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 is 17,058 as of November 2025. This reflects a growth of 1,207 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,851. The increase is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 16,810 in June 2024 and an additional 280 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,439 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Cleveland's growth rate of 7.6% since census is close to the SA4 region's 7.7%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 58.0% of overall population gains recently.

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, based on 2021 data but without age category splits. Proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections are applied where state projections are used. By 2041, Cleveland is projected to grow by 2,547 persons, a total increase of 13.2% over the 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. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 651 homes were approved, with an additional 54 approved so far in FY26. On average, over these five years, each dwelling constructed has accommodated 1.4 new residents per year.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, contributing to stable market dynamics. The average construction value of new properties is $389,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In terms of commercial approvals, Cleveland has seen $42.0 million in FY26, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Cleveland shows 18.0% lower construction activity per person but ranks among the 82nd percentile nationally when assessed by area. New development consists of 41.0% standalone homes and 59.0% attached dwellings, representing a shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 60.0% houses.

This trend reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. With approximately 131 people per approval, Cleveland indicates a developing area. Population forecasts project an increase of 2,258 residents by 2041. 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 15 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include Redlands Health and Wellness Precinct, Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area, RPAC Forecourt Redevelopment, and Redland Hospital Expansion.

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.

The employment environment in Cleveland shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Cleveland has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.2% over the past year as of June 2025.

The area had 8,403 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Cleveland is significantly lower at 53.2%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction stands out with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 7.8% versus the regional average of 8.9%. The ratio of 0.6 workers per resident indicates a higher-than-average level of local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.2%, while labour force grew by 4.3%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 4.4% and a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cleveland's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Cleveland is $53,426 and average income stands at $83,585. 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 for Cleveland would be approximately $60,900 (median) and $95,279 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Cleveland rank modestly between the 31st and 38th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 26.4% of residents (4,503 people), consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 33.3% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.1% of income remaining, 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

In Cleveland, as per the latest Census, 60.5% of dwellings were houses, with 39.5% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments and 'other' dwellings. In Brisbane metro, this was 83.9% houses and 16.1% other dwellings. Cleveland's home ownership rate was higher at 40.5%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (28.9%) or rented (30.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cleveland was $2,000, aligning with Brisbane metro's average, while median weekly rent was $400 compared to Brisbane metro's $2,000 and $425 respectively. Nationally, Cleveland's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were 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, with 22.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.5% in Greater Brisbane. The most common qualification is the bachelor degree at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.4% and graduate diplomas at 2.5%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.4%) and certificates (25.8%). A significant number, 24.3%, of Cleveland's population is actively engaged in formal education, comprising 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, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1036) indicating balanced educational opportunities. The area has two primary and four secondary institutions, with a school capacity exceeding regional norms (19.1 places per 100 residents vs 14.4), suggesting Cleveland serves as an educational hub for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis of Cleveland's public transportation system shows that there are currently 86 active transport stops in operation. These include a mix of train and bus services. A total of 32 individual routes serve these stops, collectively facilitating 2,729 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of the transport system is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 253 meters from their nearest transport stop. On average, there are 389 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 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 both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of Cleveland's total population (10,456 people), compared to 54.2% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.1 and 8.6% of residents respectively.

However, 61.5% of Cleveland residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.6% in Greater Brisbane. Cleveland has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 33.4% (5,690 people), compared to 25.3% in Greater Brisbane. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors 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 has a cultural diversity above average, with 9.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 30.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cleveland, comprising 55.4%, compared to 52.8% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.2%), Australian (21.5%), and Irish (9.4%).

Notably, South African (1.0%) and New Zealand (1.1%) ethnicities are slightly overrepresented in Cleveland compared to regional averages of 1.0% and 1.2%, respectively. Scottish ethnicity is also notable at 9.1%, marginally higher than the regional average of 8.9%.

Cleveland ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cleveland's median age is 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. Compared to the Greater Brisbane average, Cleveland has a notably over-represented 75-84 age cohort (13.1% locally), while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented (5.4%). The concentration of the 75-84 age group is well above the national figure of 6.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.3% to 13.1% of Cleveland's population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 7.4% to 5.4%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 10.2% to 9.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Cleveland's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 1,342 people (60%) from 2,236 to 3,579. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 86% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.