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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Highton's population is around 25,727 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,693 people (7.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 24,034 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 25,611 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 248 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 633 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Over the past decade, Highton has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.6% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the Rest of Vic. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which 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, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the 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 from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australia's regional areas is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 7,863 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 30.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Highton has seen around 142 new homes approved per year, totalling 714 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 42 approvals have been recorded. At an average of 2.5 new residents per year for each dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), reflecting robust demand that underpins property values, new homes are being built at an average construction cost of $386,000—somewhat higher than regional norms—reflecting quality-focused development. Additionally, $120.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Relative to the rest of Victoria, Highton has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and places in the 39th percentile of areas assessed nationally, meaning more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. Recent construction comprises 76.0% detached houses and 24.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low-density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated count of 421 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low-activity development environment.

Looking ahead, Highton is expected to grow by 7,747 residents through to 2041 (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 39 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Highton Urban Design Framework, 22-24 Barrabool Road Development, Wandana Estate, and Morven Townhomes, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Highton ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Highton features a well-educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of just 2.2%. As of December 2025, 14,209 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.5% below Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (69.3% compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%). Based on Census responses, a high 26.3% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.8% versus the regional average of 7.5%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8% combined with employment decreasing by 0.6%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.2 percentage points. This compares to Regional Vic., where employment fell by 0.6%, labour force contracted by 0.7%, and unemployment fell 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Highton. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Highton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised 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 the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Highton SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $54,610 with the average level standing at $68,773. This is just above the national average and compares to levels of $50,954 and $62,728 across Regional Vic. respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $59,115 (median) and $74,447 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Highton cluster around the 66th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 30.7% of the community (7,898 individuals), mirroring the region where 30.3% occupy this bracket. The district demonstrates considerable affluence with 32.8% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. 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 ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure within Highton, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Highton was in line with that of Regional Vic., at 40.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (39.7%) or rented (20.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional Vic. average at $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $365, compared to Regional Vic.'s $1,430 and $285. Nationally, Highton's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 74.5% of all households, comprising 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% of the total. The median household size of 2.7 people is 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 significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 21.7% in Rest of Vic. and 27.3% in the SA3 area. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 25.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 29.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (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.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 79 active transport stops operating within Highton. These stops are serviced by 15 individual routes, collectively providing 3,054 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 285 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. A high 26.3% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

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 demonstrates outstanding results across Highton, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover slightly leads the average SA2 area at approximately 53% of the total population (~13,712 people). This compares to 50.5% across Regional Vic..

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.4% and 7.9% of residents, respectively, while 70.9% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,969 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 is roughly in line with the wider region's average in terms of cultural diversity, with 80.6% of its population born in Australia, 88.9% being citizens, and 87.2% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Highton is Christianity, which makes up 50.1% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Hinduism, which comprises 1.8% of the population, compared to 0.7% across Regional Vic..

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Highton are English, comprising 28.1% of the population, Australian, comprising 25.4% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.5% of Highton (vs 8.8% regionally), Dutch at 1.8% (vs 1.7%) and Croatian at 0.9% (vs 0.4%).

Highton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The 37-year median age in Highton is considerably lower than Regional Vic.'s average of 43 as well as very close to the 38-year national average. The age profile shows 15 - 24 year-olds are particularly prominent (17.5%), while the 65 - 74 group is comparatively smaller (8.4%) than in Regional Vic. This 15 - 24 concentration is well above the national 12.5%. In the period since 2021, the median age has decreased by 1.4 years from 38 to 37, indicating a younger demographic shift. Key changes show the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 11.6% to 14.6% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 15.6% to 17.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 11.5% to 9.5% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.8% to 11.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Highton. Leading the demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 67% (2,513 people), reaching 6,264 from 3,750. In contrast, the 65 to 74 cohort shows minimal growth of just 2% (43 people).