Clear Island Waters

Clear Island Waters has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Clear Island Waters' population, as of February 2026, is approximately 4,528 people. This represents an increase of 133 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 4,395. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates; the population was 4,528 in June 2024 and there were additional validated addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,029 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages across other areas assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 97.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered 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 using ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to increase by approximately 433 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of around 9.6% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Clear Island Waters according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Clear Island Waters had minimal residential development with only 2 dwelling approvals annually between January 1998 and June 2003, totaling 12 approvals over five years. This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It's important to note that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures can vary significantly based on individual projects.

Clear Island Waters had significantly less construction activity than the rest of Queensland during this period, which was also below national patterns. Recent building activity consisted entirely of standalone homes, reflecting the area's rural character where larger properties and space are typical. Interestingly, developers were building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests, indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. Looking ahead, Clear Island Waters is expected to grow by 433 residents from June 2018 to June 2041 according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Clear Island Waters has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Six projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. These include Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads, Merrimac Railway Station, Clear Island Waters Urban Village, and Cypress Central. The following details those most relevant:.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Clear Island Waters significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Clear Island Waters has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.1% as of September 2025, which is lower than the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. There was an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.

As of the mentioned date, 2,111 residents were employed. Workforce participation in Clear Island Waters lagged behind the rest of Queensland at 55.5%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 20.9% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

The area shows strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.2% of local workers, which is below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.5%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.1%, while labour force increased by 2.0%, causing a fall in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7%, labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Clear Island Waters' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Clear Island Waters SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $50,077 and an average income of $62,786 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was below the national average for that year. In comparison, the Rest of Qld had a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $55,040 (median) and $69,008 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Clear Island Waters ranked modestly, between the 34th and 42nd percentiles. In terms of income distribution, 26.9% of the population (1,218 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 83.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 42nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

Clear Island Waters displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Clear Island Waters' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 63.6% houses and 36.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clear Island Waters was 47.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.4% and rented ones at 21.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was $540, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Clear Island Waters' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Clear Island Waters has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 73.8% of all households, consisting of 31.6% couples with children, 31.4% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.2%, with lone person households at 24.1% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of Qld.

Clear Island Waters shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Clear Island Waters is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 32.7% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. The most common university qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 22.1% of residents. Postgraduate qualifications are held by 8.2%, while graduate diplomas make up 2.4%.

Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. Advanced diplomas account for 12.7% of this group, while certificates make up 18.5%. Educational participation is high in the area, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.1% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows three active transport stops operating within Clear Island Waters. These stops are served by eight individual bus routes, collectively providing 806 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 648 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, some 20.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 115 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 268 weekly trips per individual stop.

Clear Island Waters's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Clear Island Waters. AreaSearch's assessment indicates low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~2,282 people), compared to 52.5% across Rest of Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (impacting 8.7%) and mental health issues (6.1%). A total of 69.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. The area has 28.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,300 people), higher than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Clear Island Waters 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

Clear Island Waters has a significant cultural diversity, with 24.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 39.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Clear Island Waters, making up 57.5% of the population. Notably, Judaism comprises 0.8%, which is higher compared to the Rest of Qld's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 26.0%, Australian at 19.7%, and Other at 9.5%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Russian is overrepresented at 0.6% (vs regional 0.2%), South African at 0.8% (vs 0.5%), and New Zealand at 1.0% (vs 0.9%).

Clear Island Waters ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Clear Island Waters' median age is 50 years, which is significantly older than Rest of Qld's median age of 41 and higher than the Australian median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent at 11.1%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 9.5% compared to Rest of Qld. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 25-34 age group has increased from 8.0% to 9.5%, and the 35-44 cohort has risen from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 14.4% to 12.2%, and the 15-24 group has dropped from 10.5% to 9.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Clear Island Waters' age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 85+ age cohort projected to expand by 166 people (68%) from 245 to 412. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 52% of population growth, reflecting demographic aging trends. Both the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are expected to decrease in number.