Highton

Highton lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Highton's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was around 25,702 by November 2025. This figure represents a rise of 1,668 individuals, marking a 6.9% increase since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 24,034. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 25,611 as of June 2024 and an additional 247 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 633 persons per square kilometer, offering significant space per person and potential room for further development. Highton's growth rate of 6.9% since the 2021 census surpassed the non-metro area's growth rate of 6.0%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.9% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting them employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, significant population increases are forecast for locations outside capital cities in the top quartile, with Highton expected to expand by 7,863 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 30.2% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Highton among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Highton has seen approximately 142 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 714 homes. As of FY-26, 28 approvals have been recorded. Each dwelling built in Highton between FY-21 and FY-25 has resulted in an average of 2.5 new residents per year, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for these dwellings is $386,000, which is higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development.

In the current financial year, there have been $120.4 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Highton shows around 56% of construction activity per person and ranks among the 39th percentile nationally, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. New developments consist of 76.0% standalone homes and 24.0% attached dwellings, preserving Highton's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population density is around 421 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Highton is projected to gain approximately 7,772 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Highton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 38 projects that could impact this region. Notable initiatives include Highton Urban Design Framework, 22-24 Barrabool Road Development, Wandana Estate, and Morven Townhomes. The following list details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Highton shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Highton has an educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.2%, lower than the Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%.

Employment stability has been maintained over the past year. As of September 2025, 14,234 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% below the regional average. Workforce participation is high at 65.6%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

The area specializes in education & training with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.8% versus the regional average of 7.5%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Highton's labour force decreased by 0.2% while employment declined by 0.3%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 1.6%. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw an employment decline of 0.7% and a labour force decline of 0.6%, with unemployment rising marginally. State-wide, VIC's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year to November 25, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Highton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2022, Highton SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $51,998 and an average income of $67,584. These figures are above the national average and compare to levels of $48,741 and $60,693 across Rest of Vic., respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year ending June 2022, current estimates would be approximately $58,321 for median income and $75,802 for average income as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Highton cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 30.7% of the population (7,890 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to metropolitan regions where 30.3% occupy this bracket. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 32.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Highton's dwelling structure, as assessed in the latest Census, consisted of 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Highton stood at 40.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.7% and rented ones at 20.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Highton was recorded at $365, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s $375 and the national average of $400.

Highton has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.5% of all households, including 37.4% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 25.5%, with lone person households at 22.0% and group households making up 3.5%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment in Highton is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 38.5% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 27.3% in the SA3 area. This educational advantage positions the area well for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.2% and certificates for 17.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in tertiary education, 9.9% in primary education, and 8.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Highton has 79 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 10 different routes that together facilitate 1,499 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Highton is rated as good, with residents typically located 285 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 214 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Highton is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Highton shows above-average health outcomes with both young and old age cohorts experiencing low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~13,724 people). The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.4 and 7.9% of residents respectively. 70.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 65.9% across Rest of Vic.. As of June 2016, 16.0% of residents are aged 65 and over (4,112 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Highton records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Highton's cultural diversity aligns with the broader regional average, as indicated by its population statistics: 80.6% born in Australia, 88.9% being citizens, and 87.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Highton, comprising 50.1% of the population. Notably, Hinduism's representation is slightly higher than the regional average, with 1.8% compared to 1.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (28.1%), Australian (25.4%), and Irish (9.9%). Some ethnic groups show variations in representation: Scottish is overrepresented at 9.5%, Dutch at 1.8%, and Croatian at 0.9%.

Highton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Highton as of 2021 was 37 years, considerably lower than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and very close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile showed that those aged 15-24 were particularly prominent at 17.5%, while the 65-74 group was comparatively smaller at 8.6%. Between 2021 and the present, the median age has decreased by 1.1 years to 37, indicating a younger demographic shift. Key changes included the 25 to 34 age group growing from 11.6% to 13.7%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increasing from 15.6% to 17.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 11.5% to 9.9%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.8% to 11.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Highton, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 78% (2,742 people), reaching 6,264 from 3,521. In contrast, the 65 to 74 cohort is projected to decline by 23 people.