Oakleigh

Population growth drivers in Oakleigh are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area around Oakleigh, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of the suburb of Oakleigh is around 9,491 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,049 people (12.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,442 people in the suburb. The change was inferred from the resident population of 9,480 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 130 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 2,666 persons per square kilometer, placing Oakleigh in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 12.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state average (9.3%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for Oakleigh was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 91.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation is forecast, with Oakleigh expected to expand by 3,158 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 33.2% in total over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Oakleigh when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Oakleigh averaged approximately 25 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, around 128 homes were approved, with an additional 80 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each newly constructed dwelling accommodates about four new residents per year.

This high demand exceeds supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost for new dwellings is around $585,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, Oakleigh has seen approximately $5.5 million in commercial approvals, reflecting its primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Oakleigh has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person. Nationally, it ranks around the 41st percentile among assessed areas, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties. This is below average nationally, suggesting maturity in the area and possible planning constraints.

Current development consists of approximately 30% detached dwellings and 70% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 62% houses). This trend may indicate diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Oakleigh shows a developed market with around 395 people per dwelling approval. Future projections estimate Oakleigh will add approximately 3,147 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Suburban Rail Loop East, VicTrack Land Release - Oakleigh Station, Station Quarter Oakleigh, and 65A Power Avenue Social Housing. 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Oakleigh significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Oakleigh has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.7% in the past year, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%. Employment growth over this period was estimated at 4.0%.

As of December 2025, Oakleigh's unemployment rate is 2.1%, similar to its workforce participation rate of 69.9%. Notably, 38.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Oakleigh has a particularly high concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, transport, postal & warehousing has limited presence with 3.2% employment compared to 5.2% regionally. The ratio of workers to residents is 0.6, indicating above-average local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in May 2025, Oakleigh's employment increased by 4.0%, while the labour force grew by 4.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne, where employment rose by 2.4% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Oakleigh's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Oakleigh suburb's income level is higher than average nationally, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Oakleigh is $57,390, and the average income stands at $73,515. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $62,911 (median) and $80,587 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Oakleigh cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 29.9% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (2,837 residents), consistent with broader trends across the area showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 15.6% of income, placing disposable income at the 61st percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

The latest Census evaluation of Oakleigh's dwelling structures showed 61.9% houses and 38.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Oakleigh was at 32.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.9% and rented ones at 35.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,100, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure for Oakleigh was $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Oakleigh's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 67.8% of all households, including 31.4% couples with children, 25.0% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for 32.2%, with lone person households at 26.9% 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.

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

Oakleigh's residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications at 42.0%, surpassing the SA4 region (29.8%) and Australia (30.4%). This educational advantage is driven by bachelor degrees (26.0%), postgraduate qualifications (12.7%), and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways account for 23.5% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 12.7%. Educational participation is high, with 29.2% currently enrolled in formal education: tertiary (9.0%), primary (7.3%), and secondary (6.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in tertiary education, 7.3% in primary education, and 6.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis conducted in Oakleigh shows 63 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops are served by a mix of buses and offer 35 individual routes, collectively providing 11,300 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest transport stop. In this primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. The car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 77%, while 11% use the train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 38.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,614 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 179 weekly trips per individual stop.

Oakleigh'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

Health data shows positive outcomes for Oakleigh residents.

Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly in line with national benchmarks. Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 56% (~5,301 people) have private health cover, which is very high. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (8.0%) and arthritis (6.7%). 73.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. There are 15.3% (1,452 people) of residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Oakleigh's population shows high cultural diversity, with 40.2% born overseas and 43.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Oakleigh at 51.9%. While Judaism represents only 0.9%, this is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 1.0%.

The top three ancestral groups are English (16.5%), Australian (15.1%), and Greek (12.8%), with Greeks being significantly more prevalent in Oakleigh compared to the regional average of 2.7%. Other notable ethnic groups include Russians at 0.6% (vs regional 0.4%) and Sri Lankans at 0.8% (matching regional).

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

The median age of Oakleigh is 37 years, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 15-24 age group constitutes 15.5% of Oakleigh's population, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort makes up 8.9%, lower than Greater Melbourne's figure. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has risen from 13.4% to 15.5%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 17.0% to 18.8%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 13.9% to 12.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Oakleigh's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 38%, adding 685 people and reaching a total of 2,470 from its current figure of 1,784.