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 of May 2026, is approximately 25,812. This figure reflects a growth of 1,778 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,034. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 25,794 in June 2025 and an additional 257 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 635 persons per square kilometer. Highton's growth rate of 7.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 4.3%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being positive factors. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 7,385 persons, reflecting an increase of 28.5% in total over the 16-year period.

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. So far in FY26, 72 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25 attracted 2.5 new residents per year, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. New homes are constructed at an average cost of $386,000, which is higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

In the current financial year, there have been $120.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to 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 development consists of 76.0% standalone homes and 24.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 421 people, reflecting a quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Highton is forecasted to gain 7,367 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 strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Thirty-eight infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable projects include Highton Urban Design Framework, 22-24 Barrabool Road Development, Wandana Estate, and Morven Townhomes. The following list details those expected to have significant relevance.

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

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Employment conditions in Highton demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Highton has an educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.2%. As of December 2025, 14,209 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% lower than Regional Vic.'s 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Highton is high at 68.7%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. Census responses indicate that 26.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, education & training has a strong presence with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.8% compared to Regional Vic.'s average of 7.5%. Local employment opportunities may be limited as indicated by the working population vs resident population ratio. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Highton's labour force decreased by 0.8%, while employment declined by 0.6%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Vic.'s employment declined by 0.6%, labour force by 0.7%, with unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (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 simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Highton SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $54,610 and an average income of $68,773. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively for Regional Vic. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $59,863 and $75,389. According to the 2021 Census, Highton's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 66th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals 30.7% of residents (7,924 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to metropolitan regions where 30.3% fall within this bracket. A significant portion, 32.8%, earns over $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of their income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Highton is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Highton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Highton was at 40.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.7% and rented dwellings at 20.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure for Highton was $365, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Highton's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are lower at $375.

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

Family households comprise 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 account for 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, larger than the Regional 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 high, with 38.5% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the broader benchmark for Victoria by 16.8%, where only 21.7% of residents have such qualifications. Compared to the SA3 area, Highton's educational attainment is also higher by 11.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent, held by 25.5% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.8%, and graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Vocational credentials are also common in Highton, with 29.9% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications.

Advanced diplomas account for 12.2%, while certificates make up 17.7% of these vocational credentials. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education programs. This includes 10.2% pursuing tertiary education, 9.9% in primary education, and 8.2% in secondary education.

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

Highton has 79 active public transport stops. These are served by 15 routes, offering a total of 3054 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically living 285 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 93%. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 26.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 436 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

Highton's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Highton's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~13,757 people), leading that of the average SA2 area and Regional Vic. (50.5%). Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.4 and 7.9% of residents respectively. A total of 70.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. Highton has 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (4,212 people), which is lower than the 23.9% in Regional Vic. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 its regional average, as 80.6% of residents were born in Australia, 88.9% are citizens, and 87.2% speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Highton, accounting for 50.1% of the population. However, Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Regional Vic., with 1.8% vs 0.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (28.1%), Australian (25.4%), and Irish (9.9%). Notable divergences exist in Scottish (9.5% vs 8.8%), Dutch (1.8% vs 1.7%), and Croatian (0.9% vs 0.4%) representations compared to regional averages.

Highton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Highton is 37 years, which is lower than Regional Vic.'s average of 43 and close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 15-24 are prominent at 17.1%, while those aged 65-74 are smaller at 8.8%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has decreased by 1 year to 37, indicating a shift towards younger demographics. Key changes include the growth of the 25-34 age group from 11.6% to 13.7%, and the increase of the 15-24 cohort from 15.6% to 17.1%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 11.5% to 9.8%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 12.8% to 11.5%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Highton. Notably, the 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 66% (2,325 people), reaching 5,862 from 3,536. In contrast, the 65-74 cohort shows minimal growth of just 1% (27 people).