Brighton East
Statistical Area - sa2

Brighton East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Brighton East's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 17,387 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 847 people, marking a 5.1% rise since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,540. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,261 as of June 2024 and an additional 136 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,099 persons per square kilometer, placing Brighton East in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Brighton East's growth rate of 5.1% since the census is within 0.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (5.4%), indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs 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. Future population projections show Brighton East experiencing above median growth nationally, with an expected expansion of 2,663 persons by 2041, translating to a total gain of 14.6% over the 17-year period.

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

Brighton East has received approximately 153 dwelling approvals annually. Between FY21-FY25767 homes were approved, with a further 65 approved in FY26 as of the present. The average population increase per year for each dwelling built over these five years was 0.3 people.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering more buyer choices while supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $581,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $6.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Brighton East's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brighton East has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. New developments consist of 20% standalone homes and 80% medium to high-density housing, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers.

This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 71% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for more diverse, affordable housing options. Brighton East has around 156 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts project an increase of 2,537 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand readily, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Brighton 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 a total of 49 projects likely to impact the area. Major projects include 111 Carpenter Brighton Townhomes, 24 Burrows Street Brighton, Bayside Gallery Building Works, and Brighton Lane Townhouses. The following list details those 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 East exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Brighton East has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.8% as of June 2025.

This is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne at 64.1%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Brighton East has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.6% compared to the regional average of 5.2%. Over the year ending June 2025, employment increased by 0.4% while labour force grew by 1.4%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5%, labour force expand by 4.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Brighton East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though these are simple weighting 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

Brighton East had a median taxpayer income of $64,635 and an average income of $112,655 in the financial year 2022, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data. These figures are notably high compared to national averages. Greater Melbourne's median income was $54,892 with an average income of $73,761 during the same period. By September 2025, adjusted for a 12.16% growth in wages since financial year 2022, estimated incomes would be approximately $72,495 (median) and $126,354 (average). The 2021 Census data places household, family, and personal incomes in Brighton East between the 84th and 94th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 35.0% of residents earn over $4,000 annually, with a total of 6,085 people in this bracket. This differs from metropolitan patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates. Economic strength is evident with 46.6% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, which supports elevated consumer spending. Housing costs account for 15.0% of income. Brighton East residents rank in the 94th percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In Brighton East, as per the latest Census evaluation, 71.0% of dwellings were houses while 29.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and others. This compares to Melbourne metropolitan area's figures of 62.6% houses and 37.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brighton East stood at 42.5%, similar to Melbourne metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (36.6%) or rented (20.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $3,335, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $3,000. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $602, compared to Melbourne metro's $520. Nationally, Brighton East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 76.9% of all households, including 41.7% couples with children, 24.5% couples without children, and 10.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 23.1%, with lone person households at 21.1% and group households making up 2.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment in Brighton East is notably high with 49.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4%. In Victoria (VIC), this figure stands at 33.4%. The area's residents have a significant educational advantage, which positions them well for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 32.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.3% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%.

Vocational pathways account for 20.6% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas making up 11.1% and certificates 9.5%. Educational participation is high, with 32.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 10.5% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education. Brighton East's five schools have a combined enrollment of 3,477 students as of the latest data. The area's schools demonstrate exceptional educational performance with an ICSEA score of 1152, placing them among the most advantaged nationally. The educational mix includes two primary schools, one secondary school, and two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 20.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.5, indicating that the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Brighton East has 58 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 10 different routes, carrying out 3,493 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living within 201 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 499 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to about 60 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Brighton East is notably higher than the national average with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Brighton East shows higher-than-average health outcomes. Common health conditions seen across both young and old age groups are fairly standard. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 76% (13,248 people).

This compares to 78.5% across Greater Melbourne, with the national average being 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 7.0 and 6.4% of residents respectively. 72.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 20.4% (3,538 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 22.9% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Brighton East 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

Brighton East has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 30.6% of its population born overseas and 21.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brighton East, comprising 45.1% of the population. Judaism is notably overrepresented, making up 9.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 3.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.3%), Australian (20.3%), and Other (10.8%). Some ethnic groups have significant representation: Polish at 2.4% (regional average 1.4%), Russian at 1.6% (regional average 0.9%), and Hungarian at 0.5% (regional average 0.4%).

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

Brighton East has a median age of 44, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The 45-54 age group comprises 16.1% of Brighton East's population, compared to Greater Melbourne's figure. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort makes up 6.3% of Brighton East's population. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.6% to 15.4%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 14.7% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Brighton East's age profile will change significantly. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 18%, adding 512 people and reaching a total of 3,310 from the current 2,797. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort is expected to show modest growth, with an increase of only 7 residents.