North Brighton
At a median age of 49, North Brighton residents are 9 years older than the national figure, which explains much of what the data shows: high outright ownership at 40%, low turnover (81.7% stayed in the same dwelling), and a household income sitting at the 62.5th percentile nationally despite strong professional employment. The suburb covers just 1.18 square kilometres, housing 2,665 residents at a density of 2,259 per square kilometre. House prices reached $1,900,000 in early 2026, a 31.5% rise from $1,445,000 a year earlier, reflecting demand that has significantly outpaced broader Adelaide growth over the same period.
Population
2,665
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,772/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
25
Median House
$1.9M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $1,900,000 in 1Q 2026, up 31.5% from $1,445,000 in 1Q 2025. Stock is 83.1% detached houses with semi-detached at 15.4% and apartments at just 1.5%, so buyers compete for a uniform dwelling type. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.2% of stock and 4-plus bedroom for 29.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning households carrying debt are not stretched by SA standards. Outright owners at 40% outnumber mortgage holders at 37.8%, a sign that established, debt-free residents dominate the ownership base.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,900,000 in 1Q 2026, up 31.5% from $1,445,000 in 1Q 2025. Stock is 83.1% detached houses with semi-detached at 15.4% and apartments at just 1.5%, so buyers compete for a uniform dwelling type. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.2% of stock and 4-plus bedroom for 29.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning households carrying debt are not stretched by SA standards. Outright owners at 40% outnumber mortgage holders at 37.8%, a sign that established, debt-free residents dominate the ownership base.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $395 against a $1,900,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.1%, low even by premium coastal SA standards. Vacancy at 7.2% indicates rental supply exceeds current demand. Development logged 23 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new supply, confirming a renovation-active market. The 81.7% residential retention rate shows long-term holder behaviour, while the 18.3% who moved create periodic stock availability. Capital growth is the primary investment case here, as the 31.5% price gain from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026 demonstrates, rather than any meaningful rental yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
164
Last 12 Months
25
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Brighton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Paringa Park Primary School
U, R-6 · 515 students
Brighton Secondary School
7-12 · 1737 students
Demographics
English (1,161), Scottish (262), and Irish (239) ancestries dominate, with overseas-born residents at 21.9%, only 0.3 percentage points above the national average. The median age of 49 is 9 years higher than the national figure, reflecting an established owner base that has aged in place. University qualifications reach 40.3%, which is 10.2 percentage points above national, indicating a settled professional cohort rather than a transient graduate population. Average household size of 2.5 matches national. Couples with children (775 families) represent 40% of all families and couples without children 30.5%, a profile consistent with families at later life stages and empty-nesters.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.1%
Houses
15.4%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Prices moved from $1,445,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,900,000 in 1Q 2026, a 31.5% gain above typical SA annual growth rates. Tenure is ownership-skewed: 40.0% own outright, 37.8% carry a mortgage, and 22.2% rent. The high outright ownership rate is consistent with the median age of 49 and long residence periods. Stock is 83.1% separate houses and only 1.5% apartments. Bedroom sizes skew large: 3-bedroom at 47.2% and 4-plus at 29.9%, with just 3.8% in the 0-1 bedroom category. Mortgage-to-income at 26.1% stays below stress territory, though the $1,900,000 median demands substantial upfront capital.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$395
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$793
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.2%
Unoccupied
75
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples, no children
1,939
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (20.3%, 166 workers) and Education (19.2%, 157 workers) together account for nearly 40% of employment, higher than the national share of these sectors. Professional/Technical follows at 9.9%. By occupation, Professionals (359) and Managers (183) lead, covering roughly half of employed residents. Unemployment is 2.3%, below the national average, and the full-time rate is 57.1%. Participation at 49.8% is lower than national norms because 909 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the median age of 49. Household income sits at the 62.5th percentile nationally, above average but moderate relative to the $1,900,000 median price.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.1%
Part-time
40.6%
Participation
49.8%
Employed
1,093
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.3%
Postgraduate
9.9%
Born Overseas
21.9%
Dwellings
969
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 86.2%, with public transport used by only 4.1% of commuters, reflecting the coastal suburban layout of southern Adelaide. Walking and cycling account for 4.6%. Crime sits at 25.1 incidents per 1,000 residents (67 total), a low rate consistent with the suburb's low-crime-rate classification. Volunteering at 20.8% is above typical metropolitan rates, indicating community engagement. Residents needing assistance number 323 (13%), tracking the older median age of 49 rather than economic hardship. Mortgage-to-income at 26.1% and rent-to-income at 22.3% both stay below the 30% stress threshold, giving owners and renters manageable cost burdens relative to the 62.5th-percentile household income.
Drive
86.2%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
67
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
25.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Brighton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Brighton a good suburb to live in?
North Brighton suits established households and those seeking a low-density coastal setting. The crime rate of 25.1 per 1,000 residents is low, 81.7% of residents stayed in the same dwelling year-on-year, and university-educated residents at 40.3% are 10.2 percentage points above the national rate. The main trade-off is a $1,900,000 median house price, which limits entry to well-capitalised buyers.
What is the median house price in North Brighton?
The median house price reached $1,900,000 in 1Q 2026, up 31.5% from $1,445,000 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $395 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in North Brighton?
No schools are recorded inside the North Brighton boundary in this dataset. Families in the suburb rely on schools in neighbouring areas. The local adult population is highly qualified, with 40.3% holding university degrees, which is 10.2 percentage points above the national average.
Is North Brighton safe?
North Brighton recorded 67 total incidents, giving a crime rate of 25.1 per 1,000 residents, a low figure by metropolitan SA standards. The suburb's identity signals include a low-crime-rate classification. The community has a volunteering rate of 20.8% and 81.7% of residents remained in the same dwelling, both consistent with a settled, low-turnover area.
Is North Brighton good for property investment?
Price growth of 31.5% from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026 is strong, but the gross rental yield is around 1.1% against a $1,900,000 median at $395 weekly rent. Vacancy at 7.2% is elevated, meaning the rental market is competitive. The investment case relies on continued capital growth rather than rental income, given the premium price point.
How is North Brighton's population changing?
North Brighton has a population of 2,665 across 1.18 square kilometres. The suburb shows high stability, with 81.7% of residents remaining in the same dwelling over the past year and a turnover rate of just 18.3%. The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, indicating an aging, long-settled resident base rather than rapid population turnover.
How much development is happening in North Brighton?
There were 23 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Examples include a new two-level detached dwelling, single-storey additions, and shed constructions. This pace is modest for a suburb of 2,665 residents and reflects incremental improvement to existing stock rather than large-scale new supply, consistent with the 83.1% separate house composition.
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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