences, Gardner Road Townhouses Stage 3, and Solaris Rochedale. Below is a list of projects expected to have the most relevance.

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 performance in Sunnybank Hills has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Sunnybank Hills has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 5.3% as of September 2025. Employment stability in the area remained relatively consistent over the past year.

As of that date, 9,580 residents were employed, but the unemployment rate was higher than Greater Brisbane's at 4.0%. Workforce participation was lower too, at 62.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 15.5% of residents worked from home. The key industries for employment were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food.

Sunnybank Hills had a particularly strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, construction showed lower representation at 6.8% compared to the regional average of 9.0%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels in Sunnybank Hills increased by 0.0%, while the labour force grew by 0.8%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a drop in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. 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, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Sunnybank Hills had a median taxpayer income of $42,371 and an average income of $55,848 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than national averages, with Greater Brisbane having a median income of $58,236 and an average income of $72,799. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $46,570 (median) and $61,383 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91%. Census 2021 data shows household income ranks at the 48th percentile ($1,725 weekly), with personal income at the 22nd percentile. Income distribution indicates that 34.9% of locals (6,821 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category. High housing costs consume 15.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 50th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Sunnybank Hills' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.7% houses and 15.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 17.0% and group households comprising 5.1% of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is 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

Educational attainment in Sunnybank Hills is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 37.2% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland and 30.4% in Australia. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are also prominent with 26.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (15.3%).

Educational participation is high, 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 of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 17 different routes that together facilitate 3,043 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents on average located 223 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 83% of residents, while buses are used by 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 partly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 434 trips per day, equating to approximately 50 weekly trips per 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 exhibits superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions among its general population is low but exceeds national averages for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 49% of Sunnybank Hills' total population (~9,642 people) has private health cover, lower than Greater Brisbane's 55.8% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 5.7% of residents) and mental health issues (impacting 5.5%). Notably, 75.7% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, higher than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age residents in Sunnybank Hills exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over (18.9%, or 3,694 people) compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.2%, but ranks lower nationally than 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 most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 57.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 54.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 39.0% of Sunnybank Hills' population. Buddhism, however, is notably overrepresented at 7.2%, significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 2.0%.

In terms of ancestry, Chinese residents make up 27.1%, substantially more than the regional average of 3.4%. The 'Other' category comprises 15.0% of Sunnybank Hills' population, again higher than the regional average of 9.4%. English ancestry is less common at 14.1%, compared to the region's 26.8%. Other ethnic groups with notable representation include Korean (1.9%), Samoan (1.1%), and Serbian (0.7%).

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 (10.0%) but fewer residents aged 45-54 (11.0%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.9% to 13.4%, while the 0-4 cohort has decreased from 5.8% to 4.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Sunnybank Hills's age profile. The 75-84 cohort is expected to grow by 56%, adding 695 residents to reach 1,947. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 65% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.