Brighton
A median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national comparison, is Brighton's most distinctive feature. Brighton sits among nearby Hove and Seacliff, but its profile is shaped by high outright ownership at 43.8%, professional employment and an aging resident base. The 2.38% annual growth trend suggests continued demand, although the suburb is already firmly positioned above many metropolitan price points.
Population
3,834
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,692/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
65
Median House
$1.4M
First quarter 2026
That rise makes entry costly compared with the previous year, but mortgage pressure remains moderate at 26.5% of household income. Separate houses account for 62.3% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes represent 32.3%, giving buyers more choice than the small 4.5% apartment share suggests. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.8%, followed by four-bedroom or larger properties at 23.4%. The 43.8% outright ownership rate also points to a settled market, because many properties are held without a mortgage.
For Buyers
That rise makes entry costly compared with the previous year, but mortgage pressure remains moderate at 26.5% of household income. Separate houses account for 62.3% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes represent 32.3%, giving buyers more choice than the small 4.5% apartment share suggests. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.8%, followed by four-bedroom or larger properties at 23.4%. The 43.8% outright ownership rate also points to a settled market, because many properties are held without a mortgage.
For Investors
Brighton has a 23.8% renting share, below outright ownership at 43.8% and mortgage tenure at 29.4%, so investor demand is present but not the suburb's dominant housing pattern. Weekly rent is $360 and vacancy is 7.6%, a relatively soft leasing signal compared with a tightly occupied market. Development activity is notable, with 70 applications recorded over 12 months, including detached dwellings, paired homes and ancillary accommodation. Rent growth of 34.6% supports the income case, while the forecast migration driver is Balanced rather than strongly inward. A gentrification score of 37, classified as Early signs, suggests gradual change instead of a fully established redevelopment cycle.
Development Activity
Total DAs
397
Last 12 Months
65
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-28.6%
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.
Brighton Primary School
Demographics
Brighton has an older profile than the national comparison, with a median age of 49, or 9 years above the national figure. University attainment is also stronger at 44.7%, 14.6 percentage points higher than the national comparison, which aligns with the 554 professionals and 284 managers recorded locally. Overseas-born residents account for 24.5%, only 2.9 percentage points above the national comparison, while English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1,826, 461 and 423. Average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national comparison, because couples without children make up 49.0% of families. No religion and Christianity are almost evenly represented at 1,785 and 1,773 people.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
62.3%
Houses
32.3%
Townhouse
4.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The dwelling mix is more established and low-rise than an apartment-led market: 62.3% are separate houses, 32.3% are semi-detached and 4.5% are apartments. Ownership is concentrated, with 43.8% owning outright and 29.4% paying a mortgage, compared with 23.8% renting. Three-bedroom homes account for 44.8% of stock, while two-bedroom properties comprise 28.3%. Compared with nearby Hove and Seacliff, Brighton's compact 1.53 sq km footprint and high ownership base reinforce its settled housing character.
Mortgage / mo
$1,939
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$875
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
135
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.6%
Couples with children
49.0%
Couples, no children
12.1%
Single parent
1,089
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Brighton's largest industry at 21.3%, followed by Education at 15.8%, Public Administration at 10.5%, Professional and Technical services at 9.2%, and Construction at 8.2%. This employment mix helps explain the 875 weekly personal income and the 59.4 household income percentile. Unemployment is 3.1% and participation is 58.1%, while professionals number 554 and clerical or administrative workers 239. Socioeconomic results are above the midpoint overall: IEO is in decile 8, compared with IER decile 6, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 7. The gap suggests education and occupation are stronger than broader economic resources, even though household mortgage stress is 26.5%.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
1,929
Unemployed
59
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
1,870
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.7%
Postgraduate
11.6%
Born Overseas
24.5%
Dwellings
1,652
Transport to Work
Brighton suits households that value established services and a relatively settled coastal-suburban setting. Brighton Primary School provides a local government primary option, while enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address because school access can cross suburb boundaries. Daily travel is car-led, with 66.7% driving and 8.1% using public transport, while 17.2% work from home and 4.5% walk or cycle. The crime rate is 76.4 incidents per 1,000 people, so address-level checks remain sensible. An IRSAD decile of 7 is above the midpoint, and the 23.5% volunteering rate supports local participation. These strengths are tempered by an older median age of 49 and a 5.7% need-assistance rate.
Drive
66.7%
Public Transport
8.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
17.2%
Population Forecast
+2.38%/yr
(+167 people/yr)
EstablishedBrighton's forecast annual trend is 2.38%, a positive rate compared with a static market, and the primary migration driver is Balanced. The wider area's population change is 34.4% over 10 years, indicating meaningful momentum without requiring a projected suburb head count. The demographic trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 3.2 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 2.6 points. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 37, while the shift measure records a score of 42. Growth is therefore likely to be shaped by established-home demand, gradual redevelopment and changing age composition rather than a sudden population surge.
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%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
293
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
76.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
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 seeking an established suburb with a settled ownership base, local primary schooling and strong professional employment. Its median age is 49, density is 2,504.7 people per sq km and 43.8% of residents own outright. Car use is high at 66.7%, while the crime rate is 76.4 incidents per 1,000 people.
What schools are in Brighton?
Brighton Primary School is the local government primary school identified in Brighton. Families should confirm the relevant enrolment zone for an address before purchasing or renting. The suburb's household profile includes 37.6% couples with children and an average household size of 2.2 people, so school access can be particularly important for family buyers.
Is Brighton safe?
Brighton recorded 293 offences, equivalent to 76.4 incidents per 1,000 people. That figure should be considered alongside the exact street, property type and time period, as local conditions can vary. Brighton also has an IRSAD decile of 7 and a population of 3,834, providing useful context when assessing the suburb's overall residential environment.
Is Brighton good for property investment?
Brighton has some positive investment indicators, including weekly rent of $360, rent growth of 34.6% and 70 development applications over 12 months. However, the 7.6% vacancy rate is a caution compared with a tightly occupied market. Renting accounts for 23.8% of tenure, while the forecast migration driver is Balanced and gentrification is still at the Early signs stage.
How is Brighton's population changing?
Brighton's wider-area population change is forecast at 34.4% over 10 years, with an annual growth trend of 2.38%. The trajectory is Aging rather than youthful expansion: the senior share has increased 3.2 percentage points and the young share has declined 2.6 points. Migration is classified as Balanced, so growth is likely to be steady rather than driven by one dominant source.
What development is happening in Brighton?
Brighton recorded 70 development applications over 12 months. Recent examples include a two-level detached dwelling, a pair of two-level detached dwellings and ancillary accommodation with a verandah. This activity points to incremental infill and renovation rather than a single large project, which is consistent with the suburb's established housing form and 1.53 sq km area.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (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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