Brunswick - South
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Brunswick - South are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Brunswick - South's population is around 15,391 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,408 people (18.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,983 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,190 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 529 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,637 persons per square kilometer, which places Brunswick - South in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Land in the area is therefore a highly-sought resource. Brunswick - South's 18.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (8.6%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region.

Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 87.1% of overall population gains during recent periods. However, all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors. 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, 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 are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts and exceptional growth, placing in the top 10 percent of national areas, Brunswick - South is predicted to increase by 9,226 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 58.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

Brunswick South has seen approximately 303 new homes approved annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 1,518 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, and 23 approvals so far in FY26. On average, around 0.6 new residents have arrived per new home annually over these five financial years, suggesting supply meets or exceeds demand, offering greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction cost value of new homes is $488,000.

In FY26, commercial approvals valued at $8.4 million have been registered, indicating limited commercial development focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brunswick South records 102.0% more development activity per person, providing ample buyer choice, although recent periods show some moderation in development activity. This level is notably higher than the national average, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 2.0% detached dwellings and 98.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a focus on higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is currently 28.0% houses, due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 64 people per approval, Brunswick South reflects a developing area. Looking ahead, Brunswick South is projected to grow by 9,025 residents by 2041.

Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Brunswick - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that may influence the area. Notable projects include LIV Albert Fields by Mirvac and Milieu, Albert Street Stockland Development, Brunswick Established - 23 Hodgson Street, and Australian Liquorice Factory Redevelopment. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Brunswick - South has been broadly consistent with national averages

Brunswick - South has an educated workforce with a prominent technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 5.7%, with estimated employment growth of 6.1% in the past year.

As of June 2025, 10,597 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.7%. This is 1.1% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation stands at 75.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for residents include professional & technical (with a share 1.7 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Construction employs only 4.3% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.6, indicating above-average employment opportunities locally. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.1%, while the labour force grew by 7.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5%, with an unemployment increase of 0.5 percentage points. Statewide in Victoria, employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year (adding 39,880 jobs) to Sep-25, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Nationally, employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Brunswick - South's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years.

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

Brunswick - South has a median taxpayer income of $62,615 and an average income of $78,646, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This is notably high nationally, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since the financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $68,945 (median) and $86,597 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in Brunswick - South, between the 74th and 89th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 captures 33.2% of the community (5,109 individuals), similar to broader trends across the broader area with 32.8% in the same category. Economic strength is evident through 32.5% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 73rd percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Brunswick - South had 27.8% houses and 72.2% other dwellings in the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brunswick - South was 21.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.0% and rented at 51.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,018, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,149. The median weekly rent was $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $418. Nationally, Brunswick - South's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,018, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 50.0% of all households, including 15.2% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 5.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 50.0%, with lone person households at 35.8% and group households comprising 14.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.3.

The educational profile of Brunswick - South exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Brunswick South has a notably high educational attainment level among residents aged 15 and above, with 61.5% holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. The most common university qualification is the Bachelor degree (35.9%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational pathways account for 16.8%, with advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates also at 8.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.6% in tertiary education, 4.3% in primary education, and 3.4% pursuing secondary education. The area's educational provision includes Sydney Road Community School and Brunswick Secondary College, serving a total of 1,181 students. Brunswick South demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1081. Secondary education dominates the area with two schools, while primary students typically attend schools in adjacent catchments. The school places per 100 residents (7.7) fall below the regional average (10.4), indicating some students may attend schools in nearby areas.

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

Brunswick-South has 68 active public transport stops offering a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These are served by 12 different routes, collectively handling 6,933 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 141 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency is high, averaging 990 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 101 weekly trips per individual stop.

Brunswick - South's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Brunswick - South residents have a relatively positive health profile, with low prevalence of common conditions among the general population, although higher than national averages for older and at-risk groups.

Approximately 59% (9,142 people) have private health cover, which is notably high. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 14.4% and 9.2% of residents respectively. Around 67.4% report being free from medical ailments, compared to 68.5% in Greater Melbourne. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 10.7% (1,646 people), compared to 12.1% in Greater Melbourne. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Brunswick - South 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-South has higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 22.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 31.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Brunswick-South, accounting for 24.1%. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to 0.3% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.9%), Australian (18.0%), and Irish (11.3%). Other ethnicities show variations: Italians are overrepresented at 6.9%, French at 0.8%, and Greeks at 3.1%.

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

Brunswick-South's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Brunswick-South has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (31.2%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.6%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the latest data, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 11.8% to 12.5%, while the proportion of residents aged 5-14 has decreased from 5.5% to 4.6%. Population forecasts for Brunswick-South indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041, with the strongest growth projected in the 25-34 age cohort, which is expected to increase by 44%, adding 2,109 residents and reaching a total of 6,908.