Brighton (SA)

Population growth drivers in Brighton are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Brighton's population was around 15,806 as of November 2025. This showed an increase of 615 people, a 4.0% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 15,191. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 15,733 in June 2024 and 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,669 persons per square kilometer, placing Brighton in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Over the past decade, Brighton had a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver for population growth during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, Brighton is expected to experience population growth just below the Australian median statistical area average. By 2041, the latest annual ERP population numbers suggest an increase of 1,784 persons, reflecting a total rise of 10.8% over the 17 years.

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

Brighton has received approximately 88 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totaling 441 homes. As of FY-26, 36 approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of two people move to Brighton for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply-demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost value for new homes is $476,000, suggesting a focus on premium properties by developers.

Commercial development approvals this financial year amount to $29.8 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Brighton's construction rates per person are similar to Greater Adelaide's, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 72% standalone homes and 28% medium-high density housing, preserving Brighton's suburban character while attracting space-seeking buyers.

With approximately 188 people per approval, Brighton reflects a low-density area. By 2041, Brighton is projected to gain 1,707 residents, with current construction levels expected to meet demand adequately and create favorable conditions for buyers.

Brighton has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Two projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area: Tram Grade Separation at Morphett Road, Morphettville, Southern Suburbs Residential Policy Code Amendment, River Torrens to Darlington Project (T2D), and Tram Grade Separation Projects.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Brighton significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Brighton has a well-educated workforce with prominent sectors being essential services. Its unemployment rate is 2.0% as of September 2025, which is below Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%. There are 8,190 residents in work, with workforce participation at 57.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area has a notable concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Manufacturing shows lower representation at 4.9% compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while labour force grew by 3.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide had employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a drop in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%, with SA's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Brighton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Brighton SA2 is very high nationally. The median income is $55,025 and the average income stands at $73,188. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's figures of a median income of $52,592 and an average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $62,085 (median) and $82,578 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Brighton cluster around the 50th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 28.6% of the population (4,520 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range. After housing, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses and 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 structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.3% houses and 32.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Adelaide metro had 52.9% houses and 47.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brighton was at 42.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.2% and rented ones at 24.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Brighton was $1,952, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,950 but lower than the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Brighton was $350, lower than both Adelaide metro's $340 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute 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, which is 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 exhibit a notable educational advantage with 36.3% holding university qualifications, surpassing South Australia's (SA) average of 25.7% and the SA4 region's 28.1%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 23.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.3% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (18.1%). Educational participation is high in Brighton, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.0% in primary, 7.1% in secondary, and 5.7% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Brighton has 71 active public transport stops, consisting of both train and bus services. These stops are served by 27 different routes that together facilitate 1,886 weekly passenger journeys. The city's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents on average situated 213 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 269 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 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% (~8,851 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%). About 65.4% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the 65.9% in Greater Adelaide. Around 28.0% (~4,419 people) are aged 65 and over.

In terms of cultural diversity, Brighton records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of 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 dominant religion in Brighton, accounting for 45.2%. Judaism, however, is overrepresented compared to Greater Adelaide, comprising 0.1% of Brighton's population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (33.9%), Australian (24.6%), and Irish (8.5%). Notably, German (5.2%) is slightly overrepresented compared to the regional figure of 5.5%. Polish and Welsh populations in Brighton mirror those regionally at 0.9% and 0.7%, respectively.

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

Brighton's median age is 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's median age of 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 the present day, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 8.4% to 10.0%, while the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 10.4% to 11.8%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 has decreased from 15.1% to 13.5%. By the year 2041, Brighton is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The demographic shift will be led by the 85+ age group, which is projected to grow by 94%, reaching 1,197 people from 618. This growth will contribute to an increase in residents aged 65 and older, who are expected to represent 65% of the population's anticipated growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.