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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Ocean Grove has an estimated 19,134 residents, up from 17,714 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,420 people, or 8.0%. Growth has averaged 2.2% a year over five years. 517 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 64.0% of that increase. That puts 1,034 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS regional updates alongside post-Census address validations, the suburb of Ocean Grove has an estimated tally of 19,134 residents as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 1,420 people (8.0%) compared to the 17,714 people recorded in the 2021 Census. Such figures build upon an Estimated Resident Population of 19,061 determined from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 517 validated new addresses identified following the Census. The suburb of Ocean Grove exhibits a population density of 1,033 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with broader AreaSearch benchmark locations.
Outpacing the 4.4% expansion recorded across Rest of Vic., the suburb of Ocean Grove established itself as a regional pacesetter through its 8.0% post-2021 Census increase. Inflows from interstate arrivals served as the primary demographic catalyst, generating roughly 64.0% of recent gains, while natural increase and overseas migration also contributed positively. Projections for each SA2 district applied by AreaSearch originate from the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia series using 2022 as a baseline, supplemented where necessary by the 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA dataset converted via population-weighted LGA-to-SA2 aggregation. Age-specific trajectories derived from this process are extended across all locations for 2032 to 2041. Long-term outlooks position the suburb of Ocean Grove in the top 10 percent of regional Australian districts for demographic growth, with aggregated SA2 modeling forecasting a gain of 8,922 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative 46.2% increase across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
1,201 new dwellings have been approved in Ocean Grove over the past five years, an average of 240 a year. That places the area in the 89th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 13 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 177 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 81% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 201, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
ABS residential approval data aggregated by AreaSearch indicates that Ocean Grove has averaged approximately 240 residential permits annually, accumulating to 1,201 homes over the previous 5 financial years. Within FY-25 to date, 201 approvals have been documented. Sustained by an influx averaging 2.1 new residents per approved dwelling annually across the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, market demand remains healthy, with new construction costs averaging $604,000 as builders cater to the upmarket residential sector. Concurrently, commercial building permits totaled $1.6 million during this financial year, reflecting subdued commercial development.
Per capita residential building approvals in Ocean Grove run at roughly three-quarters of the pace observed across Rest of Vic., placing the locality in the 81st percentile across Australia. Standalone houses account for 81.0% of recent approvals while apartments and townhouses make up 19.0%, maintaining the family-oriented, low-density neighborhood fabric. With roughly 120 people per approved home, Ocean Grove shows steady ongoing residential development. According to the latest quarterly projections from AreaSearch, the residential base of Ocean Grove is slated to expand by 8,849 residents by 2041. Although local construction activity continues to track demographic expansion reasonably well, buyers could encounter heightened market competition as population increases over the horizon.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Ocean Grove
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 13 current infrastructure and development projects inside Ocean Grove, worth an estimated $359 million. A further 70 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $9.64 billion. 23 are already under construction and 27 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Capital investments, town planning frameworks, and major civic projects play a pivotal role in shaping local growth. AreaSearch has highlighted 14 major developments positioned to impact the district, including 57-59 The Parade Apartments, 61 Powell Street Townhouses, Ti-Tree Village Redevelopment, and Kingston Ocean Grove Estate, alongside other notable initiatives.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Kingston Ocean Grove Estate
Large staged masterplanned community in Ocean Grove delivering residential lots plus new parks, wetlands and community facilities. Current activity includes the Kingston Haven releases with titles expected from 2025, ongoing civil works across stages, and the opening of community health facilities within the estate.
57-59 The Parade Apartments
A three-storey coastal residential development featuring 16 contemporary apartments with basement parking. The project combines modern architectural design with coastal living, offering spacious residences ranging from 94 to 188 square metres. Designed by UXD Group with landscape architecture by CDA Design Group, the development provides luxury coastal living in a prime Ocean Grove location with easy access to local amenities and Ocean Grove Beach.
Ti-Tree Village Redevelopment
Proposed redevelopment of a 5,775 sqm beachside holiday park site into luxury residential or aged care facilities. Located 250m from Ocean Grove beach with significant development potential subject to council approval. The property features 3 street frontages and favorable residential zoning.
61 Powell Street Townhouses
A boutique collection of five architecturally designed three-bedroom townhouses set across two levels in a prime Ocean Grove location. The development application has been submitted with completion expected by late 2026. Each residence features spacious open-plan layouts, contemporary finishes, and integrated outdoor areas designed for coastal lifestyle living.
