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 of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Brighton (Vic.) is around 24,953. This figure reflects an increase of 1,701 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,252. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 24,869 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 293 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 2,981 persons per square kilometer, placing Brighton in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 7.3% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area at 6.0%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for this growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, the suburb is expected to experience a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation by 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Brighton's population is expected to expand by 2,583 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 10.0% over the 16-year period.

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

Brighton has recorded approximately 276 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,381 homes. As of FY-26125 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.4 new residents arrive per year for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially enabling population growth beyond current expectations.

The average value of new dwellings being developed is $1,047,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $51.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brighton shows moderately higher building activity, being 20.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This activity is substantially higher than the national average, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New building activity consists of approximately 17.0% detached houses and 83.0% attached dwellings. This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 57.0% houses. Brighton reflects a developing area with around 124 people per approval. Looking ahead, Brighton is expected to grow by approximately 2,499 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include Star of the Sea College Nano Nagle Centre, 467 New Street Residential Development, Metro Tunnel Network Upgrades - Sandringham (scheduled for completion in June 2025), Werribee and Williamstown Cross-City Service (commencing operation in December 2021), and New Street Brighton Social Housing (set to begin construction in March 2023). The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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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 stood at 61.7%, below Greater Melbourne's 69.9%.

According to Census responses, 50.7% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Brighton showed particular strength in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. However, construction had a limited presence at 6.9%, compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

Many residents appeared to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Brighton's labour force decreased by 0.3% and employment declined by 0.4%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4% and the labour force expand by 2.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% 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 these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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 for financial year 2023, the suburb of Brighton's median income among taxpayers is $73,238. The average income in Brighton is $167,699. This places Brighton in the top percentile nationally. Comparing to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Brighton would be approximately $80,283 (median) and $183,832 (average) as of March 2026. From the Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes in Brighton rank at the 94th percentile nationally. Family incomes also rank highly at the 93rd percentile nationally. Personal incomes in Brighton are at the 94th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows that 37.6% of residents earn $4000+ weekly (9,382 residents). This contrasts with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 32.8%. A significant 46.9% of Brighton's residents earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income in Brighton. Strong earnings place residents within the 94th percentile for disposable income nationally. 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 structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 57.2% houses and 42.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brighton was at 46.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.0% and rented ones at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Brighton was $3,467, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Brighton was $600, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Brighton's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and 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 make up the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 27.8% and group households comprising 1.8% of the total. 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 has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 52.6% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. The area's strong educational background is reflected in its high proportion of bachelor degree holders (34.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.7%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways are also well-represented, with 19.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (8.6%).

Educational participation in Brighton is notably high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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 services. These stops are served by 18 different routes that together facilitate 5,454 weekly passenger journeys. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 182 meters. Most residents commute outwards, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 80%. Trains account for 9% and walking for 6% of trips. 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 daily across all routes, equating to approximately 44 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying 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 remarkable results based on AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions have very low prevalence across all age groups. Approximately 93% of Brighton's total population (23,098 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%.

Nationally, the average is 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in Brighton are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.3% and 6.4% of residents respectively. 72.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. As of the assessment date (2021), 27.2% of Brighton's residents are aged 65 and over (6,787 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors in Brighton align broadly 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 cultural diversity is notable, with 16.3% speaking a language other than English at home and 28.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brighton, comprising 49.4%. However, Judaism is overrepresented, making up 3.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, English (27.3%), Australian (20.1%), and Irish (10.1%) are the top groups in Brighton. Polish (1.5% vs regional 0.8%), Russian (0.9% vs 0.4%), and Hungarian (0.5% vs 0.3%) are notably overrepresented among other ethnicities.

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

Brighton's median age is 48 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 75-84 years are particularly prominent, comprising 10.6% of the population, while those aged 25-34 years make up only 7.6%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 15-24 has increased from 11.7% to 13.9%, while the 75-84 age group has grown from 8.4% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 age cohort has declined from 15.1% to 13.0%, and the 5-14 age group has decreased from 11.6% to 10.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Brighton, with the strongest projected growth in the 85+ cohort (89%), adding 982 residents to reach a total of 2,080. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 78% of population growth, highlighting trends towards an aging population. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 55-64 age cohorts.