Chermside
Statistical Area - sa2

Chermside lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Chermside's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 12,823 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,397 individuals, marking a 12.2% rise since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 11,426. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,506 in June 2024 and an additional 428 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio stands at 3,782 persons per square kilometer, placing Chermside within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Chermside's growth rate of 12.2% since the 2021 Census outperforms both the SA3 area (7.3%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 61.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecasted for Chermside, with an expected growth of 4,872 persons by 2041, representing a total gain of 35.5% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Chermside was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Chermside recorded approximately 123 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 615 homes were approved, with an additional 68 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodated about 2.3 new residents per year over these five years.

The average construction cost value of new homes was $415,000, reflecting quality-focused development somewhat higher than regional norms. This financial year, there have been $52.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Chermside shows 147.0% higher development activity per person. New development consists of approximately 10.0% standalone homes and 90.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a trend towards denser development that provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 138 people per dwelling approval, Chermside exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

Population forecasts indicate Chermside will gain approximately 4,555 residents by 2041. Development appears to be keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 23 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion, Chermside Westfield Expansion & Redevelopment (Stage 2), Hamilton Road Hotel Development, and Brisbane Metro - Northern Busway Extension (Roma Street to Carseldine). The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Chermside remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Chermside's workforce is well-educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 6.2% as of June 2021, with an estimated employment growth of 11.8% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 7434 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.1% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Chermside stands at 62.1%, slightly below Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Notably, health care & social assistance shows strong specialization with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, education & training has lower representation at 5.9% compared to the regional average of 9.4%. With a ratio of 1.4 workers per resident as at the Census, Chermside functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 11.8% and labour force grew by 10.6%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 4.4%, labour force growth of 4.0%, with a decrease in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May 2025, suggest potential future demand within Chermside. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Chermside's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, although it should be noted that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Chermside is $52,811 and average income stands at $63,323. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $60,199 (median) and $72,182 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, median personal income ranks at the 58th percentile ($844 weekly), while median household income sits at the 30th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 33.8% of residents fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket (4,334 people). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 22nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Chermside features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Chermside's dwelling structure in its latest Census report showed 21.4% houses and 78.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Brisbane metro's figures of 67.2% houses and 32.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chermside was at 15.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 17.7% and rented ones at 66.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,690, lower than Brisbane metro's $2,100. Median weekly rent in Chermside was $370, compared to Brisbane metro's $390. Nationally, Chermside's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Chermside features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 50.5% of all households, including 13.7% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 49.5%, with lone person households at 41.8% and group households making up 7.6%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Chermside exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 34.7% among residents aged 15+, surpassing Queensland's average of 25.7% and Australia's figure of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 24.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 32.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.3% while certificates make up 20.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in tertiary education, 6.3% in primary education, and 4.7% pursuing secondary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Chermside has 68 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 25 individual routes. Together, these routes facilitate 3,924 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 144 meters from the nearest stop. On average, service frequency across all routes is 560 trips per day, which equates to approximately 57 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Chermside is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Chermside faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but particularly high among older cohorts. Private health cover is held by approximately 51% of Chermside's total population (~6,565 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's average of 56.0%.

Mental health issues affect 11.0% of residents and asthma impacts 7.7%, while 66.0% report no medical ailments. This compares to 69.1% across Greater Brisbane. Chermside has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 19.0% (2,441 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 16.6%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Chermside is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chermside has a high level of cultural diversity, with 28.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 36.1% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Chermside, comprising 45.6% of the population. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, making up 5.6% of Chermside's population versus 2.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.3%), Australian (19.6%), and Other (13.2%). Notably, Filipino (3.3%) and Korean (1.1%) populations are higher in Chermside compared to the regional averages of 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively. New Zealand-born residents also show a slight overrepresentation at 1.0%.

Chermside's population is younger than the national pattern

Chermside's median age is 35 years, nearly matching Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and somewhat younger than Australia's 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Chermside has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (22.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.1%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. From the 2021 Census to present, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 14.2% to 15.2%, while the population aged 85+ has declined from 4.6% to 3.5%, and the population aged 15-24 has dropped from 13.6% to 12.5%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Chermside. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 88%, adding 832 residents to reach a total of 1,775. In contrast, the 0-4 age cohort shows minimal growth of just 8% (42 people).