New Brighton vs Brunswick Heads.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,567,500 and $1,885,000.
New Brighton (median $1,567,500) is roughly 17% cheaper to buy into than Brunswick Heads ($1,885,000). Over the past year, Brunswick Heads (-9.2%) ran 5.1 percentage points ahead of New Brighton (-14.3%) on house-price growth.
New Brighton scores higher on walkability (8/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Brunswick Heads (1046) sits above New Brighton (1037). New Brighton skews owner-occupied (67%), Brunswick Heads runs more rental-dense (57% owner).
For buyers
New Brighton is the lower entry point at $1,567,500 median, 17% 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: New Brighton delivers the better gross yield (3.25% vs 2.70%), but Brunswick Heads 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
Brunswick Heads edges out on average school ICSEA (1046 vs 1037). New Brighton also has a higher family-household share (65% vs 55%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is New Brighton or Brunswick Heads cheaper to buy in?
New Brighton has the lower median house price at $1,567,500, roughly 17% below Brunswick Heads ($1,885,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, New Brighton or Brunswick Heads?
Over the past 12 months, Brunswick Heads grew -9.2% vs -14.3% in New Brighton, a gap of 5.1 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 New Brighton or Brunswick Heads have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Brunswick Heads scores 1046 vs 1037 in New Brighton. 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, New Brighton or Brunswick Heads?
New Brighton scores 8/100 on walkability vs 2/100. 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, New Brighton or Brunswick Heads?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.25% in New Brighton vs 2.70% in Brunswick Heads. 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.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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