Brighton (Vic.)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Brighton reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Brighton's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 24,836. This figure represents an increase of 2,078 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,758. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,107 in June 2024 and an additional 288 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,028 persons per square kilometer, placing Brighton in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Brighton's growth rate of 9.1% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA4 region (8.7%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of 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, adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, Brighton is expected to increase by just below the median of national statistical areas, expanding by 2,574 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 7.4% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Brighton when compared nationally

Brighton has received around 223 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 1,116 homes were approved. By February 2026, 42 dwellings have been approved this financial year.

Despite population decline in recent years, development activity has been adequate relative to population changes, benefiting buyers. The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $891,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This year, commercial development approvals have reached $50.7 million, reflecting high local commercial activity levels comparable to Greater Melbourne. In Brighton, 16.0% of new developments are standalone homes, while 84.0% consist of medium and high-density housing. This shift from the current 57.0% houses suggests decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyle needs for more diverse housing options.

With around 216 people per dwelling approval, Brighton shows a developing market with potential for population growth beyond current projections. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate forecasts Brighton to gain 1,845 residents by 2041, which should be readily met based on current development patterns, offering good conditions for buyers.

Brighton has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 36 projects potentially affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Star of the Sea College Nano Nagle Centre, and two mixed-use developments at 600-604 North Road comprising 52 apartments each plus four retail units. The following list details projects likely most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Brighton has been broadly consistent with national averages

Brighton has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.1% in September 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%. Workforce participation was 62.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%.

Half of Brighton residents work from home, potentially due to Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (1.8 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction employment is lower at 7.0% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work.

Over September 2024 to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.7%, but employment declined by 0.1%, raising unemployment by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Brighton's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localised population projections.

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

The Brighton SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $72,357 and an average income of $160,486 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is notably high compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $78,326 (median) and $173,726 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Brighton rank high nationally, between the 93rd and 94th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 37.8% of residents (9,388 people) earn $4,000 or more, unlike the metropolitan region where the dominant bracket is $1,500 - $2,999 with 32.8%. Economic strength is evident as 47.0% of households achieve high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing expenses account for 13.9% of income. Strong earnings place residents within the 94th percentile for disposable income, and 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, comprised 57.1% 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 46.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.9% and rented dwellings at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Brighton was $3,467, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent in Brighton was $600, while Melbourne metro recorded $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 constitute 70.3% of all households, including 32.3% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 29.7%, with lone person households at 27.9% and group households comprising 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, 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's residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion of university qualifications (52.7%) compared to Australia (30.4%) and Victoria (VIC) (33.4%). Bachelor degrees are the most common (34.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 19.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 8.5%. Educational participation is high, with 28.9% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes secondary education (9.1%), primary education (8.6%), and tertiary education (7.2%).

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

Brighton has 120 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 18 different routes, offering a total of 5,454 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 183 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Brighton. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 80%, followed by trains at 9% and walking at 6%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 50.8% 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 45 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, showing 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 data shows excellent results, with AreaSearch finding low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups and an exceptionally high private health cover rate of approximately 87%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis (7.3%) and asthma (6.4%), while 72.2% reported no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Brighton has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 28.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%.

Health outcomes among seniors in Brighton are strong, ranking nationally in line with 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 16.4% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 28.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brighton, accounting for 49.3% of the population. The Jewish population stands out at 3.8%, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Brighton are English (27.3%), Australian (20.1%), and Irish (10.1%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Polish residents make up 1.5% of Brighton's population compared to 0.8% regionally, Russian residents comprise 0.9% versus 0.4%, and Hungarian residents account for 0.5% against 0.3%.

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 national median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 75-84 years make up 11.1% of Brighton's population, a figure notably higher than the national average of 6.1%. This group has grown from 8.4% in 2021 to 11.1% currently. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group comprises only 6.8% of Brighton's population, which is smaller compared to Greater Melbourne. The 15-24 cohort has increased from 11.7% to 13.8% since 2021, while the 45-54 group has decreased from 15.1% to 12.8%. The 5-14 age group has also seen a decline, dropping from 11.7% to 10.4%. By 2041, Brighton's population is forecasted to experience substantial demographic changes. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 89%, adding 977 residents and reaching a total of 2,075. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 84% of the population growth, reflecting the trend of demographic aging. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 5-14 age cohorts.