Barwon Coast Foreshore Master Plan
A 15-year strategic framework and master plan for managing coastal public land from Breamlea to Collendina, focusing on environmental protection, climate adaptation, trails, amenities, and infrastructure. The plan incorporates technical feedback and extensive community engagement, with the final Master Plan scheduled for release in mid-2026.
Kingston Village Neighbourhood Activity Centre Expansion
Expansion of the Kingston Neighbourhood Activity Centre within Kingston Village estate, delivering new large-format and convenience retail including 7-Eleven, Hungry Jacks, The Reject Shop, MyCar Tyre & Auto, Bean Squeeze drive-thru cafe, and additional tenancies. All stores opened progressively through 2025 with final tenancies trading by November 2025.
Kingston Village Shopping Centre
A $60 million mixed-use retail development incorporating over 12,000sqm of GFA featuring Woolworths Supermarket, Dan Murphy's, Aldi, McDonald's, medical centre, 25 specialty stores, and 550+ car parking spaces. Completed in 2019.
Talia Residences
Talia Residences presents four exclusive three-storey family townhouses that redefine luxury coastal living in Ocean Grove. Architecturally designed by Nine Muses Design, each home features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, poolside entertainment zones, and breathtaking views over the Barwon Heads bluff. The development showcases cutting-edge architecture with sustainable building practices, featuring natural limestone, rustic timbers, and bespoke Australian-made fittings throughout.
9,708 residents of Ocean Grove are employed, from a labour force of 9,897. Unemployment sits at 1.9%, with participation at 63.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 15,236, about 80% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Ocean Grove maintains a skilled labor pool with strong participation across key services sectors and an unemployment rate standing at 1.9%, according to statistical area aggregations by AreaSearch. As of March 2026, employed residents total 9,708, while the local jobless rate sits 1.8% below the 3.7% recorded for Regional Vic. The workforce participation rate of 63.9% tracks slightly above Regional Vic.'s 61.1%. Furthermore, Census returns indicated that 28.4% of working locals conducted their duties from home, an outcome influenced by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Local employment is predominantly concentrated within health care & social assistance, education & training, alongside construction.
The workforce is heavily weighted toward education & training, where representation reaches 1.4 times the regional norm. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.7% of resident jobs, well under the 7.5% regional benchmark. Comparing the Census resident workforce against local working numbers highlights that this predominantly residential district provides limited employment within its own borders. SALM and ABS datasets compiled by AreaSearch indicate that across the 12 months to March 2026, both total employment and the labor supply contracted by 0.7%, holding the jobless rate steady. Across Regional Vic. over the same timeframe, jobs fell by 0.1%, the workforce dipped 0.3%, and unemployment eased by 0.2 percentage points. Future workforce opportunities can be assessed using national industry projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26. Countrywide projections anticipate employment growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. When mapped to Ocean Grove's local occupational structure, projected job growth reaches 6.9% across five years and 14.1% over ten years (representing an illustrative weighted model that does not account for localized population changes).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Ocean Grove is $1,837 a week (about $96,000 a year), with median personal income at $856 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $53,217 a year against an average of $71,739. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO postcode records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place the median taxpayer income in the suburb of Ocean Grove at $53,217 and the average at $71,739, outperforming the national benchmark as well as Regional Vic.'s median of $50,954 and average of $62,728. Factoring in the 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 stand at roughly $58,336 for median earnings and $78,640 for the average. Across individual, household, and family metrics, Census income levels place the suburb around the 57th percentile nationally.
