Cleveland
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Cleveland are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Cleveland's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 17,069 people. This figure represents an increase of 1,218 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 15,851. The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 16,817, with an additional 282 validated new addresses contributing to this growth. This results in a population density of 1,440 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Cleveland's population growth rate of 7.7% since the 2021 Census exceeds that of its SA4 region (7.6%). Overseas migration accounted for approximately 58.0% 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 by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 using 2022 data as the base year. Based on projected demographic shifts, Cleveland is expected to grow by 2,547 persons by 2041, representing a total gain of 13.2% over those 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Cleveland among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Cleveland has recorded approximately 130 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25651 homes have been approved. As of FY-26, 16 dwellings have received approval so far.

On average, 1.4 new residents are added per year per dwelling constructed over these five years. This indicates a balanced supply and demand market, supporting stable conditions. The average construction cost value for new dwellings is $562,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In FY-26, $42.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Cleveland has 18.0% less new development per person but ranks among the 82nd percentile of areas assessed nationally.

Recent construction comprises 41.0% standalone homes and 59.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns which are currently 60.0% houses. This suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Cleveland has approximately 131 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. By 2041, Cleveland is expected to grow by 2,247 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may impact the region. Notable projects include Redlands Health and Wellness Precinct, Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area, RPAC Forecourt Redevelopment, and Redland Hospital Expansion. The following details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Cleveland exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Cleveland has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.2%.

As of June 2025, 8,403 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.9% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation was at 53.2%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade, with notable concentration in construction at 1.3 times the regional average. Professional & technical services showed lower representation at 7.8% versus the regional average of 8.9%.

The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.6, indicating a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the year to June 2025, Cleveland's employment increased by 4.2%, while labour force increased by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 4.4% and unemployment fall by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lagged behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Cleveland's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years. These projections were for illustrative purposes only and did not account for localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Cleveland had a median income among taxpayers of $53,426 during financial year 2022. The average income was $83,585. These figures are among the highest in Australia, with Greater Brisbane's median and average incomes being $55,645 and $70,520 respectively. By March 2025, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $59,682 and $93,373 based on an 11.71% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Cleveland's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly, between the 31st and 38th percentiles. Income analysis shows that 26.4% of Cleveland's population (4,506 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the regional average of 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Cleveland, with only 82.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Cleveland's housing structure, as per the latest Census data, consists of 60.5% houses and 39.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. Brisbane metro area, in comparison, has a higher proportion of houses at 83.9%, with the remaining 16.1% being other dwellings. Home ownership in Cleveland stands at 40.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 28.9% and rented dwellings accounting for 30.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cleveland is $2,000, aligning with the Brisbane metro average, while the median weekly rent figure is $400 compared to Brisbane's $2,000 and $425 respectively. Nationally, Cleveland's median monthly mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 66.9% of all households, including 23.5% couples with children, 31.2% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Cleveland aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Cleveland lag behind regional benchmarks; 22.7% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to Greater Brisbane's 30.5%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.4%) and certificates (25.8%).

A significant 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education; this includes 8.3% in secondary education, 7.7% in primary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education. Six schools operate within Cleveland, educating approximately 3,251 students as of 2021. The schools demonstrate typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1036) with balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision is conventionally split between two primary and four secondary institutions. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (19.1 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 14.4), indicating that the area serves as an educational center for the broader region, as of the data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2020-21. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus details.

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

Transport analysis in Cleveland shows 86 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 32 individual routes, collectively facilitating 2,729 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents on average located 253 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 389 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Cleveland is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Cleveland faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across age groups. Approximately 61% of Cleveland's total population (10,463 people) has private health cover, compared to 54.2% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.1% of residents) and mental health issues (8.6%).

A total of 61.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.6% in Greater Brisbane. Cleveland has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 33.4% (5,694 people), compared to 25.3% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Cleveland was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cleveland's population had a higher than average linguistic diversity, with 9.1% speaking languages other than English at home as of the latest data from 2016. Additionally, 30.4% were born overseas by this date. Christianity was found to be the predominant religion in Cleveland, making up 55.4% of its population, compared to a regional average of 52.8%.

Regarding ancestry or country of birth of parents, English was the largest group at 34.2%, followed by Australian at 21.5% and Irish at 9.4%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: South African representation was similar at 1.0% in Cleveland compared to regionally, New Zealand-born residents were slightly underrepresented at 1.1% versus 1.2%, and Scottish ancestry was slightly overrepresented at 9.1% compared to the regional average of 8.9%.

Cleveland ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cleveland has a median age of 52 years, which is notably higher than Greater Brisbane's median age of 36 years. This figure is also considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Comparing Cleveland's age distribution with that of Greater Brisbane shows an over-representation of the 75-84 age cohort (13.1% locally, compared to 6.0% nationally), while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 5.4%. Between 2021 and the present day, the percentage of Cleveland's population in the 75-84 age group has increased from 10.3% to 13.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 age cohort decreased from 7.4% to 5.4%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 10.2% to 9.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Cleveland's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 60%, from 2,237 people to 3,579 people. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 86% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts.