Cleveland
An older resident profile is Cleveland's clearest distinction: its median age is 51, or 11 years above the national figure, while 40.4% of dwellings contain 4 or more bedrooms. The suburb has 15,850 residents and a settled base, with 73.6% staying at the same address and turnover at 26.4%. Overseas-born residents account for 30.4%, 8.8 points above the national share, while university attainment is 28.2%, 1.9 points below national. Cleveland sits among established Redlands suburbs such as Ormiston and Thornlands, with forecast growth of 0.87% a year and Balanced migration. Its aging trajectory matters because demand is likely to favour accessible housing and services over rapid household expansion.
Population
15,850
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,430/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
For buyers, Cleveland's housing profile suits households wanting space, but borrowing capacity needs care. Separate houses make up 60.5% of dwellings, with 40.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 35.0% containing 3 bedrooms, so larger homes are more common than compact formats. A 2,000 dollar monthly mortgage is paired with mortgage costs at 32.3% of household income, flagged as stress, while 400 dollars weekly rent equals 28.0% and is not flagged. Compared with the national household-size average, Cleveland is 0.2 people lower at 2.3, so buyers should test whether extra bedrooms match actual needs. Apartments and semi-detached homes account for 19.5% and 19.9%, providing alternatives to detached stock.
For Buyers
For buyers, Cleveland's housing profile suits households wanting space, but borrowing capacity needs care. Separate houses make up 60.5% of dwellings, with 40.4% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 35.0% containing 3 bedrooms, so larger homes are more common than compact formats. A 2,000 dollar monthly mortgage is paired with mortgage costs at 32.3% of household income, flagged as stress, while 400 dollars weekly rent equals 28.0% and is not flagged. Compared with the national household-size average, Cleveland is 0.2 people lower at 2.3, so buyers should test whether extra bedrooms match actual needs. Apartments and semi-detached homes account for 19.5% and 19.9%, providing alternatives to detached stock.
For Investors
Investors face a moderate rental base rather than a dominant renter market: 29.9% of dwellings are rented, compared with 28.3% held by mortgage-paying owners and 39.5% owned outright. Weekly rent is 400 dollars, vacancy is 6.7% and rent costs equal 28.0% of household income, below the 32.3% mortgage burden. Rent growth of 14.3% supports the income story, although a 6.7% vacancy rate leaves more tenant choice than a tightly supplied market. Development activity was 0 projects in 12 months, limiting near-term new-supply pressure. Forecast growth of 0.87% annually and Balanced migration point to steadier conditions compared with a migration-led growth corridor, so investors should stress-test insurance, maintenance and vacancy assumptions.
Schools in Cleveland
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Australian Industry Trade College - Redlands (Cleveland)
Star of the Sea Primary School (Cleveland)
Cleveland District State High School
Cleveland State School
Demographics
Cleveland's median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, making aging its clearest demographic feature. Couples without children comprise 47.2% of families, compared with 34.5% couples with children, while average household size is 2.3, or 0.2 below national. The overseas-born share is 30.4%, 8.8 points above Australia; leading non-English languages include Mandarin 78, Afrikaans 52 and Cantonese 40 speakers. English ancestry counts 7,487, Irish 2,057 and Scottish 2,003. University attainment is 28.2%, 1.9 points below national. That age structure helps explain why 73.6% stayed at the same address, with turnover at 26.4%, giving Cleveland a more settled pattern compared with a high-churn growth suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.5%
Houses
19.9%
Townhouse
19.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Home ownership is a defining feature of Cleveland's housing mix, but the tenure split is not dominated by one group. Outright owners account for 39.5%, mortgage holders 28.3% and renters 29.9%, with 2.3% in other arrangements. Separate houses make up 60.5% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes and apartments contribute 19.9% and 19.5%. Larger formats are common: 40.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and 35.0% have 3. Compared with the national household-size average, Cleveland's 2.3 people per household is 0.2 lower, suggesting some larger homes may be occupied by smaller households. Mortgage costs reach 32.3% of income against 28.0% for rent, so leverage is the sharper affordability pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $400.
