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 May 2026, the estimated population of Ocean Grove is around 19,129, reflecting an increase of 8.0% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 17,714. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 19,059 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2025 and validation of 537 new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density is approximately 1,033 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ocean Grove's growth exceeded that of Rest of Vic. (4.3%) during this period, marking it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed around 64.0% of overall population gains. ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 are adopted for each SA2 area by AreaSearch.

For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period to 2041, with the suburb expected to expand by 9,004 persons, reflecting a gain of 46.7% in total over the 16 years based on aggregated SA2-level projections.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Ocean Grove averaged approximately 239 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 1,197 homes were approved, with an additional 103 approved so far in FY-26. This equates to about 1.5 new residents arriving per new home over the past five financial years.

The average construction value of these properties was approximately $653,000, indicating a focus on premium market segments. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled around $1.6 million, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Comparatively, Ocean Grove had about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person compared to Rest of Vic., placing it among the 83rd percentile nationally. This high level of activity suggests strong developer confidence in the location. The building activity consisted of approximately 76.0% detached dwellings and 24.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Ocean Grove's suburban identity while addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

Currently, there are around 123 people per dwelling approval in Ocean Grove, indicating characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Ocean Grove is projected to grow by approximately 8,934 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, though increased competition among buyers may arise as the population grows.

Ocean Grove 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 14 projects that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include Kingston Ocean Grove Estate, Ti-Tree Village Redevelopment, 61 Powell Street Townhouses, and 57-59 The Parade Apartments. Below is a list of 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.

Ocean Grove ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Ocean Grove has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 1.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data as of December 2025. There are 9,706 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7% lower than Regional Vic.'s 3.7%.

Workforce participation stands at 63.8%, slightly higher than Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. Census data shows that 28.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Major employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Notably, Ocean Grove has a strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.7% of Ocean Grove's workforce compared to Regional Vic.'s 7.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the disparity between Census working population and resident population numbers. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Ocean Grove's labour force decreased by 0.6%, with a concomitant 0.8% decline in employment, leading to a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional Vic. experienced a 0.6% employment decline and a 0.7% labour force decline, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment 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 these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended 30 June 2023, Ocean Grove's median income among taxpayers is $53,217. The average income in the suburb is $71,739. Both figures are above the national averages of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively for median and average incomes in Regional Victoria. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year ended 30 June 2023, current estimates project Ocean Grove's median income to be approximately $58,336 and average income to be around $78,640 as of March 2026. Census data indicates that incomes in Ocean Grove cluster around the 57th percentile nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution shows that 31.1% of Ocean Grove residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (5,949 individuals), which is similar to the broader area where this income band represents 30.3%. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remains for other expenditure. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Ocean Grove's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.5% houses and 6.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ocean Grove was 42.3%, similar to Regional Vic., with mortgaged dwellings at 38.5% and rented ones at 19.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent was recorded at $420, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Ocean Grove's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Ocean Grove has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average 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 make up the remaining 25.3%, with lone person households at 23.1% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

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. As of 2016 census data, 34.1% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 28.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 35.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 14.0% and certificates at 21.8%. Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the census date.

This includes 11.3% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ocean Grove has 56 active public transport stops. These are served by 7 different routes, together offering 716 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents on average 369 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily using cars, which remain the primary mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 28.4% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes is 102 trips per day, equating to about 12 weekly trips per stop.

Ocean Grove's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics indicates strong performance throughout Ocean Grove. AreaSearch's assessment shows low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~10,553 people), compared to 50.5% across Regional Vic.. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.8% and 8.7% of residents respectively. 67.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 23.2% of residents aged 65 and over (4,437 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with 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 had a lower cultural diversity, with 88.1% born in Australia, 93.0% being citizens, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 46.7%. Judaism was overrepresented, at 0.1% compared to Regional Vic's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups were English (31.1%), Australian (29.6%), and Irish (12.0%). Scottish (9.4%) and Dutch (1.9%) were notably overrepresented, while Welsh was underrepresented at 0.7%.

Ocean Grove hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Ocean Grove has a median age of 43, which matches the Regional Vic figure and is higher than the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 35-44 are particularly prominent, making up 14.4% of the population, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 8.6%, compared to Regional Vic. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75-84 age group has increased from 6.2% to 7.9%, and the 15-24 cohort has risen from 9.0% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 group has decreased from 13.2% to 11.8%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 14.4% to 13.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Ocean Grove's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 62%, reaching 4,005 people from its current total of 2,467.