Clarinda

Clarinda has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As per AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since May 2026, the estimated population of Clarinda is around 7,478. This figure represents an increase of 37 people from the 2021 Census count of 7,441 residents. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 7,437 in June 2025 and 55 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,130 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods for Clarinda.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Clarinda is expected to increase its population by 271 persons to reach 7,750 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of approximately 3.6% over the 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Clarinda is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Clarinda saw around 17 new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 86 homes were approved, with 15 more approved in FY-26 so far. Despite population decline, new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice to buyers.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $720,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. This financial year, $11.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, showing steady commercial investment activity. Comparatively, Clarinda exhibits approximately 61% of Greater Melbourne's construction activity per person and ranks among the 13th percentile nationally, suggesting relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing properties. This is reflective of the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity comprises 50.0% detached dwellings and 50.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the area's current housing composition (88.0% houses). This denser development provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

With approximately 1262 people per dwelling approval, Clarinda demonstrates an established market. AreaSearch forecasts indicate the location will gain 230 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Clarinda has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include Canterbury Gardens Estate, Kingston Heath Residential Estate, Talbot Village (Former Talbot Quarry), and Level Crossing Removal - Caulfield to Dandenong. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Clarinda remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Clarinda has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate was 4.1% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.7%. As of December 2025, 3,711 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.6% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation in Clarinda was at 60.3%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 25.6% of residents worked from home. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing showed notable concentration with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services had lower representation at 8.2% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 3.7%, and labour force increased by 4.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4% and unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, suggest potential future demand within Clarinda. These projections indicate national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Clarinda's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Clarinda has an income level below the national average, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Clarinda is $49,379, with an average income of $59,180. In comparison, Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes are $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on a 9.62% growth in wages since financial year 2023, current estimates for Clarinda would be approximately $54,129 (median) and $64,873 (average) as of March 2026. According to the Census conducted in 2021, individual incomes in Clarinda lag at the 17th percentile ($640 weekly), while household income performs better at the 40th percentile. The earnings profile shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 31.2% of residents (2,333 people). After housing costs, 85.0% of income remains for other expenses. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Clarinda is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Clarinda's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clarinda stood at 44.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.2% and rented ones at 23.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $394 compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Clarinda's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

Clarinda has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.4% of all households, including 38.0% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 23.6%, with lone person households at 20.7% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Clarinda exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Clarinda's educational qualifications trail Greater Melbourne's regional benchmarks. As of 2021, 31.4% of Clarinda residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to 37.0% in Greater Melbourne. This discrepancy indicates potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 21.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.2% and graduate diplomas at 1.9%.

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 26.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding them. Advanced diplomas account for 10.1% and certificates for 16.0%. Educational participation is notably high in Clarinda, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2021 census. This includes 8.1% in primary education, 6.3% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Clarinda has 33 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by eight different routes that together facilitate 1,218 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically residing 233 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, Clarinda sees most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation at 87%, while train use stands at 7%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 25.6% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 174 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 36 weekly trips per individual stop.

Clarinda's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Clarinda's health data shows positive outcomes for its residents. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks, with low prevalence of common health issues among the general population. However, older cohorts have higher prevalence compared to the national average.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% (3,759 people) compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most common conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.4% and 7.5% of residents respectively. 68.4% declare no medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Clarinda has a higher proportion of seniors (26.8%, or 2,004 people) than Greater Melbourne (15.0%). Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Clarinda is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Clarinda has a high level of cultural diversity, with 57.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 54.0% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in Clarinda, comprising 58.6% of people. However, Buddhism is more prevalent in Clarinda compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 7.7% versus 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (20.9%), Greek (13.1%), and Australian (11.3%). Notably, Other and Greek groups have a substantially higher representation than regional averages, while Australians are notably lower. Additionally, Russian (1.0% vs 0.4%), Sri Lankan (1.4% vs 0.8%), and Indian (8.5% vs 4.2%) ethnicities show notable overrepresentation in Clarinda compared to regional averages.

Clarinda hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Clarinda is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Clarinda has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (10.0%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group increased from 8.0% to 10.0%, while the 15-24 cohort rose from 10.1% to 11.4%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort decreased from 12.2% to 11.2%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Clarinda's age structure. The 75-84 group is expected to grow by 30%, reaching 974 people from 747. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 76% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0-4 and 55-64 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.