Brookvale
Brookvale's most distinctive feature is its compact, apartment-led housing profile: 64.0% of dwellings are apartments across just 2.2 sq km, supporting a density of 1,543.9 people per sq km. The suburb has 3,389 residents, a median age of 37, and household income at the 81.3rd percentile nationally. Overseas-born residents make up 42.4% of the population, 20.8 percentage points above the national figure, while university attainment is 43.0%, or 12.9 points above national levels. Compared with nearby Manly and Dee Why, Brookvale reads as particularly apartment-oriented and employment-focused, with a smaller average household size of 2.2.
Population
3,389
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,127/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
80
Brookvale suits buyers seeking a smaller, lower-maintenance home close to established Northern Beaches services. Apartments account for 64.0% of dwellings, while separate houses make up 18.4% and semi-detached homes 16.3%, so buyers have more choice in compact formats than in a detached-house suburb. The bedroom profile reflects that pattern: 44.3% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 30.3% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Mortgage repayments average $2,600 monthly, equal to 28.2% of household income, while rent absorbs 25.9%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Household income sits at the 81.3rd percentile nationally, although apartment prices and strata costs should be compared carefully against house options.
For Buyers
Brookvale suits buyers seeking a smaller, lower-maintenance home close to established Northern Beaches services. Apartments account for 64.0% of dwellings, while separate houses make up 18.4% and semi-detached homes 16.3%, so buyers have more choice in compact formats than in a detached-house suburb. The bedroom profile reflects that pattern: 44.3% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 30.3% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Mortgage repayments average $2,600 monthly, equal to 28.2% of household income, while rent absorbs 25.9%, with neither measure flagged as stressed. Household income sits at the 81.3rd percentile nationally, although apartment prices and strata costs should be compared carefully against house options.
For Investors
Brookvale has a substantial tenant base, with 44.9% of households renting, a weekly rent of $550 and a vacancy rate of 5.3%. That combination can support leasing demand because the suburb is apartment-dominant, employment-connected and occupied by relatively small households averaging 2.2 people. The annual growth trend is 0.85%, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. A total of 79 development applications in the past 12 months points to active commercial and property change, although many applications are not new dwellings. Compared with owner-heavy suburbs, investors should place more weight on apartment supply, strata expenses, building quality and tenant turnover, which is 30.5%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
449
Last 12 Months
80
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brookvale
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Brookvale is younger than the national profile, with a median age of 37, three years below the national figure. Its overseas-born share is 42.4%, which is 20.8 percentage points above national levels, and 43.0% of residents have university qualifications, 12.9 points above the national result. The average household contains 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national average, helping explain the strong demand for 1 and 2-bedroom housing. English ancestry is recorded for 1,065 residents, followed by Other at 729, Irish at 350, Italian at 268 and Scottish at 264. Christianity accounts for 1,450 responses and no religion for 1,413. Compared with older, family-sized areas, Brookvale has a more mobile profile, with 30.5% turnover and 69.5% staying put.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
18.4%
Houses
16.3%
Townhouse
64.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Brookvale's housing stock is weighted toward apartments and smaller dwellings rather than large family homes. Apartments represent 64.0% of homes, separate houses 18.4% and semi-detached dwellings 16.3%. Two-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 44.3%, followed by 0 or 1-bedroom homes at 30.3%; only 8.8% contain 4 or more bedrooms. Renting is common at 44.9%, compared with 37.8% paying a mortgage and 16.2% owning outright. Mortgage repayments equal 28.2% of household income and rent equals 25.9%, so neither measure is flagged as stressed. Compared with detached-house suburbs, Brookvale provides a higher concentration of compact housing, which fits its 2.2-person average household size but can limit space for larger families.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $550.
