Ocean Grove

Ocean Grove lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of Nov 2025, Ocean Grove's population is estimated at around 18,982, reflecting an increase of 1,268 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 7.2% increase from the previous population of 17,714. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 18,159 in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS and an additional 479 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 1,025 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ocean Grove's growth exceeded the non-metro area average of 6.0%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 64.0% 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 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering these projections, Ocean Grove is predicted to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of non-metropolitan areas nationally by 2041. The area is expected to increase by 9,421 persons over the period, reflecting an overall increase of 48.3%.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Ocean Grove among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Ocean Grove recorded around 233 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 1,165 homes. As of FY-26, 32 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.9 people moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $653,000, targeting the premium market segment.

This year, $2.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Ocean Grove's residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., Ocean Grove records about three-quarters the building activity per person and places among the 77th percentile nationally, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 76.0% detached houses and 24.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving Ocean Grove's suburban nature while offering more diverse housing options. This shift reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. Ocean Grove is projected to gain 9,161 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace with population growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Population forecasts indicate Ocean Grove will gain 9,161 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects are Kingston Ocean Grove Estate, Ti-Tree Village Redevelopment, 61 Powell Street Townhouses, and 57-59 The Parade Apartments. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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 Ocean Grove demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Ocean Grove has a well-educated workforce with a low unemployment rate of 1.8% as of June 2025. The area has seen employment growth of 2.0% in the past year.

The unemployment rate is below Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%, at 1.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Vic., at 61.5%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Education & training has notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.7% versus the regional average of 7.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. In the 12 months to Sep-22, employment increased by 2.0%, labour force by 2.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.9% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ocean Grove's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2022, Ocean Grove had a median income among taxpayers of $53,217 and an average income of $71,739. Nationally, these figures are high compared to the rest of Victoria which had median and average incomes of $48,741 and $60,693 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since June 30, 2022, current estimates for Ocean Grove would be approximately $59,688 (median) and $80,462 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ocean Grove are around the 57th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 31.1% of Ocean Grove's population falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to regional levels where 30.3% occupy this range. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses. Ocean Grove's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Ocean Grove is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure in Ocean Grove, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 93.5% houses and 6.5% other dwellings including semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Ocean Grove was at 42.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged at 38.5% or rented at 19.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, above Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,950. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $420, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $402. Nationally, Ocean Grove's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Ocean Grove has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 74.7% of all households, including 32.5% couples with children, 32.7% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.3%, with lone person households at 23.1% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average in Rest of Vic.

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

Educational attainment in Ocean Grove is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 34.1% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 28.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 22.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.2%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 35.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 14.0% and certificates make up 21.8%. Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.3% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education. Ocean Grove's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,760 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1090. Education provision is balanced, with 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents (9.3) are below the regional average (12.3), indicating some students may attend schools in nearby areas. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to their parent campus.

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

Analysis of public transport in Ocean Grove indicates 56 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with two individual routes providing a total of 556 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 369 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 79 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately nine weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Ocean Grove are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Ocean Grove shows below-average health outcomes with common conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 55% (~10,472 people) have private health cover, which is very high compared to other areas. The most common medical conditions are asthma (8.8%) and mental health issues (8.7%). Around 67.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 66.8% in the rest of Victoria. There are 4,270 people aged 65 and over, making up 22.5% of the population, which is lower than the 24.2% in the rest of Victoria. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average and better than those in the general population.

Ocean Grove is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Ocean Grove, as per the data, had a lower than average cultural diversity level. The birthplace statistics showed that 88.1% of residents were born in Australia, with 93.0% being citizens. English was spoken exclusively at home by 96.5% of the population.

Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 46.7%. While Judaism's representation was similar to the rest of Victoria at 0.1%, it was notable that Scottish ancestry was slightly overrepresented in Ocean Grove at 9.4%, compared to 9.7% regionally. Dutch and Welsh ancestries were also slightly higher than regional averages, at 1.9% and 0.7% respectively. The top three represented ancestral groups were English at 31.1%, Australian at 29.6%, and Irish at 12.0%.

Ocean Grove hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Ocean Grove has a median age of 43, which matches the figure for the Rest of Vic and is higher than the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 35-44 are particularly prominent, making up 14.5% of the population, while those aged 25-34 constitute a smaller proportion at 8.9%, compared to the Rest of Vic. Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the age group of 15-24 has grown from 9.0% to 10.5% of Ocean Grove's population, while the 75-84 cohort has increased from 6.2% to 7.4%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 13.2% to 11.8%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 14.4% to 13.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ocean Grove's age structure. Notably, the 35-44 age group is projected to grow by 58%, adding 1,604 people and reaching a total of 4,357 from its current figure of 2,752.