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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Chermside West has an estimated 7,050 residents, up from 6,611 at the 2021 Census — a change of 439 people, or 6.6%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 70.9% of that increase. That puts 2,074 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the population of Chermside West stands at approximately 7,050 according to AreaSearch research. Compared with the 6,611 people counted in the 2021 Census, this indicates an expansion of 439 people (6.6%), calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 7,050 alongside post-Census address validation. The suburb maintains a density of 2,073 persons per square kilometer, surpassing AreaSearch's nationwide average. Furthermore, the local 6.6% post-Census increase tracks closely with the wider SA3 area (8.0%), sitting within 1.4 percentage points. The principal catalyst behind this population expansion has been overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 70.9% of net gains across recent periods.
Projections published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline by ABS/Geoscience Australia serve as the primary SA2 modeling framework for AreaSearch. Where SA2 coverage is absent or for years post-2032, figures rely on Queensland State Government SA2 series published in 2023 utilizing 2021 data. Because those state models lack age cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch allocates cohort distributions using ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 from 2022 benchmarks. Forward demographic forecasts point to gains tracking marginally below the national median for Australian statistical areas, with latest annual ERP metrics projecting an addition of 605 persons by 2041, representing overall growth of 8.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
66 new dwellings have been approved in Chermside West over the past five years, an average of 13 a year. That is 1.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building consents in Chermside West have averaged roughly 13 per year, totalling 66 homes across the previous 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). With approximately 4.4 new residents per year added for each dwelling built over those 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), demographic demand continues to outstrip incoming supply, typically placing upward pressure on values and buyer competition. Approved new residences carry an average expected construction cost of $530,000, marginally exceeding regional benchmarks to indicate higher-quality builds. Alongside this, commercial development approvals reached $1.1 million this financial year, underscoring an environment centered overwhelmingly on residential use.
Per-capita construction volumes in Chermside West track substantially lower than Greater Brisbane benchmarks (57.0% below regional average per person). This constrained pipeline of new residential stock often reinforces pricing and interest across established dwellings. Output also trails national norms, reflecting an established suburban landscape alongside potential planning constraints. Furthermore, all recent residential development has involved detached houses, preserving the locality's traditional family-oriented character. Representing roughly 478 people per dwelling approval, Chermside West demonstrates the dynamics of a mature urban market. Long-term demographic forecasts from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate project an influx of 605 residents into Chermside West by 2041. If residential building activity continues at current rates, housing creation may fail to match population expansion, further tightening market competition and supporting ongoing value growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Chermside West
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Chermside West, worth an estimated $29 million. A further 91 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $20.3 billion. 17 are already under construction and 35 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Strategic planning, public works, and significant development ventures play a vital role in shaping local community outcomes. Across Chermside West, AreaSearch has highlighted 11 projects anticipated to influence the locality. Notable developments encompass Fifth Avenue, The Rise Chermside West, Rode Rd, Stafford Heights, and Westaway Terraces Chermside West, with significant undertakings outlined in detail below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
705-707 Hamilton Road Development
Residential development project on Hamilton Road in Chermside West. Details of specific development proposal to be confirmed through planning process.
The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion
The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion is a major health project delivered by Queensland Health and Metro North Health, with Hutchinson Builders leading detailed design and construction. The project delivers a new multi-storey acute services building adding 93 inpatient beds, a significantly expanded emergency department with 53 treatment bays, new operating theatres, and paediatric outpatient services. Site works and construction activities are actively underway at the Chermside campus.
Raven Street Reserve Mountain Bike Trail Network Upgrade
Raven Street Reserve, part of the Chermside Hills Reserves network in Brisbane's north, already contains a designated off-road bikeway along Cabbage Tree Creek and Little Cabbage Tree Creek. The reserve is identified in Brisbane City Council's Off-Road Cycling Strategy as a location for potential further off-road cycling facilities, subject to future detailed design, budget confirmation, and environmental assessment. Any upgrade would be expected to build on the existing shared trail network, improve wayfinding and safety signage, and strengthen connections to the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre.Council is currently carrying out separate repair works on the Giwadha walking track within the wider Chermside Hills Reserves, closed from late April to mid-May 2026, but no confirmed, funded mountain bike specific trail upgrade for Raven Street Reserve has been publicly announced beyond its listing as a strategy opportunity.
