Brunswick
A 14.8% vacancy rate stands out in a rural locality of 1,195 people spread across 98.07 square kilometres, giving Brunswick a low density of 12.2 residents per square kilometre. The median age is 44, or 4 years above the national figure, while 91.6% of homes are separate houses. Compared with larger nearby Harvey and Australind, Brunswick has a more dispersed, detached-house setting, with 80.4% of workers driving to work. Household income sits at the 33.4th percentile nationally, pointing to a practical, lower-density market rather than a high-income regional hub.
Local council: Harvey
Population
1,195
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,333/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Brunswick suits buyers prioritising land, detached housing and manageable ongoing costs over apartment living. Separate houses account for 91.6% of dwellings, while 45.5% have 3 bedrooms and 36.2% have 4 or more, supporting family and trade-oriented households. The typical mortgage figure is $1,398 per month, equal to 24.2% of household income, and weekly rent is $250. Neither mortgage nor rent costs are flagged as stressed. Compared with more urban housing choices in Harvey or Australind, Brunswick provides a lower-density setting, although 80.4% of workers driving indicates that car access is important.
For Buyers
Brunswick suits buyers prioritising land, detached housing and manageable ongoing costs over apartment living. Separate houses account for 91.6% of dwellings, while 45.5% have 3 bedrooms and 36.2% have 4 or more, supporting family and trade-oriented households. The typical mortgage figure is $1,398 per month, equal to 24.2% of household income, and weekly rent is $250. Neither mortgage nor rent costs are flagged as stressed. Compared with more urban housing choices in Harvey or Australind, Brunswick provides a lower-density setting, although 80.4% of workers driving indicates that car access is important.
For Investors
Rental investors face a mixed profile. Weekly rent is $250 and 22.9% of occupied dwellings are rented, while vacancy is 14.8%, higher than a tightly supplied market would usually be. That vacancy level can lengthen letting periods or increase the need for competitive pricing, even though rent growth across the wider area is 16.9%. Development activity recorded 0 projects in the past 12 months, limiting obvious new-supply pressure but also signalling a small pipeline. Forecast growth is 2.37% annually and is driven by overseas migration. Compared with lower-vacancy locations, Brunswick is more exposed to tenant-depth and resale-liquidity risk.
Demographics
Brunswick has an older age profile, with a median age of 44, 4 years above the national figure. University attainment is 11.0%, 19.1 percentage points below the national level, which aligns with the prominence of trades, labourers and machinery or driver roles. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 579 people, followed by Irish at 113 and Italian at 111. Christianity accounts for 565 responses, while 514 report no religion. Overseas-born residents make up 15.2%, 6.4 points below the national comparison, and average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure. Compared with larger nearby Harvey and Australind, Brunswick presents as more Anglo-leaning and less university-qualified.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.6%
Houses
5.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Brunswick's housing stock is strongly detached: 91.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 5.0% are semi-detached. Tenure is split between 33.3% owning outright, 39.4% with a mortgage and 22.9% renting. The pattern fits the 2.5-person average household and the bedroom mix, where 45.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 36.2% have 4 or more. Mortgage repayments equal 24.2% of household income, higher than the rent burden of 18.8%, although neither is flagged as stressed. Compared with denser nearby Harvey or Australind, Brunswick has a more detached, land-oriented housing profile and a noticeably high 14.8% vacancy rate.
Mortgage / mo
$1,398
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$612
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.8%
Unoccupied
76
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.3%
Couples with children
43.7%
Couples, no children
16.3%
Single parent
332
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by healthcare at 18.0% or 52 workers, construction at 14.5% or 42, education at 10.7% or 31, manufacturing at 10.0% or 29, and mining at 9.0% or 26. That mix gives Brunswick exposure to essential services, building activity and resource-linked work rather than a large professional office base. Trades are the largest occupation group at 98 people, followed by labourers at 76, machinery or drivers at 69, managers at 67 and community or personal service workers at 63. The unemployment rate is 5.8% and participation is 54.6%, with 55.7% working full time. Household income is at the 33.4th percentile nationally, below a high-income benchmark.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
537
Unemployed
31
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.7%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
54.6%
Employed
506
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.0%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
15.2%
Dwellings
439
Transport to Work
Brunswick's liveability is shaped by space, driving and a quiet regional pattern. The locality covers 98.07 square kilometres at 12.2 people per square kilometre, while 80.4% of workers drive and only 2.0% use public transport. That makes a car practical for commuting, shopping and school access across a dispersed settlement. Families should check current enrolment zones and nearby school options in Brunswick, Harvey and Australind against the exact address, since sector and year-level availability can vary. Community participation is reflected in a 21.4% volunteering rate, while 4.7% of residents need assistance. Compared with denser town settings, Brunswick provides more space but fewer transport alternatives. A suburb-specific crime rate is not available, so safety decisions should include recent local incident checks and an address-level inspection.
Drive
80.4%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
7.1%
Growth Outlook
Brunswick's wider-area growth outlook is positive but socially mixed. The annual trend is 2.37%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, while the 10-year population change measure is 50.3%. The shift trajectory is labelled "Declining young", alongside a 2.2 percentage-point fall in the young share and a 6.1-point rise in the working share. Affordability improved from 48.7 in 2011 to 33.8 in 2021, while rent growth reached 16.9%. Gentrification signals are limited: the current model gives a score of 10 and stage "Not gentrifying", despite a separate shift score of 44 marked "Early signs". Compared with a rapidly gentrifying suburb, Brunswick's growth is more migration-led and established.
Population trend: Harvey council area
Brunswick sits in the Harvey council area. These are the council area's residents, not Brunswick's.
Residents 2025
32,208
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Brunswick compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brunswick a good suburb to live in?
With a median age of 44, 91.6% separate houses and 80.4% of workers driving, Brunswick suits people seeking a low-density, car-oriented setting. Its 14.8% vacancy rate and 12.2 people per square kilometre point to a quieter market than denser town centres. Compare the exact address for services, commuting and school access before deciding.
What is the median house price in Brunswick?
A current median house price is not available for Brunswick, so do not use the $250 weekly rent as a sale-price substitute. The housing profile is 91.6% separate houses, with a typical mortgage figure of $1,398 per month. Request recent comparable sales for the street and nearby Harvey or Australind before making an offer.
What schools are in Brunswick?
School choices should be checked by exact address, year level and enrolment zone across Brunswick and nearby Harvey or Australind. Car access matters because 80.4% of workers drive and only 2.0% use public transport. Confirm current school options directly before signing a contract, as enrolment availability and transport practicality can vary.
Is Brunswick safe?
Brunswick has 1,195 residents and a 14.8% vacancy rate, but a suburb-specific crime rate is not available. For a current safety view, compare recent police incident information with nearby Harvey and Australind, then inspect lighting, traffic conditions and the exact street at different times. Address-level checks are more useful than broad regional impressions.
Is Brunswick good for property investment?
Property investment is not a straightforward yield call because no median sale price is available. Weekly rent is $250, renting accounts for 22.9% of dwellings and vacancy is 14.8%, which is higher than a tightly supplied market. Rent growth across the wider area is 16.9%, but development activity was 0 projects in the past 12 months. Compare tenant demand and recent sales with larger nearby centres before buying.
How is Brunswick's population changing?
Brunswick has 1,195 residents today. The wider-area trend is 2.37% annually, and the 10-year population change measure is 50.3%, with overseas migration the primary driver. The shift trajectory is "Declining young", with the young share down 2.2 percentage points. Growth therefore sits alongside an ageing profile rather than a clear youth-led expansion.
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).
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