Brunswick East
The suburb has 13,279 residents in only 2.26 square kilometres, producing a density of 5,869.4 people per square kilometre. Its median age is 33, which is 7 years below the national figure, while household income sits at the 79th percentile. A 12.3% vacancy rate adds flexibility for renters but changes the market compared with nearby Brunswick. The result is a premium, high-density inner-north suburb shaped by professionals, small households and a renter majority.
Population
13,279
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,088/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
60
Median House
$1.6M
October to December 2025
Brunswick East suits buyers prioritising inner-city access and apartment or townhouse living over a large detached block. Prices are 108.6% above the 2013 level, although the latest median is 2.9% below the Jan-Mar 2025 peak. Mortgage payments are stated at $2,000 a month, with mortgage-to-income at 22.1% versus rent-to-income at 20.2%. The average household size of 2.0 helps explain demand for compact floorplans.
For Buyers
Brunswick East suits buyers prioritising inner-city access and apartment or townhouse living over a large detached block. Prices are 108.6% above the 2013 level, although the latest median is 2.9% below the Jan-Mar 2025 peak. Mortgage payments are stated at $2,000 a month, with mortgage-to-income at 22.1% versus rent-to-income at 20.2%. The average household size of 2.0 helps explain demand for compact floorplans.
For Investors
Rental demand is substantial because 53.9% of households rent and weekly rent is $421, but the 12.3% vacancy rate is a counterweight to the renter majority. Compared with ownership-heavy suburbs, Brunswick East has a larger pool of potential tenants, although vacancies can reduce urgency and limit short-term rent growth. The suburb recorded 59 development applications over 12 months, creating possible future competition between apartments. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, while a 55.4% work-from-home rate and 66.1% university-educated share support demand for well-located, low-maintenance homes.
Development Activity
Total DAs
81
Last 12 Months
60
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+566.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brunswick East
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Brunswick East Primary School
Brunswick South Primary School
Our Lady Help of Christians School
Demographics
Brunswick East is younger and more university educated than Australia overall. The median age is 33, or 7 years below the national comparison, while 66.1% have a university qualification, 36 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 31.3%, which is 9.7 points above national. The largest reported ancestries are English at 4,195 people, Irish at 1,980, Italian at 1,565 and Scottish at 1,536. No religion is the largest religious response at 8,295, ahead of Christianity at 3,308. Average household size is 2.0, half a person lower than national, helping explain the concentration of smaller dwellings compared with nearby Brunswick.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
22.7%
Houses
25.8%
Townhouse
50.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is notably urban and renter-led. Apartments make up 50.9% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 25.8% and separate houses 22.7%; 45.5% of homes have 2 bedrooms, while only 6.9% have 4 or more. Renting accounts for 53.9%, compared with 26.8% paying a mortgage and 18.2% owning outright, so turnover and investor decisions have an outsized effect on prices. Compared with nearby Carlton North, purchasers should focus closely on apartment size, body corporate costs and resale depth.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$421
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,252
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.3%
Unoccupied
897
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.7%
Couples with children
56.1%
Couples, no children
11.9%
Single parent
3,113
Total families
Economy & Employment
Brunswick East has a high-income, knowledge-oriented labour profile, with household income at the 79th percentile and 77.8% labour-force participation. Professional and technical work is the largest industry at 18.7%, or 1,392 workers, followed by healthcare at 14.8%, or 1,102, and education at 13.7%, or 1,021. Professionals number 4,076 and managers 1,419, while unemployment is 4.2%. SEIFA is mixed: the education and occupation index is in decile 10, IRSAD is also decile 10, IRSD is decile 9, but economic resources is only decile 2. That gap is consistent with strong qualifications alongside high renting and uneven asset ownership. Compared with lower-income outer areas, the local economy is more exposed to professional services, health and education.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
9,355
Unemployed
396
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.4%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
77.8%
Employed
8,959
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
66.1%
Postgraduate
22.8%
Born Overseas
31.3%
Dwellings
6,350
Transport to Work
Daily life is suited to compact households, although work patterns are unusually home-based. Public transport accounts for 8.3% of journeys, walking or cycling 10.0%, car driving 24.8% and working from home 55.4%, so access to local shops, services and public transport matters more than a large garage. There are 3 local primary options, split between 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school; exact enrolment zones should be checked against the address. Recorded crime totalled 1,002 offences, or 75.5 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 802, far higher than crimes against the person at 86. Social conditions remain strong overall, with IRSAD in decile 10 and IRSD in decile 9, both above national disadvantage levels. Compared with car-dependent outer suburbs, Brunswick East rewards residents comfortable with density.
Drive
24.8%
Public Transport
8.3%
Walk / Cycle
10.0%
Work from Home
55.4%
Population Forecast
+2.37%/yr
(+348 people/yr)
EstablishedBrunswick East is an established suburb with forecast growth of 2.37% a year, driven primarily by overseas migration. Across the wider area, population change is 50.3% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Declining young, with the young share down 2.2 percentage points and the working share up 6.1 points. This suggests growth is being absorbed by a changing age mix rather than a permanently expanding young renter cohort. Gentrification signals are mixed: the current gentrification score is 10 and the stage is Not gentrifying, while the shift measure records a score of 44 and Early signs. Compared with a stable, low-growth pocket, the 2.37% annual trend is meaningful, but affordability fell from 48.7% in 2011 to 33.8% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+370
Net Internal / yr
-22
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Strong overseas inflow +370/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,002
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
75.5
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 Brunswick East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brunswick East a good suburb to live in?
Yes, for households wanting a dense inner-north setting, local services and smaller homes. Brunswick East has 13,279 residents, a median age of 33 and 50.9% apartments. The trade-off is a 12.3% vacancy rate, premium pricing and less detached-house stock than many suburban markets.
What schools are in Brunswick East?
Brunswick East has 3 local primary schools: Brunswick East Primary School and Brunswick South Primary School in the government sector, plus Our Lady Help of Christians School in the Catholic sector. Check the exact enrolment zone, year level and current intake rules before committing to an address.
Is Brunswick East safe?
Recorded crime totalled 1,002 offences, equal to 75.5 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences made up 802 cases, compared with 86 crimes against the person. Buyers and renters should assess the immediate street and building, especially in a high-density area with 50.9% apartments.
How is Brunswick East's population changing?
Growth is positive but the age profile is changing. The wider area has a forecast annual trend of 2.37%, with overseas migration the primary driver, while the shift trajectory is Declining young and the young share is down 2.2 percentage points. Population change across 10 years is 50.3%, but affordability fell from 48.7% in 2011 to 33.8% in 2021.
What languages and cultural backgrounds are common in Brunswick East?
English ancestry is the largest listed background at 4,195 people, while Italian is the most prominent listed non-English language at 246 speakers, followed by Greek at 172 and Arabic at 101. Overseas-born residents account for 31.3%, which is 9.7 percentage points above the national comparison.
Is Brunswick East undergoing much development?
Development activity is noticeable, with 59 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include a wellbeing hub, works under planning and heritage overlays, and a single-storey addition. The volume is higher than a quiet low-change market, so buyers should check proposed works, construction timing and planning controls before purchase.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (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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