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

Brunswick - South's population is around 15,385 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,402 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,983 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,190 in June 2024 and an additional 526 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,635 persons per square kilometer, placing Brunswick - South in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 18.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (8.9%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.1% of overall population gains during recent periods, although 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, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering these projections, exceptional growth is predicted over this period, with the area expected to increase by 9,226 persons by 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 58.7% 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. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 1,518 homes were approved, with an additional 132 approved in FY26 so far. On average, over these five years, 0.6 new residents arrived per new home constructed.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and supporting potential population growth beyond projections. The average construction value of new properties was $441,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY26, $8.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting limited commercial development focus compared to residential. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Brunswick South has recorded 102.0% more development activity per person as of recent periods. This higher level of activity should provide buyers with ample choice, although there has been some moderation recently. This level is substantially higher than the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the location. New developments in Brunswick South consist of 2.0% detached dwellings and 98.0% attached dwellings.

This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points, suiting downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a significant shift from the current housing mix, which is currently 28.0% houses. This change reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 64 people per approval, Brunswick South reflects a developing area with steady population growth expected in the future. It is projected to grow by 9,031 residents through to 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 23 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones are Brunswick Level Crossing Removal - Upfield Line (8 Crossings), Albert Street Stockland Development, Brunswick Established - 23 Hodgson Street, and Australian Liquorice Factory Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Brunswick South has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 is 5.7%.

Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 6.1%. There are 10,597 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation stands at 75.7%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries of employment include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Brunswick South specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. 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 local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.1%, while the labour force grew by 7.1%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, labour force grow by 4.0%, and unemployment increase by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall growth of 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, though these are simple 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

Brunswick - South had a median taxpayer income of $62,615 and an average income of $78,646 in financial year 2022. This was high compared to national figures. Greater Melbourne's median income was $54,892 with an average of $73,761 in the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income could reach approximately $70,229 and the average could be around $88,209, based on a 12.16% growth in wages since financial year 2022. Census data shows incomes in Brunswick - South rank between the 74th and 89th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The income bracket of $1,500 to $2,999 includes 33.2% of the community (5,107 individuals), which is consistent with broader trends in the area showing 32.8% in the same category. Economic strength is evident as 32.5% of households earn high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 73rd percentile nationally. 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's dwelling structures in its latest Census evaluation consisted of 27.8% houses and 72.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasted with Melbourne metro's 46.2% houses and 53.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Brunswick - South was at 21.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.0% and rented ones at 51.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,018, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,149. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $418. Nationally, Brunswick - South's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 50.0%, with lone person households at 35.8% and group households making up 14.2%. 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 higher proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications compared to national and state averages. Specifically, 61.5% of its residents have such qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%).

Vocational pathways account for 16.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 8.4% and certificates also accounting for 8.4%. Educational participation is notably high in Brunswick South, 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 has two schools serving a total of 1,181 students: Sydney Road Community School and Brunswick Secondary College. The Index for Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) score for the area is 1081, indicating above-average socio-educational conditions. Secondary education dominates with two schools, while primary students typically attend schools in adjacent catchments. There are 7.7 school places per 100 residents in Brunswick South, which is below the regional average of 10.4, suggesting some students may be attending schools outside the area.

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 stops are served by 12 individual routes, providing a total of 6,933 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 141 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

Service frequency averages 990 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 101 weekly trips per 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

Health data for Brunswick - South indicates a relatively positive health profile with low prevalence of common conditions among its general population.

While these rates are higher than national averages for older and at-risk cohorts, they remain lower than those in Greater Melbourne. Private health cover is exceptionally high, with approximately 59% of the total population (9,138 people) having it. Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most common medical conditions, affecting 14.4 and 9.2% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 67.4%, reported being completely clear of 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 the 12.1% in Greater Melbourne. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those for 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 had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 22.5% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 31.4% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 24.1% of the population. However, Judaism was more prevalent in Brunswick-South at 0.4%, compared to 0.3% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups were English (22.9%), Australian (18.0%), and Irish (11.3%). Italian (6.9%) and French (0.8%) were overrepresented, while Greek was underrepresented 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%. According to the 2021 Census, 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 in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes, with the strongest projected growth occurring in the 25-34 age group, which is expected to grow by 44%, adding 2,110 residents to reach a total of 6,908.