Highfields
Three-quarters of Highfields homes (74.7%) have 4 or more bedrooms, the highest proportion in this batch, built for the families that drove 29.6% population growth over the decade. Net internal migration of 365 per year is the primary engine, with overseas migration contributing just 29, making it one of the most internally-driven growth stories in this analysis. The gentrification score of 55 (active, accelerating from 17% to 24%) suggests the compositional change is intensifying. Despite this growth, the median age of 45 (5 years above national) and rising senior share (+6.8 points) reveal an aging trajectory underneath the family-suburb surface.
Population
8,568
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,994/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Median House
$515K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $515,000 median (rent-derived, 2025) is affordable for a suburb with IRSD decile 9 and IER decile 10 conditions. Detached houses at 96.3% dominate, with 4+ bedrooms at 74.7%, the highest in this batch. Monthly mortgage of $1,842 against $1,994/week income gives a 21.3% mortgage-to-income ratio, well below stress levels. Affordability improved from 53.5% to 47.0% over the decade. Four schools serve the suburb, with ICSEA scores ranging from 1,001 to 1,066, all above the national benchmark. The near-zero public transport (0.4%) means 91.2% drive, requiring car ownership.
For Buyers
The estimated $515,000 median (rent-derived, 2025) is affordable for a suburb with IRSD decile 9 and IER decile 10 conditions. Detached houses at 96.3% dominate, with 4+ bedrooms at 74.7%, the highest in this batch. Monthly mortgage of $1,842 against $1,994/week income gives a 21.3% mortgage-to-income ratio, well below stress levels. Affordability improved from 53.5% to 47.0% over the decade. Four schools serve the suburb, with ICSEA scores ranging from 1,001 to 1,066, all above the national benchmark. The near-zero public transport (0.4%) means 91.2% drive, requiring car ownership.
For Investors
The 14.4% renter share is narrow, with weekly rent at $410 and a 5.7% vacancy rate. Gross yield of roughly 4.1% ($410 on $515,000) is above the QLD average. Population growth at 2.34% per year (389 persons) is strong, driven by 365 net internal migrants annually. With 20 DAs in 12 months, development activity is moderate. Rent grew 16.6% over the decade, above the 8.0% real income growth, suggesting rental pricing has room to tighten further. The gentrification score of 55 (active) indicates the suburb is attracting a higher socioeconomic cohort, supporting future property values.
Development Activity
Total DAs
72
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Highfields iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Toowoomba Christian College
Prep-12 · 810 students
Mary MacKillop Catholic College
Prep-12 · 1047 students
Highfields State School
Prep-6 · 653 students
Highfields State Secondary College
7-12 · 795 students
Demographics
English ancestry dominates (3,912), with Irish (1,312), Scottish (1,256) and German (1,077) forming a British-Germanic profile. German ancestry at 1,077 is notably large, reflecting the Darling Downs settlement history. Only 12.0% were born overseas, 9.6 points below national, making it one of the most Australian-born suburbs in this batch. Non-English language data is very limited (only Afrikaans at 23 speakers). University qualifications at 32.5% are 2.4 points above national. The median age of 45 is 5 years above national, and average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above. Volunteering at 21.0% is well above the national rate, consistent with the civic-oriented community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.3%
Houses
3.6%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Owned outright at 46.6% and mortgaged at 39.0% account for 85.6% of tenure, well above national averages. Detached houses at 96.3% leave almost no medium-density options. The 74.7% share of 4+ bedrooms is the highest in this batch. The 21.3% mortgage-to-income ratio is comfortable at the 75th-percentile income level. Affordability improved from 53.5% to 47.0% over the decade. Rent-to-income at 20.6% is manageable. The IRSD decile 9 indicates very low disadvantage, and the IER decile 10 (highest economic resources nationally) reflects strong aggregate household wealth.
