Brighton
The standout feature of Brighton is how settled its household base is: 79.5% of residents stayed at the same address, while the median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure. Detached housing accounts for 90.1% of dwellings, and household income sits at the 74.4th percentile, supporting a mortgage-belt profile rather than an apartment-led one. Compared with nearby Sandgate, Brighton is a useful choice to investigate for buyers seeking family-sized housing and an ageing trajectory. Its 9,664 residents and 2.38% annual forecast growth point to an established suburb still changing.
Population
9,664
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,981/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
70
Brighton is primarily a detached-house market: 90.1% of homes are separate houses, with 52.1% containing 3 bedrooms and 34.5% containing 4 or more. That layout suits households needing space, while only 1.1% are apartments. The estimated mortgage cost is $1,993 per month, and mortgage burden is 23.2% of household income, above the 20.2% rent-to-income figure but not flagged as mortgage stress. Ownership is weighted toward current borrowers, with 45.7% paying a mortgage versus 33.0% owning outright. A current median sale price is unavailable, so compare individual listings, land size and renovation needs rather than relying on a suburb-wide price point.
For Buyers
Brighton is primarily a detached-house market: 90.1% of homes are separate houses, with 52.1% containing 3 bedrooms and 34.5% containing 4 or more. That layout suits households needing space, while only 1.1% are apartments. The estimated mortgage cost is $1,993 per month, and mortgage burden is 23.2% of household income, above the 20.2% rent-to-income figure but not flagged as mortgage stress. Ownership is weighted toward current borrowers, with 45.7% paying a mortgage versus 33.0% owning outright. A current median sale price is unavailable, so compare individual listings, land size and renovation needs rather than relying on a suburb-wide price point.
For Investors
Brighton's rental profile is moderate rather than dominant: 20.5% of households rent, below the 45.7% mortgage share. Weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 4.9%, so investors should test achievable rent against property condition and the cost of holding a detached home. The stock is 90.1% separate houses, which can appeal to family tenants but may require more maintenance than compact dwellings. Development activity reached 64 applications in 12 months, creating a need to check whether projects affect a specific street. Forecast growth is 2.38% annually with migration labelled Balanced, so the case rests on income, tenant demand and purchase price rather than a one-way growth story.
Development Activity
Total DAs
195
Last 12 Months
70
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+105.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brighton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Kieran's School (Brighton)
Brighton State School
Nashville State School
Demographics
Brighton has an older profile than Australia overall: its median age is 42, or 2 years above the national figure. University attainment is 34.0%, 3.9 percentage points above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 18.8%, 2.8 points below it. Household size is 2.6 people, only 0.1 above the national average. Families remain important, with 47.0% of households being couples with children, compared with 34.8% couples without children and 17.0% one-parent families. English ancestry is reported by 4,390 people, ahead of Irish at 1,499 and Scottish at 1,347. Christianity and no religion are close at 4,541 and 4,392, suggesting lifestyle choices may vary considerably by household.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.1%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Brighton's tenure pattern points to a mortgage-heavy, detached market. Separate houses represent 90.1% of dwellings, compared with 1.1% apartments and 5.7% semi-detached homes. Mortgage ownership is 45.7%, higher than outright ownership at 33.0%, while renting accounts for 20.5%. The 3-bedroom share is 52.1% and 4-plus bedrooms 34.5%, so family-sized stock dominates. Housing costs need to be read alongside incomes: rent is $400 per week, mortgage-to-income is 23.2%, and rent-to-income is 20.2%. With no current median house price available, buyers should compare Brighton homes with Sandgate or Deagon on land, condition and tenure appeal rather than use an unsupported price estimate.
Mortgage / mo
$1,993
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $400.
$675
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $675 · units $560
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$910
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
189
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.0%
Couples with children
34.8%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
2,739
Total families
Economy & Employment
Brighton's employment base is led by healthcare at 17.7% of jobs, followed by education at 13.3%, construction at 11.0%, professional and technical services at 9.1%, and public administration at 8.7%. The occupational mix is similarly broad: professionals number 1,235, managers 716, clerical and administrative workers 700, trades 651, and community and personal service workers 551. Unemployment is 3.8% with 66.0% participation, while household income ranks at the 74.4th percentile. All 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 7, including IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD, placing Brighton above the national midpoint. That combination suggests a relatively advantaged suburb, although trades and service roles remain material alongside professional employment.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
5,100
Unemployed
192
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
4,908
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.0%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
18.8%
Dwellings
3,670
Transport to Work
Brighton is practical for households comfortable with driving: 67.2% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.6% using public transport, while 23.4% work from home. Walking or cycling is recorded at 1.9%, so daily convenience will depend on how close a home is to shops, services and bus routes. There are 3 nearby schools, comprising 2 government state schools and 1 Catholic non-state school; check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can cut across suburb streets. Brighton covers 6.49 square kilometres at a density of 1,489.0 people per square kilometre, and its IRSAD sits in decile 7, above the national midpoint. That socioeconomic position may support services, but it should not be treated as a crime measure.
Drive
67.2%
Public Transport
3.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
23.4%
Population Forecast
+2.38%/yr
(+167 people/yr)
EstablishedBrighton's growth outlook combines momentum with demographic ageing. The forecast trend is 2.38% a year, while migration is labelled Balanced rather than driven by one dominant source. Across the wider area, population change is 34.4% over 10 years, and the gentrification score is 37 at the Early signs stage. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 3.2 percentage points and the young share is down 2.6 points compared with the earlier profile. Rent growth of 34.6% adds pressure for tenants, even as affordability is labelled Improving from 44.6 in 2011 to 42.0 in 2021. Compared with its earlier profile, Brighton has more change underway, but the age shift should shape future demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+10
Net Internal / yr
+54
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +45% since 2011, Net internal migration +54/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 28%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brighton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brighton a good suburb to live in?
Brighton can suit buyers wanting detached family housing and a settled bayside setting. About 90.1% of dwellings are separate houses, 52.1% have 3 bedrooms, and 67.2% of commuters drive, so it is a stronger fit for car-oriented households than car-free living.
What is the median house price in Brighton?
A current median house price is not available for Brighton. For context, the estimated mortgage cost is $1,993 per month and weekly rent is $400, but those figures should not be treated as a sale-price substitute. Compare individual listings by land size and condition.
What schools are in Brighton?
Brighton has 3 nearby schools: 2 government state schools and 1 Catholic non-state school. The local options include Brighton State School, Nashville State School and St Kieran's School. Confirm the catchment for the exact address, as enrolment boundaries can affect access.
Is Brighton safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Brighton, so recent Queensland Police information and the exact street should be checked before deciding. Brighton's IRSAD is in decile 7, but socioeconomic advantage is not the same as a crime outcome.
Is Brighton good for property investment?
Brighton may suit a long-term investor seeking detached family stock, but returns depend on purchase price and property condition. Rent is $400 per week, vacancy is 4.9%, and 20.5% of households rent, below the 45.7% mortgage share. There were 64 development applications in 12 months, so inspect local project impacts.
How is Brighton's population changing?
Brighton's current population is 9,664. The wider-area forecast records 2.38% annual growth and 34.4% population change over 10 years, with migration labelled Balanced. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.2 points and the young share down 2.6 points, so growth may be accompanied by changing household demand.
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 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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