Oakleigh - Huntingdale

Population growth drivers in Oakleigh - Huntingdale are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Oakleigh - Huntingdale's population was approximately 25,460 as of May 2026. This figure represents a growth of 2,532 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 22,928. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates: 25,427 in June 2025 and an additional 403 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 2,503 persons per square kilometer, placing Oakleigh - Huntingdale in the upper quartile nationally. The area's growth rate of 11.0% since the 2021 Census exceeds both state (9.3%) and national averages. Overseas migration contributed approximately 93.5% to overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For uncovered areas, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict significant growth in Oakleigh - Huntingdale, with an expected increase of 8,443 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 33.0% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Oakleigh - Huntingdale among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Oakleigh - Huntingdale granted around 133 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, it approved 669 homes and has so far approved 247 in FY-26. Each dwelling built over these years attracted an average of 2.3 new residents yearly.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $378,000. This financial year saw $46.5 million in commercial approvals. Oakleigh - Huntingdale's development levels per person are similar to Greater Melbourne's, maintaining market balance. Recent periods have shown moderated development activity. New building activity comprises 40% detached dwellings and 60% medium-high density housing, indicating decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles.

The area currently has 68% houses. Population forecasts estimate Oakleigh - Huntingdale will gain 8,410 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 47 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Suburban Rail Loop East, Summerset Oakleigh South, VicTrack Land Release - Oakleigh Station, and Station Quarter Oakleigh. 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Oakleigh - Huntingdale performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Oakleigh-Huntingdale has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% in December 2025. Employment grew by 4.7% over the previous year.

The area's unemployment rate of 2.3% is below Greater Melbourne's 4.8%. Workforce participation stands at 72.0%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A significant proportion, 35.6%, work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training, with the latter showing strong specialization.

Construction is under-represented at 7.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7%, labour force grew by 4.8%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment rate of 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate potential future demand within Oakleigh-Huntingdale. Over five years, national employment is projected to expand by 6.6%, with local employment estimated to increase by 6.7%. Over ten years, national growth is forecast at 13.7%, while local employment is projected to grow by 13.8%. These projections are simple extrapolations based on industry-specific growth rates and do not account for localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Oakleigh - Huntingdale SA2 is $59,714 and average income is $77,003. This compares to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth since June 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 are approximately $65,458 (median) and $84,411 (average). Census data from 2021 indicates Oakleigh - Huntingdale's household incomes cluster around the 60th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows 32.1% earning $1,500 to $2,999 weekly (8,172 residents), similar to surrounding areas at 32.8%. Housing costs consume 15.9% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 63rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

In Oakleigh - Huntingdale, as per the latest Census evaluation, 68.3% of dwellings were houses, with 31.8% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Oakleigh - Huntingdale was at 32.2%, similar to Melbourne metro, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (34.0%) or rented (33.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $415, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Oakleigh - Huntingdale's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 70.2% of all households, including 33.5% composed of couples with children, 24.6% consisting of couples without children, and 10.2% being single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 23.4% and group households comprising 6.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

Educational attainment in Oakleigh-Huntingdale shows a significant advantage with 42.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the SA4 region's 29.8% and Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational pathways account for 23.5%, with advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 13.1%. Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.9% in tertiary, 7.8% in primary, and 6.1% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in tertiary education, 7.8% in primary education, and 6.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Oakleigh-Huntingdale has 151 active public transport stops serving a mix of buses. These are covered by 36 routes, offering 11,711 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is high, with residents typically living 167 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound due to the area's residential nature. Cars are the primary mode of transport at 79%, with trains used by 11%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.2.

According to the 2021 Census, 35.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 1,673 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 77 weekly trips per stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

The level of general health in Oakleigh - Huntingdale is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Oakleigh - Huntingdale shows better-than-average health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 57% (~14,512 people) have private health cover, which is very high compared to other areas. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 7.2% and 6.2% of residents respectively. About 74.1% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 14.6% (3,714 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the national average for this age group.

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

Oakleigh-Huntingdale ranks high in cultural diversity, with 44.3% of its residents born overseas and 48.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 49.2% of the population. Notably, Judaism is represented at 1.0%, which is equal to Greater Melbourne's average.

The top three ancestry groups are English (15.0%), Australian (14.3%), and Other (13.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Greek residents make up 11.4% compared to the regional average of 2.7%, Sri Lankan residents comprise 1.3% versus 0.8%, and Russian residents account for 0.6% against a regional average of 0.4%.

Oakleigh - Huntingdale's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Oakleigh-Huntingdale has a median age of 36 years, nearly matching Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and slightly below Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Oakleigh-Huntingdale has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (19.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.4%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 12.6% to 14.7%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 18.1% to 19.6%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 age group has declined from 13.1% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Oakleigh-Huntingdale's age profile will significantly change. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 39%, adding 1,943 residents and reaching a total of 6,934.