$800
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,425 · units $680
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,113
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.7%
Couples with children
40.7%
Couples, no children
17.2%
Single parent
895
Total families
Economy & Employment
Brookvale's employment base combines health, professional services and practical industries. Healthcare is the largest industry at 15.3%, or 220 workers, followed by Professional and Technical services at 11.8% and 170, Construction at 9.5% and 137, Education at 9.1% and 131, and Retail at 8.6% and 124. The occupation mix includes 482 Professionals, 327 Managers, 302 Trades workers, 269 Clerical and Administrative workers, and 179 Sales workers. Labour-force participation is 72.1%, unemployment is 3.6% and 62.7% of employed residents work full time. Socioeconomic scores are strong: IEO and IER both sit in decile 9, while IRSD and IRSAD are in the top decile, decile 10. That ranking reflects high education and income levels, even though construction and trades remain substantial.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
2,088
Unemployed
75
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
27.3%
Participation
72.1%
Employed
2,013
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.0%
Postgraduate
10.0%
Born Overseas
42.4%
Dwellings
1,397
Transport to Work
Brookvale provides practical access to established services within a dense 2.2 sq km setting. Brookvale Public School is the local listed school, a government primary school; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross nearby suburbs. Travel is still car-oriented, with 42.8% driving, while 5.0% use public transport and 9.6% walk or cycle. Working from home is high at 39.1%, which suits the apartment-heavy housing stock but increases the importance of dwelling size, noise and shared facilities. The suburb's socioeconomic position is strong, with both IRSAD and IRSD in decile 10. A suburb-specific crime rate is not available here, so compare current NSW Police figures for Brookvale and nearby Northern Beaches areas before making a safety decision.
Drive
42.8%
Public Transport
5.0%
Walk / Cycle
9.6%
Work from Home
39.1%
Population Forecast
+0.85%/yr
(+198 people/yr)
EstablishedBrookvale is an established suburb with an annual growth trend of 0.85%, and population change across the wider area has reached 13.5% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, helping sustain demand in a compact suburb where 42.4% of residents were born overseas. The forecast shift is labelled Mixed, while the gentrification stage is Early signs, with a shift score of 37 and a separate gentrification score of 25. Affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 50.7 in 2011 to 46.3 in 2021, while real income growth reached 18.6%. Compared with faster greenfield corridors, Brookvale's growth is steadier and more renewal-led, with 79 development applications supporting ongoing change rather than a wholesale population reset.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+436
Net Internal / yr
-315
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -315/yr, Strong overseas inflow +436/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brookvale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brookvale a good suburb to live in?
Brookvale can suit residents who value services, compact housing and access to Northern Beaches employment. Apartments make up 64.0% of dwellings, average household size is 2.2 people and household income sits at the 81.3rd percentile nationally. Compared with lower-density suburbs, it is better suited to buyers comfortable with apartments and smaller floorplans.
What is the median house price in Brookvale?
Establish Brookvale's current median house price using the latest 12 months of settled sales, separating houses from units. That distinction matters because 64.0% of dwellings are apartments. Buyers can also compare the $550 weekly rent and $2,600 monthly mortgage figure, although neither replaces a current house-sale median.
What schools are in Brookvale?
Brookvale Public School is the local listed school, a government primary school. Families comparing options across the Northern Beaches should check the exact enrolment zone, year level and application requirements for each address. Brookvale's average household size is 2.2 people, so school needs can vary substantially between apartment households and larger families.
Is Brookvale safe?
Use current NSW Police figures for Brookvale and nearby Northern Beaches suburbs, comparing offence categories, timing and street context rather than relying on 1 headline rate. Brookvale covers 2.2 sq km, so conditions can vary between commercial areas, apartment buildings and quieter residential streets. An inspection at different times of day is also sensible.
Is Brookvale good for property investment?
Brookvale has a sizeable rental market, with 44.9% of households renting, weekly rent of $550 and vacancy of 5.3%. The annual growth trend is 0.85%, overseas migration is the primary driver and 79 development applications were recorded in 12 months. Compared with owner-heavy areas, investors should focus closely on apartment supply, strata costs and building condition.
How is Brookvale's population changing?
Brookvale has 3,389 residents today, while population change across the wider area is 13.5% over 10 years. The annual growth trend is 0.85%, overseas migration is the primary driver and the forecast trajectory is Mixed. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage, with scores of 37 and 25 in the two shift measures.
What development is occurring in Brookvale?
Brookvale recorded 79 development applications in the past 12 months, indicating active commercial and property change. Recent examples include food and drink premises, a depot-related change of use and commercial awnings or canopies. The activity count is higher than a quiet residential area might show, but applications do not necessarily represent new dwellings.
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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