McDowall Village Master Plan Redevelopment
A concept master plan for the refurbishment and strategic expansion of McDowall Village Shopping Centre. The project focuses on revitalizing the IGA-anchored center by upgrading external facades, enhancing pedestrian connectivity between Beckett and Hamilton Roads, and reconfiguring internal tenancies to support new convenience retail and service offerings. As of May 2026, the project is progressing through feasibility and preliminary planning under CMC Property Management, with a focus on improving the suburban village atmosphere.
12 Kelso Street Build-to-Rent
A proposed 10-storey build-to-rent residential development featuring 226 studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments tailored for key worker housing. The scheme includes communal co-working spaces, landscaped ground-floor gardens, outdoor areas, and a rooftop amenity deck. The application was submitted to Brisbane City Council under development application A006388483.
Rode Rd, Stafford Heights
Effinity's project on the city's northside includes 32 apartments, retail space, and two basement parking levels. Featuring a communal rooftop garden, the development focuses on urban consolidation and housing diversity in Stafford Heights.
Stafford Heights Aged Care & Retirement Village Expansion
Expansion of the existing Churches of Christ aged care and retirement living precinct at Stafford Heights, delivering more than 80 new independent living units together with upgraded aged care and community facilities. Construction is continuing with staged delivery expected through 2026.
23-25 Sammells Drive Residential Development
Development approval for a multi-unit residential project comprising 33 apartments (10 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom configurations) across a 1,093 sqm site. The proposal involves the demolition of two existing residential dwellings to facilitate the mid-rise apartment complex. The site represents an infill development opportunity close to Westfield Chermside and key transport corridors.
4,251 residents of Chermside West are employed, from a labour force of 4,400. Unemployment sits at 3.4%, with participation at 77.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,317, about 75% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour pool in Chermside West is highly educated and well represented within essential service industries, characterized by an unemployment rate of just 3.4% and an estimated 6.8% annual rise in employment. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 4,251, with joblessness sitting 0.9% below the 4.3% recorded for Greater Brisbane. Labour force participation also proves exceptionally strong at 77.1% against 70.1% across Greater Brisbane. Census data reveals that 20.2% of local workers operated from home, though figures reflect the context of Covid-19 restrictions. Resident employment is heavily concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.
Industry specialization is most pronounced in health care & social assistance, generating an employment concentration 1.3 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, manufacturing comprises a smaller footprint, accounting for 4.0% of local jobs versus 6.4% regionally. Given its primarily residential profile, local employment generation remains modest when comparing the Census working population against resident totals. According to AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM releases, the year to March 2026 saw local employment rise by 6.8% alongside a 7.2% expansion in the labour force, lifting unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Over the same period, Greater Brisbane saw jobs grow by 3.2% and the labour force expand by 3.4%, leading to a 0.1 percentage points uptick in unemployment. National outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia released in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future labour demand in Chermside West. These five and ten-year models have been aligned with local industry distributions to project employment paths. Nationwide employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with sector performance varying markedly. Applying these sectoral trajectories to the Chermside West workforce suggests potential employment expansion of 7.0% over five years and 14.5% over ten years (this represents an illustrative weighted extrapolation rather than a local demographic forecast).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Chermside West is $2,187 a week (about $114,000 a year), with median personal income at $919 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $61,013 a year against an average of $71,433. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation figures compiled by AreaSearch from the ATO for financial year 2023 show income levels in the Chermside West SA2 exceeding the nationwide standard. Across the Chermside West SA2, median taxable income reached $61,013 while mean income was $71,433, compared to Greater Brisbane benchmarks of $58,236 and $72,799 respectively. Adjusting for Wage Price Index gains of 11.36% since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of approximately $67,944 (median) and $79,548 (average) as of March 2026. Findings from Census 2021 position personal, family, and household earnings around the 73rd percentile across Australia.
