Brookfield (Vic.)

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

Brookfield's population is estimated at around 11,621 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 839 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,782 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population being 11,615 following examination of ABS data up to June 2025 and an additional 301 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,129 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, ending in May 2026, Brookfield has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.6%, outpacing Greater Melbourne's growth during this period. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 51.0% of overall population gains 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 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering these projections, exceptional growth is predicted for Brookfield over the period up to 2041, placing it in the top 10 percent of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. The area is expected to increase by 4,916 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 42.2% in total over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Brookfield had approximately 62 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 312 homes were approved, with 17 more in FY-26 so far.

On average, about 2.8 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these years. New homes had an average construction cost of $366,000. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brookfield has significantly less development activity, being 77.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

The new development consists of 89.0% detached houses and 11.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban character focused on family homes. There are approximately 204 people per dwelling approval in Brookfield, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Brookfield is expected to grow by 4,910 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 18 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Scenic Botanica Estate, Maplewood Estate, Toolern Precinct Structure Plan Refresh (Amendment C232), and Melton Line Upgrade and Level Crossing Removals. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in Brookfield are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Brookfield's workforce is skilled with notable representation in construction. Unemployment stood at 9.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.3%. As of December 2025, 5,263 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 67.0%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Home workership was moderate at 16.9% based on Census responses. Key employment industries were health care & social assistance, transport, postal & warehousing, and construction, with a strong specialization in the latter (2.4 times regional level). Professional & technical services employed only 3.9% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.3%, labour force by 3.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 2.0 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 2.4%, labour force expanded 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 at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying significantly between industries. Applying these projections to Brookfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Brookfield's median income among taxpayers was $48,481 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $54,725 during the same period. These figures are lower than Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Brookfield as of March 2026 would be approximately $53,145 (median) and $59,990 (average). Census data from 2021 shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Brookfield rank modestly, between the 29th and 44th percentiles. The largest income segment consists of 37.7% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, with 4,381 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader metropolitan trends where 32.8% earn within the same range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Brookfield, with only 82.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 43rd percentile.

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

The dwelling structure in Brookfield, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.7% houses and 10.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brookfield was at 24.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.8% and rented ones at 30.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,663, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Brookfield was $350, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Brookfield's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Brookfield features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 79.9% of all households, including 43.7% couples with children, 20.9% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 20.1%, with lone person households at 18.1% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Brookfield aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 19.5%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.0% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 25.5%. Educational participation is high, with 34.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 14.2% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Brookfield's public transport analysis shows 24 active stops operating within the area, all of which are bus routes. These stops are serviced by seven individual routes that collectively provide 1,094 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 488 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Brookfield's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 92%, while train usage accounts for 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, some 16.9% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 156 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 45 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Brookfield is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Brookfield faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across all age cohorts but more so among older adults. Private health cover is low at approximately 49% of the total population (~5,640 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma (8.0%) and mental health issues (7.9%). 72.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for those under 65 are better than average. Brookfield has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 12.9%, compared to 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Brookfield was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Brookfield has a high level of cultural diversity, with 35.8% of its population born overseas and 36.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brookfield, comprising 50.5% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' category comprises 7.0% of Brookfield's population, which is higher compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 2.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are 'Other' at 21.2%, Australian at 20.3%, and English at 19.4%. Some ethnic groups show significant representation differences: Maltese at 3.6% (regional average: 1.1%), Samoan at 2.1% (regional average: 0.3%), and Serbian at 0.7% (regional average: 0.4%).

Brookfield hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Brookfield's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and significantly lower than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brookfield has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (17.3%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.4%). This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 has grown from 3.1% to 4.9%, while the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has declined from 15.2% to 13.4%. Demographic modeling indicates that Brookfield's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 45-54 cohort (61%), adding 777 residents to reach a total of 2,044.