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 was approximately 25,713 as of November 2025, showing an increase of 1,679 people (7.0%) since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 24,034. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 25,611 in June 2024 and an additional 247 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 633 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Highton's compound annual growth rate was 1.6%, surpassing that of the Rest of Vic. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.9% to overall population gains recently, with all migration types and natural growth being positive factors. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, a significant population increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally is forecasted, with Highton expected to increase by 7,863 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall 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 averaged approximately 142 new dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years, totalling 714 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 34 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 2.5 new residents per year was associated with each dwelling, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes was $386,000, higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development.

In FY-26, commercial approvals totalling $120.4 million have been registered, showing high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Highton has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 39th percentile nationally in terms of choices for buyers, which supports demand for existing dwellings. Recent construction consists of 76.0% detached houses and 24.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving Highton's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 421 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Highton is projected to grow by 7,761 residents by 2041. If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 39 projects that may impact this region. Major initiatives include Highton Urban Design Framework, 22-24 Barrabool Road Development, Wandana Estate, and Morven Townhomes, with the following list detailing those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Highton demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Highton has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of September 2025, its unemployment rate is 2.2%. Over the past year, employment stability has been relatively consistent.

In September 2025, 14,234 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was high at 69.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. According to Census responses, 26.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Notably, education & training employment levels are at 1.5 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.8%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.2% and employment decreased by 0.3%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment fall by 0.7% and labour force contract by 0.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase 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.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Highton SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $54,610 and an average level of $68,773. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively for Rest of Vic. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates project median income to be approximately $59,115 and average income to be around $74,447 as of September 2025. The 2021 Census shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Highton cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. Income analysis indicates that 30.7% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (7,893 individuals), mirroring the regional trend where 30.3% fall into this bracket. The district exhibits affluence with 32.8% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. 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, comprised 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Highton stood at 40.0%, similar to Non-Metro Vic., with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (39.7%) or rented (20.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Highton was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure in Highton was recorded at $365, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Highton's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 account for 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 make up 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

In Highton, a significant proportion of residents aged 15 and above have achieved university qualifications, with 38.5%, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 27.3% in the SA3 area. This educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks, indicating a strong position for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common, held by 25.5% of residents, 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, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (17.7%). Educational participation is high in the area, 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 moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Highton has 79 active public transport stops serviced by 15 routes, offering a total of 3054 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 285 meters to the nearest one. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode at 93%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.7, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 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, resulting in approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health outcomes data shows notable results across Highton. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups, as assessed by AreaSearch.

Private health cover was approximately 53% of the total population (~13,705 people), leading the average SA2 area rate, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 50.5%. The most common medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.4 and 7.9% of residents respectively. 70.9% reported being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 63.4%. Under-65 population health outcomes were better than average. The area had 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (4,114 people), lower than Rest of Vic.'s 23.5%. Health outcomes among seniors were strong, broadly in line with national rankings for 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 the broader regional average, as indicated by 80.6% of its population being born in Australia, 88.9% holding citizenship, and 87.2% speaking English exclusively at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Highton, accounting for 50.1% of residents. Notably, Hinduism is overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria, comprising 1.8% versus 0.7%.

The top three ancestry groups based on parental birth are English (28.1%), Australian (25.4%), and Irish (9.9%). Some ethnicities show significant differences: Scottish at 9.5% (regional average is 8.8%), Dutch at 1.8% (versus 1.7%), and Croatian at 0.9% (compared to 0.4%).

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 years. 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 present, the median age decreased by 1.1 years to 37 years, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes included an increase in the 25-34 age group from 11.6% to 13.7%, and an increase in 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 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Highton, with the 25-34 age group projected to grow by 78% (2,741 people) reaching 6,264 from 3,522, while the 65-74 cohort is expected to decline by 24 people.