Brunswick - North

Population growth drivers in Brunswick - North are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Brunswick - North's population was around 14,643 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 1,753 people (13.6%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,890. The change was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 14,595 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 6,075 persons per square kilometer, placing Brunswick - North among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Its growth rate exceeded both national (9.9%) and state averages since the 2021 census. Overseas migration contributed approximately 83.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 using a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilized VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering these projections, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with an expected expansion of 8,118 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 55.1% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Brunswick - North when compared nationally

Brunswick North averaged approximately 148 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 742 homes. As of FY26, 10 approvals have been recorded. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25 was 0.8. This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new properties was $317,000. In FY26, there have been $2.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brunswick North maintains similar construction rates per person, supporting market stability. New building activity shows 5.0% detached dwellings 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 41.0% houses.

Brunswick North has approximately 1490 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Brunswick North is expected to grow by 8,070 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Brunswick - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include Saxon Street by Milieu, Assemble Brunswick, Brunswick and Parkville Level Crossing Removals, and Albert Street Stockland Development, with the following list detailing those of most relevance.

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.

The employment landscape in Brunswick - North shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Brunswick - North has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 6.6% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 4.5%. As of September 2025, 9,689 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.7%, and workforce participation at 78.5%.

Census data showed that 49.4% of residents worked from home. Key industries include professional & technical (1.5 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction has limited presence with 4.5% employment compared to 9.7% regionally. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison.

In the 12 months prior, employment increased by 4.5%, labour force by 5.1%, raising unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. Greater Melbourne showed lower growth rates and unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying sector-specific rates. Applying these projections to Brunswick - North's industry mix suggests local employment should grow by 7.0% in five years and 14.3% in ten years.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Brunswick - North SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $65,180 and an average income of $81,088. These figures are high nationally compared to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $70,557 (median) and $87,778 (average). Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Brunswick - North rank highly nationally, between the 69th and 81st percentiles. Income distribution shows that 33.5% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting a pattern seen in the surrounding region where 32.8% fall within this range. Economic strength is evident with 31.0% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Brunswick - North's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 41.3% houses and 58.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metropolitan area had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brunswick - North was at 26.0%, with the rest either mortgaged (26.9%) or rented (47.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Brunswick - North was $431, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 53.2% of all households, including 17.9% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 6.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up 46.8%, comprising 33.0% lone person households and 13.8% group households. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Brunswick - North shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Brunswick - North's residents aged 15+ have a higher university qualification rate at 56.9%, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.5%). Vocational pathways account for 17.1%, with advanced diplomas at 7.9% and certificates at 9.2%. Educational participation is high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: tertiary education (12.0%), primary education (5.4%), and secondary education (3.5%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in tertiary education, 5.4% in primary education, and 3.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

Brunswick - North has 60 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These include a mix of light rail and bus services. Eight individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 7,692 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 140 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 50%, followed by train at 12% and cycling at 12%.

Vehicle ownership averages 0.7 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 49.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,098 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 128 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Brunswick - North is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Brunswick North exhibits superior health outcomes, as evaluated by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notably low across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 60% of Brunswick North's total population (8771 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 13.5% and 8.9% of residents respectively. 67.6% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical. The area has 11.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1723 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Brunswick - North 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

Brunswick-North has a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 31.5% of its population born overseas and 26.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Brunswick-North, accounting for 29.0% of the population. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.5%, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.9%), Australian (17.5%), and Other (11.2%). Notable divergences include Greek (5.8% vs regional 2.7%), French (0.9% vs 0.5%), and Italian (7.8% vs 5.2%).

Brunswick - North hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Brunswick-North 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-North has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (30.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present day, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has increased from 27.7% to 30.0%, while the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 6.9% to 5.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Brunswick-North. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 46%, adding 2,013 residents to reach a total of 6,405.