Cedar Vale
With 69.7% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and household income sitting at the 87.1st percentile nationally, Cedar Vale is a distinctly family-oriented acreage pocket in southeast Queensland. The suburb spans 15.7 km2 at a density of just 181.9 people per km2, explaining why 99.4% of its 2,856 residents live in separate houses with almost no apartment stock at all. A median age of 37 runs 3 years below the national figure, and the average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above national, consistent with a large-family demographic. Construction leads all industries at 17.8%, which is higher than typical residential suburbs, pointing to a working population that builds the region rather than just living in it.
Population
2,856
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,261/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
90
Median House
$565K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $565,000 reflects Cedar Vale's position as a more affordable acreage alternative to closer-in southeast QLD suburbs, with weekly rent at $460 and monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,950. Mortgage-to-income sits at 19.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership viable for households at the 87.1st income percentile nationally. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.4%, with 69.7% of dwellings offering four or more bedrooms, compared to the national figure where such large homes are a much smaller share. Only 24.4% own outright versus 67.6% carrying a mortgage, meaning the buyer pool is overwhelmingly recent purchasers rather than long-held estates. Vacancy at 3.1% is modest, indicating low unused supply.
For Buyers
The median house price of $565,000 reflects Cedar Vale's position as a more affordable acreage alternative to closer-in southeast QLD suburbs, with weekly rent at $460 and monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,950. Mortgage-to-income sits at 19.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership viable for households at the 87.1st income percentile nationally. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.4%, with 69.7% of dwellings offering four or more bedrooms, compared to the national figure where such large homes are a much smaller share. Only 24.4% own outright versus 67.6% carrying a mortgage, meaning the buyer pool is overwhelmingly recent purchasers rather than long-held estates. Vacancy at 3.1% is modest, indicating low unused supply.
For Investors
A 7.9% renter share is very low compared to suburban averages, which directly limits the rental tenant pool for investors. Weekly rent of $460 against a $565,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, reasonable for a low-density acreage market. Development activity was strong at 86 applications in the past 12 months, including new dwelling and shed combinations, suggesting ongoing organic growth. The 3.1% vacancy rate is tight, so existing rental properties face little competition. Mortgage-to-income at 19.9% and rent-to-income at 20.3% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning existing residents are financially stable and churn is likely low. The 81.5% of residents who stayed in the same address reinforces this stability.
Development Activity
Total DAs
142
Last 12 Months
90
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+650.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Cedar Vale's median age of 37 is 3 years below the national median, driven by a family-formation cohort rather than retirees. The average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above national, reflecting larger family units. Overseas-born residents account for 14.7% of the population, which is 6.9 percentage points below the national figure, making this an Anglo-leaning community. Ancestry is led by English (1,278 residents), followed by Scottish (361) and Irish (284). University qualifications reach 15.3%, a gap of 14.8 points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and services workforce rather than a professional knowledge-economy one. Couples with children make up the dominant household type at 1,246 families, with couples without children at 538.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is overwhelmingly single detached dwellings at 99.4%, with apartment living representing just 0.6% of all dwellings, well below national norms. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 69.7% and three-bedroom homes account for 26.1%, a profile suited to growing families rather than downsizers or singles. Tenure leans heavily toward mortgaged ownership at 67.6%, with outright owners at 24.4% and renters at just 7.9%, one of the lower renter shares seen in Queensland suburbs. The median house price is $565,000, with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, below the stress threshold. Weekly rent of $460 and rent-to-income of 20.3% are both manageable relative to household incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$840
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.1%
Unoccupied
27
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.1%
Couples, no children
2,544
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the dominant employer at 17.8% of workers, which is notably higher than most residential suburbs and reflects the region's active housing development. Healthcare follows at 15.7% and Education at 12.1%, together suggesting the suburb supplies workers to nearby service centres. Manufacturing accounts for 9.8% and Public Admin 6.3%. By occupation, Clerical and Admin workers lead at 207, followed by Labourers at 168, Community and Personal service workers at 167, Professionals at 158, and Managers at 155. The unemployment rate of 5.8% is above typical southeast QLD suburban levels, with a participation rate of 65.7% and 556 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment rate of 67.4% is solid for an outer-ring suburb.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.4%
Part-time
26.8%
Participation
65.7%
Employed
1,355
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.3%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
14.7%
Dwellings
854
Transport to Work
Cedar Vale is almost exclusively car-dependent, with 93.4% of residents commuting by car and public transport usage at just 0.8%, well below the national average for suburban areas. This reflects the suburb's low-density acreage character across 15.7 km2. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in surrounding areas. The volunteer rate of 11.2% suggests moderate community engagement. Need for assistance is low at 6.2% of residents, and housing stress indicators are below threshold, with mortgage and rent costs both under 20% of household income. Crime data is not available for Cedar Vale in the current dataset, but the financial stability profile indicates low household stress overall.
Drive
93.4%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cedar Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cedar Vale a good suburb to live in?
Cedar Vale suits families seeking space, with 99.4% of dwellings being separate houses and 69.7% offering four or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 87.1st percentile nationally. The trade-off is limited public transport at 0.8% usage and reliance on cars for all commuting. Housing stress is low, with mortgage costs at 19.9% of income.
What is the median house price in Cedar Vale?
The median house price is $565,000, with weekly rent averaging $460 and monthly mortgage repayments around $1,950. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9% is below the 30% stress threshold, making Cedar Vale relatively affordable compared to closer-in southeast Queensland suburbs for households at the 87.1st income percentile nationally.
What schools are in Cedar Vale?
No schools are recorded within the Cedar Vale boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding suburbs. The suburb has a young family profile with a median age of 37, 3 years below national, and an average household size of 3.2, suggesting school access in nearby areas is a practical consideration for buyers.
Is Cedar Vale safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cedar Vale in the current dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 19.9% and rent-to-income at 20.3%, both below stress thresholds. Household income sits at the 87.1st percentile nationally, and only 6.2% of residents need daily assistance, pointing to a financially stable population.
Is Cedar Vale good for property investment?
The 7.9% renter share is low, limiting the tenant pool, but weekly rent of $460 against a $565,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%. Vacancy sits at 3.1% and 86 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. The 81.5% resident retention rate signals low churn, which supports stable long-term tenancies but reduces turnover-driven price pressure.
How is Cedar Vale's population changing?
Cedar Vale's population of 2,856 shows characteristics of steady organic growth, with 86 development applications including new dwellings lodged in the past 12 months. The turnover rate of 18.5% indicates modest in-flow, while 81.5% of residents remained in place. The suburb's young median age of 37, 3 years below national, and large average household size of 3.2 suggest continued family-driven demand.
How much development is happening in Cedar Vale?
There were 86 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, covering new dwellings, shed additions and pool installations. This is active for a suburb of 2,856 residents across 15.7 km2. Construction is the top employer at 17.8% of the workforce, reflecting the ongoing build-out of acreage holdings in the area.
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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