Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Brighton
8 km²
High household incomes set Brighton apart as one of the most affluent areas in the region. The community is far older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 48 and a quarter of the population aged 65 or over. This wealth is reflected in the housing, where many residents own their homes outright and typical weekly incomes are well above state figures. It is a highly educated, professional population living in a well-connected coastal suburb of Melbourne.
Brighton's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The area is much older than most, with the typical resident aged 48 and 25% of the population aged 65 or over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 15.6%, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
English and Australian ancestries are the most common, though 27.4% of residents were born overseas. This international presence has risen slightly since 2011.
English is the main language for 80.5% of the community. While the share of people using another language at home has risen to 15.8%, this remains well below the Victorian average.
No religion is common here for 41.6% of residents, a figure that rose by 17 percentage points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 46.4%.
Brighton is exceptionally well-qualified, with 47.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure. Year 12 completion is also much higher than most areas at 79.5%.
Wealth is a defining feature, with a typical weekly family income of $3,808, far above the state average. About 43.8% of households earn $3,000 or more each week.
Residents generally enjoy good health, with rates of mental health conditions and long-term health issues both sitting below the national average.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 18.5% of people contributing their time. Unpaid care for others is also slightly above the state average.
The First Nations community is small, though those who do live here have household incomes and Year 12 completion rates far above the national average.
One-parent families are much less common here than in most areas. About 27.9% of people live alone, which is a slight increase since 2011.
Home ownership is strong, with 45.1% of homes owned outright. However, the market is expensive, with typical weekly rents at $600 and monthly mortgage payments reaching $3,467.
A striking 45% of the workforce now works from home, a massive increase from 8.2% in 2011. The area is very well served by public transport, with a 3-minute walk to the nearest stop.
About 39.6% of the population moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.7% of the community.
The workforce is dominated by professionals and managers, and the unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is much lower than most areas.
Brighton ranks at the very top for overall advantage and access to resources, reflecting its high levels of education, job skills, and wealth.
The area experiences lower maximum temperatures than most, with an average of 20.2 degrees, and rainfall is slightly above the state average.
Described as a walker's paradise, nearly every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, and public transport.