Brunswick - North

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Brunswick - North's population was around 15,268 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 2,378 people (18.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,890 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,255 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 786 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 6,335 persons per square kilometer, placing Brunswick - North in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. Brunswick - North's 18.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state (9.3%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 67.1% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilised the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth was predicted over the period, with the area expected to expand by 7,988 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 52.2% in total over the 16 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 FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were added between FY-21 and FY-25. 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 these properties was $317,000. In FY-26, there have been $2.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity compared to residential. Brunswick North maintains similar construction rates per person as Greater Melbourne, reflecting strong developer confidence and supporting market stability. The dwelling type composition shows 5.0% detached dwellings and 95.0% attached dwellings, indicating a shift towards compact living which offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This is a significant change from the current housing mix of 41.0% houses. With around 1490 people per dwelling approval, Brunswick North reflects a highly mature market.

By 2041, Brunswick North is projected to grow by 7,975 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Brunswick - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Saxon Street by Milieu, Assemble Brunswick, Brunswick and Parkville Level Crossing Removals, and Albert Street Stockland Development. 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.

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 professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 6.8% in December 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 7.9%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.0%.

As of December 2025, 9,758 residents were employed with a participation rate of 75.6%, above Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A high proportion, 49.4%, worked from home, potentially due to Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading industries include professional & technical services (strongly specialized), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction employment was limited at 4.5% compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by resident population vs working population count. Over December 2024 to December 2025, employment rose by 4.0%, labour force increased by 4.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's growth rates of 2.4% (employment), 2.8% (labour force), and 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industries. Applying these projections to Brunswick - North's industry mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

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

The median income among taxpayers in Brunswick - North SA2 was $65,180 and average income stood at $81,088 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62%, current estimates would be approximately $71,450 (median) and $88,889 (average) as of March 2026. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Brunswick - North, between the 69th and 81st percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 33.5% of locals (5,114 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income category, reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% occupy this range. Higher earners make up a substantial presence with 31.0% exceeding $3,000 weekly. 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, had 41.3% houses and 58.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brunswick - North was at 26.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.9% and rented ones at 47.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent was $431, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Brunswick - North's 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 comprise the remaining 46.8%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households making up 13.8%. 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 has an educational attainment level that exceeds broader benchmarks. Specifically, 56.9% of its residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, which is higher than the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. This high level of educational attainment positions the area well for opportunities that require advanced knowledge. Bachelor degrees are the most common type of qualification held by residents at 34.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 17.2% and graduate diplomas at 5.5%.

Vocational pathways account for 17.1% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 7.9% and certificates accounting for 9.2%. The area also has a high level of educational participation, 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 serving a mix of light rail and bus routes. These stops are served by 8 individual routes, collectively providing 7,692 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 140 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. As a primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 50%, with 12% using train and 12% cycling. 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 across all routes averages 1,098 trips per day, 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 demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (9,145 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 13.5% and 8.9% of residents respectively. 67.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 11.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,732 people), which is lower than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with 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 compared to 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 predominant religion in Brunswick-North, comprising 29.0% of its population. However, Judaism is overrepresented, making up 0.5% compared to the regional average of 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.9%), Australian (17.5%), and Other (11.2%). Notably, Greek (5.8%) and Italian (7.8%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Brunswick-North compared to the regional averages of 2.7% and 5.2%, respectively.

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

Brunswick-North has a median age of 33, which is lower 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 (31.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Brunswick-North's median age decreased by 1.3 years to 33 from 34. During this period, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 increased from 27.7% to 31.6%, while the proportions of residents aged 5-14 and 45-54 decreased from 6.9% to 5.2% and from 11.4% to 10.2%, respectively. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Brunswick-North's age profile, with the 25-34 age cohort expected to increase by 2,097 people (43%) from 4,821 to 6,919 residents.