Brunswick East

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

The population of the Brunswick East statistical area (Lv2) was estimated at around 15,477 as of November 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 2,198 people from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,279 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 15,193 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 601 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6,848 persons per square kilometer, placing Brunswick East in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 16.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (9.7%) and state averages, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.0% 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 released in 2023, adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering these projections, exceptional growth is predicted over this period with the Brunswick East (SA2) expected to increase by 10,000 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 61.9% in total population over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Brunswick East has seen approximately 178 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 890 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 36 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.1 people move to the area per new home constructed over this period, suggesting strong demand supporting property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $651,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year has seen $4.2 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting limited focus on commercial development compared to residential. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brunswick East has slightly more development activity (19.0% above regional average per person over the five-year period), maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, construction activity has eased recently. This activity is well above national averages, demonstrating strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity shows 5.0% standalone homes and 95.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a shift towards compact living to offer affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

This represents a significant change from the current housing mix of 23.0% houses, likely due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The area has approximately 306 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Population forecasts suggest Brunswick East will gain 9,578 residents by 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.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Brunswick and Parkville Level Crossing Removals, Saxon Street by Milieu, East Brunswick Village (EBV), and Brunswick Early Years Hub. 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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AreaSearch analysis indicates Brunswick East maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Brunswick East has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector prominent. Its unemployment rate was 5.1% in September 2025, up by 0.4% from Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.3%. As of September 2025, 10,854 residents were employed, with a workforce participation rate of 77.8%, well above Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for employment are professional & technical (employing 1.7 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction employs only 4.4% locally, compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 5.3%, while labour force grew by 5.1%, reducing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0%, with unemployment increasing by 0.3 percentage points. Statewide in Victoria, employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year to 25-November, outpacing the national average of 0.14%. Future employment growth projections for Brunswick East, based on national forecasts, suggest local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years.

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

The suburb of Brunswick East had a median taxpayer income of $67,997 and an average income of $82,223 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is notably higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 during the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $73,607 and an average income of around $89,006, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%. Census data shows individual earnings in Brunswick East are at the 93rd percentile nationally, with weekly earnings of $1,252. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 37.4% of the community (5,788 individuals), which is slightly higher than the broader area's 32.8%. Economic strength is evident with 30.3% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000. Despite high housing costs consuming 17.0% of income, disposable income remains at the 69th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Brunswick East features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Brunswick East's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 22.7% houses and 77.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brunswick East was at 18.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.3% and rented dwellings at 54.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,149. Median weekly rent in Brunswick East was $421, compared to Melbourne metro's $418. Nationally, Brunswick East's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $421 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 48.6% of all households, including 14.1% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 5.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 51.4%, with lone person households at 38.9% and group households comprising 12.6%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.3.

Educational achievement in Brunswick East places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Brunswick East has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 62.4% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its residents' qualifications: Bachelor degrees are most common at 37.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.9%). Vocational pathways account for 17.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 8.3% and certificates 8.9%.

Educational participation in the area is significantly high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.3% pursuing tertiary education, 4.4% primary education, and 3.7% secondary education.

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

Brunswick East has 55 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 12 different routes, carrying out 9,773 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 123 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 1,396 trips daily across all routes, which amounts to about 177 weekly trips per individual stop.

Brunswick East's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Brunswick East.

Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (9,171 people). The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 14.1 and 9.2% of residents respectively. 69.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.5% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 8.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,361 people), which is lower than the 12.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Brunswick East has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 31.3% of its residents born overseas and 23.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brunswick East, accounting for 26.6% of the population. Notably, Judaism, at 0.5%, is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne's 0.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.1%), Australian (16.7%), and Other (11.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Italians make up 8.2% in Brunswick East versus 10.2% regionally, Spanish 0.8% versus 0.6%, and French 0.8% versus 0.7%.

Brunswick East's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Brunswick East has a median age of 33, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brunswick East has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (32.9%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.5%). This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 45 to 54 age group has increased from 10.6% to 11.2% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 33.5% to 32.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic shifts in Brunswick East, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 45%, adding 2,273 residents to reach a total of 7,365.