Oak Park
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Oak Park's population was around 8,518 as of Aug 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 620 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,898. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 8,488 in June 2024 and an additional 124 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,624 persons per square kilometer, placing Oak Park in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. The area's growth of 7.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 7.0%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving Oak Park's primary population growth.

AreaSearch is using 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, adjusting them using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041 based on these aggregations. Considering projected demographic shifts and growth trends, Oak Park is predicted to experience exceptional population growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national areas. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by approximately 4,160 persons, marking a total gain of 48.5% over the 17-year period based on the latest population numbers.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Oak Park when compared nationally

Oak Park has seen approximately 74 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 371 homes were approved, with a further 20 approved so far in FY26. On average, each new home attracts about 1.1 new residents per year over these five years.

This balance between supply and demand supports stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties is approximately $479,000. In FY26, around $1.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Comparatively, Oak Park shows moderately higher new home approvals than Greater Melbourne, with a 37.0% increase per person over the five-year period. This balance between buyer choice and property values has been maintained despite recent moderation in development activity.

New building activity is predominantly townhouses or apartments (85.0%), with detached houses accounting for 15.0%. This shift from existing housing patterns (currently 53.0% houses) suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. With around 167 people per dwelling approval, Oak Park exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Future projections anticipate an increase of approximately 4,130 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Oak Park has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Pascoe Vale Primary School Upgrade - Gymnasium, 299 Pascoe Vale Road Mixed-Use Development, Glenroy Structure Plan, and Hart Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis places Oak Park well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Oak Park has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%.

Over the past year, estimated employment growth was 3.6%. As of June 2025, 5,422 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Oak Park is 69.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training.

The area shows particular strength in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Manufacturing, however, is under-represented at 5.1% compared to Greater Melbourne's 7.2%. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment increased by 3.6% while labour force grew by 4.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5%, labour force expansion of 4.0%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. Nationally, employment growth was 0.26%, with a national unemployment rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Oak Park's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

Oak Park had a median taxpayer income of $55,252 and an average of $65,753 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is slightly above the national average, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 in the same period. By March 2025, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $60,838 and an average of $72,401, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census ranked Oak Park's household, family, and personal incomes highly, between the 78th and 80th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that the largest segment comprises 34.0% of residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (2,896 residents), consistent with broader regional trends showing 32.8% in the same category. Economic strength is evident through 33.5% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.6% of income, and strong earnings rank residents within the 80th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Oak Park displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure in Oak Park, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 53.2% houses and 46.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Melbourne metro's dwelling structure of 62.8% houses and 37.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Oak Park was at 29.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (37.4%) or rented (33.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area, as of 2016 data, was $2,167, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $401. Nationally, Oak Park's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375 as of 2016 data.

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

Family households comprise 70.2% of all households, including 31.7% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up 29.8%, with lone person households at 24.7% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Educational attainment in Oak Park is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 43.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 27.7% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.1% of residents holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 14.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.1% in primary education, 6.7% in tertiary education, and 5.4% pursuing secondary education. The area has two schools serving students: St Francis de Sales School and Oak Park Primary School, collectively educating 652 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents stand at 7.7, below the regional average of 10.0, indicating some students may attend schools outside Oak Park. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1085).

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

The analysis of public transportation in Oak Park indicates that there are currently 23 active transport stops in operation. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. The analysis further reveals that these stops are serviced by four distinct routes, collectively facilitating 2,591 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of the transport system is deemed good, with residents typically residing within 227 meters of their nearest transport stop. On average, there are 370 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 112 weekly trips per individual stop.

Oak Park's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Oak Park's health outcomes show excellent results, particularly for younger populations who have a very low prevalence of common health conditions.

The private health cover rate is approximately 52%, slightly higher than the average SA2 area (~4,463 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in Oak Park, affecting 7.5% and 7.0% of residents respectively. A total of 74.2% of residents reported being free from medical ailments, compared to 72.2% across Greater Melbourne. As of June 2021, 12.9% (1,094 people) of Oak Park's population is aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Melbourne's 14.0%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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

Oak Park has a high level of cultural diversity, with 36.6% of its residents born overseas and 35.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Oak Park, comprising 44.6% of the population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, with 7.6% of Oak Park's population identifying as Hindu versus 6.2% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups based on parental country of birth are English (18.0%), Other (17.2%), and Australian (17.0%). Italian, Sri Lankan, and Maltese ethnicities show notable divergences in representation compared to regional figures: Italians comprise 8.9% of Oak Park's population versus 12.9% regionally; Sri Lankans make up 0.8% versus 0.6%; and Maltese represent 1.5% versus 1.7%.

Oak Park's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At 36 years, Oak Park's median age is nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years. This is modestly under the Australian median age of 38 years. Relative to Greater Melbourne, Oak Park has a higher concentration of residents aged 35-44 (19.1%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.7%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 has grown from 6.1% to 7.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has declined from 11.3% to 10.7%. Demographic modeling suggests Oak Park's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The strongest projected growth is in the 45-54 cohort, with an increase of 88%, adding 913 residents to reach a total of 1,954.