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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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Tanah Merah has an estimated 5,005 residents, up from 4,754 at the 2021 Census — a change of 251 people, or 5.3%. That puts 1,239 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS population revisions alongside post-Census address validations, the suburb of Tanah Merah has an estimated population of 5,005 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 251 people (5.3%) from the 4,754 residents counted at the 2021 Census. Such growth builds on a resident baseline of 4,935 derived by AreaSearch from the ABS June 2025 ERP update, combined with 34 post-Census validated new addresses. With these totals, population density reaches 1,238 persons per square kilometer, placing it higher than the typical benchmark across assessed Australian regions.
Natural increase served as the primary growth engine by supplying roughly 38.0% of recent population additions, while overseas migration and interstate migration likewise posted positive contributions. Projections for each SA2 region are drawn from ABS/Geoscience Australia models published in 2024 using 2022 as a base year. Where SA2 coverage is absent, as well as for all intervals after 2032, AreaSearch integrates Queensland State Government SA2 series released in 2023 from a 2021 foundation. Because these state figures do not break down numbers by age cohort, proportional weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 based on 2022 numbers) are applied across cohorts. Looking forward, the suburb of Tanah Merah is anticipated to achieve an above-median expansion relative to national territories, adding 711 persons by 2041 under consolidated SA2 figures to record an overall 16-year gain of 12.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
62 new dwellings have been approved in Tanah Merah over the past five years, an average of 12 a year. That is 3.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 21, 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 statistical area building approvals data indicates that Tanah Merah has maintained a yearly average of approximately 12 residential approvals, amounting to 62 dwellings across the preceding 5 financial years. The current FY-25 count stands at 21 approvals. Over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand and supply held steady at 1.3 additional residents per dwelling constructed annually, which has softened over the last 2 financial years to 0.6 people per dwelling as supply improved. With approved dwellings carrying an average expected construction cost of $348,000, new building remains lower than broader regional benchmarks, providing accessible construction price points.
Furthermore, commercial building approvals have totaled $2.4 million across this financial year, underscoring the area's predominantly residential character. Per capita building activity in Tanah Merah operates at roughly 75% of the Greater Brisbane volume, situating the suburb in the 51st percentile across the nation. This reduced output against national averages illustrates a mature real estate market with probable development constraints. Medium and high-density formats constitute 64.0% of recent building activity compared to 36.0% for standalone houses. This movement toward higher-density dwelling types delivers accessible options for first-time buyers, downsizers, and property investors, while diverging sharply from the existing built form where detached houses represent 83.0%. This shift points to a scarcity of greenfield land alongside changing lifestyle requirements and affordability considerations. An average of approximately 282 people per dwelling approval characterizes this low density building market. According to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, future forecasts indicate that Tanah Merah will gain 641 residents by 2041. Should current construction rates persist, new housing supply could fall short of demographic growth, creating upward pressure on prices through heightened buyer competition.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Tanah Merah
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 43 current infrastructure and development projects close to Tanah Merah, worth an estimated $8.7 billion. 14 are already under construction and 18 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, retail and transport & logistics. 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
Community outcomes and performance are heavily shaped by strategic planning, infrastructure enhancements, and major development initiatives. AreaSearch has pinpointed 8 projects with significant local relevance. Prominent works include Rosebank Estate, Loganlea Road Upgrade, The Avenues Loganholme, and River Gardens Estate - Stage 3 & 4, which are detailed in the subsequent summary.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Logan Hospital Expansion
The $874.7 million Logan Hospital Expansion Stage 2 delivers extensive clinical capacity to meet rapid population growth in the Logan region. Centred on a new seven-storey facility (Building 4), the expansion provides 112 additional inpatient beds, 10 new operating theatres, six endoscopy rooms, cardiac catheterisation laboratories, and expanded cancer care and pharmacy services. Delivered by Metro South Health and Queensland Health with managing contractor John Holland, major construction is advancing toward completion in 2027.
Rosebank Estate
Boutique residential estate by KDL Property Group with 272 lots across 6 stages. Features lots from 400-550sqm priced from $329,900. Includes community parkland with basketball court, picnic shelters, and exercise equipment. Located by Logan River with proximity to schools and transport.
