Brooklyn
A crime rate of 169.8 incidents per 1,000 residents and a vacancy rate of 12.4% are the two numbers that define Brooklyn, VIC 3012, and both require context. The suburb sits in the inner-west industrial corridor, which partly explains elevated property crime (260 of 336 total incidents) rather than personal danger. Household income ranks at the 73.4th percentile nationally, above average despite the area's working-class industrial roots. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, a younger profile than comparable suburbs, and 38.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 16.6 percentage points above national.
Population
1,979
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,958/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$855K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price reached $855,000 in the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 17.8% from the peak of $1,040,000 recorded in Oct-Dec 2023. That correction creates a different entry point than six months prior. The long-run picture is still positive: prices grew 74% from $491,500 in 2013, a CAGR of 4.0% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,068, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is atypical, with semi-detached and terrace dwellings making up 41.8% of properties, similar to separate houses at 53.3%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.7%, and apartments account for only 4.8% of the stock.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $855,000 in the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 17.8% from the peak of $1,040,000 recorded in Oct-Dec 2023. That correction creates a different entry point than six months prior. The long-run picture is still positive: prices grew 74% from $491,500 in 2013, a CAGR of 4.0% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,068, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is atypical, with semi-detached and terrace dwellings making up 41.8% of properties, similar to separate houses at 53.3%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.7%, and apartments account for only 4.8% of the stock.
For Investors
Brooklyn's rental market carries yield potential but also structural risk. The renter share of 40.6% is above average compared to suburban VIC norms, and weekly rent runs at $391. Against the $855,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 2.4%. The 12.4% vacancy rate is the main concern: this is well above healthy market levels and signals either seasonal industrial-area churn or genuine oversupply in the rental pool. Development activity recorded 12 applications in the past 12 months, including a triple-dwelling approval at $1.2 million construction cost, indicating modest but continuing densification. Investors should stress-test vacancy when modelling cash flow.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+600.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$786K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brooklyn iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Annunciation School
Prep-6 · 65 students
Demographics
Brooklyn's median age of 34 sits 6.0 years below the national average, pulling the suburb toward a younger adult demographic. University qualifications reach 40.9%, which is 10.8 percentage points above national, a higher professional share than the industrial setting might suggest. Overseas-born residents account for 38.2%, some 16.6 percentage points above national. Ancestry is led by English (460), with Italian (188) and Irish (155) also prominent, a pattern typical of inner-western Melbourne's post-war settlement history. The top non-English languages are Arabic and Cantonese (32 speakers each) and Italian (24). Average household size is 2.2, marginally below the national figure of 2.5.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
53.3%
Houses
41.8%
Townhouse
4.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The price history shows strong long-run growth from $491,500 in 2013 to $855,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 74% gain over 14 years at a CAGR of 4.0%. The peak hit $1,040,000 in Oct-Dec 2023 before retreating 17.8% to the current level, meaning buyers today are entering at prices lower than 18 months ago. Tenure splits across 21.6% outright owners, 37.9% mortgage holders, and 40.6% renters, a renter-heavy balance compared to many middle-ring suburbs. Semi-detached homes at 41.8% make this suburb atypical: nearly as many attached dwellings as separate houses (53.3%). Three-bedroom homes account for 53.7% of stock, giving owner-occupier buyers a clear majority product type.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,068
Rent / wk
$391
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,064
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.4%
Unoccupied
121
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.9%
Couples, no children
1,423
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 13.5% of workers (108 people), followed by Professional/Tech at 11.4% (91) and Construction at 11.3% (90). Retail and Education each contribute 9.5% (76 workers). By occupation, Professionals form the largest group (257), ahead of Clerical/Admin (152) and Managers (148). The full-time employment rate is 72.9% and unemployment sits at 5.9%, somewhat higher than state averages. The participation rate of 64.5% reflects 400 residents not in the labour force. Household weekly income of $1,958 places the suburb at the 73.4th percentile nationally, above median despite the mixed industrial-residential character. Construction's strong employment share (11.3%) aligns with the active DA pipeline in the area.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.9%
Part-time
21.2%
Participation
64.5%
Employed
1,034
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.9%
Postgraduate
9.1%
Born Overseas
38.2%
Dwellings
851
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 90.5% of residents driving to work, compared to the Melbourne average closer to 70%, with only 3.9% using public transport and 2.2% walking or cycling. This reflects limited rail access in the 3012 postcode and surrounding industrial land use. The crime rate of 169.8 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated, though 260 of the 336 total incidents are property and deception offences rather than crimes against the person (26 incidents). Rent-to-income sits at 20.0% and mortgage-to-income at 24.4%, both below stress thresholds, so housing costs are manageable for current residents. No schools are recorded within Brooklyn's boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs.
Drive
90.5%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
336
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
169.8
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 Brooklyn compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brooklyn a good suburb to live in?
Brooklyn suits buyers comfortable with an industrial-residential mix. Household income ranks at the 73.4th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is a manageable 24.4%, and the median age of 34 makes it a younger suburb. The trade-offs are a crime rate of 169.8 per 1,000 (mainly property offences) and strong car dependency, with 90.5% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in Brooklyn?
The median house price was $855,000 in the Apr-Jun 2024 quarter, down 17.8% from the Oct-Dec 2023 peak of $1,040,000. Prices have still grown 74% since 2013 when the median was $491,500, a CAGR of 4.0% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $391 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,068.
What schools are in Brooklyn?
No schools are recorded within Brooklyn's boundaries in this dataset. The suburb covers 5.48 km2 in the inner-western industrial corridor of Melbourne, and families typically access schools in adjoining suburbs. University qualifications in the resident population reach 40.9%, which is 10.8 percentage points above the national average.
Is Brooklyn safe?
Brooklyn recorded 336 total incidents in the most recent crime data, giving a rate of 169.8 per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared to many suburban areas. The large majority are property and deception offences (260 incidents). Crimes against the person total 26, a lower absolute count, partly reflecting the suburb's smaller population of 1,979.
Is Brooklyn good for property investment?
The renter share of 40.6% and weekly rent of $391 imply a gross yield near 2.4% against the $855,000 median, better than many inner suburbs but not high. The main risk is the 12.4% vacancy rate, which is well above healthy levels. The long-run capital growth of 74% since 2013 (CAGR 4.0%) is positive, but the 17.8% correction from the 2023 peak warrants caution.
How is Brooklyn's population changing?
Brooklyn's current population is 1,979 across 5.48 km2, giving a density of 361 people per km2. No forward forecast data is available in this dataset. The suburb shows a 28.5% turnover rate with 71.5% of residents remaining in their dwelling over the census period, indicating moderate stability. The 12 development applications in the past 12 months suggest gradual densification is under way.
What languages are spoken in Brooklyn?
Some 38.2% of Brooklyn residents were born overseas, which is 16.6 percentage points above the national average. Arabic and Cantonese are each spoken by 32 residents, followed by Italian (24) and Greek (15). English ancestry leads at 460 residents, with Italian (188) and Irish (155) among the other top ancestries recorded in the census.
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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