Brookvale
At the 81st household income percentile nationally, Brookvale punches well above the average for a suburb where 64% of dwellings are apartments and 45.4% of residents rent. The IRSAD decile sits at 10 and the IRSD decile at 10, placing Brookvale at the top advantage tier on both measures, unusual for a suburb with such a high renter share. With 3,389 residents packed into 2.2 sq km at a density of 1,544 per sq km, the suburb reads as a compact, well-educated urban node on the Northern Beaches where overseas-born residents at 42.4% run 20.8 percentage points above the national figure.
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
81
Median House
$995K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $995,000 in 2024-2025 reflects a 3% pullback from the $1,000,000 peak recorded in 2024, giving buyers a slightly softer entry point than recent highs. The stock profile skews apartment-heavy at 64%, with separate houses at only 18.4%, so most buyers are competing in a market dominated by two-bedroom apartments, which account for 44.3% of all dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.2%, just below the 30% stress threshold compared to many comparable Northern Beaches suburbs. Only 16.4% of dwellings are owned outright, below what you would expect at this income level, because the high renter proportion and relatively recent apartment stock mean few long-held, debt-free households.
For Buyers
The median house price of $995,000 in 2024-2025 reflects a 3% pullback from the $1,000,000 peak recorded in 2024, giving buyers a slightly softer entry point than recent highs. The stock profile skews apartment-heavy at 64%, with separate houses at only 18.4%, so most buyers are competing in a market dominated by two-bedroom apartments, which account for 44.3% of all dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.2%, just below the 30% stress threshold compared to many comparable Northern Beaches suburbs. Only 16.4% of dwellings are owned outright, below what you would expect at this income level, because the high renter proportion and relatively recent apartment stock mean few long-held, debt-free households.
For Investors
A 45.4% renter share gives landlords a wide tenant pool, with weekly rent of $550 against a $995,000 median implying a gross yield around 2.9%. The 5.3% vacancy rate is elevated compared to a healthy 2-3% norm, signalling some oversupply in the apartment segment which makes up 64% of dwellings. Development activity remains active at 74 applications in the past 12 months. The key demand driver is overseas migration, which adds a net 436 residents annually to the broader SA2, well above the net internal outflow of 315 per year. Rent growth of 33.3% over the decade underpins the income case, even if yields remain thin relative to the purchase price.
Development Activity
Total DAs
422
Last 12 Months
81
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brookvale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Augustine's College Sydney
5-12 · 1580 students
Brookvale Public School
K-6 · 306 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, signalling a younger working-age population relative to the national average. University qualifications reach 43%, which is 12.9 percentage points above national, and overseas-born residents at 42.4% are 20.8 percentage points higher than the national rate. English ancestry leads (1,065 residents), followed by Irish (350), Italian (268) and Scottish (264). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (36) and Portuguese (36), reflecting a small but genuinely international mix. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below the national figure, consistent with the high proportion of one and two-person apartment households. About 30.2% of families are couples without children, versus a national norm that skews higher toward family-oriented suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
18.4%
Houses
16.3%
Townhouse
64.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The dominant tenure is renting at 45.4%, versus mortgage holders at 38.2% and outright owners at 16.4%. That renter-heavy split is above state norms for a suburb in the 81st income percentile, reflecting apartment prevalence more than affordability pressure: rent-to-income at 25.9% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 44.3%, followed by studios and one-bedrooms at 30.3%, leaving three-bedrooms at only 16.6% and four-plus at 8.8%. The $995,000 median sits 3% below the 2024 peak of $1,000,000, while the broader price history shows only two data points, limiting trend confidence. Semi-detached dwellings account for 16.3%, providing a mid-tier between the apartment majority and the scarce 18.4% of separate houses.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$550
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
30.2%
Couples, no children
2,408
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the single largest employer at 15.3% (220 workers), above the national employment share for that sector, reflecting the suburb's proximity to Northern Beaches Hospital. Professional and Technical services follow at 11.8% (170 workers), then Construction at 9.5% (137), Education at 9.1% (131) and Retail at 8.6% (124). By occupation, Professionals number 482 and Managers 327, together forming the largest employment clusters, consistent with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupational standing. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, close to the national figure, and the full-time employment rate reaches 69.7%. Real income growth of 18.6% over the decade sits above inflation, pointing to genuine wage progress rather than nominal lift.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
14,942
Unemployed
462
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.7%
Part-time
26.3%
Participation
65.2%
Employed
1,813
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.0%
Postgraduate
10.0%
Born Overseas
42.4%
Dwellings
1,397
Transport to Work
Active transport is notably high for a Northern Beaches suburb: 15.8% of residents walk or cycle to work, well above the national average, while 8.2% use public transport and 70.2% drive. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD and IRSD, placing it in the top advantage tier nationally on both disadvantage measures. Only 4.8% of residents (155 people) need daily assistance, a low figure consistent with the young median age of 37. No schools are recorded within the Brookvale boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Manly, Warringah and Curl Curl. Volunteering participation stands at 10.6%. The SEIFA IEO score of 1126 ranks at decile 9, indicating above-average educational and occupational outcomes compared to the national population.