River Gardens Estate - Stage 3 & 4
Final stages of the River Gardens masterplanned residential community in Cornubia, delivering 186 premium homesites with elevated river and city views, landscaped open space, walking connections and access to the Logan River. Civil works and lot delivery remain under construction with land continuing to be released for sale.
Loganlea Station Relocation Project
Relocation and upgrade of Loganlea train station to a new site 500m south, directly opposite Logan Hospital. The project features a new station building, improved accessibility with dual lifts, ramps and stairs, a pedestrian overpass, and a 400-space park and ride facility. It aims to better connect the community to health and education precincts including TAFE Queensland and Loganlea State High School. Major construction is ongoing in 2026, with completion targeted for mid-2027.
Cornubia Town Centre
A 12-hectare mixed-use town centre development located opposite the existing Cornubia Shopping Centre on Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road. The project is anchored by a full-line supermarket and includes specialty retail, food and beverage outlets, commercial office space, and a medical centre, with provision for future residential integration. Designed as a main street environment, it features upgraded vehicle access and enhanced pedestrian and cycle connections. Development approvals have been granted and tenancy construction is underway, with a Hungry Jacks drive-through completing base build in 2024 and signage for 14 tenancies lodged in late 2025.
Bunnings Loganholme (Trade Centre & Bulky Goods Precinct)
Bunnings-operated hardware and trade centre located at the corner of Pacific Highway and Bryants Road, Loganholme, within the wider bulky goods and retail precinct near Logan Hyperdome. Note: no distinct, publicly documented expansion or district-centre redevelopment project could be verified for this site as of the research date; the record has been corrected to reflect the confirmed operating Bunnings store only.
INNOVA Shailer Park
Premium strata warehouse estate in the Logan region by Metropolis Development Group, comprising 67 architecturally designed warehouse units (approx 87-189 sqm) on a 16,792 sqm gated site near the M1, close to INNOVA Rochedale's sister project. Development approval was granted in October 2025 with construction commencing in early 2026. As of June 2026, civil works and underground services are largely complete, with the estate now in its final fit-out stage.
Loganlea Road Upgrade
Upgrade of Loganlea Road between Queens Road and Logan Motorway, including intersection upgrades, active transport paths, and additional capacity to support the Logan Hospital expansion and relocated Loganlea train station[cite: 1].
2,735 residents of Tanah Merah are employed, from a labour force of 2,833. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, with participation at 70.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,115, about 82% 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
Tanah Merah maintains a well-qualified local labour force, distinguished by substantial participation across construction trades and a low unemployment rate of 3.5%, based on AreaSearch's statistical area figures. As of March 2026, employed residents total 2,735, while joblessness sits 0.9% beneath the 4.3% reported for Greater Brisbane. Labour force participation aligns closely with Greater Brisbane's 70.1%. At the Census, 15.3% of workers stated they worked from home, a metric that may reflect temporary Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors for local workers comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Construction shows notable local concentration, with local representation reaching 1.5 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for only 5.4% of working residents, trailing Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. A comparison between resident workers and local jobs from Census counts indicates that this largely residential enclave provides limited internal employment opportunities. SALM and ABS datasets synthesized by AreaSearch reveal that over the 12 months leading to March 2026, the area's labour force contracted by 4.0% while employment fell by 4.3%, elevating the local unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Over the identical timeframe, Greater Brisbane recorded a 3.2% increase in employment and a 3.4% rise in the labour pool, alongside a 0.1 percentage point uptick in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide indicative future outlooks for Tanah Merah when mapped across its existing workforce profile. Across Australia, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories differ markedly by industry. Weighting these projections against the suburb's occupational footprint suggests potential local employment gains of 6.4% across five years and 13.2% over ten years, noting that this simple industry-weighted extrapolation does not incorporate localized population adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Tanah Merah is $1,899 a week (about $99,000 a year), with median personal income at $841 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $56,120 a year against an average of $63,200. 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
Aggregated ATO tax records for financial year 2023 show Tanah Merah registering a median taxpayer income of $56,120 and a mean of $63,200, trailing the national benchmark as well as Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Factoring in an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 brings projected earnings to roughly $62,495 for the median and $70,380 for the average as of March 2026. Figures from the 2021 Census position overall personal, family, and household earnings around the 58th percentile across Australia. In terms of earnings distribution, 38.6% of residents (1,931 residents) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, paralleling the wider region where 33.3% occupy this tier.
