Clarinda - Oakleigh South
Statistical Area - sa2

Clarinda - Oakleigh South has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Clarinda-Oakleigh South's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 11,997 people. This figure represents an increase of 443 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,554 people. The change is inferred from ABS estimates; the resident population was 11,752 in June 2024 and there were additional 140 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 1,898 persons per square kilometer, higher than national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovered areas, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends suggest lower quartile growth; the area is projected to expand by 381 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, with a total increase of 1.1% over 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Clarinda - Oakleigh South, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Clarinda-Oakleigh South has seen approximately 30 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 150 homes. As of FY26, there have been 20 recorded approvals. Despite a population decline during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, benefiting buyers due to new homes averaging $443,000 in construction cost, slightly higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development. This financial year, $13.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Clarinda-Oakleigh South has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 31st percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice favouring existing homes. Recent construction comprises 58.0% standalone homes and 42.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the area's predominantly house-focused housing stock (currently 90.0%), suggesting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles demanding diverse, affordable housing options. With around 543 people per dwelling approval, Clarinda-Oakleigh South exhibits signs of a developed market. Future projections anticipate an addition of 136 residents by 2041, with current development patterns indicating that new housing supply should meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Future projections show Clarinda - Oakleigh South adding 136 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Clarinda - Oakleigh South has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Monash Medical Centre Redevelopment, Canterbury Gardens Estate, Kingston Heath Residential Estate, and Talbot Village (Former Talbot Quarry). The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in Clarinda - Oakleigh South exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Clarinda-Oakleigh South has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.3% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 4.0%.

As of June 2025, 6,016 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.3%, below Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is lower at 56.1% compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing employment share is 1.4 times the regional level.

Professional & technical services employ 8.4%, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.0% while labour force grew by 4.4%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia in May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Clarinda-Oakleigh South's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows that Clarinda - Oakleigh South has median and average incomes below the national average. The median income is $50,537, while the average income stands at $60,568. In contrast, Greater Melbourne's median income is $54,892 with an average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year ending June 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 are approximately $56,682 (median) and $67,933 (average). The 2021 Census reports individual incomes at the 20th percentile ($655 weekly), while household income is at the 45th percentile. Income brackets indicate that 30.8% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually (3,695 individuals). After housing costs, 85.8% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Clarinda - Oakleigh South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Clarinda-Oakleigh South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 90.3% houses and 9.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 72.1% houses and 28.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clarinda-Oakleigh South was at 46.2%, with the rest being mortgaged (32.7%) or rented (21.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,010, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,800 and the Australian average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Clarinda-Oakleigh South was $400, higher than Melbourne metro's $350 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 77.5% of all households, including 38.8% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.5%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households comprising 2.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.8.

The educational profile of Clarinda - Oakleigh South exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

In Clarinda-Oakleigh South, 31.6% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (21.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.3% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (16.1%). Educational participation is high, with 25.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: primary (8.2%), secondary (6.1%), and tertiary (5.1%).

St Andrew's School and Clarinda Primary School serve 652 students combined; the area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1072). Both schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. Local school capacity is limited (5.4 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 15.5), so many families travel for schooling.

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

The analysis of public transport in the Clarinda - Oakleigh South area shows that there are currently 56 active transport stops operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 12 individual routes providing service to the area. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 3,042.

The report rates transport accessibility in this region as good, with residents on average being located just 216 meters away from their nearest transport stop. On an average day, there are 434 trips made across all routes, which translates to approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Clarinda - Oakleigh South is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Clarinda-Oakleigh South faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (around 5,998 people), compared to 47.5% across Greater Melbourne. Nationally, this figure stands at 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.1 and 6.9% of residents respectively. Around 69.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 75.1% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 25.7% (3,085 people), compared to the Greater Melbourne average of 17.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Clarinda-Oakleigh South is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 56.3% of its population speaking a language other than English at home as of 2016 Census data. 52.1% of residents were born overseas during this period. Christianity was found to be the main religion in Clarinda-Oakleigh South, comprising 57.9%.

Judaism is overrepresented with 1.7%, compared to Melbourne's average of 0.3%. Top ancestry groups include Other at 19.0% (lower than regional average of 29.1%), Greek at 13.1% (substantially higher than regional average of 3.8%), and Australian at 11.7%. Notable divergences exist in Russian representation at 1.0%, Sri Lankan at 1.3%, and Indian at 8.3%.

Clarinda - Oakleigh South hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Clarinda-Oakleigh South has a median age of 44, which exceeds Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and is significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group constitutes 12.7% of its population, compared to Greater Melbourne's figure. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort makes up only 11.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 7.9% to 9.3%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.2% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling predicts significant shifts in Clarinda-Oakleigh South's age profile. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 37%, reaching 1,528 people from the current 1,114. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 78% of this growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.