Brooklyn (Vic.)

Brooklyn lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Brooklyn (Vic.) is around 2,594. This figure reflects an increase of 615 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,979. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 2,254 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 115 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 473 persons per square kilometer. Brooklyn's growth rate of 31.1% since the 2021 census exceeded both national (9.9%) and state averages, marking it as a significant growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.0% 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 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. By 2041, a significant population increase is forecasted in the top quartile of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch, with the suburb expected to increase by 624 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 6.4% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Brooklyn when compared nationally

Brooklyn recorded approximately 45 residential properties approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 228 homes were approved, with an additional 20 approved in FY-26. On average, 0.3 people moved to the area per dwelling built annually during this period.

This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more buyer choices and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction cost value of new homes was $392,000. In FY-26, there have been $52.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. New development consisted of 21.0% detached houses and 79.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift from the current housing mix of 53.0% houses.

This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. Brooklyn shows characteristics of a growth area with around 51 people per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Brooklyn is projected to gain 165 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Brooklyn has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones are The Fabric Altona North, Altona North Strategic Site, RBR Hub Industrial Estate, and Green Streets Program. Below is a list of these projects, arranged by relevance.

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

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Brooklyn maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Brooklyn has a highly educated workforce with professional services being well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 4.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.7%. As of September 2025, 1,374 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.3% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation stood at 73.7%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 30.8% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 10.5% compared to the regional average of 14.2%. With 3.2 workers per resident as of the Census, Brooklyn functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7%, labour force grew by 5.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Brooklyn's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% 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

The median taxpayer income in Brooklyn was $81,551, with an average of $99,640 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This places it among the top percentile nationally. In comparison, Greater Melbourne had a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%, estimated incomes would be approximately $88,279 (median) and $107,860 (average). According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings in Brooklyn stood at the 84th percentile nationally ($1,064 weekly). The earnings profile showed that 38.6% of locals (1,001 people) fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. High housing costs consumed 17.4% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 60th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

Brooklyn displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Brooklyn's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, comprised 53.3% houses and 46.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brooklyn stood at 21.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.0% and rented ones at 40.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,068, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Weekly rent median was $391, similar to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Brooklyn's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Brooklyn features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 62.6% of all households, including 21.9% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. The remaining 37.4% are non-family households, consisting of 32.5% lone person households and 5.0% group households. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Brooklyn exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Brooklyn residents aged 15+ with university qualifications (34.0%) exceed the Australian average (30.4%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 31.3% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 20.1%.

A total of 24.8% of the population is engaged in formal education, including 6.5% in primary, 5.9% in tertiary, and 4.2% in secondary education.

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

Brooklyn has 27 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by nine different routes, offering a total of 1,860 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 183 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most commuting in this primarily residential area is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 87%, with trains used by 5% of residents. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 30.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 265 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 68 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Brooklyn faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat prevalent across all age cohorts, with a slightly higher degree among older adults. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (1,713 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.7 and 8.5% of residents respectively. 72.7% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for those under 65 are better than average. The area has 9.2% of residents aged 65 and over (238 people), lower than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking slightly worse nationally compared to the broader population.

Brooklyn is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Brooklyn's population shows high cultural diversity, with 38.2% born overseas and 35.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brooklyn, accounting for 42.2% of its population. Islam is notably overrepresented in Brooklyn compared to Greater Melbourne, with 7.7% versus 5.6%.

The top three ancestral groups are English (18.7%), Australian (15.1%), and Other (14.5%). Some ethnic groups have significant representation differences: Polish (Brooklyn 1.4%, regional 0.8%), Spanish (Brooklyn 0.9%, regional 0.4%), and Maltese (Brooklyn 2.4%, regional 1.1%).

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

Brooklyn's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brooklyn has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (28.1%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of Brooklyn's population aged 35 to 44 has increased from 15.3% to 16.6%, while the percentage of residents aged 75 to 84 has declined from 3.0% to 1.8%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate substantial changes in Brooklyn's population. The 55-64 age cohort is projected to grow by 27%, adding 74 residents to reach a total of 349. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 0-4 and 35-44 age cohorts.