Bracken Ridge vs Brighton

Bracken Ridge is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Brighton. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Brighton: a median of $1.25 million, against $1.05 million in Bracken Ridge. On these figures, Bracken Ridge tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Brighton suits people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Bracken Ridge

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 14)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 63%)
  • But Brighton carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 58/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Bracken Ridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,050,500 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Bracken Ridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 68/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bracken Ridge is more walkable (76/100 vs 68/100)
  • Brighton carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 58/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bracken Ridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Bracken Ridge and Brighton drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Walkability 76 / 68
Bracken Ridge — Walkability: 76/100 Brighton — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 42 / 57
Bracken Ridge — Safety: 42/100 Brighton — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bracken Ridge — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brighton — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bracken Ridge has more residents (17,488 vs 9,664); Brighton skews older (42 vs 37).

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Population 17,488
+45% vs other
 9,664
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +2.0%
Median age 37 42
Median household income $102,544/yr $103,012/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+2% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
0-4 6.4% / 5.8%
Bracken Ridge — 0-4: 6.4% Brighton — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 13.9% / 14.1%
Bracken Ridge — 5-14: 13.9% Brighton — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 6.4% / 5.7%
Bracken Ridge — 15-19: 6.4% Brighton — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 5.8% / 4.1%
Bracken Ridge — 20-24: 5.8% Brighton — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 13.3% / 9.1%
Bracken Ridge — 25-34: 13.3% Brighton — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 15.0% / 14.8%
Bracken Ridge — 35-44: 15.0% Brighton — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 12.9% / 16.4%
Bracken Ridge — 45-54: 12.9% Brighton — 45-54: 16.4%
55-64 11.5% / 13.7%
Bracken Ridge — 55-64: 11.5% Brighton — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 9.1% / 9.7%
Bracken Ridge — 65-74: 9.1% Brighton — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 4.6% / 5.0%
Bracken Ridge — 75-84: 4.6% Brighton — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 1.2% / 1.7%
Bracken Ridge — 85+: 1.2% Brighton — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge 53.1% couple families
Bracken Ridge — Couple Families: 53.1% Bracken Ridge — Lone Person: 21.9% Bracken Ridge — One Parent Families: 19.0% Bracken Ridge — Group Household: 4.1% Bracken Ridge — Other Families: 1.9%
Brighton 46.3% couple families
Brighton — Couple Families: 46.3% Brighton — Lone Person: 32.8% Brighton — One Parent Families: 16.7% Brighton — Group Household: 2.8% Brighton — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge 24.5% renting
Bracken Ridge — Owned Outright: 29.9% Bracken Ridge — Mortgage: 45.5% Bracken Ridge — Renting: 24.5%
Brighton 20.7% renting
Brighton — Owned Outright: 33.2% Brighton — Mortgage: 46.1% Brighton — Renting: 20.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Certificate III & IV 15.9% / 16.1%
Bracken Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 15.9% Brighton — Certificate III & IV: 16.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 14.1%
Bracken Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Brighton — Bachelor Degree: 14.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 9.0%
Bracken Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Brighton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 3.8%
Bracken Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Brighton — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.8%
Bracken Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Brighton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
England 3.2% / 5.7%
Bracken Ridge — England: 3.2% Brighton — England: 5.7%
New Zealand 4.2% / 3.8%
Bracken Ridge — New Zealand: 4.2% Brighton — New Zealand: 3.8%
India 4.0% / 0.4%
Bracken Ridge — India: 4.0% Brighton — India: 0.4%
Philippines 2.4% / 0.5%
Bracken Ridge — Philippines: 2.4% Brighton — Philippines: 0.5%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.6%
Bracken Ridge — South Africa: 0.7% Brighton — South Africa: 0.6%
Scotland — / 0.8%
Bracken Ridge — Scotland: not among its largest Brighton — Scotland: 0.8%
Fiji 0.7% / —
Bracken Ridge — Fiji: 0.7% Brighton — Fiji: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bracken Ridge 88.3% houses
Bracken Ridge — Houses: 88.3% Bracken Ridge — Townhouses: 8.2% Bracken Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 3.5%
Brighton 90.0% houses
Brighton — Houses: 90.0% Brighton — Townhouses: 5.7% Brighton — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Median house price $1,050,500 $1,250,000
Median unit price $732,500 $726,250
Median land price — $1,025,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 197 sales
 27 days
from 125 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
3 bed $976K / $1.17M
Bracken Ridge — 3 bed: $976K (148 sales) Brighton — 3 bed: $1.17M (130 sales)

148 vs 130 sales

4 bed $1.12M / $1.35M
Bracken Ridge — 4 bed: $1.12M (123 sales) Brighton — 4 bed: $1.35M (59 sales)

123 vs 59 sales

5 bed $1.27M / $1.7M
Bracken Ridge — 5 bed: $1.27M (25 sales) Brighton — 5 bed: $1.7M (22 sales)

25 vs 22 sales

Development activity

Bracken Ridge Brighton
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Houses 3.8%
$760/wk on $1.05M
 2.9%
$750/wk on $1.35M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Bracken Ridge Brighton
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 76% of QLD
same for both
Schools Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 60% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 9% of QLD

Liveability

Bracken Ridge is more walkable (76 vs 68).

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 72/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Bracken Ridge carries more crime risk (58 vs 43).

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
79/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Inside the suburb 6 4
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-Brisbane Campus, 8.2 km
 2
UniSC Moreton Bay, 8.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 1.6%

Schools in Bracken Ridge

  • St John Fisher College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Bracken Ridge State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Bracken Ridge State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Norris Road State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Queensland Pathways State College - Bracken Ridge Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Brighton

  • St Kieran's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Brighton State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Nashville State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Autism Queensland Education & Therapy Centre - Brighton Campus Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 17 14
Childcare 8 6
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 4 3

Mobility

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Walkability score 76/100 68/100
Distance to Brisbane 28.7 km 29.8 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 199.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 111.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4017
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 4017
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Car (driver) 69.8% / 65.5%
Bracken Ridge — Car (driver): 69.8% Brighton — Car (driver): 65.5%
Worked from Home 17.2% / 22.8%
Bracken Ridge — Worked from Home: 17.2% Brighton — Worked from Home: 22.8%
Train 4.0% / 5.1%
Bracken Ridge — Train: 4.0% Brighton — Train: 5.1%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 3.8%
Bracken Ridge — Car (passenger): 4.9% Brighton — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Bus 3.1% / 1.0%
Bracken Ridge — Bus: 3.1% Brighton — Bus: 1.0%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.0%
Bracken Ridge — Walked Only: 0.7% Brighton — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.8%).

Setting

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km 745 m
4.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 11%
6,800 premises
 1%
4,055 premises

Climate

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bracken Ridge Brighton
PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.74 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Division Petrie Lilley
Member Emma Comer Anika Wells
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bracken Ridge Brighton
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bracken Ridge

Middle-Ring Parks

Brighton

Coastal Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bracken Ridge

Bracken Ridge vs Bald Hills Bracken Ridge vs Fitzgibbon Bracken Ridge vs Sandgate Bracken Ridge vs Deagon

Other comparisons with Brighton

Brighton vs Griffin Brighton vs Bald Hills Brighton vs Sandgate
Full data on Bracken Ridge Full data on Brighton
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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