Clarinda - Oakleigh South

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

Clarinda-Oakleigh South's population is 11,773 as of Feb 2026. This shows an increase of 219 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,554. The change is inferred from ABS' June 2024 estimate of 11,752 and 145 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,862 persons per square kilometer, higher than national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, they use VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made 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, with the area expected to expand by 381 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 3.1% over the 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 received approximately 30 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 150 homes. As of FY26, 24 approvals have been recorded. Despite a decrease in population during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, which is positive for buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes is $443,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

In FY26, commercial approvals totalling $13.1 million have been registered, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Clarinda - Oakleigh South has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 31st percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. Recent construction comprises 58% standalone homes and 42% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles. With around 543 people per dwelling approval, the area shows a developed market.

Future projections estimate Clarinda - Oakleigh South will add 360 residents by 2041 based on current development patterns. New housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth.

Clarinda - Oakleigh South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Monash Medical Centre Redevelopment, Canterbury Gardens Estate, Kingston Heath Residential Estate, and Summerset Oakleigh South. The following list details those considered 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.

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

Clarinda - Oakleigh South has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 3.4% as of September 2025. This rate is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

The area experienced an estimated employment growth of 4.0% over the past year. As of September 2025, there were 5,910 residents in work. Workforce participation was at 60.9%, significantly below Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. A high proportion of residents, 27.0%, worked from home according to Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns.

The leading employment industries among Clarinda - Oakleigh South residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. The area has a particular specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services employ only 8.4% of local workers compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.0%, while labour force increased by 4.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Clarinda - Oakleigh South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years. However, these projections are simple weighting 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Clarinda - Oakleigh South SA2 has an income below the national average. The median income is $54,124 and the average income stands at $63,905. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, the current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $58,589 for median income and $69,177 for average income. The 2021 Census indicates that individual incomes are at the 20th percentile ($655 weekly), while household incomes perform better at the 45th percentile. Income brackets show that 30.8% of the community falls into the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band (3,626 individuals). After housing costs, 85.8% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Clarinda-Oakleigh South's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 90.3% houses and 9.8% other dwellings. This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clarinda-Oakleigh South was 46.2%, with mortgaged properties at 32.7% and rented ones at 21.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,010, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in the area was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Clarinda-Oakleigh South's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

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

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

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 and above hold university degrees, compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. This indicates potential for educational development. 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; advanced diplomas account for 10.2%, while certificates make up 16.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.2% in primary education, 6.1% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Clarinda - Oakleigh South has 56 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 12 different routes, providing a total of 1,796 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 216 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 87%, while train usage stands at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 27.0% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 256 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 32 weekly trips per stop.

Clarinda - Oakleigh South'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

Clarinda - Oakleigh South residents have relatively positive health outcomes according to area-specific data. Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly in line with national benchmarks, with low prevalence of common health conditions among the general population. However, prevalence is higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to the national average.

Private health cover is relatively low, with approximately 50% of the total population (~5,945 people) having it, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (8.1%) and mental health issues (6.9%), while 69.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 26.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,106 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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 and 52.1% born overseas as of 2016 Census data. Christianity was found to be the main religion in Clarinda-Oakleigh South, comprising 57.9% of people. However, Judaism is overrepresented in Clarinda-Oakleigh South compared to Greater Melbourne, with 1.7% versus 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other at 19.0%, Greek at 13.1% (substantially higher than the regional average of 2.7%), and Australian at 11.7% (notably lower than the regional average of 18.4%). Notably, Russian is overrepresented at 1.0% versus 0.4%, Sri Lankan at 1.3% versus 0.8%, and Hungarian at 0.5% versus 0.3%.

Clarinda - Oakleigh South hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Clarinda-Oakleigh South has a median age of 44, which exceeds Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and is substantially higher than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group makes up 12.8% of its population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort comprises 11.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 7.9% to 9.8%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 10.0% to 11.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 12.2% to 11.1%. Demographic modeling indicates that Clarinda-Oakleigh South's age profile will significantly change by 2041. Leading this shift, the 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 32%, reaching 1,528 people from its current total of 1,159. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 76% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to experience population declines.