Brabham
Population exploded 322.7% over the decade, making Brabham one of Perth's fastest-growing greenfield suburbs. The median age of 29 is 11 years below the national figure, and 84% of households carry a mortgage, the highest rate in any suburb this size. Despite being brand new, university qualifications at 34.6% run 4.5 points above national, driven by skilled migrants: 45.7% of residents were born overseas, with Indian and Filipino ancestry strongly represented. A 533-lot subdivision application lodged in early 2026 signals the expansion is far from finished.
Population
8,665
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,155/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Median House
$477K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $477,000 median (rent-derived, 2025) positions Brabham well below Perth's established suburbs. Detached houses at 97.4% dominate, with 4+ bedrooms at 52.4% and 3-bedrooms at 45.0% covering virtually all stock. Monthly mortgage of $1,928 against $2,155/week household income produces a 20.7% mortgage-to-income ratio, below stress levels. Only 4.2% own outright, consistent with a suburb where most homes were built in the last decade. Brabham Primary School (ICSEA 1,032, 978 students) and Maarakool Primary (ICSEA 1,035, 256 students) both sit above the national benchmark, important for family buyers.
For Buyers
The estimated $477,000 median (rent-derived, 2025) positions Brabham well below Perth's established suburbs. Detached houses at 97.4% dominate, with 4+ bedrooms at 52.4% and 3-bedrooms at 45.0% covering virtually all stock. Monthly mortgage of $1,928 against $2,155/week household income produces a 20.7% mortgage-to-income ratio, below stress levels. Only 4.2% own outright, consistent with a suburb where most homes were built in the last decade. Brabham Primary School (ICSEA 1,032, 978 students) and Maarakool Primary (ICSEA 1,035, 256 students) both sit above the national benchmark, important for family buyers.
For Investors
The 11.8% renter share is slim, but Brabham's 3.9% vacancy rate and 4.95% annual population growth (878 persons) indicate demand will tighten. Weekly rent of $370 on a $477,000 median yields roughly 4.0% gross, above the Perth metro average. Net internal migration of 1,006 per year is the primary driver, with 252 from overseas. With 25 DAs in 12 months, including a major 533-lot subdivision, future supply will be substantial. The risk is classic greenfield oversupply during construction peaks, but the population trajectory supports absorption over the medium term.
Development Activity
Total DAs
38
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brabham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Maarakool Primary School
K-6 · 256 students
Brabham Primary School
K-6 · 978 students
Demographics
At median age 29, Brabham runs 11 years below national, the youngest profile in this batch. Born-overseas at 45.7% is 24.1 points above the national average: Indian (1,029), Filipino (738) and English (2,094) ancestries lead. Punjabi (401 speakers), Gujarati (192) and Hindi (66) are the main non-English languages. University qualifications at 34.6% sit 4.5 points above national, despite the IEO decile 5 rating, a gap explained by recent migrants whose qualifications have not yet translated into local occupational standing. Average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above national, reflecting the young-family composition.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.4%
Houses
2.2%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Mortgage holders at 84.0% dominate tenure, with just 4.2% owning outright, a profile that is characteristic of new-build suburbs where established equity has not accumulated. Detached housing at 97.4% leaves almost no apartment or townhouse options. Three-bedroom (45.0%) and 4+ bedroom (52.4%) homes make up 97.4% of the stock. The 20.7% mortgage-to-income ratio is comfortable at the 82nd-percentile household income ($2,155/week). Rent-to-income at 17.2% is equally low. The IRSD decile 7 indicates above-average conditions despite the suburb's affordable price point.
Mortgage / mo
$1,928
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,059
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
115
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.4%
Couples, no children
7,499
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 20.8% (695 workers), followed by Retail (9.3%, 309) and Construction (8.1%, 269). Transport (7.7%) and Education (7.4%) round out the top five, a service-sector spread typical of outer suburbs feeding metro employment. Community/Personal services (767) top occupations, followed by Professionals (717) and Clerical/Admin (630), with Machinery/Drivers (600) reflecting the logistics corridor. Full-time employment at 70.0% is above national, and the participation rate of 76.2% is significantly higher than the 65% benchmark. Unemployment at 4.2% sits near the state average.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
10,177
Unemployed
322
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.0%
Part-time
25.8%
Participation
76.2%
Employed
4,552
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.6%
Postgraduate
7.7%
Born Overseas
45.7%
Dwellings
2,854
Transport to Work
Two primary schools serve the suburb: Brabham Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1,032, 978 students) and Maarakool Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1,035, 256 students). Both exceed the national ICSEA benchmark. No secondary school is located within the suburb boundaries. Public transport usage at 3.1% is low, with 90.9% driving, typical of Perth's outer growth corridors. The IRSAD decile 6 places it in the upper-middle band. Need-for-assistance at 1.8% is well below national, reflecting the young population profile.
Drive
90.9%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+4.95%/yr
(+878 people/yr)
High GrowthPopulation surged from roughly 2,000 in 2011 to 17,755 by 2025 (322.7% growth). The medium forecast projects 21,137 by 2031, growing at 4.95% per year (878 persons). Internal migration at 1,006 net per year is the primary engine, supplemented by 252 overseas arrivals. The gentrification score is 0 (new development), meaning demographic change reflects initial settlement rather than displacement. The working-age share grew 4.5 points over the decade, while the senior share dropped 3.1 points, consistent with a suburb still in its founding-family phase.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+252
Net Internal / yr
+1,006
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brabham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brabham a good suburb to live in?
Brabham works for young families seeking affordable new-build homes (estimated $477,000 median) with low mortgage stress (20.7% ratio). Both primary schools score above the national ICSEA benchmark. The tradeoff is limited public transport (3.1%) and no secondary school within the suburb, requiring travel to nearby areas.
What is the median house price in Brabham?
The estimated median is $477,000 (rent-derived, 2025), with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,928. No long-term price history is available because the suburb was largely vacant before 2015. Weekly rent is $370, and the 20.7% mortgage-to-income ratio is comfortable at the 82nd-percentile household income.
What schools are in Brabham?
Brabham has 2 primary schools. Brabham Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1,032, 978 enrolments) is the larger campus, sitting 32 points above the national benchmark. Maarakool Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1,035, 256 enrolments) scores similarly. No secondary school operates within the suburb.
Is Brabham safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Brabham in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 7 indicates below-average disadvantage. Unemployment at 4.2% is near the WA average, and the need-for-assistance rate of 1.8% is well below national. These socio-economic indicators correlate with lower crime in comparable new suburbs.
Is Brabham good for property investment?
Gross yield of roughly 4.0% ($370/week on $477,000) is above the Perth metro average. Population growth of 4.95% per year and 1,006 net internal migrants drive demand. However, the 533-lot subdivision and 25 DAs in 12 months will add supply. The 3.9% vacancy rate is currently tight, but greenfield supply surges are a medium-term risk.
How is Brabham's population changing?
Population exploded 322.7% over the decade, from roughly 2,000 to 17,755 by 2025, projected to reach 21,137 by 2031. Internal migration of 1,006 per year drives growth, with 252 from overseas. The median age of 29 is 11 years below national, and the working-age share grew 4.5 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Brabham?
With 45.7% born overseas (24.1 points above national), Brabham is a multicultural suburb. Punjabi (401 speakers) is the leading non-English language, followed by Gujarati (192) and Hindi (66). Indian ancestry at 1,029 and Filipino at 738 are the largest non-European groups. Hinduism (854 adherents) is the second-largest religion.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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