Brighton (Vic.)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Brighton reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As per ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation for the suburb of Brighton (Vic.), its estimated population stands at approximately 26,301 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 3,049 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,252. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 25,564 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 294 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,142 persons per square kilometer, placing Brighton in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Brighton's population growth rate of 13.1% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (8.7%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for this growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Brighton is expected to experience above median population growth, with an anticipated increase of 3,959 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 12.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Brighton among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Brighton has recorded approximately 276 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021. This totals an estimated 1,381 homes. As of FY-26 (July 2021 to June 2022), 107 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a well-balanced market with good buyer choice.

New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $1,047,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. There have also been $51.0 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brighton shows moderately higher building activity, 17.0% above regional average per person over the five-year period from FY-17 to FY-21, balancing buyer choice with support for current property values. However, construction activity has eased recently. This activity is substantially higher than nationally, indicating strong developer confidence in the location. New building activity comprises 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a trend toward denser development to provide accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition of currently 57.0% houses. Brighton reflects a developing area with approximately 120 people per approval. Looking ahead, Brighton is expected to grow by an estimated 3,222 residents through to 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate (Q2 2022). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Brighton has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

AreaSearch has identified 35 projects that could impact the area, with major ones including Star of the Sea College Nano Nagle Centre, and two mixed-use developments at 600-604 North Road comprising 52 apartments each plus four retail units. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Brighton exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Brighton has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 3.0% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%. Workforce participation was 61.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%.

A significant proportion, 50.7%, of residents worked from home based on Census responses. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Brighton shows particular strength in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. However, construction has limited presence at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Brighton's labour force decreased by 0.3%, with employment declining by 0.4%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4% during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia 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 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2023, the suburb of Brighton had a median income among taxpayers of $73,238 and an average income of $167,699. This places Brighton in the top percentile nationally. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Brighton would be approximately $79,280 (median) and $181,534 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Brighton rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes all between the 93rd and 94th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 37.6% of residents earn $4000+ weekly (9,889 residents), contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. Notably, 46.9% of Brighton residents earn above $3,000 weekly, reflecting areas of prosperity that drive local economic activity. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, and strong earnings place residents within the 94th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th 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 evaluation, consisted of 57.2% houses and 42.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. In Brighton, home ownership stood at 46.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.0% and rented dwellings at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,467, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Brighton was recorded at $600, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Brighton's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 70.4% of all households, including 32.4% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 27.8% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Brighton demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Brighton's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. As of 2016, 52.6% of Brighton residents aged 15 and above held university qualifications, exceeding Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. This high level of educational attainment positions Brighton favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees were the most prevalent at 34.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%).

Vocational pathways accounted for 19.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 11.0% and certificates 8.6%. Educational participation was high, with 28.9% of residents enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This included 9.0% in secondary education, 8.6% in primary education, and 7.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Brighton has 123 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 18 different routes that together facilitate 5,454 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 182 meters. Most residents commute outward due to Brighton's primarily residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation, used by 80% of residents, while trains are used by 9%, and walking by 6%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 50.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 779 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 44 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Brighton's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Brighton's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups (as of 2021). Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 93% of Brighton's total population of 24,346 people, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 7.3% of residents) and asthma (6.4%), while 72.2% report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%.

Brighton has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.8% (7,311 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors in Brighton are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

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

Brighton's population showed higher cultural diversity, with 16.3% speaking a language other than English at home and 28.4% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Brighton, accounting for 49.4%. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 3.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (27.3%), Australian (20.1%), and Irish (10.1%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Polish (1.5% vs regional 0.8%), Russian (0.9% vs 0.4%), and Hungarian (0.5% vs 0.3%) were overrepresented in Brighton.

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

Brighton's median age is 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 75-84 year-old group constitutes 10.8% of Brighton's population, while the 25-34 year-old group makes up only 6.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of the population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 8.4% to 10.8%, while the 15 to 24 age group has risen from 11.7% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 year-old cohort has decreased from 15.1% to 12.9%, and the 25 to 34 year-old group has fallen from 7.9% to 6.4%. Population forecasts for Brighton in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 85+ age cohort projected to grow by 89%, adding 1,141 residents to reach a total of 2,430. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 77% of population growth, reflecting ongoing demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 year-old and 55 to 64 year-old cohorts.