Brunswick West
Density is the defining fact of Brunswick West: 14,746 residents occupy 3.22 square kilometres, producing 4,583.2 people per square kilometre. The housing mix is unusually compact, with 41.3% apartments compared with 38.0% separate houses, while 48.2% of households rent. Residents have a median age of 34, six years below the national figure, and 59.2% hold university qualifications, 29.1 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 31.0%, helping explain the suburb's international language mix and steady demand for smaller homes. For buyers comparing nearby Brunswick and Coburg, Brunswick West stands out for its high-density, professional and renter-oriented profile rather than a detached-house focus.
Population
14,746
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,797/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
43
Median House
$1.4M
October to December 2025
A typical mortgage repayment is listed at $2,000 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 25.7% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. The 41.3% apartment share is higher than the 38.0% separate-house share, and 2-bedroom homes make up 42.4% of the stock. That mix suits singles, couples and smaller households because 2.1 people live in the average home.
For Buyers
A typical mortgage repayment is listed at $2,000 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 25.7% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. The 41.3% apartment share is higher than the 38.0% separate-house share, and 2-bedroom homes make up 42.4% of the stock. That mix suits singles, couples and smaller households because 2.1 people live in the average home.
For Investors
Brunswick West has a substantial rental base, with 48.2% of households renting compared with 23.7% owning outright. Weekly rent is $366 and the vacancy rate is 13.4%, a high-vacancy signal that may give tenants more choice and require investors to compete on presentation, condition and location. Forty-three development applications were recorded over 12 months, indicating ongoing renovation and planning activity rather than a static housing market. Rents have grown 30.4% across the shift period, while overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver. These factors support a tenant pool linked to professional, education and healthcare employment, but the higher vacancy rate means investors should not assume automatic rental scarcity or uninterrupted rent increases.
Development Activity
Total DAs
74
Last 12 Months
43
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+138.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Brunswick West
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Brunswick North Primary School
Brunswick North West Primary School
Brunswick South West Primary School
St Joseph's School
Demographics
Brunswick West has a young, highly educated profile: the median age is 34, six years below the national comparison, and 59.2% of residents have university qualifications, 29.1 percentage points above the national figure. The overseas-born share is 31.0%, or 9.4 points above national, which helps explain Greek, Italian, Arabic, Mandarin and Cantonese language use. English ancestry is recorded for 4,108 people, followed by Irish at 2,003 and Italian at 1,887. No religion is the largest religious response at 7,538, ahead of Christianity at 4,909. Average household size is 2.1, 0.4 below national, because couples without children account for 44.7% of families. Compared with nearby Brunswick or Coburg, the suburb appeals to households seeking inner-north access with a compact, professionally oriented setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.0%
Houses
20.2%
Townhouse
41.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The price cycle shows both strong long-term growth and a recent pullback. Renting at 48.2% is higher than outright ownership at 23.7%, while 27.0% have a mortgage. Apartments account for 41.3%, above the 38.0% separate-house share, and 2-bedroom dwellings make up 42.4% of homes. The compact stock explains why the average household has 2.1 people and why the area suits smaller households more than large families seeking four-bedroom houses, which represent 12.2%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$366
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,004
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.4%
Unoccupied
1,023
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.1%
Couples with children
44.7%
Couples, no children
13.2%
Single parent
3,495
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by healthcare at 16.6% of industry employment, education at 15.5%, professional and technical services at 14.5%, public administration at 8.1% and retail at 6.3%. The largest occupation group is professionals at 3,406 people, followed by managers at 1,224 and clerical or administrative workers at 1,110. Labour-force participation is 72.2%, unemployment is 4.6% and 59.6% of employed residents work full time, supporting a relatively strong income base. Household income sits at the 63.9 percentile, above average. The SEIFA results show an important split: the IEO decile is 9, higher than the IER decile of 3, while IRSD is decile 7 and IRSAD is decile 8. This indicates strong education and occupational credentials alongside more uneven access to economic resources, which can help explain the coexistence of professional incomes, high renting and apartment demand.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
9,291
Unemployed
432
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.6%
Part-time
33.9%
Participation
72.2%
Employed
8,859
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
59.2%
Postgraduate
20.0%
Born Overseas
31.0%
Dwellings
6,608
Transport to Work
Daily mobility is mixed. Car drivers account for 38.2% of residents, higher than the 7.2% using public transport and the 7.2% walking or cycling, while 45.1% work from home. That pattern suits hybrid workers but makes proximity to tram, bus, cycling and shopping routes important when comparing individual addresses. Four nearby primary schools provide a practical local choice, with 3 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb streets. Recorded crime totals 1,184 incidents at 80.3 per 1,000 residents, with 836 property and deception offences, so secure parking, lighting and home security deserve attention. The IRSAD decile is 8, higher than the IRSD decile of 7, indicating relatively strong area-wide advantage despite variation between households.
Drive
38.2%
Public Transport
7.2%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
45.1%
Population Forecast
+0.86%/yr
(+137 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is forecast at 0.86% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 8.9% over ten years, while the trajectory is labelled Stable rather than rapidly accelerating. Gentrification remains Active, with a score of 40, and the shift measure records a score of 45 for the same stage. Rents have grown 30.4%, indicating that housing costs have responded more strongly than the stable population label might suggest. Brunswick West also recovered from a 2.4% COVID-era dip, followed by 7.2% recovery. The combination of overseas migration, sustained rental demand and 43 development applications in 12 months points to incremental change because an established inner suburb is adapting through renovations, additions and higher-density housing rather than large greenfield expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+404
Net Internal / yr
-84
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +15% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +404/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 10%, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,184
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
80.3
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 West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brunswick West a good suburb to live in?
Brunswick West suits residents who value inner-north access, professional employment and compact housing. The median age is 34, university attainment is 59.2% and working from home is 45.1%. Renters make up 48.2%, while the crime rate of 80.3 per 1,000 means property security should be considered.
What schools are in Brunswick West?
Brunswick West has 4 nearby primary schools, comprising 3 government schools and 1 Catholic school. The local group includes St Joseph's School, Brunswick North Primary School, Brunswick North West Primary School and Brunswick South West Primary School. Check the enrolment zone for the exact address before making a decision.
Is Brunswick West safe?
Brunswick West recorded 1,184 offences at a rate of 80.3 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 836 incidents, well above the 125 crimes against the person recorded. The figures support practical precautions such as secure entries, lighting and careful checks of parking and access arrangements.
Is Brunswick West good for property investment?
Brunswick West has a large rental market at 48.2%, weekly rent of $366 and 43 development applications in 12 months. Rents have grown 30.4% and overseas migration is the primary growth driver. However, the 13.4% vacancy rate is high, so investors should test achievable rent and allow for competition between available properties.
How is Brunswick West's population changing?
The current population is 14,746 and the median age is 34. Population change across the wider area is 8.9% over ten years, with annual growth forecast at 0.86%. The trajectory is Stable, while overseas migration is the main driver and gentrification is rated Active with a score of 40.
What languages are spoken in Brunswick West?
Brunswick West has an overseas-born share of 31.0%, which is 9.4 percentage points above the national comparison. Greek is recorded for 297 residents, Italian for 292, Arabic for 154, Mandarin for 128 and Cantonese for 55. English, Irish and Italian are also prominent ancestry responses.
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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