Brighton (SA)
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Brighton are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Brighton SA's population is 15,792 as of Aug 2025. This shows a rise of 601 people (4.0%) from the 2021 Census figure of 15,191. The increase is inferred from ABS' Jun 2024 estimate of 15,730 and 32 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,667 persons per sq km, placing Brighton in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Brighton's growth rate was 1.1% annually, exceeding its SA3 region. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. By 2041, Brighton is projected to increase by 1,784 persons, a 10.9% rise based on current demographic trends.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Brighton among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Brighton has received approximately 88 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 441 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25 and 6 so far in FY-26. Over the past five financial years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of 2 new residents arrived per new home annually, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. The average construction value for new dwellings was $713,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market.

This financial year has seen $29.8 million in commercial approvals registered, implying robust local business investment. Brighton maintains similar construction rates per capita compared to Greater Adelaide, preserving market equilibrium with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 72.0% detached dwellings and 28.0% attached dwellings, supporting the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited for buyers seeking space.

The location has approximately 188 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Future projections estimate Brighton will add 1,721 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply is expected to meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling population growth exceeding current forecasts.

Brighton has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects likely affecting the region: Tram Grade Separation at Morphett Road, Morphettville, and Southern Suburbs Residential Policy Code Amendment. Other notable projects include River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project and Adelaide Public Transport Capacity and Access. Below are details of most relevant projects.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Brighton ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Brighton SA has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.0% as of June 2025, which is below Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%.

The area experienced an estimated employment growth of 2.3% over the past year. As of June 2025, 8,081 residents were in work while workforce participation was at 57.1%, slightly lower than Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with a particularly strong specialization in education & training (1.4 times the regional level). Manufacturing has limited presence in Brighton, with an employment share of 4.9% compared to the regional average of 7.0%.

Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, while labour force increased by 2.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide saw employment grow by 2.1% and unemployment rise marginally. State-level data as of Sep-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%, aligning with the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Brighton's employment could grow by approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch aggregated ATO data shows Brighton had a median taxpayer income of $55,025 and an average income of $73,188 in financial year 2022. These figures are higher than national averages of $52,592 and $64,886 for Greater Adelaide respectively. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.83%, estimated incomes as of March 2025 are approximately $60,984 (median) and $81,114 (average). According to Census 2021 data, Brighton's household, family, and personal incomes fall around the 51st percentile nationally. Income distribution shows 28.6% of Brighton residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, aligning with broader area figures where this group represents 31.8%. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses. Brighton's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Brighton displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Brighton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 67.3% houses and 32.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 52.9% houses and 47.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brighton stood at 42.2%, with the rest either mortgaged (33.2%) or rented (24.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,952, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,950. Median weekly rent in Brighton was $350, compared to Adelaide metro's $340. Nationally, Brighton's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,952 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $350 compared to the national figure of $375.

Brighton features high concentrations of lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 66.7% of all households, including 26.7% couples with children, 30.4% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.2.

Brighton shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Brighton's residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion of university qualifications than the state average. Specifically, 36.3% of Brighton's residents hold such qualifications compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) as a whole and 28.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage is notable for its significance and positions the area favourably for opportunities requiring advanced knowledge. Among university qualifications, bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%.

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 30.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas held by 12.2% of residents and certificates held by 18.1%. Educational participation in Brighton is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (9.0%), secondary education (7.1%), and tertiary education (5.7%). The five schools in Brighton have a combined enrollment of 3,696 students. Brighton demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions, with an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) score of 1088. Educational provision is balanced, with four primary schools and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transport in Brighton shows that there are currently 71 active transport stops operating within the city. These comprise a mix of train stations and bus stops, served by 27 individual routes. Together, these routes provide a total of 1,886 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically living an average distance of 213 meters from their nearest transport stop. Across all routes, service frequency averages at 269 trips per day, which equates to approximately 26 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Brighton is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Brighton faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 56% (~8,843 people) have private health cover, compared to 58.8% across Greater Adelaide.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (10.1%) and mental health issues (8.0%). Around 65.4% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the Greater Adelaide average of 65.9%. About 28.0% (~4,415 people) are aged 65 and over, performing well in health metrics compared to the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Brighton was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Brighton's cultural diversity is above average, with 9.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 23.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brighton, accounting for 45.2%. Judaism, however, shows overrepresentation at 0.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 0.1%.

For ancestry, the top three groups are English (33.9%), Australian (24.6%), and Irish (8.5%). Some ethnicities diverge notably: German is slightly overrepresented at 5.2% versus 5.5% regionally, Welsh matches regional representation at 0.7%, and Polish also matches regionally at 0.9%.

Brighton hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Brighton's median age is 48 years, significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's 39 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Brighton has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (14.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.8%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group increased from 8.4% to 10.0%, while the 15 to 24 cohort rose from 10.4% to 11.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group decreased from 15.1% to 13.5%. By 2041, Brighton's age composition is expected to change notably. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 94%, reaching 1,197 people from 617. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 65% of the anticipated population growth. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to decrease in number.