Cleveland (Qld)

Population growth drivers in Cleveland are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Cleveland (Qld) is around 17,053, reflecting an increase of 1,203 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 7.6% increase from the previous population count of 15,850. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 16,952 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 341 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,448 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Cleveland's growth rate of 7.6% since the census positions it within 0.7 percentage points of the SA4 region (8.3%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. The primary driver for population growth in the area was overseas migration, contributing approximately 57.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation, with the suburb of Cleveland (Qld) expected to increase by 2,279 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 12.8% over the 16-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Cleveland has recorded approximately 130 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 651 homes. As of FY-26117 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.4 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built during this period. This suggests a balanced supply and demand, maintaining stable market conditions.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $562,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, Cleveland has registered $42.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity compared to Greater Brisbane, where it records 17.0% less building activity per person. Nationally, Cleveland ranks among the 82nd percentile of areas assessed for new building activity. The current housing mix is shifting towards higher-density living, with 41.0% standalone homes and 59.0% townhouses or apartments, compared to the current mix of 60.0% houses. This change may address affordability requirements and lifestyle demands, as well as reflect reduced availability of development sites.

Cleveland has approximately 128 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Cleveland is expected to grow by 2,178 residents through to 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Cleveland has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones are the Redlands Health and Wellness Precinct, Redland Hospital Expansion, Redlands Coast Smart and Connected City Strategy, and Redlands Research Station Expansion. The following list details those most relevant:.

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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Cleveland ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Cleveland has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%. Over the past year, ending December 2025, employment growth was estimated at 5.1% based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

As of December 2025, 8641 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Cleveland lags behind Greater Brisbane at 59.5% compared to 69.6%. According to Census responses, 17.8% of residents work from home, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Cleveland has a notable concentration in construction, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 7.8% versus the regional average of 8.9%. The ratio of 0.6 workers for each resident indicates higher-than-average local employment opportunities. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.1% and labour force increased by 5.3%, resulting in a slight unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2% and labour force growth of 3.0%, with unemployment falling slightly at 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Cleveland. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Cleveland's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Cleveland had a median income among taxpayers of $53,426. The average income stood at $83,585. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to the national median and average incomes of $58,236 and $72,799 respectively in Greater Brisbane. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Cleveland would be approximately $59,495 (median) and $93,080 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Cleveland rank modestly, between the 31st and 38th percentiles. Income distribution data shows that 26.4% of Cleveland's population (4,501 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 33.3% similarly occupy this range. 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

In Cleveland, as per the latest Census data, 60.5% of dwellings were houses while 39.4% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In contrast, Brisbane metropolitan area had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cleveland stood at 40.5%, with mortgaged properties at 28.9% and rented ones at 30.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cleveland was $2,000, higher than Brisbane's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Cleveland was recorded at $400, compared to Brisbane's $380. Nationally, Cleveland's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 67.0% of all households, including 23.5% couples with children, 31.2% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.0%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households making up 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Cleveland performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Educational qualifications in Cleveland trail those of Greater Brisbane, with 22.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university degrees compared to the regional benchmark of 30.5%. The gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent 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 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas account for 13.4% and certificates for 25.8%.

A substantial 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.3% in secondary education, 7.7% in primary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Cleveland has 87 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 36 routes, collectively facilitating 2,198 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 253 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, with car being the dominant mode at 89%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 17.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 314 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Cleveland are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Cleveland's health indicators show below-average results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among Cleveland residents is somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts.

Approximately 60% of Cleveland's total population (10,286 people) has private health cover, compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.1% and 8.6% of residents respectively. Sixty-one point five percent of Cleveland residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents in Cleveland have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 33.8% of residents aged 65 and over (5,763 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

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

Cleveland has a higher than average cultural diversity, 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 47.8% in Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.2%), Australian (21.5%), and Irish (9.4%).

Notably, South Australian (1.0%) and New Zealand (1.1%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Cleveland compared to regional averages of 0.6% and 1.0%, respectively. Scottish ancestry is also relatively high at 9.1%.

Cleveland ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cleveland's median age is 51 years, significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's 36 and the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Cleveland has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (13.2%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (5.9%). This 75-84 concentration is notably above the national figure of 6.1%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 10.3% to 13.2%, while the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 10.5% to 11.6%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 7.4% to 5.9%, and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 10.2% to 9.1%. By 2041, Cleveland's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 53% (1,203 people), reaching 3,454 from 2,250. This growth is largely driven by demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older accounting for 83% of the anticipated population increase. Conversely, both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to decrease in number.