Briar Hill
At a median age of 42, Briar Hill skews 2 years older than the national figure, and that aging profile shapes almost everything about the suburb. Household income sits in the 72nd percentile nationally, and SEIFA deciles of 8 to 9 across all four indexes confirm well-above-average advantage for a 3,220-person suburb covering just 1.34 km2. Separate houses dominate at 85.6% of dwellings, with 39.2% owned outright, well above typical suburban levels, and university qualifications reach 40.3%, which is 10.2 points above the national average. The vacancy rate of 5.2% and a renter share of only 20.4% signal a suburb where long-term owner-occupiers set the tone.
Population
3,220
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,935/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$1.1M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price reached $1,085,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter, up from $1,001,000 in late 2023, and the long-run record shows an 89.5% gain since 2013 at a CAGR of 4.7% over 14 years. The stock is strongly detached, with 85.6% separate houses and no apartment data recorded, so buyers are almost always competing for a freestanding home. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 56.4% and four-plus-bedroom homes 25.1%, which suits the family and established-household profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 39.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 40.4%, suggesting a settled, long-tenure base rather than a suburb driven by recent upgrader activity.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,085,000 in the April to June 2024 quarter, up from $1,001,000 in late 2023, and the long-run record shows an 89.5% gain since 2013 at a CAGR of 4.7% over 14 years. The stock is strongly detached, with 85.6% separate houses and no apartment data recorded, so buyers are almost always competing for a freestanding home. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 56.4% and four-plus-bedroom homes 25.1%, which suits the family and established-household profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 39.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 40.4%, suggesting a settled, long-tenure base rather than a suburb driven by recent upgrader activity.
For Investors
Briar Hill presents a low-yield, capital-growth profile. Weekly rent of $411 against a $1,085,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.97%, below metropolitan averages. The 20.4% renter share is low compared to most suburban markets, limiting the tenant pool. Vacancy at 5.2% is above typical healthy benchmarks, which warrants caution. On the demand side, net overseas migration of 126 per year offsets net internal outflow of 100, leaving modest net growth. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, pointing to a low-supply, low-churn established suburb where capital preservation rather than yield is the dominant return driver. Rent grew 33.9% over the measured period, outpacing many comparable suburbs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Briar Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Briar Hill Primary School
Prep-6 · 203 students
Sherbourne Primary School
Prep-6 · 64 students
Demographics
The 3,220 residents are predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,257), Irish (520) and Scottish (375) are the top ancestries. Overseas-born residents represent 17.0% of the population, which is 4.6 points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's established, low-mobility character. Only 18.7% of residents moved in the five years to the last census, compared to higher turnover in growth areas. University qualifications at 40.3% run 10.2 points above the national average, consistent with the professional occupational mix. The median age of 42 is 2 years above national, and the senior share grew 5.1 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.3 points, a steady aging trend that is reshaping household composition toward couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.6%
Houses
14.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split leans strongly toward ownership: 39.2% own outright, 40.4% carry a mortgage and 20.4% rent, a low-renter profile compared to Melbourne broadly. Outright owners at 39.2% indicate a significant portion of long-held, debt-free stock. Median house price was $1,085,000 at the most recent quarter (April to June 2024), up 89.5% from $572,500 in 2013 at a CAGR of 4.7% over 14 years. The stock is 85.6% separate houses with semi-detached at 14.4%, so the suburb is essentially a detached-house market. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.4%, with four-plus-bedroom dwellings at 25.1%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9% remains below the stress threshold of 30%, and rent-to-income at 21.2% is also comfortable.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$411
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$940
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
70
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
2,677
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.9% of local workers (235 people), followed by Education at 16.0% (199) and Construction at 13.3% (165), with Professional/Tech at 10.0% and Public Admin at 8.3%. By occupation, Professionals (499) and Managers (243) together account for nearly half of employed residents, aligned with SEIFA IEO and IRSAD deciles of 8, placing Briar Hill in the upper tier nationally for education and economic opportunity. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, in line with national averages, and the full-time employment rate is 64.1%. Real income grew 14.3% over the decade. Participation at 61.3% is moderate because 824 residents are not in the labour force, partly a function of the older age profile.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
9,696
Unemployed
222
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.1%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
61.3%
Employed
1,537
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.3%
Postgraduate
9.2%
Born Overseas
17.0%
Dwellings
1,285
Transport to Work
Briar Hill is car-dependent, with 90.1% of residents driving to work, compared to the national average, and only 3.6% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 2.4% of commutes. Safety data records 98 total incidents in the latest year, a crime rate of 30.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 67 of those 98 incidents, and crimes against the person number 12. The IRSAD decile of 8 confirms above-average advantage nationally, meaning most residents are unlikely to face socioeconomic disadvantage. Only 4.6% (145 people) need daily assistance, a low share given the median age of 42. No schools are recorded within the 1.34 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs of the Nillumbik and Banyule area.
Drive
90.1%
Public Transport
3.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.31%/yr
(+52 people/yr)
EstablishedBriar Hill is a slow-growth, established suburb, growing at 0.31% per year, well below the national average for metropolitan VIC. The 10-year population change was 5.8% for the broader SA2 area. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 17,325 by 2031, a modest 1.7% gain from the 2026 baseline of 17,062. Overseas migration averaging 126 arrivals per year is the sole growth driver, offset by net internal outflow of 100 people annually. The gentrification score of 32 registers as early signs nationally, though the net internal outflow tempers that signal. Affordability improved from 45.5% of income in 2011 to 43.4% in 2021, a marginal improvement relative to comparable established suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+126
Net Internal / yr
-100
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -100/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
98
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
30.4
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Briar Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Briar Hill a good suburb to live in?
Briar Hill scores decile 8 to 9 across all four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the top tier of advantage nationally. Household income sits in the 72nd percentile, university qualifications reach 40.3%, and the crime rate is 30.4 per 1,000 residents. The main trade-offs are a $1,085,000 median house price and limited public transport, with 90.1% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in Briar Hill?
The median house price was $1,085,000 in April to June 2024, up from $1,001,000 in October to December 2023. Since 2013, prices have risen 89.5% at a CAGR of 4.7% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Briar Hill?
No schools are recorded within the Briar Hill suburb boundary (1.34 km2) in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Nillumbik and Banyule areas. The local population is well-educated, with 40.3% holding university qualifications, which is 10.2 points above the national average.
Is Briar Hill safe?
Briar Hill recorded 98 incidents in the latest year, giving a crime rate of 30.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 67 of those, and crimes against the person number 12. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 8 nationally, consistent with a low-disadvantage area where serious crime is relatively uncommon.
Is Briar Hill good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $411 against a $1,085,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.97%, below typical investment thresholds. Renters make up just 20.4% of households, limiting tenant demand. However, rent grew 33.9% over the measured period and the long-run CAGR of 4.7% over 14 years supports a capital-growth case. Vacancy at 5.2% is worth monitoring.
How is Briar Hill's population changing?
The broader SA2 population reached 17,042 in 2025 and is forecast to grow to 17,325 by 2031, a gain of roughly 1.7%. Annual growth runs at 0.31%. Net overseas migration of 126 per year is the primary driver, offset by net internal outflow of 100 annually. The suburb's own 10-year population change was 5.8%, placing it in the slow-growth category.
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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