Hughesdale
Statistical Area - sa2

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 was around 8,088 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 525 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 7,563. The growth was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 8,088 in June 2024 and additional 23 validated new addresses post-Census. Hughesdale's population density ratio was 4,023 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally. Its 6.9% growth since Census was comparable to its SA4 region (7.0%). Overseas migration accounted for approximately 88.2% of recent population gains.

AreaSearch's projections are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 for uncovers areas. Future trends project above median growth nationally, with Hughesdale expected to increase by 1,848 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 22.9% 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 approximately 14 new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data from the ABS is based on a financial year period, with 74 homes approved over the past five financial years, ranging from FY2021 to FY2025, and an additional two approved so far in FY2026. Each new dwelling has resulted in an average of 2.2 new residents per year over these five financial years, indicating robust demand that supports property values. The average construction cost for new homes is $655,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, suggesting a focus on quality construction.

This financial year has also seen $1.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hughesdale experiences significantly lower building activity, 71.0% below the regional average per person, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. This is also below national averages, suggesting maturity and potential planning constraints. New development consists of 64.0% detached houses and 36.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a mix of housing types to cater to different price ranges. With around 569 people per dwelling approval, Hughesdale indicates a highly mature market.

Projections estimate a growth of 1,848 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and driving price increases.

Hughesdale has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 18 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Legacy Oakleigh Residential Development, VicTrack Oakleigh Housing Development, Chadstone Shopping Centre Redevelopment - The Market Pavilion & One Middle Road, and Rosella Apartments Murrumbeena. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

Employment conditions in Hughesdale remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Hughesdale has a highly educated workforce with professional services prominently represented. Its unemployment rate is 5.0%, as of June 2025.

The area has 4,841 residents employed, which is 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Hughesdale is 68.6%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Notably, the area specializes in professional & technical services with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 7.2% compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Hughesdale's labour force increased by 1.4%, while employment declined by 0.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 2.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows that Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hughesdale's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for local population changes.

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 ending June 2022 shows median income in Hughesdale at $56,480 and average income at $72,835. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% from July 2022 to March 2025, estimated median income is approximately $62,190 and average income is $80,199. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from August 2021, incomes in Hughesdale are at the 70th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.8% of locals (2,491 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, aligning with regional trends where this cohort represents 32.8%. Significantly, 32.2% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 15.0% of income. Residents rank within the 71st percentile for disposable income. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Hughesdale's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.6% houses and 46.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting Melbourne metro's 47.8% houses and 52.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hughesdale was at 32.3%, mirroring Melbourne metro's level, with mortgaged dwellings also at 32.3% and rented ones at 35.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment here was $2,167, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,396. Median weekly rent in Hughesdale stood at $416, slightly below Melbourne metro's figure of $435. Nationally, Hughesdale's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Hughesdale features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 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 constitute 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, matching the Greater Melbourne average.

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

Educational attainment in Hughesdale is notably high, with 46.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian state average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 29.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.1% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational pathways account for 21.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 9.9% and certificates accounting for 11.8%. Educational participation is high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.6% in primary education, 8.3% in tertiary education, and 6.5% pursuing secondary education. Hughesdale's three schools have a combined enrollment of 2,219 students as of the latest available data. The area has significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1111. The educational mix includes one primary school, one secondary school, and one K-12 school. As of 20XX (exact year not specified in the original text), Hughesdale functions as an education hub with 27.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 14.2, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Hughesdale has 33 active public transport stops. All these stops serve buses. They are covered by 21 different routes.

These routes together provide 5,344 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport in Hughesdale is excellent. Residents typically live 181 meters away from the nearest stop. On average, there are 763 trips per day across all routes. This equals about 161 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hughesdale's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Hughesdale. Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high, approximately 56% of the total population (~4,529 people), compared to 65.2% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 7.4 and 6.9% of residents respectively, while 73.2% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. As of 2016, the area has 16.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,343 people).

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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.3% of its population born overseas and 41.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Hughesdale, making up 48.0% of the population. However, Judaism is underrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne's average, comprising only 1.0%.

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 representation in Hughesdale than the regional averages: Greek at 10.9% vs 4.6%, Sri Lankan at 1.1% vs 0.6%, and Russian at 0.6% vs 2.2%.

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 (18.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.9%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 16.7% to 18.4%, while those aged 5-14 have decreased from 10.9% to 8.9%. The 45-54 age group has also declined, from 14.5% to 12.6%. By the year 2041, Hughesdale's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 22%, adding 321 people and reaching a total of 1,807 from the current 1,485. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group is predicted to decrease by 18 residents.