Briar Hill
The striking feature of Briar Hill is the combination of established ownership and a relatively mature age profile. Of its 3,220 residents, 38.8% own their homes outright and another 40.0% have a mortgage, while the median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure. The compact 1.34 sq km suburb is dominated by separate houses at 85.6%, giving it a quieter residential character than nearby Greensborough. That established base also helps explain the slow-growth outlook and high residential stability, with 81.3% of residents remaining at the same address.
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
1
Median House
$996K
October to December 2025
Briar Hill suits buyers seeking established detached housing, but the entry price requires a strong deposit or borrowing capacity. Mortgage costs represent 25.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds, although repayments still compete with other costs. Housing stock is higher in separate houses than in semi-detached dwellings, at 85.6% versus 14.4%, and 56.4% of homes have 3 bedrooms while 25.1% have 4 or more. Compared with denser parts of Banyule, this layout gives families more conventional space, because the suburb was largely built around detached homes rather than apartments.
For Buyers
Briar Hill suits buyers seeking established detached housing, but the entry price requires a strong deposit or borrowing capacity. Mortgage costs represent 25.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds, although repayments still compete with other costs. Housing stock is higher in separate houses than in semi-detached dwellings, at 85.6% versus 14.4%, and 56.4% of homes have 3 bedrooms while 25.1% have 4 or more. Compared with denser parts of Banyule, this layout gives families more conventional space, because the suburb was largely built around detached homes rather than apartments.
For Investors
Briar Hill provides an established owner-occupier market with a smaller rental pool. Renters account for 20.2% of households, compared with 38.8% owning outright and 40.0% paying a mortgage, so tenant demand is less central than in a high-rental suburb. The weekly rent is $411 and vacancy is 5.2%, indicating that leasing conditions may be more selective than in tighter rental markets. The latest development count is only 1 application over 12 months, limiting signs of major new supply. Annual growth is forecast at 0.31%, lower than a rapid-growth corridor, while overseas migration is the primary driver. This combination may favour investors seeking a stable established street rather than a high-turnover redevelopment market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Briar Hill
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Briar Hill Primary School
Sherbourne Primary School
Demographics
Briar Hill has an older and more university-educated population than the national pattern. The median age is 42, or 2 years above the national figure, while 40.3% of residents hold a university qualification, 10.2 percentage points above the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 17.0%, 4.6 points below the national comparison, and the household size of 2.4 is 0.1 below the national figure. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry are prominent, with counts of 1,257, 520 and 375 respectively, while 1,583 residents report no religion and 1,345 identify with Christianity. Compared with more migrant-heavy parts of Melbourne, this gives Briar Hill a more Anglo-leaning profile, while the ageing trajectory reflects long-term owner occupation and limited turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.6%
Houses
14.4%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Briar Hill's housing market has delivered long-term growth with a recent retreat from its peak. Ownership is split between 38.8% outright owners, 40.0% mortgage holders and 20.2% renters. Separate houses make up 85.6% of dwellings, compared with 14.4% semi-detached homes. The 25.9% mortgage-to-income measure remains below typical stress territory, helping explain why prices can remain resilient despite the recent fall from the peak.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$411
Census 2021
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
44.9%
Couples with children
34.7%
Couples, no children
19.0%
Single parent
942
Total families
Economy & Employment
Briar Hill's economy is linked to service-sector and skilled occupations rather than a single dominant industry. Healthcare accounts for 18.9% of employment with 235 workers, followed by Education at 16.0% and 199 workers, Construction at 13.3% and 165, Professional and Technical services at 10.0% and 124, and Public Administration at 8.3% and 103. Professionals number 499 and managers 243, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 233 and trades at 224. The unemployment rate is 3.4%, participation is 65.5% and full-time employment is 59.8%. Socioeconomic indicators sit above the national midpoint, with SEIFA deciles of 8 for education and occupation, 9 for economic resources and 8 for disadvantage. This mix supports household incomes at the 72.3rd percentile and reflects a comparatively skilled workforce.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
1,704
Unemployed
58
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
1,646
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.3%
Postgraduate
9.2%
Born Overseas
17.0%
Dwellings
1,285
Transport to Work
Briar Hill offers a low-rise residential setting with practical access shaped mainly around cars and home-based work. Car drivers account for 55.7% of commuting, compared with 2.2% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling, while 38.2% work from home. Two nearby schools operate in the government primary sector: Briar Hill Primary School and Sherbourne Primary School. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because school boundaries can cross suburb lines. Recorded crime totalled 98 offences, equal to 30.4 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 67. Compared with a transit-oriented inner suburb, Briar Hill is more car-dependent, but its SEIFA IRSAD decile of 8 and stable housing base support a generally comfortable suburban setting.
Drive
55.7%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
38.2%
Population Forecast
+0.31%/yr
(+52 people/yr)
EstablishedBriar Hill is forecast to grow slowly, with an annual trend of 0.31% and population change across the wider area of 5.8% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share increasing by 5.1 percentage points and the working share falling by 4.3 points. Compared with faster-growing outer corridors, this is a measured outlook because the suburb is already established, compact and dominated by established housing. The current gentrification status is Not gentrifying with a score of 0, although the shift indicators record a score of 32 and the stage Early signs. Together, these measures point to gradual change rather than a rapid redevelopment cycle, with demographic ageing more influential than major construction.
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 suits households wanting established detached housing, quieter streets and a stable resident base. The median age is 42, 85.6% of homes are separate houses and 38.2% of residents work from home. Household income is at the 72.3rd percentile, above the national midpoint, although public transport use is only 2.2%.
What schools are in Briar Hill?
Briar Hill has 2 nearby government primary schools: Briar Hill Primary School and Sherbourne Primary School. Both are primary settings rather than secondary campuses. Families should compare the exact address with current enrolment zones, since boundaries can differ between streets and may change over time.
Is Briar Hill safe?
Recorded crime totalled 98 offences, or 30.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 67 incidents, while crimes against the person and justice procedures offences each recorded 12. These figures provide context, but safety can vary by street and time, so buyers and renters should inspect the immediate area as well as broader suburb statistics.
Is Briar Hill good for property investment?
Briar Hill may suit investors prioritising established housing and owner-occupier stability over rapid redevelopment. Weekly rent is $411, the vacancy rate is 5.2% and renters represent 20.2% of households. Annual growth is forecast at 0.31%, lower than a high-growth corridor, while only 1 development application was recorded over the latest 12 months.
How is Briar Hill's population changing?
Briar Hill has 3,220 residents today, while population change across the wider area is forecast at 5.8% over 10 years and annual growth at 0.31%. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share rising by 5.1 percentage points and the working share falling by 4.3 points. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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