Clayton - Central
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Clayton - Central are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Clayton - Central's population was around 15,223 as of Aug 2025. From the 2021 Census, this reflected an increase of 3,171 people (26.3%), with the population then being 12,052. This change is inferred from ABS estimates: 15,034 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 3,641 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Clayton - Central's growth exceeded national (8.6%) and state averages, with overseas migration contributing approximately 97.5% of overall population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to increase by 7,009 persons, reflecting a total increase of 44.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Clayton - Central among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Clayton - Central has recorded approximately 66 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 333 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 21 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 3.6 people have moved to the area each year for each dwelling built during these five years. This demand significantly exceeds new supply, leading to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $505,000. There has also been $2.5 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating the area's residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Clayton - Central has similar development levels per capita, maintaining market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 12.0% detached dwellings and 88.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns of 40.0% houses. This trend suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs.

Clayton - Central has around 214 people per dwelling approval, indicating a developing market. Population forecasts suggest the area will gain 6,820 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Clayton - Central 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 a total of 35 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Monash Medical Centre Tower Expansion Project, Clayton Structure Plan & Precinct Development, 409 Clayton Road Mixed-Use Development, and Waverley Woods Estate. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Clayton - Central rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Clayton - Central has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.7% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 4.5%.

As of June 2025, 9,567 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.9% lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation matches Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Major industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with a particular specialization in accommodation & food at 1.5 times the regional level. Construction employs only 6.2% of local workers compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

There are 1.4 workers per resident, indicating it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from nearby areas. In the past year, employment increased by 4.5%, labor force grew by 4.4%, leaving unemployment relatively unchanged. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 3.5% and unemployment increased by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Clayton - Central's employment could grow approximately by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years based on industry-specific projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Clayton - Central had a median taxpayer income of $45,838 and an average of $57,096 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than national averages, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 in the same period. By March 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% suggest median incomes would be approximately $50,472 and averages at $62,868. The 2021 Census figures rank household income at the 48th percentile ($1,711 weekly) and personal income at the 30th percentile. Income distribution shows that 34.2% of individuals (5,206 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Clayton - Central displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Clayton-Central's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 40.2% houses and 59.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 69.6% houses and 30.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clayton-Central stood at 22.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.6% and rented ones at 57.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,383. Median weekly rent in Clayton-Central was $401, compared to Melbourne metro's $440. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were exceeding the national figure of $375.

Clayton - Central features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 59.7% of all households, including 23.6% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 40.3%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households making up 18.6%. The median household size is 2.7 people, aligning with Greater Melbourne's average.

The educational profile of Clayton - Central exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Clayton - Central's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 52.1% of residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to 29.8% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational pathways account for 19.2%, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 9.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 37.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 18.3% in tertiary education, 5.1% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing secondary education. Clayton - Central's three schools have a combined enrollment of 165 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1088) but limited local school capacity (1.1 places per 100 residents vs 15.8 regionally), leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Clayton - Central has 37 active public transport stops operating. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 27 individual routes serving these stops, which collectively provide 7,769 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 270 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 1,109 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 209 weekly trips per individual stop.

Clayton - Central's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Clayton-Central's health outcomes show excellent results with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all ages. The private health cover rate stands at approximately 48%, covering around 7,352 people, compared to Greater Melbourne's 54.4% and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 5.5% and 4.7% of residents respectively.

About 81.8% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 75.3% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 8.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,318 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 17.5%. Notably, health outcomes among seniors require more attention despite the area's strong overall results.

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

Clayton-Central has a high level of linguistic diversity, with 71.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home. The overseas-born population stands at 71.1%. Christianity is the dominant religion in Clayton-Central, accounting for 32.9% of people.

Hinduism is particularly prominent, comprising 18.9%, significantly higher than Melbourne's average of 8.0%. Ancestry-wise, 'Other' is the largest group at 21.2%, followed by Chinese (20.4%) and Indian (13.8%), all notably higher than regional averages. Greek (6.4% vs 5.6%), Sri Lankan (1.6% vs 2.1%), and Korean (1.5% vs 1.1%) ethnicities are also overrepresented in Clayton-Central compared to the region at large.

Clayton - Central hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of Clayton-Central is 28, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median of 38. The age profile reveals that individuals aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 32.6% of the population, while those aged 5-14 comprise only 4.3%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data indicates a rejuvenation trend as the median age decreased from 30 to 28 years. The population shift shows that the 15-24 age group grew from 19.2% to 26.1%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 30.8% to 32.6%. Conversely, the 35-44 age group declined from 13.2% to 11.5%, and the 5-14 group decreased from 5.8% to 4.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Clayton-Central, with the 25-34 cohort projected to grow by 55%, adding 2,723 residents to reach a total of 7,694.