The largest earnings bracket encompasses 31.1% of residents (5,950 people) receiving between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the 30.3% observed regionally. Residents retain 85.9% of their earnings following housing expenses, and the district ranks within the 7th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Ocean Grove had 6,567 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 0% apartments. 39% are owned with a mortgage, 19% rented and 42% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $420 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month. Rent absorbs 22.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records show that standalone houses represented 93.5% of residential stock in Ocean Grove, with the remaining 6.5% comprising apartments, semi-detached properties, and other structures, compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings across Regional Vic. Outright property ownership mirrored the broader region at 42.3%, while 38.5% of homes were occupied under a mortgage and 19.2% were tenant-occupied. Local housing costs proved higher, with median monthly mortgage installments reaching $2,000 against $1,430 in Regional Vic. and $1,863 nationally. Similarly, median weekly rent was $420, notably above Regional Vic.'s $285 and the Australian figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Ocean Grove counted 6,567 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 7,093 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 33% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 74.7% of all local domestic arrangements, consisting of 32.7% couples without children, 32.5% couples with children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family dwellings make up 25.3% of households, led by single-person residences at 23.1% and shared group accommodation at 2.2%. The median domestic unit size is 2.5 people, exceeding the 2.4 average recorded across Regional Vic.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
34.1% of adults in Ocean Grove hold a university qualification, including 22.3% with a bachelor degree and 6.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 89% of areas nationally. A further 21.8% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 1,760 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,090 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Qualifications among Ocean Grove residents exceed broader regional figures, with 34.1% of individuals aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees compared to 21.7% in Rest of Vic. and 28.6% across the wider SA4 region, establishing a solid foundation for knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees constitute the highest share at 22.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 6.6% and graduate diplomas at 5.2%. Furthermore, vocational education is well represented, with 35.8% of residents aged 15+ having earned technical credentials, including 14.0% with advanced diplomas and 21.8% holding certificates. Study engagement remains strong across the population, with 28.5% of locals actively participating in formal schooling or higher education.
This comprises 11.3% enrolled in primary education, 8.0% attending secondary schools, and 3.8% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Ocean Grove reaches 56 stops on 7 routes, timetabled for about 1,500 services a week. The typical home sits about 370 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in Ocean Grove comprises 56 active stops across 7 designated routes, generating 1,544 weekly scheduled services. The network provides solid accessibility, placing residents an average of 369 meters from their closest boarding point. Given the predominantly suburban character, outbound commuting is widespread, with private motor vehicles accounting for 94% of travel and households owning an average of 1.6 vehicles. Meanwhile, 28.4% of employed locals worked remotely according to the 2021 Census, subject to prevailing COVID-19 settings. Transit routes across the network provide an average frequency of 220 journeys each day, translating to roughly 27 departures each week for any individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.2% of residents in Ocean Grove report no long-term health condition. 4.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 55.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Ocean Grove demonstrate favorable results in AreaSearch assessments of chronic illness rates and mortality, showing low incidences of standard ailments across both younger and older demographics. Furthermore, private healthcare coverage is notably prevalent, held by approximately 55% of residents (~10,556 people), whereas Regional Vic. records 50.5%. Asthma and mental health conditions represent the most frequently reported diagnoses in the district, affecting 8.8 and 8.7% of the populace respectively, while 67.2% of residents reported no chronic conditions whatsoever, outperforming the 63.4% regional average. Working-age wellness aligns with standard national patterns.
For the 4,630 people aged 65 and over (24.2% of the population), overall health metrics rate above average, tracking closely with broader population benchmarks nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Ocean Grove is largely Australian-born, at 88.1% of residents, with 3.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.1%) and Australian (29.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Ocean Grove exhibits relatively low cultural variation, with 88.1% of residents native to Australia, 93.0% holding citizenship, and 96.5% using solely English at home. Christianity forms the dominant religious affiliation, representing 46.7% of locals. The most notable statistical variance from Regional Vic. appears in Judaism, which encompasses 0.1% of the local populace, matching the 0.1% regional level. Reflecting parental origins, the primary ancestries declared by residents are English (31.1%), Australian (29.6%), and Irish (12.0%). Several other backgrounds show elevated representation relative to regional patterns, with Scottish ancestry recorded by 9.4% of residents (vs 8.8% regionally), Dutch background at 1.9% (vs 1.7%), and Welsh heritage accounting for 0.7% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Ocean Grove is 43. 18.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Ocean Grove maintains a demographic structure closely tracking Regional Vic., with no single age bracket diverging by more than 1.6 percentage points. The estimated median age stands at 43 as at August 2026, matching both the 2021 Census figure and the Regional Vic. baseline of 43 at that Census, while exceeding the national Census median of 38. Retirees and senior residents (65+) have expanded from 22.3% at the Census to an estimated 24.2%. Projections to 2041 indicate that the 25 - 44 age bracket will experience the largest expansion, growing by 62% with 2,560 additional residents to reach a total of 6,674.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Ocean Grove
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 3 months ago all 13 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 517 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (17,714 at the 2021 Census → 19,134 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL22005). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.