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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Chermside West has an estimated 7,405 residents, up from 6,965 at the 2021 Census — a change of 440 people, or 6.3%. Growth has averaged 0.9% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 67.0% of that increase. That puts 2,104 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 suburb of Chermside West has an estimated population of approximately 7,405 residents, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of post-Census address validations alongside ABS regional updates. When compared with the 2021 Census tally of 6,965 people, this indicates an expansion of 440 people (6.3%). The figure is derived from the 7,405 resident total calculated by AreaSearch using address verification following the Census and the ABS ERP figures from June 2025. This population density stands at 2,103 persons per square kilometer, outperforming the benchmark across nationwide locations reviewed by AreaSearch.
The community's 6.3% post-census growth tracks closely behind the SA3 area figure of 8.0% by 1.7 percentage points, highlighting healthy expansion drivers. Recent population increases were largely underpinned by overseas migration, which generated roughly 67.0% of the overall inbound growth. Population projections produced jointly by the ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as a baseline) are utilised by AreaSearch for SA2 areas. Where these are unavailable, as well as for timeframes extending beyond 2032, figures from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (benchmarked to 2021) are applied. Because these state forecasts lack age breakdowns, AreaSearch allocates age-specific weighting aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region data published in 2023 from 2022 numbers. Looking ahead across demographic trajectories, population gains in the suburb of Chermside West are forecast to sit marginally below the national statistical median, with combined SA2 projections indicating an addition of 661 persons by 2041, representing cumulative growth of 8.9% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
64 new dwellings have been approved in Chermside West over the past five years, an average of 12 a year. That is 1.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 19, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch shows Chermside West recording an annual average of roughly 12 residential approvals, amounting to an estimated 64 homes throughout the preceding 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 19 approvals have been logged. Over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, an average of 4.6 new residents arrived for each residential dwelling constructed, indicating that demand heavily outstrips new construction and applying upward momentum to property values and buyer competition. New residences are being constructed with an average expected construction cost of $500,000.
Furthermore, $1.1 million in approved commercial development has been documented in the current financial year, underscoring an overwhelmingly residential development environment. Residential building volume in Chermside West trails Greater Brisbane significantly, sitting 57.0% below the per-capita regional benchmark. Such constrained additions to the housing stock frequently elevate pricing and demand across established homes. Activity also tracks below national metrics, reflecting the mature layout of the suburb and potential planning constraints. Furthermore, all recent building permits were for detached houses, reinforcing family-oriented living and preserving the traditional suburban character. With approximately 476 people per dwelling approval, the local property landscape demonstrates characteristics of a well-established market. Long-term forecasts indicate that Chermside West will expand by 661 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If building activity remains at its current pace, construction volume may fail to match population additions, creating greater market tension among buyers and reinforcing capital appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Chermside West
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Chermside West, worth an estimated $9 million. A further 90 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $17.5 billion. 16 are already under construction and 34 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
Local infrastructure programs, major developments, and strategic planning initiatives serve as pivotal drivers of area evolution. AreaSearch has pinpointed 12 significant projects poised to shape the locality. Prominent undertakings include Fifth Avenue, Rode Rd, Stafford Heights, Stafford Heights Aged Care & Retirement Village Expansion, and The Rise Chermside West, with the most influential projects outlined 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
Fifth Avenue
Boutique development of 10 three-bedroom residential units in the centrally located suburb of Kedron, just 8.6 km north of Brisbane CBD. The site is perfectly positioned for both future owner-occupiers and investors, offering convenient travel time via nearby arterial roads, public transport accessibility, and is in close proximity to Westfield Chermside, schools, and amenities. Funded by GPS Development Finance with construction underway by a repeat borrower who previously successfully completed 8 Alice Street in Kedron.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4,400 residents of Chermside West are employed, from a labour force of 4,555. Unemployment sits at 3.4%, with participation at 75.7%. 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 5,597, about 76% 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
Chermside West features an educated workforce with strong engagement in essential services, showing an unemployment rate of only 3.4% and an estimated 6.8% rise in employment over the preceding year based on AreaSearch statistical aggregations. By March 2026, employed residents reached 4,400, while the local jobless rate sat 0.9% beneath the Greater Brisbane figure of 4.3%. Labor participation proved exceptionally robust at 75.7%, exceeding the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 70.1%. Census records indicated that a moderate 20.2% of workers operated from home, though pandemic-related lockdowns must be kept in mind.