$690
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $690 · units $675
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$746
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
476
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.5%
Couples with children
47.2%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
4,523
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Cleveland's industry mix at 18.9% and 875 workers, followed by construction at 12.2% and 563, education at 10.4% and 481, professional and technical services at 8.9% and 413, and retail at 7.2% and 333. Occupations are led by professionals at 1,368, clerical and administrative workers at 1,099, managers at 1,057 and trades workers at 988. Unemployment is 4.7%, participation is 53.1% and full-time employment is 57.8%. All 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 6, placing Cleveland around the middle compared with the top and bottom deciles, although household income ranks at the 42.3 percentile. That combination suggests a broad service economy with moderate rather than high socioeconomic advantage.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
7,310
Unemployed
344
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
53.1%
Employed
6,966
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.2%
Postgraduate
6.2%
Born Overseas
30.4%
Dwellings
6,582
Transport to Work
Cleveland's daily life is strongly car-oriented: 70.8% drive to work, compared with 2.6% using public transport and 2.9% walking or cycling. A further 18.7% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure but does not remove the need for local services. Families have 4 schools in the suburb, with a mix of 2 government schools, 1 Catholic school and 1 independent trade college; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. The IRSAD score is 1,004 in decile 6, around the middle compared with the highest and lowest deciles. Volunteering is 15.1%, while 8.8% need assistance, so access and support services remain relevant. Check current Queensland Police information for street-level safety rather than relying on a suburb-wide impression.
Drive
70.8%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
18.7%
Population Forecast
+0.87%/yr
(+147 people/yr)
EstablishedCleveland's growth outlook is steady but shaped by age. The forecast trend is 0.87% annually and the primary migration driver is Balanced, pointing to a broader mix of arrivals and departures rather than a single surge. Across the wider area, 10-year population change is 9.9%, while the shift trajectory is Aging: senior share rose 8.2 points and working share fell 4.2 points. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 37 tagged Early signs, while the shift measure is 19 and tagged Not gentrifying. Compared with a high-growth, migration-led market, Cleveland's likely pressure is gradual adaptation, because older households and established housing stock can lift demand for accessible homes, health services and local amenities.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+188
Net Internal / yr
+142
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +13% since 2011, Net internal migration +142/yr, Accelerating: 2% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cleveland compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland a good suburb to live in?
Cleveland may suit households seeking established services, larger homes and a settled community. Median age is 51, 40.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, and 70.8% of workers drive, so it is better suited to car-oriented living than transit-first routines. Check the exact street, school zone and current crime information before committing.
What is the median house price in Cleveland?
A verified median house price is not stated for Cleveland, so use recent comparable sales for the exact street. Cleveland's housing context includes 400 dollars weekly rent, a 2,000 dollar monthly mortgage indicator and 60.5% separate houses. Those measures help frame affordability but are not a sale-price substitute.
What schools are in Cleveland?
Cleveland has 4 schools spanning 2 government schools, 1 Catholic school and 1 independent trade college. The mix covers primary, high school and trade-focused options, but school access depends on the exact address. Check enrolment zones and current intake rules before comparing homes, because suburb boundaries do not determine every placement.
Is Cleveland safe?
No suburb-wide crime rate is stated for Cleveland, so check current Queensland Police data and the exact street before deciding. Cleveland's IRSAD decile is 6, around the middle of the socioeconomic scale, but that does not predict safety at an individual address. Review lighting, traffic and evening activity in person as well.
Is Cleveland good for property investment?
Cleveland has 29.9% renting households, 400 dollars weekly rent and a 6.7% vacancy rate. Forecast growth is 0.87% a year with Balanced migration, while development was 0 projects in the last 12 months. The case is steadier than a high-growth bet, so test vacancy, maintenance, insurance and borrowing costs rather than relying on growth alone.
How is Cleveland's population changing?
Cleveland's wider-area forecast points to 0.87% annual growth and 9.9% change over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 8.2 points and working share down 4.2 points. Migration is Balanced, while gentrification is tagged Early signs at score 37. Expect gradual change shaped by older households rather than a sudden population surge.
What languages are spoken in Cleveland?
The leading reported non-English languages include Mandarin with 78 speakers, Afrikaans 52, Cantonese 40, Greek 27 and German 24. English is also a major ancestry background, with 7,487 people reporting it, but ancestry and spoken language are different measures. Overseas-born residents make up 30.4% of Cleveland's population.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Cleveland on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map