It lies south-east of the city centre being bordered by Cashel Street to the north, Aldwins Road to the east, Ferry Road to the south, and Fitzgerald Avenue to the west.

Phillipstown contains residential, commercial and industrial activity, and is recognised as a lower socio-economic area.

[3] The Church of the Good Shepherd, a Category I heritage building registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, was located in the suburb until its demolition after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

The percentage of people born overseas was 33.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.0% had no religion, 32.5% were Christian, 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 5.7% were Hindu, 1.5% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 5.5% had other religions.