In terms of earnings distribution, 33.9% of residents (2,389 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, closely mirroring the regional proportion of 33.3%. High earners are also prominent, with 31.7% receiving more than $3,000 per week to support substantial local buying capacity. Housing expenses consume 13.5% of income, while disposable earnings place the locality in the 79th percentile and its SEIFA income score falls into the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Chermside West had 2,390 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 5% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 37% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $455 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,058 a month. Rent absorbs 20.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing stock in Chermside West consists of 92.5% houses and 7.4% other dwellings (including semi-detached units, apartments, and other housing formats), contrasted with Brisbane metro at 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership is notably elevated in Chermside West at 36.7% relative to Brisbane metro, while remaining properties are mortgaged (37.6%) or leased (25.7%). Median mortgage repayments reach $2,058 per month, considerably above the Brisbane metro average of $1,863, and median weekly rent stands at $455 against $380 across Brisbane metro. On a nationwide basis, mortgage costs in Chermside West substantially exceed the Australian benchmark of $1,863, with weekly rent also tracking well above the national level of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Chermside West counted 2,390 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,549 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 37% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 19% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family arrangements account for the vast majority of local residences at 77.6% of all households, consisting of 36.6% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family living situations represent 22.4%, made up of single-person dwellings at 18.6% and group households at 3.9%. The median household size stands at 2.7 people, outpacing the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
33.0% of adults in Chermside West hold a university qualification, including 22.9% with a bachelor degree and 6.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 20.1% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,798 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,071 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment among Chermside West residents is distinctively high, with university degree holders (33.0% of residents aged 15+) outperforming the QLD average of 25.7%. Bachelor degrees represent the largest segment at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 6.5% and graduate diplomas at 3.6%. Vocational and technical qualifications are also widespread, with 31.7% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (20.1%). Formal study engagement across the suburb is substantial, as 29.1% of residents are actively undertaking education. Within this cohort, 9.1% attend primary education, 8.3% are enrolled in secondary education, and 6.7% are engaged in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Chermside West means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.1% of residents in Chermside West report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 83% of areas nationally. 4.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Chermside West reflect strong overall wellbeing according to AreaSearch analysis of chronic illness rates and mortality statistics, with younger demographics exhibiting minimal incidence of typical ailments. Additionally, private health insurance coverage is prominent, held by roughly 55% of the total population (~3,870 people). Among recorded health conditions locally, mental health issues and asthma were the most prevalent, affecting 8.2 and 7.1% of residents, respectively, whereas 70.1% reported no long-term medical ailments compared with 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Favourable health measures are particularly evident in the under-65 population.
Residents aged 65 and over comprise 16.0% of the community (1,125 people), displaying above-average health results that nonetheless rank somewhat lower in national standing than younger resident groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.4% of Chermside West residents were born overseas and 19.2% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (24.2%) and Australian (23.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Chermside West exceeds that of most comparable communities, with 26.4% of residents born abroad and 19.2% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation in Chermside West, encompassing 54.1% of the population relative to 47.8% throughout Greater Brisbane. Parental ancestry records show that the primary lineages in Chermside West are English at 24.2%, Australian at 23.8%, and Irish at 9.6%. Distinct patterns also emerge across other ancestries: Samoan background accounts for 0.7% in Chermside West (vs 0.9% regionally), Indian ancestry stands at 3.9% (vs 2.0%), and Italian heritage represents 4.4% (vs 2.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Chermside West is 36. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 27.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age structure of Chermside West aligns closely with Greater Brisbane, exhibiting a maximum difference of just 0.9 percentage points. The estimated median age is 36, decreasing from 37 at the 2021 Census to match the 36 recorded across Greater Brisbane at that census. Post-Census shifts indicate that mature and pre-retirement age groups (45 - 64) fell from 23.6% of the population to an estimated 21.8%. By 2041, the greatest expansion is forecast within older and senior demographics (65+), increasing by 326 residents (29%) to reach 1,452, whereas young to middle-aged adult brackets are anticipated to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Chermside West
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 4 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,611 at the 2021 Census → 7,050 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (302021029). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.