Zillmere

Zillmere has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Zillmere is around 10,068. This figure represents an increase of 745 people from the 2021 Census count of 9,323, marking an 8.0% growth rate for the area. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, based on ERP data released by the ABS in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date, is 10,045. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 2,750 persons per square kilometer for Zillmere, placing it in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate surpassed that of its SA3 area (6.8%), indicating its status as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed roughly 60.0% of overall population gains during recent periods for Zillmere.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. 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; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Looking ahead, aggregated SA2-level projections suggest lower quartile growth for statistical areas analyzed by AreaSearch. By 2041, Zillmere's population is expected to increase by 481 persons, reflecting a total increase of 4.5% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Zillmere recorded around 25 residential properties granted approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 126 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 5 approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built over these five years is 3.6. This indicates demand outpacing supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

New homes are being built at an average value of $562,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, there have been $22.4 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development compared to Greater Brisbane. Zillmere has 14.0% less new development per person and ranks among the 28th percentile nationally, indicating more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties. Recent construction comprises 50.0% standalone homes and 50.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The area has approximately 600 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market.

Population forecasts indicate Zillmere will gain 458 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Pioneer Estate, Zillmere Station Transit Oriented Development, Carseldine Village - 5-Star Green Star Community, and Beams Road Level Crossing Removal & Overpass. The following list details those 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 performance in Zillmere has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Zillmere has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 8.4% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 11.5%. As of September 2025, there are 5,634 residents employed, and the unemployment rate is 4.4%, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Zillmere is 73.6%, slightly above Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 14.6% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing. Zillmere has a particular specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, education & training employs only 7.2% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 9.4%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 11.5% while the labour force grew by 11.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane, where employment rose by 3.8%, the labour force grew by 3.3%, and unemployment fell by 0.5 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 Zillmere's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Zillmere has an income level below the national average, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Zillmere is $52,737, with an average income of $63,042. These figures compare to those for Greater Brisbane, which are $58,236 and $72,799 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since the financial year ended June 2023, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $57,963 and an average income of $69,289 as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data shows that personal income ranks at the 47th percentile ($788 weekly), while household income sits at the 30th percentile. Income analysis reveals that the majority of residents (33.1%, or 3,332 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which aligns with regional trends where this cohort also represents 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Zillmere, with only 79.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 24th percentile.

Zillmere displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Zillmere dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 55.0% houses and 45.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Zillmere was 18.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.2% and rented ones at 54.4%. Median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,677, below Brisbane metro's $1,863. Median weekly rent in Zillmere was $350, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Zillmere's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.2% of all households, including 21.3% couples with children, 22.3% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 39.8%, with lone person households at 33.5% and group households making up 6.3%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in Zillmere fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications in Zillmere trail regional benchmarks, with 27.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 33.8% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees lead at 18.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 36.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (24.6%). Educational participation is notably high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.6% in primary education, 6.4% in tertiary education, and 6.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 58 active transport stops operating within Zillmere. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. They are serviced by 40 individual routes, collectively providing 2,471 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 152 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 76%, with 13% by train and 6% by bus.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, some 14.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 353 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 42 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Zillmere is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Zillmere faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting various age groups.

Private health cover is prevalent at approximately 52% of Zillmere's total population (~5,253 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 55.8%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, impacting 10.8 and 8.4% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.2% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 14.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,479 people), with senior health outcomes broadly in line with national rankings.

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

Zillmere had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 31.0% of its population born overseas and 23.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Zillmere, accounting for 44.5% of its population. However, the most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, comprising 5.6% of Zillmere's population compared to 1.3% across Greater Brisbane.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (24.4%), Australian (21.9%), and Other (14.4%), which was significantly higher than the regional average of 9.4%. There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Samoan at 0.9% compared to 0.9% regionally, Maori at 1.1% compared to 1.1%, and Filipino at 2.2% compared to 1.2%.

Zillmere hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Zillmere has a median age of 34, which is slightly younger than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 years and substantially under Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Zillmere has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (19.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (10.0%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the population share of those aged 55-64 has grown from 9.5% to 10.5%. Conversely, the population share of those aged 25-34 has declined from 21.2% to 19.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Zillmere. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 22%, adding 240 residents to reach a total of 1,358. This growth will contribute to demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older representing 59% of the anticipated population increase. Meanwhile, the 15-24 and 5-14 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.