Clifton Springs
Statistical Area - sa2

Clifton Springs lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Clifton Springs' population is approximately 18,012 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,215 people (7.2%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,797. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,732 in June 2024 and an additional 236 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 276 persons per square kilometer. Clifton Springs' growth rate of 7.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area's growth rate of 6.0%. The primary driver for this growth was interstate migration, contributing approximately 73.6% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilized the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting them using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these trends, Clifton Springs is predicted to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of Australia's non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by approximately 9,100 persons, resulting in a total gain of 49.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Clifton Springs has approved approximately 139 dwellings per year for development. Between FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 697 homes received approval, with an additional 14 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, each new dwelling constructed over the past five financial years has attracted around 3.1 new residents annually.

This supply is significantly lagging demand, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction value of new homes is $267,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals have reached $48.3 million, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Clifton Springs has 51.0% less development activity per person.

The scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction comprises predominantly detached dwellings (97.0%) with a minority being medium and high-density housing (3.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes. As of now, there are approximately 307 people per dwelling approval, suggesting room for growth in population. Population forecasts indicate Clifton Springs will gain around 8,820 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Clifton Springs 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 24 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Belgrove Estate, Duke 3222, Bellarine Views Estate, and Drysdale Bypass Road Project. The following list details those 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.

The employment landscape in Clifton Springs shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Clifton Springs has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.1% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2% over the past year.

As of this date, 8,613 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.3% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Clifton Springs was on par with Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction had a particularly high employment share at 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, with only 1.3% of Clifton Springs's workforce compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.2% while labour force increased by 2.4%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of Vic. experienced an employment decline of 0.9% and labour force decline of 0.4%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates varied significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Clifton Springs's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Clifton Springs' median income is $49,438 and average income is $63,878. This is slightly below the national average. Rest of Vic.'s median income was $48,741 and average income was $60,693 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Clifton Springs would be approximately $55,450 (median) and $71,646 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that incomes in Clifton Springs rank modestly, between the 30th and 31st percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The predominant income cohort spans 31.5% of locals (5,673 people), falling within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which aligns with the metropolitan region's figure of 30.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Clifton Springs, with only 84.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 31st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Clifton Springs is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Clifton Springs' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.6% houses and 4.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic had 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clifton Springs was 41.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.6% and rented ones at 20.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,650, lower than Non-Metro Vic's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in Clifton Springs was $380, compared to Non-Metro Vic's $402 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Clifton Springs' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure.

Clifton Springs has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.2% of all households, including 27.3% couples with children, 34.0% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.8%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households making up 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.5.

Clifton Springs performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 20.7%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (28.7%). Educational participation is high at 25.5%, including 9.3% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.

Clifton Springs has a robust network of six schools educating approximately 3,848 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1030) offering balanced educational opportunities. The mix includes three primary, two secondary, and one K-12 school. The area functions as an education hub with 21.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 12.3, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Clifton Springs has 77 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two different routes that together offer 502 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is considered good, with residents on average located 302 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, there are 71 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately six weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Clifton Springs is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Clifton Springs faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is held by approximately 51% of the total population (~9,222 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area's 56.2%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (10.6%) and mental health issues (9.6%). Conversely, 61.4% report no medical ailments, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 66.8%. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 24.7% (4,445 people).

Clifton Springs ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Clifton Springs, surveyed in June 2016, showed low cultural diversity: 84.3% were born in Australia, 92.0% held citizenship, and 95.1% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 48.7%, compared to 45.3% regionally. The top three ancestral groups were English (32.8%), Australian (27.6%), and Irish (9.5%).

Notable differences existed in Scottish (9.2% vs regional 9.7%), Dutch (1.8% vs 1.8%), and Maltese (1.0% vs 0.9%) representation.

Clifton Springs hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Clifton Springs' median age of 44 years is similar to Rest of Vic.'s 43 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Vic., Clifton Springs has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (14.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.6%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 increased from 11.6% to 13.1%, while those aged 55 to 64 decreased from 13.8% to 12.6%. By 2041, Clifton Springs is projected to experience significant changes in its age distribution, with the 35 to 44 age group expected to grow by 68% (1,588 people), reaching a total of 3,941 from the current figure of 2,352.