Brighton (Tas.)

Brighton lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As per AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since May 2026, the suburb of Brighton (Tas.) has an estimated population of around 5,647. This figure represents a growth of 664 people, or approximately 13.3%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,983. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,582 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 207 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 196 persons per square kilometer, indicating significant space per person and potential for further development. Brighton's growth rate of 13.3% since the 2021 census surpassed Greater Hobart's 3.9% and the state average, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration accounted for approximately 55.00000000000001% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also contributing positively.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in Brighton's top quartile statistical areas. By 2041, based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 1,704 persons, reflecting an overall gain of approximately 29.0% over the 16-year period.

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

Brighton has seen around 47 residential properties approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 238 homes. As of FY-26, 28 approvals have been recorded. Each home built between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodates an average of 3 new residents per year, indicating significant demand exceeding supply. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $410,000, targeting the premium market segment with higher-end dwellings.

This financial year has seen $12.5 million in commercial approvals, showing moderate levels of commercial development. Recent building activity consists predominantly of detached houses, maintaining Brighton's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking family homes.

The area has approximately 171 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. By 2041, Brighton is projected to grow by 1,639 residents, with construction maintaining a reasonable pace despite increasing population and potential buyer competition.

Brighton has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects potentially influencing this region. Notable projects are Homes Tasmania Brighton Subdivision, New Brighton High School, Ted Jeffries Memorial Park Upgrade, and Brighton Town Square Development. The following details the most relevant ones.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Brighton ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Brighton has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent. Unemployment rate was 3.2% in December 2025, lower than Greater Hobart's 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Brighton was 70.3%, higher than Greater Hobart's 63.7%. Only 4.5% of residents worked from home according to Census responses. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction is particularly specialized with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Education & training is under-represented at 4.8%, compared to Greater Hobart's 10.8%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and 2025, employment levels increased by 0.5% and labour force by 0.8%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Hobart where employment rose by 0.1%, labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Brighton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Brighton had a median income among taxpayers of $49,305 and an average level of $54,329. This is lower than the national average, which stood at $54,577 in Greater Hobart during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $54,704 for median income and $60,278 for average income as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census data, personal income ranks at the 54th percentile with a weekly income of $825, while household income sits at the 37th percentile. The earnings band of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 37.5% of Brighton's community (2,117 individuals), similar to the metropolitan region where 32.2% fall within this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Brighton, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile.

Brighton is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Brighton's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.7% houses and 18.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Hobart metro had 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brighton was at 26.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (51.1%) or rented (22.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Brighton was $1,450, lower than Hobart metro's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure in Brighton was recorded at $350, equal to Hobart metro's figure. Nationally, Brighton's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Brighton has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.1% of all households, including 33.0% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 15.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 23.9%, with lone person households at 22.0% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Hobart average of 2.4.

Brighton faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 7.5%, significantly lower than Greater Hobart's average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 5.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (0.9%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.1%) and certificates (36.4%). Educational participation is high, with 27.2% currently enrolled in formal education: 12.5% in primary, 6.5% in secondary, and 2.2% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.5% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Brighton has 25 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 76 different routes, offering a total of 5,164 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Brighton is rated as good, with residents typically living 312 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 96% of residents. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.5% of residents work from home, which might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, an average of 737 trips is made daily, equating to around 206 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Brighton is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Brighton faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low, at approximately 49% of the total population (~2,750 people), compared to 51.7% in Greater Hobart and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.2 and 9.5% of residents respectively. However, 66.1% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Hobart's 65.5%. Working-age population health is notably challenged by high chronic condition rates. The area has 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over (869 people), lower than Greater Hobart's 20.0%. Senior health outcomes present challenges, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The latest Census data sees Brighton placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Brighton's cultural diversity was found to be below average. As of the 2016 Census, 95.3% of Brighton residents were born in Australia, with 94.6% being Australian citizens and 97.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 44.3% of Brighton's population.

Notably, Judaism was not reported among Brighton's religious groups, compared to 0.1% across Greater Hobart. In terms of ancestry, Australians made up 37.3% of Brighton's population, significantly higher than the regional average of 28.0%. The next two most represented groups were English at 36.2% and Irish at 6.6%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 6.0%, compared to 3.0% regionally, while Polish and Sri Lankan representation remained the same as the regional average at 0.8% and 0.1% respectively.

Brighton hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Brighton has a median age of 34 years, which is lower than Greater Hobart's average of 39 and significantly under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Hobart, Brighton has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (13.5%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (5.1%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 12.1% to 13.2%, while the percentage of those aged 25-34 has declined from 17.8% to 16.5%. By 2041, Brighton's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 35-44 age group is expected to grow by 37%, adding 276 residents to reach a total of 1,022.