Elwood vs Brighton

Elwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 48 in Brighton. In Elwood, about half of households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Brighton, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Brighton: a median of $3.06 million, against $2.09 million in Elwood, and rent is higher there too. Elwood is closer to the city centre: 10 km, against 13.4 km. On these figures, Elwood tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Brighton suits couples and older residents.

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

Brighton

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (57% vs 14%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Elwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($621,750 vs $923,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,090,000 vs $3,065,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Elwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Elwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (10 km vs 13.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brighton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 11%)
  • has more GPs (9 vs 4)
  • But Elwood has more units and townhouses to downsize into (86% vs 43%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Elwood returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.0%)
  • Brighton returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Elwood 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.

Elwood 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.

Elwood Brighton
Walkability 96 / 96
Elwood — Walkability: 96/100 Brighton — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 30 / 35
Elwood — Safety: 30/100 Brighton — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Elwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brighton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 60
Elwood — Low flood risk: 36/100 Brighton — Low flood risk: 60/100

Demographics

Brighton has more residents (23,252 vs 15,153); Brighton rents higher ($600/wk vs $415/wk).

Elwood Brighton
Population 15,153 23,252
+53% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.5% +0.0%
Median age 38 48
Median household income $108,992/yr $140,920/yr
+29% vs other
Median weekly rent $415/wk $600/wk
+45% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Elwood Brighton
0-4 4.6% / 3.9%
Elwood — 0-4: 4.6% Brighton — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 8.4% / 11.6%
Elwood — 5-14: 8.4% Brighton — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 3.4% / 6.6%
Elwood — 15-19: 3.4% Brighton — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 4.8% / 5.1%
Elwood — 20-24: 4.8% Brighton — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 21.8% / 7.9%
Elwood — 25-34: 21.8% Brighton — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 18.7% / 10.5%
Elwood — 35-44: 18.7% Brighton — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 15.8% / 15.1%
Elwood — 45-54: 15.8% Brighton — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 11.7% / 14.4%
Elwood — 55-64: 11.7% Brighton — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 6.9% / 12.4%
Elwood — 65-74: 6.9% Brighton — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 2.8% / 8.4%
Elwood — 75-84: 2.8% Brighton — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 1.0% / 4.1%
Elwood — 85+: 1.0% Brighton — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Elwood 57.8% lone person
Elwood — Lone Person: 57.8% Elwood — Couple Families: 23.4% Elwood — One Parent Families: 8.7% Elwood — Group Household: 8.7% Elwood — Other Families: 1.3%
Brighton 38.9% lone person
Brighton — Lone Person: 38.9% Brighton — Couple Families: 45.4% Brighton — One Parent Families: 12.1% Brighton — Group Household: 2.5% Brighton — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Elwood 52.2% renting
Elwood — Owned Outright: 21.2% Elwood — Mortgage: 26.6% Elwood — Renting: 52.2%
Brighton 24.5% renting
Brighton — Owned Outright: 46.5% Brighton — Mortgage: 29.0% Brighton — Renting: 24.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Elwood Brighton
Bachelor Degree 29.0% / 26.2%
Elwood — Bachelor Degree: 29.0% Brighton — Bachelor Degree: 26.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.9% / 10.5%
Elwood — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9% Brighton — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.4%
Elwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Brighton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.9% / 4.7%
Elwood — Certificate III & IV: 6.9% Brighton — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.6%
Elwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Brighton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.0%).

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.

Elwood Brighton
England 5.1% / 5.4%
Elwood — England: 5.1% Brighton — England: 5.4%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.6%
Elwood — New Zealand: 2.3% Brighton — New Zealand: 1.6%
China — / 3.5%
Elwood — China: not among its largest Brighton — China: 3.5%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.2%
Elwood — South Africa: 0.9% Brighton — South Africa: 1.2%
India 1.0% / 0.8%
Elwood — India: 1.0% Brighton — India: 0.8%
Italy 0.9% / 0.8%
Elwood — Italy: 0.9% Brighton — Italy: 0.8%
Ireland 1.2% / —
Elwood — Ireland: 1.2% Brighton — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Elwood 72.2% flats / apartments
Elwood — Flats / Apartments: 72.2% Elwood — Houses: 14.2% Elwood — Townhouses: 13.6%
Brighton 20.5% flats / apartments
Brighton — Flats / Apartments: 20.5% Brighton — Houses: 57.2% Brighton — Townhouses: 22.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Elwood Brighton
Median house price $2,090,000 $3,065,000
Median unit price $621,750 $923,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 58 sales
 27 days
from 141 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.

