Chelmer, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Chelmer QLD is 3,325 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Chelmer is $1,282 per week ($66,664 per year). Median rent in Chelmer is $490 per week ($2,123 per month). Chelmer has a median age of 41 years, older than the national median of 38. Chelmer has a population density of 2,312 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Chelmer is England. The most common religion is No religion (40.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chelmer is $3,000.

Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Chelmer Map

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Chelmer Population

3,325 residents at the 2021 Census.

Chelmer Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$1,282/wk

$66,664 per year

Ranked 300 of 14,663

Median Rent

$490/wk

$2,123 per month

Ranked 714 of 14,663

Median Age

41years

3 years older than the national median

Mortgage

$3,000/mo

Avg household size: 3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Chelmer Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.0% (1,663) Female 50.0% (1,661)

Population Density

2,312

people per km²

3,325 people · 1.4 km²

Households

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$3,900

Family income/wk

Chelmer Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Chelmer Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Chelmer, 46.8% are owned outright and 53.2% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

46.8%

Owned with mortgage

53.2%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
China
India
Hong Kong
Iran
Canada
Chile
Germany

Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Chelmer Religion

No religion

40.6%

Catholic

21.2%

Anglican

15.5%

Uniting Church

4.7%

Not stated

4.2%

Christian (other)

2.8%

Presbyterian and Reformed

2.1%

Hinduism

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Chelmer Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

88.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

8.2%

Year 11 or equivalent

2.6%

Year 9 or equivalent

0.7%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
Spanish
Cantonese
Vietnamese
Hindi
Italian
German

Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Chelmer Employment

Employed full-time

41.0% 951 people

Employed part-time

22.1% 512 people

Unemployed

2.8% 64 people

Not in labour force

34.2% 794 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Chelmer Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

48.6%

Postgraduate Degree

21.6%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

12.3%

Certificate III/IV

9.4%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

7.4%

Certificate I/II

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Chelmer Occupation

Professionals

50.4%

Managers

20.9%

Clerical & Administrative

11.4%

Community & Personal Service

5.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

5.2%

Sales Workers

4.7%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

0.9%

Labourers

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Chelmer Field of Study

Management & Commerce

28.9%

Society & Culture

13.9%

Health

13.6%

Engineering

12.5%

Education

6.9%

Natural & Physical Sciences

6.5%

Architecture & Building

5.0%

Creative Arts

4.9%

Information Technology

4.4%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

2.1%

Agriculture & Environment

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

Chelmer Dwelling Types

Separate house

100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Chelmer Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.1%

$1-$149/wk

0.5%

$150-$299/wk

0.3%

$300-$399/wk

0.7%

$400-$499/wk

1.9%

$500-$649/wk

2.2%

$650-$799/wk

2.3%

$800-$999/wk

3.1%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

4.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

3.3%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

3.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.1%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

7.8%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

6.1%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

11.2%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

5.4%

$4,000+/wk

42.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Chelmer Marital Status

Married

57.3% 1,490

Separated

2.2% 58

Divorced

5.1% 132

Widowed

5.6% 145

Never married

29.8% 775

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Chelmer Ancestry

English

40.7%

Australian

33.0%

Irish

17.0%

Scottish

15.1%

German

5.2%

Chinese

5.1%

Italian

3.4%

Dutch

2.1%

New Zealander

1.9%

Indian

1.7%

Welsh

1.4%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Chelmer School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

32.4%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

20.7%

Secondary — Government

10.5%

Secondary — Catholic

9.6%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

7.7%

Pre-school

7.0%

Primary — Catholic

6.1%

Vocational Education

5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Chelmer Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

5.2%

No need for assistance

94.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Chelmer Volunteering

Volunteer

24.8% 615

Not a volunteer

75.2% 1,865

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Chelmer Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

6.5%

$300-$449/mo

3.3%

$600-$799/mo

1.5%

$800-$999/mo

1.8%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

9.5%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

10.5%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

17.1%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

17.5%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

32.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Chelmer How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

60.3%

Did not go to work

19.4%

Train

9.0%

Car (passenger)

4.3%

Bicycle

2.5%

Walked only

2.1%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.9%

Bus

0.4%

Truck

0.4%

Other

0.4%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Chelmer Car Ownership

0 vehicles

3.2%

1 vehicle

28.3%

2 vehicles

46.0%

3 vehicles

14.3%

4+ vehicles

8.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Chelmer Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

1.4%

2 bedrooms

7.2%

3 bedrooms

29.7%

4 bedrooms

37.7%

5 bedrooms

19.0%

6+ bedrooms

5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Chelmer Population Mobility

15.3%

moved in the last year

44.2%

moved in the last 5 years

3.7%

unemployment rate (Census)

65.3%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Chelmer Indigenous Population

0.4%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Chelmer Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

260

Asthma

125

Arthritis

Heart disease

Cancer

Lung condition

Diabetes

Stroke

Dementia

Kidney disease

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Chelmer Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

11.6%

$1-$149/wk

5.1%

$150-$299/wk

5.1%

$300-$399/wk

1.8%

$400-$499/wk

1.9%

$500-$649/wk

1.9%

$650-$799/wk

4.6%

$800-$999/wk

6.1%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

7.0%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

6.3%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

8.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.2%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

