Brookfield
Household income in the 99.4th percentile nationally is the headline number for Brookfield, a low-density suburb spread across 21.37 km2 west of Brisbane. All four SEIFA indexes score in decile 10, the top advantage tier. Despite that wealth, the population is only 3,640, kept small by the large lot rural-residential character where 95.8% of dwellings are separate houses. The median age of 47 sits 7.0 years above the national figure, and the suburb's high-growth signal is not about density but about numbers climbing 61% over a decade at a rate of 2.91% annually.
Population
3,640
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,778/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$617K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price is $617,000, derived from weekly rent of $400 in 2025. Separate houses account for 95.8% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 3.7% and apartments at just 0.5%. The bedroom profile is heavily skewed to large homes: 84.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, higher than most suburban markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,798, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.1%, which is below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits in the 99.4th percentile. Outright ownership at 48.7% outnumbers mortgage holders at 42.8%, consistent with long-held, debt-free wealth rather than recent buyer activity.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price is $617,000, derived from weekly rent of $400 in 2025. Separate houses account for 95.8% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 3.7% and apartments at just 0.5%. The bedroom profile is heavily skewed to large homes: 84.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, higher than most suburban markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,798, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.1%, which is below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits in the 99.4th percentile. Outright ownership at 48.7% outnumbers mortgage holders at 42.8%, consistent with long-held, debt-free wealth rather than recent buyer activity.
For Investors
The rental market is thin, with only 8.6% of residents renting compared to the national average. Weekly rent is $400 and the vacancy rate is 4.6%, above the sub-3% level typically considered tight. Against the $617,000 estimated median, that rent implies a gross yield near 3.4%. Annual population growth of 2.91% adds roughly 106 residents a year, driven by net overseas migration of 136 per year offset by net internal outflow of 89, indicating an internationally mobile professional cohort. Development activity is low at 18 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new supply, so investor entry relies on existing stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
50
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+46.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brookfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Brookfield State School
Prep-6 · 453 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7.0 years above the national figure, reflecting an established resident base where 48.7% own their home outright. University qualifications reach 61.5%, which is 31.4 percentage points above the national rate, one of the largest gaps you will find in any suburb. Overseas-born residents make up 32.0%, which is 10.4 points above the national rate. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,585), Scottish (568) and Irish (503) lead the count. Non-English language speakers are a small minority, with Mandarin (26) and German (16) the most common. Average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above national, consistent with the dominant couples-with-children profile where 1,483 of 3,166 families have children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.8%
Houses
3.7%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits clearly toward owners: 48.7% own outright, 42.8% hold a mortgage and only 8.6% rent, well below the national renter share. The near-complete dominance of separate houses at 95.8% means apartment or townhouse buyers have almost no local options, with only 0.5% apartments and 3.7% semi-detached. The 4-or-more bedroom category at 84.2% is dramatically higher than state and national norms, reflecting the large-lot lifestyle orientation. Mortgage-to-income at 17.1% is low compared to most Brisbane markets, because incomes here rank in the 99.4th percentile nationally. Rent-to-income sits at just 10.6%, meaning tenants face minimal financial pressure relative to local income levels.
Mortgage / mo
$2,798
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,204
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
54
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
10.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.5%
Couples, no children
3,166
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and Technical services lead employment at 20.6% (274 workers), followed by Healthcare at 17.7% (236) and Education at 13.5% (180), collectively accounting for over half the workforce. By occupation, Professionals (698) and Managers (408) account for the two largest groups, in line with decile 10 scores on both IEO and IRSAD, the education-occupation and advantage indexes. The unemployment rate is low at 3.9%, below state and national averages, and the full-time employment rate reaches 62.0%. Participation at 55.8% looks moderate because 1,071 residents are not in the labour force, partly a consequence of the older median age of 47. Real income growth over the decade is negative at minus 4.5%, which means income gains lagged inflation despite the suburb's top decile standing.
Unemployment
8.9%
Labour Force
5,395
Unemployed
482
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
34.1%
Participation
55.8%
Employed
1,585
Occupations
Top Industries
University
61.5%
Postgraduate
20.7%
Born Overseas
32.0%
Dwellings
1,120
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 88.3% of commuters driving, compared to much lower national averages, because the 21.37 km2 low-density footprint means public transport covers just 2.9% of trips. Walking and cycling accounts for 4.3%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring areas, though the local population is exceptionally well educated at 61.5% holding university qualifications, 31.4 points above national. Crime data is not available for Brookfield, but as an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD, the top tier for relative socioeconomic advantage, nationally. Volunteering runs at a high 23.1%, and only 6.2% of residents need daily assistance, consistent with an active, affluent and relatively young-at-heart population.
Drive
88.3%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.91%/yr
(+310 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 61% over the decade and sits at 3,640 today, with annual growth running at 2.91% or about 106 persons per year. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population, which includes surrounding areas, reaching 12,898 by 2031 from 10,665 in 2025. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver at a net 136 per year, while internal migration runs at negative 89 annually, suggesting residents are drawn from overseas rather than from elsewhere in Australia. The suburb is classified as established and not gentrifying, with a gentrification score of 0, because it already sits at the top of every socioeconomic index. Rent grew 18.6% over the measured period, but real income growth was negative at 4.5%, a gap that tightens affordability even at these income levels.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+136
Net Internal / yr
-89
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brookfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brookfield a good suburb to live in?
Brookfield ranks in decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top national tier. Household income sits in the 99.4th percentile. University qualifications reach 61.5%, which is 31.4 points above the national rate. The trade-off is very low public transport access at 2.9% of trips, so a car is essential for most residents.
What is the median house price in Brookfield?
The median house price is estimated at $617,000, derived from weekly rent of $400 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,798, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold given that household income sits in the 99.4th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Brookfield?
No schools are recorded within the Brookfield suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, the local population is highly educated, with 61.5% holding university qualifications, which is 31.4 percentage points above the national average.
Is Brookfield safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Brookfield in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index, the highest tier nationally for socioeconomic advantage. Only 6.2% of residents require daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable community.
Is Brookfield good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against an estimated median of $617,000 implies a gross yield near 3.4%. The vacancy rate is 4.6%, above the sub-3% tight-market threshold. Population is growing at 2.91% annually, driven by overseas migration of 136 net per year, but the renter pool is small at just 8.6% of residents.
How is Brookfield's population changing?
Population grew 61% over the decade and annual growth runs at 2.91%, adding roughly 106 residents per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at net 136 per year, while internal migration is negative at minus 89. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 area reaching 12,898 by 2031, up from 10,665 in 2025.
What languages are spoken in Brookfield?
About 32.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 10.4 points above the national figure. English dominates strongly. Mandarin (26 speakers) and German (16) are the most common non-English languages, followed by Cantonese (15) and Persian (14), reflecting a small but internationally mobile professional community.
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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