Chermside

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 is approximately 13,102 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,676 people, a 14.7% rise from the 2021 Census which reported a population of 11,426. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,506 in June 2024 and an additional 573 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,864 persons per square kilometer, placing Chermside in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Chermside's growth exceeded that of the SA3 area (8.1%) and the SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 61.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 using 2022 data. Based on projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for Chermside, with an expected growth of 4,872 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 32.6% 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 has recorded approximately 123 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25615 homes were approved, with a further 70 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodates 2.3 new residents per year over these five years.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $415,000, reflecting quality-focused development. In the current 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 10.0% standalone homes and 90.0% attached dwellings, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 138 people per dwelling approval, Chermside exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Chermside is projected to gain 4,276 residents by 2041. Development in the area is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Chermside has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 22 projects that could affect the area. Notable projects include The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion, Chermside Westfield Expansion & Redevelopment (Stage 2), Brisbane Metro - Northern Busway Extension (Roma Street to Carseldine), and 705-707 Hamilton Road Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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.

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

Chermside has a well-educated workforce. Essential services sectors are well represented there. The unemployment rate was 6.5% in the past year.

Employment growth was estimated at 12.0%. As of September 2025, 7,626 residents were in work. The unemployment rate was 2.5% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was fairly standard, at 73.4% compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%.

According to Census responses, 17.1% of residents worked from home. Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Chermside shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, education & training has lower representation at 5.9% versus the regional average of 9.4%. There are 1.4 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 12.0%, and labour force increased by 10.9%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.9 percentage points. Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.8% during this period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, suggest that Chermside's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Chermside SA2 had an income median of $56,033 and an average income of $65,603. This is lower than Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Chermside SA2 would be approximately $61,586 (median) and $72,104 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data ranks personal income at the 58th percentile ($844 weekly) and household income at the 30th percentile in Chermside SA2. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 33.8% of residents (4,428 people), similar to the broader metropolitan region's 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 21st 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, as per the latest Census, had 21.4% houses and 78.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chermside stood at 15.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 17.7% and rented ones at 66.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,690, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Chermside was $370, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Chermside's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 comprising 7.6%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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 rate 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 them – 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% pursuing tertiary education, 6.3% in primary education, and 4.7% engaged in secondary education.

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

Chermside has 67 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by 25 different routes, offering a total of 3957 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 145 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this predominantly residential area. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 71%, followed by buses at 12% and walking at 9%. The average vehicle ownership is 0.7 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 17.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 565 trips per day, equating to approximately 59 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Chermside is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Chermside faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions affects both younger and older age cohorts in the area.

Private health cover is slightly lower than average at approximately 52% of Chermside's total population (~6,799 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 55.8%. Mental health issues are the most common medical condition, impacting 11.0% of residents, followed by asthma at 7.7%. However, 66.0% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. Chermside has 19.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,592 people), which is higher than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Chermside was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chermside has a significant 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, making up 45.6% of the population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented in Chermside compared to Greater Brisbane, comprising 5.6% versus 2.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.3%), Australian (19.6%), and Other (13.2%). There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Filipino is overrepresented at 3.3% compared to 1.2% regionally, Korean at 1.1% versus 0.5%, and New Zealand at 1.0%.

Chermside's population is younger than the national pattern

Chermside's median age of 36 years equals Greater Brisbane's and is younger than Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 21.7%, higher than Greater Brisbane but lower than the national average of 14.4%. The 5-14 age group represents 7.1% in Chermside. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group increased from 7.3% to 8.8%, while the 45-54 cohort rose from 9.7% to 10.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group decreased from 23.5% to 21.7%, and the 85+ group fell from 4.6% to 3.4%. By 2041, population forecasts show significant changes in Chermside's demographics. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to rise by 780 people (78%), from 994 to 1,775. Meanwhile, the 0-4 age group grows modestly by 38 people (7%).