Hughesdale

An assessment of population growth drivers in Hughesdale reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The population of Hughesdale is estimated at around 8,134 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 7,563 people, representing a growth of 571 individuals (7.5%). The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, based on examination of ERP data released by the ABS in June 2025 and validated new addresses since the Census date, is 8,132. This results in a population density ratio of 4,046 persons per square kilometer, placing Hughesdale within the top 10% nationally assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate since the census mirrors that of its SA4 region (7.5% vs 8.0%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch projects future demographic shifts based on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year for SA2 areas and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Considering these projections, Hughesdale is expected to experience above median population growth by 2041, increasing by 1,739 persons over the 16-year period, reflecting an overall increase of 21.4%.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Hughesdale according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Hughesdale experienced approximately 14 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 74 homes. In FY26 so far, 12 approvals have been recorded. An average of 2.2 people moved to the area per new home constructed between FY21 and FY25. The average construction cost for new homes was $655,000.

This year, $1.2 million in commercial approvals were registered, indicating a residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hughesdale had 71.0% lower building activity per person. Recent construction comprised 64.0% detached houses and 36.0% medium and high-density housing. Hughesdale has around 552 people per approval, suggesting a mature area. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Hughesdale's population will grow by 1,737 residents.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Hughesdale has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Suburban Rail Loop East, VicTrack Oakleigh Housing Development, ongoing Hughesdale Village Precinct Structure Plan implementation, and Legacy Oakleigh Residential Development. 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.

The employment landscape in Hughesdale shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Hughesdale has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 5.2%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. By December 2025, 4,771 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Census responses show that 41.5% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment in Hughesdale is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area has a notably high concentration in professional & technical jobs, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction employs only 7.2% of local workers, lower than Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.3%, while employment decreased by 1.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Hughesdale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Hughesdale suburb shows median taxpayer income of $56,480 and average income of $72,835 according to latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than national averages, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $61,913 (median) and $79,842 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Hughesdale cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals predominant cohort spans 30.8% of locals (2,505 people) in $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income category, mirroring region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Higher earners represent substantial presence with 32.2% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within community. Housing accounts for 15.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within 71st percentile for disposable income and area's SEIFA income ranking places it in 8th decile.

Hughesdale displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Hughesdale's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.6% houses and 46.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasted with Melbourne metro's structure of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hughesdale stood at 32.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.3% and rented ones at 35.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Hughesdale was $416, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Hughesdale's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Hughesdale features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.4% of all households, including 33.1% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.6%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households comprising 5.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Hughesdale shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Hughesdale's educational attainment is notably higher than national and state averages. As of 2016, 46.8% of residents aged 15 years and above have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. The area has a significant proportion of residents with bachelor degrees (29.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (13.1%). Vocational pathways account for 21.7%, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (11.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2016 census. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 8.3% in tertiary education, and 6.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

Hughesdale has 33 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 20 different routes that together facilitate 3,134 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living within 180 meters of the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Hughesdale, primarily using cars (71%), followed by trains (16%) and walking (4%). On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling in the area, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents work from home (41.5%), possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 447 trips per day, equating to approximately 94 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in Hughesdale is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Hughesdale shows better-than-average health outcomes, as per AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The prevalence of common health conditions among its general population is low but exceeds the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 56% (~4,522 people) have private health cover, a rate significantly higher than the national average. Mental health issues affect 7.4% and asthma impacts 6.9% of residents, while 73.2% report being completely free from medical ailments, slightly above Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents show low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.7% (1,358 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.0%, but this is still lower than the national average for the broader population.

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

Hughesdale has a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.3% of its population born overseas and 41.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Hughesdale, making up 48.0% of the population. Judaism is notably overrepresented, comprising 1.0% compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.1%), Australian (16.4%), and Other (12.2%). Some ethnic groups show notable divergences: Greek at 10.9% (vs regional 2.7%), Sri Lankan at 1.1% (vs 0.8%), and Russian at 0.6% (vs 0.4%).

Hughesdale's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Hughesdale is 38 years, similar to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hughesdale has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (18.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.7%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 16.7% to 18.5%, while the 65-74 cohort has increased from 7.0% to 8.1%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 10.9% to 8.7% and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 14.5% to 12.4%. By 2041, Hughesdale's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 22%, adding 332 people and reaching a total of 1,837 from the current 1,504. The 5-14 age group is expected to show modest growth, with no additional residents added by 2041.