Elwood Brighton
2 bed $1.44M / $1.6M
Elwood — 2 bed: $1.44M (20 sales) Brighton — 2 bed: $1.6M (12 sales)

20 vs 12 sales

3 bed $2.09M / $2.45M
Elwood — 3 bed: $2.09M (53 sales) Brighton — 3 bed: $2.45M (65 sales)

53 vs 65 sales

4 bed $2.83M / $3.33M
Elwood — 4 bed: $2.83M (23 sales) Brighton — 4 bed: $3.33M (83 sales)

23 vs 83 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Elwood Brighton
1 bed $428K / $450K
Elwood — 1 bed: $428K (135 sales) Brighton — 1 bed: $450K (27 sales)

135 vs 27 sales

2 bed $680K / $880K
Elwood — 2 bed: $680K (287 sales) Brighton — 2 bed: $880K (110 sales)

287 vs 110 sales

3 bed $942K / $1.75M
Elwood — 3 bed: $942K (26 sales) Brighton — 3 bed: $1.75M (43 sales)

26 vs 43 sales

Zoning mix

Elwood Brighton
Residential 74% 79%
Parks and recreation 13% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 9%
Commercial 2% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Elwood Brighton
New dwellings approved 891
across Port Phillip
 473
across Bayside (Vic.)
Approvals change year on year +4175% -47%

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.

Elwood Brighton
Houses 3.1%
$1,325/wk on $2.19M
 3.6%
$1,605/wk on $2.3M
Units 5.1%
$635/wk on $649K
 4.0%
$750/wk on $975K

Ranking within VIC

Elwood Brighton
House price Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Schools Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC

Liveability

Brighton scores higher overall (80 vs 63).

Elwood Brighton
Grade B A
Score 63/100 80/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Elwood carries more flood risk (64 vs 40).

Elwood Brighton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
70/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
40/100
Coastal erosion Low
33/100
 High
76/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Elwood Brighton
Inside the suburb 4 12
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 3 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 5.0 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 4.1%

Schools in Elwood

  • Yesodei HaTorah College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Elwood College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Elwood Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Columba's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Brighton

  • Brighton Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joan of Arc School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Star of the Sea College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Brighton Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Elsternwick Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Firbank Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Elwood Brighton
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 23 50
Parks & reserves 11 16
Childcare 8 18
GPs 4 9
Pharmacies 3 9
Hospitals 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 3 9
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Brighton sits further from the CBD (13.4 km vs 10 km).

Elwood Brighton
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 10 km 13.4 km
+34% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 25 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 232.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 530.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 3184
 3.2%
postcode 3186
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 3184
 17
postcode 3186

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.

Elwood Brighton
Worked from Home 51.5% / 51.4%
Elwood — Worked from Home: 51.5% Brighton — Worked from Home: 51.4%
Car (driver) 35.4% / 38.4%
Elwood — Car (driver): 35.4% Brighton — Car (driver): 38.4%
Train 3.2% / 3.9%
Elwood — Train: 3.2% Brighton — Train: 3.9%
Walked Only 2.9% / 2.8%
Elwood — Walked Only: 2.9% Brighton — Walked Only: 2.8%
Bicycle 2.6% / 1.0%
Elwood — Bicycle: 2.6% Brighton — Bicycle: 1.0%
Car (passenger) 1.5% / 2.1%
Elwood — Car (passenger): 1.5% Brighton — Car (passenger): 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.5%).

Setting

Elwood Brighton
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 721 m
1.7 km to a named beach
 918 m
1.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Elwood Brighton
Connectivity score 76/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
9,418 premises
 9%
12,714 premises

Climate

Elwood Brighton
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Elwood Brighton
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Elwood Brighton
Average residential rate $1,765/yr $2,086/yr
Council Port Phillip Bayside (Vic.)

Federal electorate

Elwood Brighton
Division Macnamara Goldstein
Member Josh Burns Tim Wilson
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Elwood Brighton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Elwood

Apartments Coastal Inner Parks Professionals River Trams Urban

Brighton

Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Elwood

Elwood vs St Kilda Elwood vs Elsternwick Elwood vs Balaclava Elwood vs Ripponlea

Other comparisons with Brighton

Brighton vs Brighton East Brighton vs Hampton Brighton vs Elsternwick Brighton vs Gardenvale
Full data on Elwood Full data on Brighton
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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