While housing commitments absorb 16.0% of household earnings, healthy incomes keep disposable earnings at the 59th percentile, placing the suburb within the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Tanah Merah had 1,659 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 83% detached houses and 0% apartments. 52% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 23% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $380 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 20.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census assessments show Tanah Merah's housing stock consisting of 83.4% detached houses and 16.5% other dwellings including apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Brisbane metro registered 73.5% standalone homes and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 22.8%, trailing Brisbane metro, while remaining properties were under a mortgage (51.7%) or tenanted (25.5%). The typical monthly mortgage repayment of $1,733 was below the Brisbane metro standard of $1,863, while the median weekly rental cost of $380 matched Brisbane metro's $380. Compared against Australian benchmarks, Tanah Merah records lower mortgage payments than the national $1,863 average, whereas weekly rents sit above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Tanah Merah counted 1,659 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,747 today, averaging 2.8 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 26% 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 76.6%, broken down into couples with children (35.9%), couples without children (25.7%), and single parent families (13.7%). The remaining 23.4% consists of non-family living arrangements, which include lone person households at 20.4% and group households at 2.4%. With an average household size of 2.8 people, the area exceeds the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
19.5% of adults in Tanah Merah hold a university qualification, including 14.6% with a bachelor degree and 3.1% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 87% of areas nationally. A further 29.2% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment in the area reflects lower tertiary completion, with 19.5% holding university credentials compared to 30.5% across Greater Brisbane, highlighting potential for future educational development. Among higher education degrees, bachelor degrees represent 14.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.1% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational qualifications are prominent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ possessing technical training, comprising certificates (29.2%) and advanced diplomas (12.2%). Current educational engagement is substantial, with 28.6% of the population attending an educational institution. This proportion includes 10.5% in primary school, 8.8% in secondary schooling, and 3.6% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Tanah Merah means driving: households keep an average of 1.8 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
69.1% of residents in Tanah Merah report no long-term health condition. 5.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health metrics compiled by AreaSearch regarding chronic illnesses and mortality indicate notable health considerations for Tanah Merah, with health conditions showing widespread distribution across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance coverage stands at approximately 52% of the resident population (~2,615 people), just topping the typical SA2 average while trailing the Greater Brisbane rate of 55.8%. Asthma and mental health issues represent the most prevalent diagnosed conditions locally, affecting 8.5% and 8.7% of the community respectively. Meanwhile, 69.1% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, nearly matching the 69.2% recorded for Greater Brisbane.
Chronic illness rates are above average among working-age individuals. Residents aged 65 and over account for 14.5% of the population (725 people), experiencing overall senior health metrics that align broadly with national standings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
27.5% of Tanah Merah residents were born overseas and 13.0% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (28.2%) and Australian (23.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Tanah Merah tracks above national norms, with 27.5% of the community born abroad and 13.0% speaking a non-English language in their homes. Christianity represents the leading faith, accounting for 48.6% of residents. In relative terms, the most prominent religious overrepresentation occurs in Judaism, which encompasses 0.1% of the population, consistent with the 0.1% reported across Greater Brisbane. Assessing parental country of birth reveals English (28.2%), Australian (23.7%), and Other (8.6%) as the three largest ancestry groups in Tanah Merah. Disproportionate representation is also evident across several other backgrounds, including Maori at 2.2% (against 1.1% regionally), New Zealand at 1.7% (against 1.0% regionally), and Hungarian at 0.6% (against 0.2% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Tanah Merah is 37. 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
The age breakdown in Tanah Merah closely mirrors Greater Brisbane, with every broad demographic segment remaining within 2.1 percentage points of metropolitan averages. The median age is estimated at 37, matching the 2021 Census result and sitting 1 year older than Greater Brisbane's 36 recorded at that Census. By 2041, the largest population expansion is projected among senior and retiree demographics (65+), growing by 330 residents (46%) to reach 1,056, whereas young to middle aged adults are expected to decrease over the identical timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Tanah Merah
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| 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 — 34 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,754 at the 2021 Census → 5,005 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 (SAL32735). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.