Calamvale
More than half of Calamvale residents were born overseas, with 57.7% overseas-born and a university attainment rate of 51.3%, sitting 21.2 percentage points above the national level. The suburb is younger than the national benchmark, with a median age of 34, or 6 years below national. Compared with nearby Sunnybank Hills and Stretton, Calamvale's clearest identity is family-scale multicultural density, because household size is 3.0 and household income sits in the 67.5 percentile nationally.
Population
17,994
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,874/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
28
Median House
$503K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Calamvale suits buyers needing space more than apartment convenience: 63.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 35.9% are semi-detached and only 0.3% are apartments. Family housing dominates because 53.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and another 44.8% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage costs average $1,733 per month, with mortgage payments at 21.4% of income, while household size is 0.5 above the national average at 3.0 people.
For Buyers
Calamvale suits buyers needing space more than apartment convenience: 63.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 35.9% are semi-detached and only 0.3% are apartments. Family housing dominates because 53.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and another 44.8% have 3 bedrooms. Mortgage costs average $1,733 per month, with mortgage payments at 21.4% of income, while household size is 0.5 above the national average at 3.0 people.
For Investors
Rental depth is meaningful, with 35.1% of homes rented and a median rent of $410 per week, but vacancy at 4.4% means tenant selection may matter more than scarcity. Development activity is visible, with 27 applications over 12 months, above a low-activity setting. Demand is supported because overseas migration averages 643 people a year, higher than the internal outflow of 296, and rent growth in the shift period was 10.5%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
154
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-22.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Calamvale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wisdom College
Prep-12 · 456 students
Calamvale Community College
Prep-12 · 2461 students
Demographics
Calamvale has a younger and more globally connected profile than the national benchmark. Median age is 34, which is 6 years below national, while 57.7% of residents were born overseas, 36.1 percentage points above national. Education levels are also high, with 51.3% university-qualified, 21.2 points above national. Chinese ancestry is the largest group at 5,555 people, followed by English at 2,756 and Indian at 1,396, with Mandarin spoken by 1,809 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.8%
Houses
35.9%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Calamvale's housing story is clearer through tenure and carrying costs than through a quoted median house price. Ownership is broad, with 25.2% owned outright and 39.6% mortgaged, while renting accounts for 35.1%. The 63.8% separate-house share remains higher than apartments at 0.3%, but semi-detached stock is substantial at 35.9%, giving buyers more townhouse-style options. Income support is above the national middle, with household income in the 67.5 percentile and rent-to-income at 21.9%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$410
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$783
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.4%
Unoccupied
266
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.5%
Couples, no children
15,468
Total families
Economy & Employment
Calamvale's workforce leans toward services and skilled employment. Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.5%, or 1,295 workers, followed by Education at 10.3%, Professional/Tech at 9.6%, Retail at 8.8% and Construction at 6.3%. Professionals are the top occupation group with 2,248 people, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 1,257. SEIFA sits above the national middle overall: IEO decile 7, IER decile 8, IRSD decile 6 and IRSAD decile 7, suggesting stronger resources than disadvantage reduction.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
14,194
Unemployed
515
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.2%
Part-time
30.6%
Participation
61.2%
Employed
8,089
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.3%
Postgraduate
15.9%
Born Overseas
57.7%
Dwellings
5,833
Transport to Work
Daily life in Calamvale is car-led because 83.5% of commuters drive, well above public transport use at 8.2% and walking or cycling at 0.9%. School access is a strength for families, with 2 local schools spanning ICSEA 1026 to 1050: Wisdom College is Independent with 456 enrolments, and Calamvale Community College is Government with 2,461 enrolments. The IRSAD decile of 7 sits above the national middle, supporting a practical family environment with moderate socioeconomic advantage.
Drive
83.5%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.77%/yr
(+451 people/yr)
EstablishedCalamvale is forecast to keep growing rather than reset. The trend rate is 1.77% a year, equal to about 451 extra people annually, and the medium path rises from 25,958 in 2026 to 28,215 in 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, with average net overseas inflow of 643 a year, higher than the internal outflow of 296. The growth mix explains the early signs gentrification score of 20, while the shift trajectory is aging, with senior share up 4.5 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+643
Net Internal / yr
-296
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal outflow -296/yr, Strong overseas inflow +643/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Calamvale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calamvale a good suburb to live in?
Calamvale works well for family-oriented households, with 53.4% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 2 local schools. It is also highly multicultural, with 57.7% of residents born overseas, sitting 36.1 percentage points above national.
What is the median house price in Calamvale?
A current median house price is not available for Calamvale. Affordability can still be read through costs: the typical mortgage payment is $1,733 per month, and mortgage payments equal 21.4% of income.
What schools are in Calamvale?
Calamvale has 2 local schools. Wisdom College is an Independent combined school with ICSEA 1050 and 456 enrolments, while Calamvale Community College is a Government combined school with ICSEA 1026 and 2,461 enrolments.
Is Calamvale safe?
A suburb-level crime-rate figure is not available for Calamvale, so recent Queensland Police maps are worth checking before a move. Broader liveability markers are positive, including IRSAD decile 7 and 2 local schools.
Is Calamvale good for property investment?
Calamvale has investor appeal through a 35.1% renting share, $410 weekly median rent and 27 development applications over 12 months. Vacancy is 4.4%, so pricing and property quality matter more than assuming shortage.
How is Calamvale's population changing?
Calamvale is growing at a forecast 1.77% a year, or about 451 people annually. The medium scenario rises from 25,958 residents in 2026 to 28,215 in 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration of 643 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Calamvale?
Calamvale has a strong multilingual profile, with 57.7% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is spoken by 1,809 residents, followed by Canton at 589, Punjabi at 316, Korean at 305 and Arabic at 160.
Is there much development in Calamvale?
There is active development monitoring in Calamvale, with 27 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent lodgements include referral agency and operational work items dated 2026-03-26 and 2026-03-20.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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