Berkeley vs Brownsville
Berkeley (median $810,000) is roughly 8% cheaper to buy into than Brownsville ($885,000). Over the past year, Brownsville (+5.5%) ran 1.7 percentage points ahead of Berkeley (+3.8%) on house-price growth.
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Berkeley and Brownsville side by side
| Measure | Berkeley | Brownsville |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $810,000 | $885,000 |
| Median unit | $274,320 | $316,800 |
| House price change, 12 months | +3.8% | +5.5% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $650/wk | $700/wk |
| Unit rent | – | $550/wk |
| Owner occupied | 59.0% | 61.0% |
| Renter occupied | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 965 | 968 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 2 | 0 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 7,798 | 524 |
| Median age | 40 | 44 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1034 mm | 1035 mm |
| Mean max, January | 26.2°C | 26.6°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Berkeley scores higher on walkability (2/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Brownsville (968) sits above Berkeley (965).
- For buyers
- Berkeley is the lower entry point at $810,000 median, 8% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Berkeley delivers the better gross yield (4.17% vs 4.11%), but Brownsville has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
- For families
- Brownsville edges out on average school ICSEA (968 vs 965).
Berkeley vs Brownsville: common questions
Is Berkeley or Brownsville cheaper to buy in?
Berkeley has the lower median house price at $810,000, roughly 8% below Brownsville ($885,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Berkeley or Brownsville?
Over the past 12 months, Brownsville grew +5.5% vs +3.8% in Berkeley, a gap of 1.7 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Berkeley or Brownsville have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Brownsville scores 968 vs 965 in Berkeley. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Berkeley or Brownsville?
Berkeley scores 2/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Berkeley or Brownsville?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.17% in Berkeley vs 4.11% in Brownsville. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
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