The primary employment fields among local workers are health care & social assistance, education & training, along with retail trade. Concentration is especially pronounced in health care & social assistance, where local employment share is 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing comprises a smaller proportion at 4.0%, trailing the 6.4% seen regionally. Comparing Census counts of resident workers against local jobs demonstrates that this predominantly residential suburb offers limited workplace positions within its own boundaries. According to AreaSearch examination of ABS and SALM figures aggregated across wider statistical areas, employment expanded by 6.8% while the labor pool grew by 7.3% in the year to March 2026, lifting unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. Over the identical timeframe, Greater Brisbane recorded a 3.2% increase in employment, a 3.4% rise in the labor force, and a 0.1 percentage points rise in unemployment. Long-term perspective from Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26 provides further guidance on future local labor requirements across five-year and ten-year horizons when applied to the area's workforce structure. Nationally, jobs are projected to rise by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, with wide variation across sectors. Projecting these industry trends across the local workforce suggests Chermside West employment could increase by 7.0% across five years and 14.5% over ten years, representing a simple baseline model that does not incorporate specific local demographic projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Chermside West is $2,124 a week (about $110,000 a year), with median personal income at $884 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,607 a year against an average of $66,685. 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
ATO records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show personal earnings in the suburb of Chermside West sitting slightly beneath the national benchmark. Median taxpayer income reached $55,607 alongside an average income of $66,685, compared against Greater Brisbane figures of $58,236 and $72,799. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $61,924 (median) and $74,260 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the Census 2021 indicates that family, personal, and household earnings rank around the 69th percentile nationwide. In terms of earnings brackets, 33.4% of residents (2,473 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly band, closely matching the wider regional proportion of 33.3%.
High-income earners are prominently represented, with 30.6% receiving more than $3,000 per week, reflecting solid spending capacity. Housing costs consume 13.8% of income, while overall earnings place the locality in the 76th percentile for disposable income and within the 7th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Chermside West had 2,476 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 89% detached houses and 8% apartments. 37% 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 21.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The residential landscape in Chermside West at the time of the latest Census was composed of 89.1% houses alongside 10.9% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, townhouses, and alternate formats), compared with 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings throughout Brisbane metro. Outright property ownership in Chermside West was substantially higher than across Brisbane metro at 37.1%, while 37.3% of homes carried a mortgage and 25.6% were rented. The median monthly mortgage payment stood at $2,058, noticeably higher than the Brisbane metro figure of $1,863, while the median weekly rent of $455 exceeded the metro level of $380.
Compared against nationwide benchmarks, local mortgage servicing costs outstrip the Australian average of $1,863, and rents remain well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Chermside West counted 2,476 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,632 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 35% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 20% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local households at 76.5%, comprising couples with children at 35.3%, couples without children at 28.1%, and single parent households at 11.3%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 23.5%, consisting of single-person households at 19.5% and shared group homes at 3.8%. The average household accommodates 2.7 people, sitting above the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
32.4% of adults in Chermside West hold a university qualification, including 22.5% with a bachelor degree and 6.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 19.9% 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 is a key highlight for the community, with 32.4% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees, outperforming the Queensland benchmark of 25.7%. Attainment is spearheaded by bachelor degrees at 22.5%, with postgraduate qualifications at 6.5% and graduate diplomas accounting for 3.4%. Technical qualifications also show a substantial presence, with vocational credentials held by 31.4% of residents aged 15+, broken down into certificates at 19.9% and advanced diplomas at 11.5%. Engagement in formal study is substantial throughout the community, with 28.9% of residents participating in education programs. This cohort includes 9.0% attending primary school, 8.2% in secondary education, and 6.7% engaged in tertiary studies.
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
67.9% of residents in Chermside West report no long-term health condition. 6.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic condition incidence and mortality rates point to lower-than-average general health outcomes in Chermside West. While typical health issues among the broader population remain average, they trend higher than the national standard across senior demographics. Private health insurance coverage covers roughly 54% of the population (~3,971 people), marginally above the standard SA2 level and comparing to 55.8% for Greater Brisbane. Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most widespread diagnosed issues in the community, affecting 8.3 and 7.4% of residents. Meanwhile, 67.9% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions, relative to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane.
Residents under 65 years of age exhibit better-than-average health metrics. Overall, 17.8% of the local population (1,318 people) are aged 65 and over, exceeding the 15.0% recorded across Greater Brisbane, with senior cohorts facing greater wellness challenges despite ranking lower nationally relative to the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.0% of Chermside West residents were born overseas and 18.7% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (24.7%) and Australian (23.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Chermside West is significantly higher than in most surrounding areas, with 26.0% of residents born abroad and 18.7% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the dominant religious faith, practiced by 55.4% of Chermside West residents, in comparison to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. Regarding parental lineage, the primary ancestries identified in Chermside West are English at 24.7%, Australian at 23.5%, and Irish at 9.8%. Specific cultural groups show notable local variations, including Samoan backgrounds at 0.7% (compared to 0.9% across the region), Indian ancestry at 3.7% (versus 2.0% regionally), and Italian heritage at 4.4% (against 2.0% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Chermside West is 38. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 27.1% 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
Age distributions in Chermside West closely mirror Greater Brisbane patterns, with the most pronounced variance measuring only 2.8 percentage points. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 38 years, decreasing from 39 at the 2021 Census and remaining 2 years older than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 recorded at that Census. The most notable demographic shift since the Census occurred in the 65+ retiree and senior bracket, which dropped from 20.8% to an estimated 17.8%. Projections to 2041 indicate that senior and retiree demographics will absorb the bulk of local expansion, increasing by 405 residents (31%) to reach 1,723, whereas young to middle-aged adult populations are expected to contract.
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 Suburb (SAL) 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 | Nov 2025 11 months ago all 3 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 Nov 2025. | ||
| 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 (6,965 at the 2021 Census → 7,405 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 (SAL30594). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.