12.9%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

5.3%

$3,500+/wk

16.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Chelmer Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

50.9%

Couple — no children under 15

21.9%

Couple — no children

19.5%

One parent — no children under 15

4.2%

One parent — children under 15

3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Chelmer Military Service

Current ADF — Regular

0.2% 5

Current ADF — Reserves

0.2% 5

Previously served

3.1% 76

Never served

96.5% 2,403

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Chelmer Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

11.8% 292

Did not provide

88.2% 2,184

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Chelmer Children Ever Born

No children

29.2%

1 child

8.8%

2 children

34.6%

3 children

20.5%

4 children

5.6%

5+ children

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

Chelmer When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

199

2011–2015

121

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Chelmer Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

25.0%

5–14 hours

32.7%

15–29 hours

16.1%

30+ hours

9.5%

Did not do domestic work

16.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Chelmer Household Size

1 person

15.2%

2 persons

29.3%

3 persons

16.8%

4 persons

24.0%

5 persons

11.3%

6+ persons

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Chelmer Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,728

Moved from QLD

312

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from overseas

Moved from VIC

Moved from NSW

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Chelmer Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

91.6%

Step family — no other children

6.4%

Blended family — no other children

2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Chelmer Schools

schools nearby

government

1138

avg ICSEA score

17,253

total students

Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,358 students

1220

ICSEA

St Peters Lutheran College Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 2,330 students

1183

ICSEA

Ironside State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 895 students

1178

ICSEA

Fig Tree Pocket State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 477 students

1169

ICSEA

St Aidan's Anglican Girls School Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 1,075 students

1168

ICSEA

Indooroopilly State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 1,326 students

1165

ICSEA

Brisbane Boys' College Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 1,393 students

1164

ICSEA

St Ignatius School Catholic

Primary · Prep-6 · 272 students

1158

ICSEA

Graceville State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 676 students

1156

ICSEA

Omni Academies of Learning Independent

Secondary · 7-9 · 33 students

1151

ICSEA

Holy Family Primary School Catholic

Primary · Prep-6 · 118 students

1142

ICSEA

Ambrose Treacy College Catholic

Combined · 4-12 · 1,273 students

1139

ICSEA

Sherwood State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 630 students

1139

ICSEA

Indooroopilly State High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 2,924 students

1138

ICSEA

Brigidine College Catholic

Combined · 5-12 · 980 students

1129

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 22 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Chelmer, with a map

Chelmer Rent Prices & Affordability

14% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $3,402/wk

Median rent $490/wk

Rent to income 14.4%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Chelmer against your income

Your weekly income

About $14,742 a month

Median rent $490/wk

Left after rent $2,912/wk

Rent share 14.4%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Habana

Income: $1,047/wk Rent: $400/wk $90/wk less rent

Freshwater (Qld)

Income: $1,095/wk Rent: $350/wk $140/wk less rent

Cabarlah

Income: $1,033/wk Rent: $360/wk $130/wk less rent

Shoal Point

Income: $1,104/wk Rent: $380/wk $110/wk less rent

Townsville City

Income: $1,182/wk Rent: $390/wk $100/wk less rent

Kalinga

Income: $1,182/wk Rent: $400/wk $90/wk less rent

Rockyview

Income: $1,141/wk Rent: $480/wk $10/wk less rent

Ascot (Brisbane - Qld)

Income: $1,163/wk Rent: $390/wk $100/wk less rent

Chelmer vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Chelmer is $1,282 a week, 72% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 31st of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $490 a week, $170 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 14.4% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 41, 1 year younger than in the typical QLD suburb (42).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
Measure	Chelmer	Typical QLD	Typical Australia
Personal income	$1,282/wk	$747/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$3,402/wk	$1,593/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$490/wk	$320/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$3,000/mo	$1,625/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	41	42	42
Rent share of household income	14.4%	20.4%	20.3%

Suburbs near Chelmer

The closest suburb to Chelmer is Indooroopilly, 0.8 km away.

Indooroopilly

0.8 km away · income $928/wk · rent $440/wk

Graceville

1.1 km away · income $1,195/wk · rent $495/wk

Taringa

2.0 km away · income $973/wk · rent $385/wk

Sherwood (Qld)

2.0 km away · income $1,057/wk · rent $390/wk

Fig Tree Pocket

2.5 km away · income $1,205/wk · rent $590/wk

Tennyson (Qld)

2.7 km away · income $1,408/wk · rent $530/wk

Compare Chelmer

Frequently Asked Questions About Chelmer

What is the population of Chelmer QLD?

The population of Chelmer QLD is 3,325 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 2,312 people per km².Chelmer is ranked #2,216 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Chelmer?

The median personal income in Chelmer QLD is $1,282 per week, or $66,664 per year.The median household income is $3,402 per week.Family income is $3,900 per week.Chelmer is ranked #300 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Chelmer?

Median rent in Chelmer QLD is $490 per week ($2,123 per month).Rent represents 14.4% of household income, which is considered affordable.Chelmer ranks #714 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Chelmer?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chelmer QLD is $3,000. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Chelmer?

The median age in Chelmer QLD is 41 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Chelmer a good suburb to live in?

Chelmer is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 3,325.The median income is $1,282/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (14.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30588. All dollar figures in AUD.