Clifton Hill - Alphington

Clifton Hill - Alphington lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Clifton Hill - Alphington's population is around 11,342 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,487 people (15.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,855 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,292 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 694 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 2,177 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Clifton Hill - Alphington's 15.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 46.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including interstate migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilizing the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, exceptional growth, placing in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas, is predicted over the period, with the area expected to increase by 6,868 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 60.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Clifton Hill - Alphington among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Clifton Hill - Alphington has averaged around 248 new dwelling approvals annually, totalling 1,241 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 74 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 1.1 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand appear well-balanced, creating stable market conditions, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $322,000. There have also been $38.1 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting robust local business investment.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Clifton Hill - Alphington records 237.0% more development activity (per person), creating greater choice for buyers. This level is well above average nationally, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction comprises 2.0% standalone homes and 98.0% medium and high-density housing. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 27.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. At around 47 people per approval, Clifton Hill - Alphington reflects a developing area.

Looking ahead, Clifton Hill - Alphington is expected to grow by 6,818 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Clifton Hill - Alphington has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 96 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Fitzroy Gasworks Precinct, Heidelberg Road Local Area Plan, YarraBend, and 267-269 Queens Parade Apartments, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Clifton Hill - Alphington ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Clifton Hill - Alphington possesses a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector a particular standout in terms of representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.9%, and 4.5% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 7,231 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.8% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (78.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 53.3% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area shows particularly strong specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.6% versus the regional average of 9.7%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 4.5% while labour force increased by 4.6%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Clifton Hill - Alphington. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Clifton Hill - Alphington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.1% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The Clifton Hill - Alphington SA2's income level is exceptionally high nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Clifton Hill - Alphington SA2's median income among taxpayers is $72,354 and the average income stands at $104,808, which compares to figures for Greater Melbourne's of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $78,323 (median) and $113,455 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Clifton Hill - Alphington, between the 91st and 95th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the largest segment comprises 31.8% earning $4000+ weekly (3,606 residents), differing from patterns across regional levels where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.8%. The district demonstrates considerable affluence with 44.5% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 90th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Clifton Hill - Alphington displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Clifton Hill - Alphington, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 27.4% houses and 72.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Clifton Hill - Alphington was in line with that of Melbourne metro, at 29.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (30.8%) or rented (39.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $2,600, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $500, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Clifton Hill - Alphington's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Clifton Hill - Alphington features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 62.0% of all households, comprising 26.0% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 6.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 38.0%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 7.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Clifton Hill - Alphington places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Clifton Hill - Alphington significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 64.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 36.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.1%) and graduate diplomas (6.8%). Vocational pathways account for 15.2% of qualifications among those aged 15+; advanced diplomas (7.6%) and certificates (7.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in tertiary education, 8.0% in primary education, and 5.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 35 active transport stops operating within Clifton Hill - Alphington, comprising a mix of light rail and buses. These stops are serviced by 11 individual routes, collectively providing 6,238 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 269 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 64%, with 11% by train and 11% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average. A high 53.3% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 891 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 178 weekly trips per individual stop.

Clifton Hill - Alphington's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Clifton Hill - Alphington residents. AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions shows results broadly in line with national benchmarks, with a standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73% of the total population (8,291 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 11.8% and 8.8% of residents, respectively, while 68.8% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 14.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,654 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings higher than those of the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Clifton Hill - Alphington records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Clifton Hill - Alphington was found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 22.3% of its population born overseas and 14.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Clifton Hill - Alphington is Christianity, which makes up 28.2% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 1.0% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Clifton Hill - Alphington are English, comprising 25.9% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian, comprising 20.1% of the population, and Irish, comprising 12.2% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.5% of Clifton Hill - Alphington (vs 5.6% regionally), Greek at 2.7% (vs 2.7%) and Macedonian at 0.5% (vs 0.7%).

Clifton Hill - Alphington's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

With a median age of 37, Clifton Hill - Alphington is equal to the Greater Melbourne figure of 37 and remains comparable to Australia's 38 years. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 19.6% compared to Greater Melbourne, whereas the 15 - 24 cohort is less prevalent at 10.3%. This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. In the period since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 8.5% to 10.3% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 17.0% to 18.0%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 20.5% to 19.6%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Clifton Hill - Alphington's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 45 to 54 group will grow by 108% (1,526 people), reaching 2,942 from 1,415.