Gagebrook
At 27, Gagebrook's median age is 13 years below the national benchmark, yet its forecast trajectory is Aging. The suburb is small and dense by Tasmanian fringe standards, with 1572 residents in 1.35 sq km, and compared with nearby Brighton and Bridgewater it reads as a compact residential pocket rather than a service centre. Its identity is defined by 77.0% renting, 92.4% separate houses and household income at percentile 5.1, so affordability and tenancy conditions shape daily life more than prestige housing demand.
Local council: Brighton
Population
1,572
Median Age
27.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$825/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are looking at a detached-house market first: 92.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 70.6% have 3 bedrooms, while 4 plus bedroom stock is only 4.4%. That mix suits buyers needing a conventional house footprint, but choice at the larger end is lower. The $867 monthly mortgage figure and 24.3% mortgage-to-income ratio sit below the rent burden of 29.1%, because purchase costs are low relative to income where buyers can secure finance. With only 15.4% mortgaged ownership, competition from owner-occupiers is thinner than in higher-income suburbs.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are looking at a detached-house market first: 92.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 70.6% have 3 bedrooms, while 4 plus bedroom stock is only 4.4%. That mix suits buyers needing a conventional house footprint, but choice at the larger end is lower. The $867 monthly mortgage figure and 24.3% mortgage-to-income ratio sit below the rent burden of 29.1%, because purchase costs are low relative to income where buyers can secure finance. With only 15.4% mortgaged ownership, competition from owner-occupiers is thinner than in higher-income suburbs.
For Investors
Investors see a rental-dominated suburb, with 77.0% of households renting compared with 15.4% under mortgage and 7.7% owned outright. Weekly rent is $240, so the appeal is likely yield and affordability rather than premium rent growth. Vacancy at 7.7% is a clear caution because a deep tenant pool can still carry leasing risk if stock quality, tenancy support or local demand weakens. Development approvals are 0 over 12 months, while rent growth in the shift indicators is 63.4%, pointing to pressure on existing stock rather than new supply.
Demographics
Gagebrook is much younger than the national profile, with a median age of 27, 13 years below the national median. Education and migration markers are also lower: 7.1% hold university qualifications, 23.0 percentage points below national, and 3.3% were born overseas, 18.3 points below national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 659 people, followed by Irish at 74 and Scottish at 62. One-parent families are prominent at 53.4%, which helps explain why services, transport and household cost pressures matter more than lifestyle consumption patterns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.4%
Houses
3.6%
Townhouse
4.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is overwhelmingly low-rise: 92.4% separate houses compared with 4.0% apartments and 3.6% semi-detached dwellings. Tenure is the sharper story, with 77.0% renting, 7.7% owned outright and 15.4% under mortgage, so turnover and rental management influence the feel of the suburb. Bedroom supply is concentrated in 3 bedroom homes at 70.6%, with 2 bedroom homes at 21.6%. Rent-to-income sits at 29.1% and mortgage-to-income at 24.3%, indicating affordability is tight but still below the marked stress flags in the local measures.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$240
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$478
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
46
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.2%
Couples with children
18.1%
Couples, no children
53.4%
Single parent
397
Total families
Economy & Employment
Work is concentrated in essential and service sectors. Healthcare accounts for 33.1% of employed residents, above Retail at 14.5%, Public Admin at 9.6%, Other Services at 7.2% and Manufacturing at 6.6%. Occupations lean toward Labourers at 88 people, Community and Personal Service at 77 and Sales at 52, which fits the lower university share. Labour market strain is significant: unemployment is 22.5% and participation is 41.4%. All 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 1, showing income, education, resources and overall advantage are lower than state and national norms rather than a single statistical anomaly.
Unemployment
22.5%
Labour Force
453
Unemployed
102
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
42.2%
Part-time
47.0%
Participation
41.4%
Employed
351
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
7.1%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
3.3%
Dwellings
552
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 82.7% of commuters drive compared with 5.3% using public transport and 2.8% walking or cycling. In a 1.35 sq km suburb with density of 1168.8 people per sq km, short distances do not automatically mean easy access, because work and services often sit in the Brighton and Bridgewater corridor. School choices should be checked through current catchment, sector and year-level information rather than assumed from proximity. IRSAD decile 1 signals lower relative advantage, so practical livability depends heavily on transport, service access and housing stability.
Drive
82.7%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Growth Outlook
Growth is modest rather than explosive, with the forecast trend at 0.95% a year and the 10 year population change indicator at 8.8%. The migration driver is Balanced, so change is not being pushed by one dominant inflow. The shift trajectory is Aging, backed by a 4.6 point lift in senior share and a 3.1 point fall in young share. Gentrification is classed as Early signs with a score of 20, below the stronger shift score of 53, because rent growth of 63.4% and worsening affordability from 40.3 to 48.2 are moving faster than broad income uplift.
Population trend: Brighton council area
Gagebrook sits in the Brighton council area. These are the council area's residents, not Gagebrook's.
Residents 2025
20,527
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
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 Gagebrook compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gagebrook a good suburb to live in?
Gagebrook can suit households prioritising low-cost detached housing and proximity to the Brighton and Bridgewater corridor. It is less suited to buyers wanting higher-income amenity settings, with household income at percentile 5.1 and 77.0% of households renting.
What is the median house price in Gagebrook?
A reliable current settled-sale median needs a live sales check. The fixed local indicators are $240 weekly rent, $867 monthly mortgage payments and 92.4% separate houses, so compare recent 3 bedroom homes before bidding.
What schools are in Gagebrook?
School choice should be checked through current catchment tools and nearby Brighton or Bridgewater options. Within the 7030 postcode and a 1.35 sq km suburb, compare sector, year levels and travel time rather than relying on suburb name alone.
Is Gagebrook safe?
Safety should be assessed at street level using current local incident information and inspections at different times of day. The suburb covers only 1.35 sq km, and with 82.7% of commuters driving, parking, lighting and route choice matter in day-to-day comfort.
Is Gagebrook good for property investment?
It may appeal to yield-focused investors because 77.0% of households rent and weekly rent is $240. The caution is vacancy at 7.7% and 0 recorded development approvals over 12 months, so tenant selection and property condition are central to performance.
How is Gagebrook's population changing?
Growth is steady, not rapid, with the forecast trend at 0.95% a year and the 10 year change indicator at 8.8%. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 4.6 points and young share down 3.1 points.
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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