Chelmer

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for Chelmer, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Chelmer's population is estimated at around 3,439 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 114 people (3.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,325 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,405 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 4 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,388 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. As future population trends are examined, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected, with the suburb expected to grow by 344 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 9.4% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Chelmer is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Chelmer averaging approximately 4 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 23 homes. As of FY-26, 1 approval has been recorded. This averages to around $874,000 per home, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, Chelmer shows significantly reduced construction activity (71.0% below regional average per person), suggesting potential planning limitations and reinforcing demand for existing homes. Recent building activity consists entirely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character focused on family homes. With around 621 people per dwelling approval, Chelmer reflects a highly mature market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Chelmer is expected to grow by approximately 324 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Looking ahead, Chelmer is expected to grow by 324 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five key projects that may affect this region: Centenary Motorway Bypass, Queensland Tennis Centre Upgrade, Centa Property Group Lambert Road Development, and The Audrey.

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 exceptional employment performance in Chelmer places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Chelmer has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 1.2%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 1,874 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.9% below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Chelmer is similar to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. The area shows a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level.

In contrast, construction employs just 5.7% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.5%, combined with employment decreasing by 1.3%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane where employment rose by 4.4%, the labour force grew by 4.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer further insight into potential future demand within Chelmer. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Chelmer's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Chelmer is $64,146 and average income is $97,345. In comparison, Greater Brisbane has a median income of $55,645 and an average income of $70,520. As of September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $73,120 and average income is around $110,964 based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Chelmer's incomes rank highly nationally, between the 94th and 99th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The earnings profile indicates that 42.7% of locals (1,468 people) earn over $4,000 weekly, contrasting with the metropolitan region where the majority earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. A significant 59.3% of Chelmer residents earn above $3,000 weekly after housing costs. After accounting for these costs, residents retain 88.6% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Chelmer is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Chelmer's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.6% houses and 5.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 48.9% houses and 51.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chelmer was at 39.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.9% and rented ones at 15.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,000, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $490, compared to Brisbane metro's $410. Nationally, Chelmer's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Chelmer features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 82.0% of all households, including 48.4% couples with children, 25.0% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.0%, with lone person households at 15.2% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Chelmer fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational attainment in Chelmer is notably high, with 56.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This compares to 25.7% in Queensland and 30.4% in Australia. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.8%) and graduate diplomas (5.4%). Vocational pathways account for 17.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 8.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 36.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.9% in primary education, 11.4% in secondary education, and 8.3% pursuing tertiary education. Milpera State High School serves the local area, enrolling 367 students as of a recent report. The school is typical of Australian schools (ICSEA: 950) with balanced educational opportunities. Secondary education dominates locally with one school, while primary students often attend schools in nearby areas due to limited local capacity (10.7 places per 100 residents versus the regional average of 26.0).

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

The public transport analysis indicates ten active transport stops operating within Chelmer. These include a mix of train and bus services. Seventy-seven unique routes serve these stops, collectively facilitating 3,303 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically situated 338 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 471 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 330 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Chelmer is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Chelmer demonstrates above-average health outcomes with a low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages. However, older and at-risk cohorts show higher rates of these conditions.

The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high in Chelmer, at approximately 66% of the total population (2,261 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 7.0 and 6.8% of residents respectively. A total of 73.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.7% across Greater Brisbane. The area has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over (619 people), which is higher than the 14.4% in Greater Brisbane.

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

Chelmer's population, as per the Australian Census on 29 August 2016, showed above-average cultural diversity with 13.3% speaking a language other than English at home and 25.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Chelmer, accounting for 53.5%, compared to 41.9% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups were English (27.7%), Australian (22.5%), and Irish (11.6%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher at 10.3% in Chelmer than the regional average of 8.7%. Welsh ancestry was also higher at 0.9%, compared to 0.6% regionally, as was New Zealand ancestry at 1.3%, versus 0.7%.

Chelmer hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Chelmer has a median age of 41, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and Australia's figure of 38. The 15-24 cohort makes up 17.0% of Chelmer's population, compared to the Greater Brisbane average, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 5.3%. Between 2021 and present day, the 15-24 age group has increased from 14.7% to 17.0%, and the 75-84 cohort has increased from 4.7% to 6.0%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 17.1% to 15.7%, and the 0-4 cohort has dropped from 4.9% to 3.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Chelmer's age profile will significantly change. The 85+ age cohort is projected to increase by 134 people (108%) from 123 to 258. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 64% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 25-34 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.