Brompton
Renter demand is the defining feature of Brompton, where 3,729 residents live across 1.13 square kilometres at a density of 3,291.6 people per square kilometre. Renting accounts for 53.3%, while 34.9% were born overseas and 54.8% hold university qualifications, 24.7 percentage points above the national level. The median age is 36, or 4.0 years below national age. An average household size of 2.1 supports demand from professionals, couples and smaller households. Compared with nearby Hindmarsh, Brompton has a tighter 1.13 square kilometre footprint, making its housing mix and street-level amenity especially important to buyers and renters.
Population
3,729
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,809/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
33
Median House
$1.2M
First quarter 2026
The monthly mortgage figure is $1,733 and equals 22.1% of household income, with no mortgage stress flag recorded. Housing is weighted to semi-detached properties at 54.1%, compared with 43.1% separate houses, while 3-bedroom homes account for 50.5%. That mix suits buyers seeking a compact home without a high-rise focus, but 53.3% renting indicates strong competition for well-presented, lower-maintenance stock. Compared with the 2025 median, the latest price is higher, so buyers should allow for purchase costs beyond repayments.
For Buyers
The monthly mortgage figure is $1,733 and equals 22.1% of household income, with no mortgage stress flag recorded. Housing is weighted to semi-detached properties at 54.1%, compared with 43.1% separate houses, while 3-bedroom homes account for 50.5%. That mix suits buyers seeking a compact home without a high-rise focus, but 53.3% renting indicates strong competition for well-presented, lower-maintenance stock. Compared with the 2025 median, the latest price is higher, so buyers should allow for purchase costs beyond repayments.
For Investors
Brompton is a renter-majority market: 53.3% of households rent, compared with 28.9% paying a mortgage and 16.8% owning outright. Weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 8.0%, creating more leasing choice for tenants and potentially longer letting periods than in a tightly constrained rental market. There were 34 development applications in the past 12 months, although the examples are mainly alterations, additions and carports rather than confirmed new dwellings. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support tenant demand because new arrivals often rent before buying. Compared with owner-focused markets, Brompton suits investors seeking inner-city tenant depth, but vacancy should be monitored closely.
Development Activity
Total DAs
186
Last 12 Months
33
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-21.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brompton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Bowden Brompton CS Torrens Road Campus
Bowden Brompton Community School
Demographics
Brompton is younger and more tertiary-qualified than the national pattern. The median age is 36, which is 4.0 years below national age, while university qualification levels reach 54.8%, or 24.7 percentage points above national levels. Overseas-born residents account for 34.9%, 13.3 points above the national comparison, and average household size is 2.1, or 0.4 below national size. English ancestry is recorded for 1,187 people, followed by Other at 553, Irish at 340, Scottish at 327 and German at 275. Greek is spoken by 88 residents and Mandarin by 44. Compared with traditional inner-west households around Hindmarsh, Brompton's smaller household size and high renter share support steady turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
43.1%
Houses
54.1%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The latest figure is also the recorded peak, so peak-to-latest movement is 0.0%, while the one-year CAGR is 9.4%. Semi-detached homes make up 54.1%, ahead of separate houses at 43.1%, and 3-bedroom dwellings account for 50.5%, compared with 35.4% for 2-bedroom homes. Tenure is tilted toward renting at 53.3%, versus 28.9% with a mortgage and 16.8% owned outright. Compared with outright ownership, renting is more than three times as common, reflecting a compact, higher-turnover housing market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$380
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$856
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
137
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples with children
49.5%
Couples, no children
19.8%
Single parent
855
Total families
Economy & Employment
Brompton's employment base is led by Healthcare at 21.8% and 344 workers, followed by Professional and Technical services at 13.2% and 209, Education at 11.4% and 181, Public Administration at 9.9% and 156, and Retail at 6.0% and 95. Professionals number 761, ahead of Clerical and Administrative workers at 272 and Managers at 269. The labour force totals 2,162, participation is 65.0% and unemployment is 5.4%, while 63.2% of workers are full time. Household income sits at the 64.3 percentile. SEIFA results are uneven: IEO decile 8 is above the midpoint, IER decile 2 is below it, while IRSD decile 5 and IRSAD decile 6 sit near the middle. This education-resource gap is consistent with high qualifications alongside 53.3% renting.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
2,162
Unemployed
116
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.2%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
65.0%
Employed
2,046
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.8%
Postgraduate
13.9%
Born Overseas
34.9%
Dwellings
1,586
Transport to Work
Brompton's 1.13 square kilometre footprint and density of 3,291.6 support short local trips, although transport remains car-led: 63.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 11.6% using public transport and 7.5% walking or cycling. A further 12.5% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure. Two nearby schools provide a government primary and secondary combined option, but families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Safety deserves practical checking, with 511 recorded incidents and a crime rate of 137.0 per 1,000 people. Public transport use is below car use, while IRSAD decile 6 is above the midpoint, giving Brompton a reasonable socioeconomic base but not removing the need to assess each street.
Drive
63.1%
Public Transport
11.6%
Walk / Cycle
7.5%
Work from Home
12.5%
Population Forecast
+1.1%/yr
(+226 people/yr)
EstablishedBrompton has a positive but measured growth outlook, with an annual trend of 1.1% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 14.7% over 10 years, while the current annual pace is lower than that longer movement. The shift trajectory is labelled Declining young, with the young share down 2.1 points and the senior share up 1.9 points, indicating gradual ageing. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 31, while the shift reading is 54 and Active. Rent growth of 44.7% is higher than real income growth of 24.8%, so affordability requires attention even though the affordability trend is labelled Improving from 44.1 in 2011 to 41.6 in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+372
Net Internal / yr
-132
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal outflow -132/yr, Strong overseas inflow +372/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 13%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
511
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
137.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brompton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brompton a good suburb to live in?
Brompton can suit residents wanting an inner-west location, compact housing and access to nearby services. It has 3,729 residents, 11.6% public transport use and 53.3% renting, so the area is active and renter-oriented. Buyers should also consider the 137.0 per 1,000 crime rate.
What schools are in Brompton?
Brompton has 2 nearby government primary and secondary combined schools: Bowden Brompton CS Torrens Road Campus and Bowden Brompton Community School. Families should confirm the relevant enrolment zone for each address before committing to a property.
Is Brompton safe?
Safety should be assessed at street and address level. Brompton recorded 511 incidents, equivalent to a crime rate of 137.0 per 1,000 people. Check recent local conditions, lighting, parking arrangements and travel routes rather than relying on the suburb name alone.
Is Brompton good for property investment?
Brompton may suit investors seeking established inner-west rental demand, with 53.3% of households renting and weekly rent of $380. The 8.0% vacancy rate warrants caution, while 34 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing property activity.
How is Brompton's population changing?
Brompton has 3,729 residents today, with population change across the wider area recorded at 14.7% over 10 years. Growth is forecast at 1.1% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration, while the trajectory is labelled Declining young.
What languages are spoken in Brompton?
Greek is the most prominent listed language after English, with 88 speakers, followed by Mandarin with 44, Cantonese with 36, Italian with 31 and Punjabi with 14. Overseas-born residents account for 34.9% of Brompton's population.
What development is occurring in Brompton?
There were 34 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a rear canopy, side additions to extend a carport and a carport positioned forward of an existing dwelling, indicating renovation activity rather than confirmed large-scale dwelling supply.
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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