🔍

Brighton

VIC 3186 • Greater Melbourne

23,252
Population (2021)
$140,920
Median Household Income
8.37 km²
Area
$600/wk
Median Rent
Prestige BaysideBeach LifestyleAffluentHeritage Homes

About Brighton

Brighton is Melbourne's premier beachside suburb, an affluent enclave of 23,300 in Bayside, located 11 kilometres from the CBD. The Sandringham line serves Brighton Beach station, while the iconic bathing boxes provide one of Melbourne's most photographed landmarks. Grand homes on tree-lined streets meet pristine bay beaches in a suburb that defines bayside prestige.

Church Street Brighton offers upscale shopping and dining, while the beach and foreshore provide recreation in beautiful surroundings. The community is established and affluent, with families prioritising lifestyle and schooling. Brighton attracts wealthy families and professionals seeking beachside living in Melbourne's most prestigious coastal suburb, where heritage homes, excellent schools, and beach access combine in one of Australia's most desirable addresses.

Brighton falls under postcode 3186 and is governed by Bayside Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Brighton (Southern Metropolitan) electorate.

📰 Featured In

💰 Top 50 Suburbs in Victoria by Median Household Income🏷️ Top 25 Most Expensive Suburbs in VIC by Median House Price🏷️ Top 25 Most Expensive Suburbs in VIC by Median Unit Price

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3186
Urban Area
Bayside
LGA / Council
Bayside
Federal Electorate
Goldstein
State Electorate
Brighton (Southern Metropolitan)
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.91°, 145.00°
Statistical Area
Greater Melbourne
Area
8.37 km²
Elevation
18m

🏷️ Property Prices June quarter 2025

Median sale prices in Brighton for the June quarter 2025. Median sale prices published by the Valuer-General Victoria.

🏡House
$3.55M
67 sales · ▼ 6.5% YoY
🏢Unit / Apartment
$1.13M
65 sales · ▼ 19.2% YoY

Source: Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report. Medians are for the latest quarter; the change shown is the official 12-month movement. Suburbs with very few sales in a quarter can be volatile.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$600
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$3,467
Avg Household Size
2.4 people
Median Age
48 years

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Local bus services — Melbourne CBD Varies

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
11 km
By Train
Train access via local station
By Car (Peak)
25-45 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
20-35 min

🛣️ Located 11 km from Melbourne CBD

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Daily errands can often be done on foot near local shopping strips, but a car is useful for larger trips

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    Church Street Brighton 3186 VIC

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Bayside Local Government Area, which contains Brighton. Rates are per 100,000 residents for the year ending September 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
536.8 / 100k
2yr Up 22.0% 10yr Up 26.4%
Motor vehicle theft
317.1 / 100k
2yr Up 82.7% 10yr Up 100.2%
Non-FV assault
135.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 29.2%
Robbery (unarmed)
3.7 / 100k
2yr Up 30.1% 10yr Up 28.3%
Steal from vehicle
931.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 19.7%
View all offence subgroups for Bayside →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
23,253
Census 2021
23,252
▲ -0.0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$54,496
Personal Income 2021
$65,468
▲ 20.1% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$65,468 / yr
$1259/wk
Household
$140,920 / yr
$2710/wk
Family
$196,456 / yr
$3778/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

⚖️ Compare Brighton With

🏘️Toorak
View comparison →🏘️Elwood
View comparison →🏘️Albert Park
View comparison →

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 16,064
Born Overseas 6,369

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 1,262
  • 2. China 812
  • 3. New Zealand 363
  • 4. South Africa 272
  • 5. United States 243
  • 6. Italy 187
  • 7. India 179
  • 8. Germany 160
  • 9. Scotland 159
  • 10. Ireland 139

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 8,707
Australian 6,416
Irish 3,211
Scottish 2,550
Chinese 1,475
Italian 1,456
Greek 948
German 923
Polish 487
Dutch 353

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

10,771
Both parents born in Australia
8,127
Both parents born overseas
3,386
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
46.5%
No Religion
41.5%
Judaism
3.6%
Buddhism
1.4%
Hinduism
0.6%
Islam
0.6%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
909 (3.9%)
5-14 years
2,707 (11.6%)
15-19 years
1,534 (6.6%)
20-24 years
1,191 (5.1%)
25-34 years
1,845 (7.9%)
35-44 years
2,442 (10.5%)
45-54 years
3,506 (15.1%)
55-64 years
3,338 (14.4%)
65-74 years
2,878 (12.4%)
75-84 years
1,957 (8.4%)
85+ years
958 (4.1%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brighton known for? +

Brighton is a well-established residential suburb in Bayside, VIC, with a population of approximately 23,252 residents. The suburb is valued for its local schools, parks, and community facilities.

How far is Brighton from Melbourne CBD? +

Brighton is approximately 11 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, typically a 20-35 min drive outside peak hours.

Does Brighton have public transport? +

Brighton is served by local bus services connecting to the broader VIC network. Nearby train stations provide access to Melbourne CBD.

What is the population of Brighton? +

According to the 2021 Census, Brighton has a population of approximately 23,252 residents.

Is Brighton a good place to live? +

Brighton offers a practical and liveable lifestyle with local schools, parks, and shopping. With a median income around $65,702, it attracts a broad demographic mix.

What is the postcode for Brighton? +

The postcode for Brighton, VIC is 3186.

What is the average income in Brighton? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Brighton is about $1,259 per week (around $65,500 per year). The median household income is $2,710 per week and the median family income is $3,778 per week.

What is the median house price in Brighton? +

As of June quarter 2025, the median house price is $3,550,000, down 6.5% year-on-year, and the median unit/apartment price is $1,125,000, down 19.2% year-on-year. Figures are based on Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report.

What is the age profile of Brighton? +

The median age in Brighton is 48. The largest age group is 45–54 (3,506 residents, around 15%). Around 22% of residents are under 20 and about 25% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Brighton a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Brighton is part of the Bayside LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Brighton? +

In Brighton, the median weekly rent is $600, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $3,467 (2021 Census).