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wk
$410
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$798
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
180
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.4%
Couples, no children
7,512
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (20.7%, 590 workers) and Education (16.9%, 482) together employ 37.6% of the workforce, consistent with Toowoomba's regional service role. Public Admin (11.3%, 322), Construction (9.6%, 272) and Professional/Tech (7.2%, 205) follow. Professionals (1,024) lead occupations, with Clerical/Admin (581) and Managers (537) next. Full-time employment at 63.0% and unemployment at 3.6% are both near national averages. The participation rate of 58.3% is moderate, with 2,472 not in the labour force (reflecting the older median age). The IER decile 10 indicates top-tier economic resources, consistent with the high outright-ownership rate.
Unemployment
1.0%
Labour Force
8,786
Unemployed
87
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.0%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
58.3%
Employed
3,895
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.5%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
12.0%
Dwellings
2,985
Transport to Work
Four schools serve the suburb, all above the national ICSEA benchmark. Toowoomba Christian College (Independent Combined, ICSEA 1,066, 810 students) leads. Mary MacKillop Catholic College (ICSEA 1,046, 1,047 students) is the largest. Highfields State School (Government Primary, ICSEA 1,037, 653 students) and Highfields State Secondary College (Government, ICSEA 1,001, 795 students) complete the offering. Public transport is virtually absent (0.4%), with 91.2% driving. The IRSAD decile 8 confirms upper-band advantage. Need-for-assistance at 5.1% is near national.
Drive
91.2%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.34%/yr
(+389 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 29.6% over the decade, reaching 16,630 by 2025, well above the national average, with the medium forecast projecting 19,005 by 2031. Annual growth of 2.34% (389 persons) is driven primarily by internal migration (365 net per year), with minimal overseas contribution (29). The gentrification score of 55 (active) is accelerating from 17% to 24%, with population up 45% since 2011 and 365 net internal migrants per year. The aging trajectory shows the senior share rising 6.8 points (the largest increase in this batch) while the young share fell 3.9 points and the working-age share dropped 3.3 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+29
Net Internal / yr
+365
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +45% since 2011, Net internal migration +365/yr, Accelerating: 17% → 24%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Highfields compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highfields a good suburb to live in?
Highfields suits families seeking large homes (74.7% have 4+ bedrooms) with low mortgage stress (21.3% ratio) near Toowoomba. All 4 schools exceed the national ICSEA benchmark. IRSAD decile 8 and IER decile 10 confirm strong advantage. The tradeoff is near-zero public transport (0.4%).
What is the median house price in Highfields?
The estimated median is $515,000 (rent-derived, 2025), with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,842. The 21.3% mortgage-to-income ratio is comfortable at 75th-percentile household income ($1,994/week). Weekly rent sits at $410. Affordability improved from 53.5% to 47.0% over the decade.
What schools are in Highfields?
Highfields has 4 schools, all above the national ICSEA benchmark. Toowoomba Christian College (Independent, ICSEA 1,066, 810 students) leads. Mary MacKillop Catholic (ICSEA 1,046, 1,047 students) is the largest. Two government schools round out the offering at ICSEA 1,037 and 1,001.
Is Highfields safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Highfields in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 9 and IER decile 10 indicate very low disadvantage and strong economic resources. Unemployment at 3.6% is below national, and volunteering at 21.0% signals strong social cohesion. These indicators correlate with below-average crime.
Is Highfields good for property investment?
Gross yield of roughly 4.1% ($410/week on $515,000) is above the QLD average. Population growth of 2.34% per year and 365 net internal migrants annually drive demand. The gentrification score of 55 (active) indicates demographic upgrading. However, the 14.4% renter share is narrow, limiting the tenant pool.
How is Highfields's population changing?
Population grew 29.6% over the decade to 16,630 by 2025, projected to reach 19,005 by 2031. Internal migration of 365 per year drives growth, with minimal overseas contribution (29). The aging pattern is strong: the senior share rose 6.8 points (largest in this batch) while the young share fell 3.9 points.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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