Hughesdale

An assessment of population growth drivers in Hughesdale reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Hughesdale's population is approximately 8,090 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 527 people, a rise of 7.0% since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,563. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,088 in June 2024 and an additional 25 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,024 persons per square kilometer, placing Hughesdale in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Hughesdale's 7.0% growth since the census is within 1.7 percentage points of the SA4 region (8.7%), suggesting competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 88.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas, with Hughesdale expected to expand by 1,848 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 22.8% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Hughesdale according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Hughesdale has averaged around 14 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 74 homes were approved, with a further 5 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, 2.2 people have moved to the area annually for each new home constructed over these five years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $457,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY-26, $1.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hughesdale has significantly less development activity, 71.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, development activity is also lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

New building activity shows 64.0% detached dwellings and 36.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a range of medium-density options across different price brackets. Hughesdale has around 569 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. Looking ahead, Hughesdale is expected to grow by 1,846 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Hughesdale has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects that could impact this area. Notable projects include Suburban Rail Loop East, VicTrack Oakleigh Housing Development, ongoing implementation of Hughesdale Village Precinct Structure Plan, and Legacy Oakleigh Residential Development. 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.

Employment performance in Hughesdale has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Hughesdale has an educated workforce with professional services well represented, and an unemployment rate of 5.2% as of September 2025. There are 4,797 residents employed, which is 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Hughesdale is similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%.

According to Census responses, 41.5% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Notably, the area has a high concentration in professional & technical jobs, at 1.4 times the regional average. However, construction employment is limited at 7.2%, compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

The residential nature of Hughesdale suggests limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the difference between working population and resident population counts. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.6% while employment declined by 1.1%, leading to a 1.7 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0%, labour force grow by 3.3%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hughesdale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Hughesdale SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $59,914 and an average of $78,898. This is higher than national averages, with Greater Melbourne having a median of $57,688 and an average of $75,164. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%, estimated incomes would be approximately $64,857 (median) and $85,407 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Hughesdale's household, family, and personal incomes are around the 70th percentile nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 30.8% of locals (2,491 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to the surrounding region at 32.8%. Strong economic indicators include 32.2% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. Housing expenses account for 15.0% of income, with residents ranking in the 71st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Hughesdale displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Hughesdale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.6% houses and 46.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hughesdale stood at 32.3%, with mortgaged dwellings also at 32.3% and rented ones at 35.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, above Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Hughesdale was $416, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Hughesdale's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Hughesdale features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.4% of all households, including 33.1% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.6%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households comprising 5.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Hughesdale shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Hughesdale's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. As of 2016, 46.8% of residents aged 15 and above held university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 29.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%).

Vocational pathways account for 21.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas comprising 9.9% and certificates making up 11.8%. Educational participation is notably high in Hughesdale, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 8.3% in tertiary education, and 6.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

Hughesdale has 33 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 20 different routes that collectively facilitate 3,134 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing within 180 meters of the nearest transport stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 71%, followed by trains at 16% and walking at 4%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 41.5%, work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 447 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 94 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hughesdale's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Hughesdale.

AreaSearch's assessment indicates low mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence among younger cohorts. Common health conditions are seen less frequently, with approximately 4724 people having private health cover, around 58% of the total population. Mental health issues affect 7.4% of residents, while asthma impacts 6.9%. Around 73.2% 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 17.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1400 people), higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne but lower nationally.

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

Hughesdale's cultural diversity is notable, with 40.3% of its residents born overseas and 41.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Hughesdale, accounting for 48.0% of the population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 1.0% versus 0.9%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.1%), Australian (16.4%), and Other (12.2%). Notably, Greek, Sri Lankan, and Russian ethnicities have higher representations in Hughesdale than the regional averages: Greek at 10.9% versus 2.7%, Sri Lankan at 1.1% versus 0.8%, and Russian at 0.6% versus 0.4%.

Hughesdale's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Hughesdale is 38 years, closely matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hughesdale has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (18.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.7%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 16.7% to 18.1%, while those aged 65-74 have risen from 7.0% to 8.3%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5-14 has decreased from 10.9% to 8.7%, and those aged 45-54 have dropped from 14.5% to 12.2%. By 2041, Hughesdale's age composition is expected to shift notably. Leading this change, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 23%, adding 342 people and reaching a total of 1,807 from 1,464 previously. The 5-14 age group is expected to grow modestly at 1%, with an increase of just 4 residents.