Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Brighton East suburb profile
Brighton East, VIC · Postcode 3187
This Brighton East suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Brighton East, VIC (postcode 3187). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Brighton East with nearby suburbs.
Brighton East at a glance
Population
16,757
Median rent
$600/wk
Household income
$2,544/wk
Median age
45
Brighton East trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+7.7% over 10 years
Population
16,757
was 15,998 in 2016
+759 · +4.7%
Median rent
$600/wk
was $500/wk in 2016
+$100 · +20%
Household income
$2,544/wk
was $2,065/wk in 2016
+$479 · +23.2%
Median age
45
was 44 in 2016
+1 · +2.3%
Dig deeper: Brighton East population growth · Brighton East then and now
Brighton East vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Brighton East, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+53.6% vs area
- Brighton East$600/wk
- Nearby$423/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
+31.4% vs area
- Brighton East$2,544/wk
- Nearby$2,063.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
+15.4% vs area
- Brighton East45
- Nearby39
- Melbourne39
Personal income
+22.8% vs area
- Brighton East$1,036/wk
- Nearby$1,138.5/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Brighton East compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Brighton East ranks among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. It shows strong access to economic resources and high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 101,083.8
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 101,126.6
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 91,087.7
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 101,130.7
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Brighton East on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Brighton East, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Brighton East people
- Population
- 16,757
- Median age
- 45
- Born overseas
- 29.7%
- Average household size
- 2.6
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Brighton East income
- Median household income
- $2,544/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,036/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Brighton East housing
- Median rent
- $600/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $3,300/mo
- Separate houses
- 62.1%
- Flats & apartments
- 7.3%
- Owned outright
- 37.1%
- Mortgaged
- 31.3%
- Rented
- 17.9%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 8.5%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Brighton East work
- Employment to population
- 58.6%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.4%
- Year 12 or above
- 76.8%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3187)
Compare Brighton East with nearby suburbs
Brighton East in numbers
Brighton East had 16,757 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 110th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 45, 10% above the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.6 people. 29.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 37.1% own their home outright, 31.3% are paying a mortgage, 17.9% rent. Separate houses make up 62.1% of dwellings, with 7.3% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $600/wk, 71% above the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $2,544/wk, 43% above the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.4%. 76.8% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 10 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 4.7% (from 15,998 to 16,757). Median rent moved from $500/wk to $600/wk (+20%).
Brighton East suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Brighton East, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Brighton East was $600/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Brighton East, VIC?
- Brighton East had 16,757 residents at the 2021 Census, up 4.7% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Brighton East?
- Median household income in Brighton East was $2,544/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Brighton East?
- 17.9% of occupied homes in Brighton East were rented, 37.1% were owned outright and 31.3% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Brighton East suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Brighton East. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Melbourne