Drive
70.2%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
15.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.85%/yr
(+198 people/yr)
EstablishedThe broader SA2 population reached 23,291 in 2024, up 13.5% over 10 years, with the medium forecast projecting 24,525 by 2031. Annual growth of 0.85% adds roughly 198 people per year. The primary driver is overseas migration at a net 436 arrivals per year, while net internal outflow of 315 per year reflects residents trading up to owner-occupier suburbs further along the Northern Beaches. The area recovered fully from a COVID dip of 2.5% and has exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Gentrification scoring stands at early signs, with rising real incomes (18.6% over the decade), improving affordability (from 50.7% in 2011 to 46.3% in 2021) and strong overseas inflow as the key signals. Population turnover of 30.5% suggests a transient-leaning rental base rather than settled long-term residents.
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 ranks in the top 20% nationally for household income (81st percentile) and achieves decile 10 on IRSAD and IRSD, the top advantage tier. The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below national, and university qualifications reach 43%, which is 12.9 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are a 5.3% vacancy rate and no schools recorded within the 2.2 sq km boundary.
What is the median house price in Brookvale?
The median house price is $995,000, a 3% pullback from the 2024 peak of $1,000,000. Weekly rent averages $550 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,600, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Apartments make up 64% of stock, so most transactions are in that segment rather than detached houses.
What schools are in Brookvale?
No schools are recorded inside the Brookvale boundary in this dataset, so families typically access schools in neighbouring Northern Beaches suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 43% holding university qualifications, which is 12.9 percentage points above the national figure, suggesting strong educational attainment among residents.
Is Brookvale safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Brookvale in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD, the highest tier nationally for relative disadvantage, and only 4.8% of its 3,389 residents (155 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, well-resourced area.
Is Brookvale good for property investment?
A 45.4% renter share provides a wide tenant pool, and weekly rent of $550 against a $995,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.9%. Rent growth of 33.3% over the decade supports the income case. However, the 5.3% vacancy rate signals some apartment oversupply. Net overseas migration of 436 per year sustains demand, partly offsetting net internal outflow of 315 per year.
How is Brookvale's population changing?
The broader area grew 13.5% over 10 years, reaching 23,291 in 2024, with medium forecasts projecting 24,525 by 2031 at an annual rate of 0.85%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver at net 436 arrivals per year. Net internal outflow of 315 per year reflects residents moving to owner-occupier suburbs, and the suburb fully recovered from a 2.5% COVID dip.
What languages are spoken in Brookvale?
About 42.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 20.8 percentage points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Mandarin (36 speakers), Portuguese (36), Italian (35) and French (21) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a small but internationally diverse resident population of 3,389.
How much development is happening in Brookvale?
There were 74 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent samples include demolition works, general industry applications and retail premises alterations, consistent with a mixed commercial and residential suburb undergoing gradual reinvestment rather than large-scale new housing construction.
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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