Highton
Statistical Area - sa2

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 November 2025, is approximately 25,702, reflecting a growth of 1,668 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 6.9% rise from the previous population count of 24,034. The change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 25,611 in 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, indicating significant space per person and potential for further development. Highton's growth rate exceeded that of non-metro areas (6.0%) between 2021 and 2025, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.9% to overall population gains during this period, with other factors such as interstate migration and natural growth also being positive contributors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made using 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 7,863 persons, marking a total increase of 30.2% over the 17-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. As of FY-26 so far, 24 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has resulted in a gain of 2.5 new residents per year, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of these new homes is $386,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

In this financial year, there have been $120.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Highton shows approximately 56% of the construction activity per person, placing it among the 40th percentile nationally, which may limit choices for buyers and support demand for existing homes. New development consists of 76.0% standalone homes and 24.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 421 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Highton will gain 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 emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 38 projects that could impact the area. Major projects include Morven Townhomes, Highton Urban Design Framework, 34 Barrabool Road Apartments, and 22-24 Barrabool Road Development. The following list details those 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 prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.0% over the past year as of June 2025.

In this month, 14,253 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.5% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Highton is high at 65.6%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, education & training shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has 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 June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.0% while labour force rose by 2.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.9%, labour force decline by 0.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Highton's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30, 2022, Highton had a median income among taxpayers of $51,998 with the average level standing at $67,584. This is above the national average and compares 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 2022, current estimates would be approximately $58,321 (median) and $75,802 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Highton cluster around the 67th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals 30.7% of the population (7,890 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the metropolitan region where 30.3% occupy this bracket. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 32.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of 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 per the latest Census, consisted of 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic had 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Highton stood at 40.0%, with mortgaged properties at 39.7% and rented ones at 20.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, exceeding Non-Metro Vic's average of $1,863, while the median weekly rent was $365 compared to Non-Metro Vic's $335. Nationally, Highton's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, but rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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 account for the remaining 25.5%, with lone person households at 22.0% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.7 people, 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 significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 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 common at 25.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.8% and graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Trade and technical skills are also prominent, with 29.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 17.7%.

Educational participation is notably 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. A robust network of 8 schools operates within Highton, educating approximately 3,752 students while the area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1098). The educational mix includes 5 primary and 3 K-12 schools. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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 are served by 10 different routes that together provide 1499 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 equates 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 demonstrates above-average health outcomes with both young and old age cohorts seeing 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, impacting 8.4 and 7.9% of residents respectively. Seventy-point-nine percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 65.9% across Rest of Vic. Sixteen-point-zero percent of residents are aged 65 and over (4,112 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Highton has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 19.4% of its population born overseas and 12.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Highton, comprising 50.1% of its population. Hinduism, however, is slightly overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria, making up 1.8% of Highton's population versus 1.7%.

The top three ancestry groups in Highton are English (28.1%), Australian (25.4%), and Irish (9.9%). Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 9.5%, compared to the regional average of 8.3%. Dutch ancestry is also slightly overrepresented at 1.8% versus 2.0%, while Croatian ancestry is underrepresented at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 1.5%.

Highton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

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